The Radcliffe Asylum
I watch the Pillar being pushed by the Mushroomers in his new wheelchair. He’d decided against limping his way out to the crowd. The loon still has his pride by his side. Ten Mushroomers volunteer to assist him, though they know they will get caught. I’m done arguing with them. They love him in ways I can’t understand.
“Maybe you’re not destined to kill me, Alice.” He smirks, passing me by.
“Don’t underestimate the Queen outside. They’ll probably shoot you in public to please the masses.”
“It still won’t be you.” He winks and begins rolling himself.
I stop the wheel chair with a grip of steel, bend over and glare at him. “If they don’t kill you, Pillar, don’t think I won’t.”
“That’s if you make it outside without me.”
“Don’t overestimate yourself. I am a big girl. I can save my ass all alone.”
He smiles, as if my words flatter him, as if he is encouraging me. I don’t get it. It drives me mad, so I let him wheel himself ahead and only follow in the Mushroomers footsteps.
“I haven’t killed your family, Alice,” he says on his way out.
I don’t reply. I don’t believe him. If I give into his lies, I’ll end up believing him. Everything points to him killing them. He’d admitted he was Him, the mysterious man I assisted in Wonderland earlier.
Tom Truckle stops him by the main door, though. “I need to know if this girl isn’t another trick of yours. I need to know she can help us.”
I’m anticipating the Pillar’s reply, as I’ve been curious to know about the little girl from the Inklings’ vision for so long. I only didn’t inquire about her to avoid having more conversation with the man who killed my family.
“The girl isn’t a trick,” the Pillar says. “She is tiny, slim, and small. She is a child. She can do it.”
“I’m still uncomfortable with sending a child down there,” the March protests, and I support him by hugging him close.
“She is an unusual child,” the Pillar says. “She can do a lot. She was once an Inkling. Ask yourself why Lewis brought a little girl along on his team. She is special.”
“Why haven’t we heard about her before if she traveled over to our world?” I ask from the back.
“All will be explained in time, Alice,” the Pillar says over his shoulder. “The same way you will fully understand my grand plan.”
“So, we just let her take over and send her through the crawl space?” Tom rubs his chin.
“Yes.” The Pillar wheels himself closer to him. “And since I may never see you again Tom, easy on the pills. Try M&M’s for a while.”
I watch Tom wince and make room for the Pillar to pass. This is the moment when I see the Pillar has covered his legs with a thick blanket. I wonder if he’s stolen something from the asylum and taken it with him. Then, I realize the Mushroomers are all covered in blankets as well. I could understand their reason, since their pajamas are all tattered and holed.
When I attempt to ask the Pillar, the double door to the asylum slides open. The sun is low outside. It’s afternoon. The scene of the police waiting is intimidating.
This really looks like war.