Grinning Through Shadows (4)

A Chapter by Znikbew

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I hesitate, looking back to find Rue still at the tea table, but now setting each chair with a stuffed animal. Her eyes lock on mine as she holds a tea cup with her pinky out, and slowly slurps a sip. I couldn’t help but smile at the idea that she’s having a tea party through all of this, each stuffed animal at its own proper seat.

Behind me, the door suddenly slams shut and I flinch. I spin around, pulling at the handle, but it wouldn’t budge. “Do we need to answer another riddle?” I ask, mind reeling. “I was the one who answered the first one correctly!” I pull away to find that the face on the door had disappeared, and I’ve been talking to a normal doorknob. “What…”

Someone clicks their tongue in disapproval and I watch as a man slowly strides out from the shadows, pacing towards Rue. Was he always there? He kneels at eye level with her, carefully taking the cup from her hands. “You really shouldn’t eat any of the food in Wonderland,” he murmurs quietly to her. “Unless it’s from one of the shops.”

My gaze traces the man’s movements as he quietly places the cup back on the table. Something wasn’t quite right about him.”You’re stuck here too?” I didn’t mean to sound so uncertain, but I would have definitely noticed if he was in the room earlier.

My eyes roam over his figure, observing him. His cotton candy pink hair was hard to miss, bright and crazy in color. His oversized hood that cocooned his frame was also strikingly obvious; the bright pink and purple stripes quickly catching the eye. He easily stood out in the room, hard not to notice. His gold flecked eyes slowly locked with mine, a crooked smile broke across his face, almost predatory. He spoke again, with unnatural calmness in it. “You’re not supposed to be here…” He tilts his head, almost catlike, eyes narrowing slightly. “But then again, I suppose neither am I.”

His attention moves back to the locked door, his ears twitching with curiosity. Wait. When I take a closer look, I realize that this man had two very feline ears atop his head, flicking back and forth subtly. A sleek purple tail peeks out from his hood, sweeping lazily behind him.

“Unfortunately,” he purrs, “I belong to Wonderland itself. I’m one of its locals. Cheshire.” Rue leans closer to him, growing sudden interest in his ears as well. “Chess for short.” He leans back, catching her hand before she can touch his ears, the predatory look in his gaze softening a little. “Keep your hands to yourself, little one. Don’t touch anyone from here, understand? Wonderland can be tricky, and I wouldn’t want to see you getting hurt.”

“Why?” I wonder aloud. “What is Wonderland?” Cheshire’s smile immediately drops, scowling at me like I butted into a conversation I wasn’t invited to. But just as quickly as it disappeared, a colder smile replaced it twice as fast.

“Think of Wonderland like a mirror,” he explains, voice lowering. “But instead of showing someone’s reflection, it reflects what they fear most instead. It’s just a world of tricks and manipulation, full of things that never should have existed to begin with.”

“So it's a nightmare?” I ask, feeling a bit more relaxed at the idea. “A dream? Like, behind that door is a psycho with a chainsaw?” I’ve had that nightmare plenty of times before. Either that or losing all my teeth. Cheshire chuckles quietly to myself, darkened eyes roaming over me.

“Not quite,” he answers as he watches me with interest. “Nightmares can be almost anything, not just the stereotypical BS most people expect.” I nod slowly, eyes already trailing over the walls for any signs I’m dreaming. I know most dreams are ways for your mind to help you understand something. I know my chainsaw killer dream is telling me I’m overwhelmed in the real world. But what would this dream be trying to tell me? Maybe to throw away every doll I own. Or perhaps it might be telling me I like cats a little too much.

Cheshire observes my features closely, amusement sparking in his eyes. “Iris…” he drawls, drawing my attention back to him. “There isn’t anybody behind that door with a chainsaw, I promise. No spiders, or snakes, or zombies either.”

“But there are rabbits,” I point out, remembering how I ended up following that white rabbit down the rabbit hole earlier. Cheshire’s smirk widens, more genuine this time as he tries not to laugh.

“Yes, little doll, there happens to be a rabbit in Wonderland. Can’t say I’m much of a fan of his, but I can assure you he’s no threat. You can so much as kick him and he’ll scurry away.” I stay silent for a long moment, studying him carefully. Clearly Cheshire isn’t aware of how unpredictable rabbits can be.

Cheshire’s lips curled higher as a different type of amusement filled his eyes. “Your biggest fear is rabbits?” he asks, his voice shaking with laughter. “I have a hard time believing that.” He circles me, eyes glued like a cat playing with a mouse. “Now tell me, little curiosity, if I reach deep inside your head, what would I find? What’s hiding behind those eyes? Which nightmare has your name on it?”

There’s a lot of those. Being trapped. Being forgotten. Wasting my life without doing anything significant. My mind whirls at the question, and the memory of my mother rises, reminding me I’ll never compare to anything if I don’t take things more seriously. Chesire’s smile deepens as he watches me argue with my own thoughts.

“I’m scared of being forgotten,” I blurt, finally making a decision. “What if nobody remembers me? What if I just disappear? Would anybody even notice?” Cheshire hums, tail flicking behind him.

“Being forgotten is worse than dying,” he agrees. “At least the dead still echoes with the living.” That statement cuts through me as I realize just how true that is.

“What about you?” I ask as Cheshire makes his way to the door. He pauses, back still turned to me. “I mean, what are you afraid of?” I ask again, thinking he didn’t understand. He turns to me, his tightened jaw betraying his impatience.

“That wasn’t part of our deal, was it?” he murmurs. “I unlock the door and you tell me your darkest-”
“I’m also terrified of tight spaces,” I say quickly, suddenly desperate to learn more about this man. I don’t know anything about him and yet I’m supposed to open up about my fears? No way, he has to give me something. “I hate feeling trapped. Like the walls are closing in and there’s no escape.”

Cheshire’s eyes narrowed before moving back to Rue and softening. She had returned back to her tea party, straightening a doll in the chair. “Remember little one,” he says quietly, ignoring me. “Stay safe. Don’t touch anything. Don’t drink anything. And for the love of god…” He raises his voice as Rue lifts the half eaten cookie to her mouth again. “Don’t EAT anything!” She pauses before hesitantly placing the cookie back on the table again.

With an annoyed huff, Cheshire throws open the door with ease, letting the light from outside flood through the room. His tail flicks twice before he slowly begins to dissolve. His grin is the last to disappear, and his voice echoes through the silence.

“You’ll see me again,” he purrs. “I’m never too far away. Yell if you need anything.” A pause before he almost pleads. “And PLEASE stay where she can see you! Wonderland never listens when she’s not looking.” And with that, he disappears completely.

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