W e step into the abandoned building, passing by a few homeless people. Insane ones, the Pillar says. That’s why he has his rifle with him. I follow him, awaiting an answer to my question: Why would the Cheshire be in love with me?
“It’s complicated,” the Pillar says, looking sideways, in case we get attacked by another group of mad people. “Let’s start with him not really looking like a Cheshire at the moment.”
“What’s new? I wouldn’t be surprised if he is possessing a priest.”
“Worse.” The Pillar ducks, scanning the place. “This time, he is possessing someone dear to you.”
“Dear to me?” I grimace. “All the people I know are Wonderlanders. I thought he couldn’t possess Wonderlanders.”
“Only if they’re still alive,” the Pillar says.
I stop, taking a moment to assess the possibilities. But who am I fooling? There is only one Wonderlander who’s practically dead, and so dear to me. And he has been missing for some time. “Jack?” I cup my hands on my mouth.
The Pillar nods. “Try not to scream. We don’t want to attract loonies.”
“Jack?” I whisper, gritting my teeth.
“Lowering your voice isn’t going to change my answer.” He rolls his eyes. “Yes. Jack.”
“But we’re in the future. How long has he been possessing Jack’s body?”
“Fourteen years.”
“How is that possible? This means I never saw Jack again since he disappeared from the asylum.”
“You got that right.” He crawls on all fours, and I follow him into a tunnel.
“That’s why I am not married to him.” The words are tasteless on my tongue. Not that I was sure I wanted to marry Jack. The thought just occurred to me as the natural progress of events. “This is why I am married to that stranger back home.”
“Exactly. Handsome man.”
“I didn’t meet him or see him. Couldn’t bring myself to it,” I say. “I freaked out when he called me ‘baby.’”
“Nothing wrong with your husband calling you baby once in a while.”
“Shut up.” I pout, still crawling toward a scant light in the distance. “Poor Jack.”
“The guy is a jinx,” the Pillar says. “Killed by his girlfriend, possessed by her enemy. He was better off dead.”
“Stop it, Pillar ,” I grunt. “Tell me what all of this has to do with the Cheshire being in love with me. You know how creepy this feels?”
“Don’t you like his grin? I thought chicks always dig the grin.” He stops for a second. “That sounded too American, didn’t it?”
“It did.”
“I’m not really myself in the future, am I?”
“More smartass than you usually are,” I say. “And how do you still look young? You’re not a day older than when I last saw you.”
“Good genes.” He winks and then crawls on all fours again. “Smoking hookah is good for the skin.”
“Spare me the cheesiness.” I sigh. “Now how — ”
I was going to ask about the Cheshire being in love with me again, but then it hits me. “Are you saying the Cheshire was exposed to Jack’s mind and soul?”
“We’ve arrived.” The Pillar kicks a small door open and steps out. “Try not to let the Cheshire see you before I talk to him first.”
I follow him into what looks like a large hall in a sewer. Then when I stand up, I see the Cheshire. Oh, my God. What happened to him?