36. 36 – Alyss
36 – Alyss
I pace back and forth. “Where the hell is he?”
It’s been hours . Hours of waiting around, choking down another round of stale sandwiches and changing into the new clothes.
And he’s still not here.
“He wasn’t here when we woke up.” I stare at Buck wildly. He looks as worried as I feel, but he forces a smile.
“I’m sure he’s fine, trouble. Maybe Red wanted to see him.”
That’s what I’m worried about.
Spinning, I walk over to the door again, brushing Chess off as I bang my fist against it. More than once, as I shout through the crack. “What the fuck have you done with him?”
I don’t get a response. It’s been the same the last fifty times that I tried.
Because Hatter is gone . His bed left unmade and rumpled, as though they came in and took him in the middle of the night while we were all fucking sleeping .
The twins are sitting on the end of their beds, frowning. Aiden sweeps his eyes over me. “This isn’t a good sign.”
My throat tightens. “I’m trying not to think about it.”
My blue dress from the last two nights is gone. Replaced with something similar, but… sexier. The corset is tighter, pushing my breasts up. The shirt even fucking shorter, the cheeks of my ass on full display, covering with the tiniest pair of blue lace knickers.
Crotchless.
With the white suspenders and my black heels, I feel like a fucking fantasy doll.
The black ribbon lining my neck only finishes the vibe off.
None of the others look much better. They haven’t even been given shirts , only braces attached to trousers that cling to their ass when they move.
Chess plays with the top hat in his hands. There’s no humor on his face. Nothing at all, except for blind rage as he stares at me.
“If they try anything, I’ll kill them.” He meets my eyes. “I don’t give a fuck what they do to me.”
“ Stop .” He’s only winding himself up the more he looks at me. Spinning on my heel, I grab Hatter’s sheet from his bed and wrap it around me. “There, mister red fucking flag. Move those bull eyes elsewhere. We have bigger issues.”
“I agree with Buck,” Kayden interjects. “Red won’t hurt him.”
“Red put him in here in the first place!”
“And now she may have taken him back.” Buck’s face is grave. “This is what she does, trouble. There is no reasoning with her, no understanding the decisions she makes. She has always been this way.”
“And she’s always been obsessed with Hatter.” Aiden doesn’t meet my eyes. As if he doesn’t want to see the pain that ripples across my face at the thought of him not being here.
I push the thought away.
If she has – if she’s taken him back, then at least he’ll live.
Which is more than I can say for the rest of us.
***
Nobody speaks as we walk to the elevator, the guards trailing us.
Hatter is still missing.
I can feel his absence like a missing limb at my side. Chess grips my hand tightly. Buck walks ahead, the twins behind.
They’ve left his spot empty too.
“Stay close to us,” Chess murmurs. “For as long as you can.”
I barely manage to nod before the doors slide open.
The music hits me first. A disjointed, off-key melody, as though a child is hitting at the keys without any thought or care.
As we step out, all of us still.
“How the fuck do they do it?” Aiden mutters.
The stage in front of us is set… for a party. The large table has been laid with five place settings, and my chest twists with a fear that takes me by surprise.
He’s fine.
And as I look up, my eyes straining to see past the bright spotlights that fix on us, I realize just how true that is.
There are dozens of people seated around us in rows that rise off the ground. Making sure they all have the perfect view for whatever is to come. All of them are masked, their identities protected for whatever sick activities they have in mind.
And Hatter… Hatter is sitting next to Red.
He doesn’t smile as our eyes meet. He doesn’t make any movement at all, aside from the slightest tightening of his eyes.
He looks unharmed. But—
My eyes drop down. The collar rings his neck, pressing against his skin.
Property of Red.
Red catches me looking. She smiles at me, slow and sultry. My vision tinges red as her hand reaches across to play with Hatter’s hair.
Look at me , the movement screams. I’ve won.
Except he’s not a fucking prize in some fucked up game.
He doesn’t respond to her touch at all. His expression almost looks numb, as if he’s sealed himself off. I see no hint of kindness, of quiet humor and strength in his gaze.
What have you done?
Chess steps in front of me as my hands tug at my skirt, trying to pull it down. “I don’t like this.”
Red rises to her feet. The murmurs of the investors around us cut out, the music lowering to become quiet background music.
Her gown sweeps out in layers from the corset she’s wearing, a bright, vibrant scarlet. It matches her lips, her nails, as she taps a microphone in front of her.
“My darlings.” She spreads her hands wide. “Welcome, all of you. To our final night of Wonderland !”
Applause and a few cheers ring out. The others close ranks around me, as if they might be able to hide me from the stares of those watching us.
I push my way out between Aiden and Buck.
I will not hide. I keep my chin raised as I stare at Red, refusing to look away.
“How delighted I am that so many of you could join us in person.” She waves a hand, encompassing the dozens of blinking red cameras that surround us. “And for those who can’t, we’ve installed additional cameras for this evening’s entertainment. And what an entertainment it will be!”
Red leans closer to the microphone as if she’s imparting a secret. “Now, then. I know that some of you were expecting an auction this evening…,”
The breeze that ripples across the clearing is the only sound. Although… I can hear rushing inside my ears. My legs suddenly feel unsteady beneath my feet.
Auction.
I’d almost forgotten about that possibility. Considered my death, examined it from all angles and decided that if it absolutely had to happen now, then at least I might see Adam again.
But to be sold —
“Steady.” Buck has his hand on my elbow, his voice urgent. “Breathe, trouble. She’s changed her plans.”
I force myself to breathe. To listen.
