Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
HOOK
Just a quiet stroll along some country lane. Yeah, right. Welcome to Wonderland—where nothing makes sense, and everything’s out to piss me off. Well done, Wonderland. Mission accomplished.
I’ve been walking for what feels like hours, following the ridiculous riddle from that smug flower.
Because apparently, that’s what my life has come to.
This place is a madhouse. I mean, I knew it would be.
Everyone’s heard about Wonderland and its chaos.
But this? Twisted trees, distorted skies, and the air?
It’s like a mix of rot and desperation, with a splash of some sickly perfume that should’ve been poured down the drain a decade ago.
Perfect.
I stop, muttering under my breath, "Left or right. Wander or fall." The flower’s cryptic nonsense echoes in my head. I let out a long breath, glancing around. “I’m getting nowhere.” The ground warps beneath my feet, and the trees are practically bending just to screw with me.
The path winds ahead, never straight for long. Trees lean over, their branches like claws, trying to grab at each other—or me. The ground’s uneven, roots rising like they’re trying to trip me every step I take. And honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s exactly what’s happening.
I stop again, looking behind me, and it’s the same bloody thing no matter which way I turn. “Brilliant.” I pull out my knife. Should’ve done this sooner.
I march up to one of the twisted trees, knife in hand, ready to carve a mark.
Because clearly, this forest is playing tricks, and I’m not about to end up walking in circles like some idiot.
My feet plant firm, hand braced on the bark—yes, hand.
Still getting used to that—and I press the knife against the trunk, ready to carve my marker.
And that’s when it happens.
A branch, out of nowhere, swoops down and smacks me square in the chest.
“Bastard.” The force sends me flying. I hit the ground hard, my knife clattering against the rocks. The air rushes out of my lungs, and for a second, I’m just lying there, flat on my back, staring up at the swaying branches.
I hear it then. A low, mocking laugh, like the forest itself is enjoying the show.
I push myself up, wincing as I rub my chest. “What the hell was that?” I glare at the tree like it’s personally offended me. And given the bruise I’ll have, it damn well has.
I turn back to the path—only, it’s not there. What should’ve been the way I came is now a mess of trees and twisted roots. The path I was on is gone, replaced by even more forest. “No way,” I mutter, stepping closer to one of the larger trees. “That was not like that before.”
I reach out, just to touch it—no knife this time, just a hand. But before I can even get close, bam—another branch slams into my side, knocking me into the next tree. I hit hard, stagger, and before I can catch my footing, another branch sweeps at my legs, sending me rolling into the dirt.
Pain flares across my cheek as the roots twist around me, gripping and pulling at my coat. “Oh, for—” I grapple for the knife, snatching it up just in time to hack at one of the roots. “Knock it off.”
The branches pull back like they’ve been burned, retreating into the trees, the forest suddenly going still, as if it wasn’t just trying to kill me a second ago.
“Having fun, are we?”
I snap around, searching for the owner of the voice. It’s a sing-song drawl, but deep and dripping with malice. Not like the flower’s voice. This one’s more… amused. And I can’t bloody see where it’s coming from.
A branch flies at me—or is it thrown? I jump, swatting it away with my hand. Then another comes, and another. I bat them away, but it’s starting to get on my last nerve.
“Knock it the fuck off,” I shout, glaring into the shadows. “Show yourself, and stop being a coward.”
“Oh, but where’s the fun in that?” The voice shifts direction, and then more branches come at me, faster now.
I snatch up my knife, swinging it, cutting through the air. “Fun? You want fun? How about I chop down every last one of these trees and burn this forest to ash?”
The laughter grows louder, and more branches whip through the air, teasing, taunting.
“Oh, poor Captain Hook, all alone in Wonderland,” it sings, mocking. “Lost without a clue, stumbling around like a child.”
I sneer, rolling my eyes. “Oh, come now, love. Afraid to show yourself?” I flick a bit of dirt off my coat, smirking into the shadows. “Can’t say I blame you. I can be quite intimidating.”
“Such confidence,” the voice purrs, getting closer now. I feel it like a breeze at my neck, but when I spin around, nothing. “Tell me, Captain, do you really think you’ll make it out of here alive? Wonderland has a way of... changing people.”
“Oh, don’t flatter yourself,” I say, spinning around, trying to find the voice.
There’s a pause, and the air shifts—like whoever’s toying with me is considering whether or not to take me up on my challenge. I tighten my grip on my knife, ready for whatever’s coming next.
“You think you’re clever,” the voice finally says, a little softer, a little less smug. “But cleverness won’t help you here, Captain.”
I open my mouth to respond, but then something catches my eye—a flash of movement, quick and subtle. It’s barely more than a flicker in the shadows, but I see it. A tail, long and sleek, flicking around a tree trunk. Blue and grey, almost blending into the gloom.
I narrow my eyes, taking a step closer, ignoring the tightening in my chest. “Now, what have we here?” I say quietly, more to myself than to the disembodied voice. The tail disappears behind another tree, quick as a whisper, and the voice goes silent.
“Coward,” I mutter, rolling my shoulders and sheathing my knife. “They're always cowards."