The Radcliffe Asylum
“O nly two hours left, Alice,” the March says walking back and forth. “Constance hasn’t found a way out, and we haven’t solved the puzzle.”
“The Puzzle is too hard to solve,” I say. “Wherever Patient 14 hid the Keys, I don’t think I can find out.”
“Somewhere in a … of light,” the March said. “What could it be? A pool of light? Beam of light? I don't know.”
“See my point? We’re not going to spend two hours solving such a vague puzzle.”
“Remember when he said only he or she who’s supposed to solve the puzzle can do it? Maybe it’s none of us. We need to find the one who can interpret it.”
“Who, March? Tom Truckle? I doubt Patient 14 would tell him where the Keys are. The Mushroomers? That’d be a long shot.”
“Constance?” the March said.
“Unlikely, but I’ll satisfy your curiosity.” I call Constance on the walkie-talkie and ask her.
“Not me, Alice,” she replies. “I know nothing of this.”
“Then our lives are really in your hands, Constance,” the March tells her.
“I hope so.”
“Did you find anything?” I say.
“There is this thin yellow light in the distance,” she says. “I’m not sure what it is.”
“Are you sure it’s light?” the March says.
“I’m not, but I’m on it. Will talk to you again soon,” Constance says and resumes her silence again.
The March approaches me cautiously and says, “I want to say something, but I don’t want you to be mad at me.”
“What is it?”
“I was wondering if we’re ever going to see the Pillar again?”
“Why? You miss him?”
“Call me childish, but he made me laugh.”
“It is childish, March. But you’re a child so I understand.”
“So he is gone forever, right?”
“Don’t count on that.” I spit on the floor. “I’ll find him wherever he is and kill him.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really!” I fire back at him. It’s the first time I’ve ever shouted at the March. My demeanor scares him enough to plaster his back and palms against the wall behind him. “What’s wrong with you? He killed my family. Didn’t you see him kill Jack, too?”
“Calm down, Alice. You’re scaring me.”
“Then stop asking about the Pillar,” I say and regret my anger. “Listen,” I calm down. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Anger is good, I think. It makes you do a few things right, things you wouldn't do otherwise.”
I smile at the sudden words of wisdom, and wonder which movie or game he’d heard them in.
“Which reminds me,” he says. “Would you want me to tell you about your real family’s names?”
The March’s offer is something I have been thinking about all the time since I knew about them. But other than my father being the dean of Oxford University, I don’t think I can take more information now. Learning about my biological family will get me emotional and weaken me. It’s a blunt way to deal with the situation, but I’m a student of Carter Pillar, who has the guts to shoot the Queen of England in cold blood.
“Alice!” Constance calls back.
“Yes?”
“I’m afraid I have bad news. The yellow light is my mind playing games on me. It’s nothing.”
“That’s okay, Constance. You did your best.”
“Also, I’ve reached a dead end. The tunnel widens a little, but it’s a dead end.”
I want to tell her she did good again, but I’m frustrated, feeling the walls close in on me.
“Listen,” the brave Constance says. “I will crawl back a little and try the side tunnels. Don’t worry guys. I will save you.”
And before I can answer back, she cuts the connection. I feel so embarrassed not being in the tunnel doing what she is doing. I wish I could go back to yesterday and shrink to the size of a child and do it instead of her. Where is that Alice in Wonderland shrinking drink when you need one?