Present: Beneath the Mushrooms, London
N ow that Jack told me about the plan I needed time to process it, but the Jabberwocky’s fire deprived me from assessing the situation.
Jack pulls my hand and we snake back through the fire. Crazy as it seems, we are going back to face the Jabberwocky.
Dodging the fire, we stop at a free space between the mushrooms and Jack confronts his father.
As for me, I’m supposed to sneak behind the Jabberwocky while Jack distracts him.
“I’m here, Jabberwocky!” Jack waves his hands in the air.
The Jabberwocky says nothing. I can’t see the expression in his eyes from here. But even though I want to hear more, I have to face another enemy first. Malice.
“Where do you think you’re going, Alice?” Malice snickers. “Do you really think I will let you climb the Jabberwocky’s back?”
“Who said I’m here to climb on his back and kill him?” I snickered back, trying my best to be as annoying. “I’m here to kill you.”
“Blah, blah, blah.”
“Thing is, I don’t like to hurt plants,” I say. “How about I see you as Alice?”
“I’m not Alice.” She sounds offended.
“Actually you are. Nothing but a shadow of mine,” I say. “A copycat at best. A wannabe. A reflection in a dirty mirror.”
“Don’t dare me, Alice.”
“Who said I am daring you?” I wave her off and look away toward where Jack is talking to his father. “I knew you were a coward.”
In a flash, when I turn back, I see Malice in my form again. Her lips dripping blood. Her teeth pointed. Nice shoes, though.
“So beautiful,” I smile at her. “How about we finish this, once and for all?”
“I will finish you once and for all. What was I waiting for?”
I raise the sword but she does something I haven’t seen before. She lifts up her hand and clenches her fist in the air and then twists nothingness.
At first, I think she is crazy, but then my sword drops. I can’t grip it anymore. Not only that. My stomach churns with incredible pain.
“What the hell?” I touch my abdomen and kneel on one knee.
“I’m you, remember?” She snickers. “I was inside you and I know how it works inside.”
I can’t even talk. I can’t breathe. I have to think fast. If she is me, am I not her as well? I hope Jack distracts the Jabberwocky long enough that I can figure this out.