Red smiles, but tension lines her forehead. “My apologies for the mix-up. Whilst we will not, in fact, be holding an auction this evening due to all parties being purchased ahead of time, we will nevertheless have a treat for the eyes.”
Buck’s low curse barely registers.
All parties being purchased ahead of time.
We’re not going to be sold. We’ve already been sold.
Chess is speaking, his hands on my face. Aiden is beside him.
And Kayden – Kayden is roaring something up at Red, his face flushed as Buck grips him and pulls him back.
Sound returns in a rush.
“We’ll work this out,” Chess says desperately. “We will, Lyss. And if we don’t… I’ll find you. You hear me?”
I force myself to nod.
Red’s voice rings out. “ Participants . Welcome… to the Mad Hatter’s tea party. Please take your allocated seats. Immediately.”
What?
Guards appear in the edges of my vision, guns raised. I let Chess pull me along, his hands settling me into a seat.
His lips brush my hair. “We’ll be fine.”
But even I can hear the lie in his voice. The shaking.
None of us are going to be fine.
Behind me, Kayden is still yelling. Buck and Aiden have their hands on his shoulders, pulling him back.
“Kayden.” My voice is steady as I call him, glancing down at the seat along from mine. “Sit by me. Please.”
His name is there, written in a flowery script.
“Wonderful.” I glare in Red’s direction as Kayden drops into the seat beside mine before I turn my attention to the spread in front of us.
The pastel-themed table is crammed full of things .
Trays of tiny, triangle sandwiches sit atop the pale blue linen tablecloth, interspersed with platters of tiny cakes on layered floral china circles. Vases are crammed everywhere, packed full of roses in different colors.
My gaze drops down, taking in the jeweled lilac bottle in front of me. It glitters in the light. The tag attached to it only says one thing.
Drink me.
I glance around. Everyone has one. On my other side, Aiden reaches for his blue bottle, tall and sleek, weighing it in his hands as his lips press together.
Chess and Buck, across from me, look equally grim as they assess their own bottles.
“Alyss,” Red says silkily. “You have an extra special sign beneath your chair. Just for you. If you wouldn’t mind collecting it and putting it on.”
The four of them turn to me.
I wonder if I look as panicked as them as I slowly reach beneath my feet. Everything feels like it’s moving… slower.
The sash is soft in my hands, a silky blue that matches my dress. I unfold it, glancing down.
The bottom swoops out of my stomach.
“Well?” Red sounds all too delighted. “Put it on.”
Chess is going to lose his shit.
I toss the sash over my head before I grip the table,
They all stare at the words splashed across my body.
“No,” Buck says immediately. His eyes lift to mine, turning impossibly darker.
Chess says nothing at all. But he stares at those words, his jaw tightening.
Eat me.
“Since there will be no auction,” Red murmurs, “I’m offering a feast instead. And on the menu is one, rather lovely Alyss .”
My body turns cold.
“But first,” Red continues. We sit there, frozen in place. “You must have your drinks – so important to keep hydrated, after all. Chess – it is Chess, isn’t it? You first. And make sure you get every drop!”
Chess doesn’t move. His head lowers, his breathing harsh.
He reaches for the orange bottle in front of him. Weighs it.
And then he stands and throws it across the clearing as hard as he can.
It misses Red by less than an inch. She ducks, a shriek ripping from her mouth.
I turn to stare at Hatter. He hasn’t moved. He doesn’t even look as though he’s breathing. Not flinching at Chess’s throw, even though it almost hit him too.
He’s not even looking at me. But his lips move as Red dusts herself off next to him, her face scarlet.
Trust me.
Something tight and hot in my chest eases at those silent words.
My voice ripples out amongst the others. “Do it. Do what she says.”
“You must be joking,” Kayden shakes his head. “No fucking way—,”
I grab for his hand. “ Please , Kayden.”
If there is another game afoot, then I need to find my way through it and fucking fast. Guards push their way into the clearing. One holds another orange bottle in his hand.
Chess pushes his chair back, getting to his feet.
“ Chess .” I hold his gaze. “It’s going to be fine. Take it.”
Please don’t let me be wrong about this.
Please don’t let me be wrong about him.
Slowly, Chess lowers himself back into the chair.
He doesn’t fight the guards as they swarm him. As they force his mouth open, and tip the contents of the bottle inside.
His eyes stay on mine. And I don’t look away.
“There,” Red says. Her voice is sharp. “Not so difficult.”
Chess’s eyes dull. They grow vacant as I watch in rising horror. “Chess—,”
His head slumps forward, slamming against the table.
His name is a scream on my lips as I leap to my feet. But the guards are there, forcing me down.
Buck stretches out, his fingers pressing against Chess’s neck. “He’s alive. Unconscious. Steady pulse.”
I slump, shoving off the hands of the guard.
Red laughs, bright and airy. “He’s rather possessive, isn’t he? I wouldn’t want him ruining the show.”
I keep staring at him. “You don’t know him at all.”
My voice picks up, amplified by a hidden microphone.
Red doesn’t bother responding. “So, then. On to the main event, as it were. Since there will be no auction, there will be a show instead.”
We all turn to watch her. Beside Red, Hatter grips the arms of his chair. He turns to her, but she ignores his hissed words.
“A little public exhibition never hurt anybody. And some of our investors are very keen to see our Alyss in action. So if the rest of you would drink up, we can get started.”
The color drains from my face. From all of their faces. Buck. Kayden. Aiden.
So that’s what the sign means.
Eat me.
Not a physical display. No cannibalism required.
Red leans forward. “Drink. And if you’re very good, perhaps I may even give you a chance to leave Wonderland behind.”