Seen You Before (11) Cheshire POV

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You don’t take one child to rescue another. That’s idiotic. You don’t trade children like they’re spare parts. And you don’t solve danger by adding to the danger. So why am I watching the spare brain cells of Wonderland leading Iris and Rue into that danger? The two guests I specifically wanted left alone? And why in the Queen’s name did they leave the schizophrenic, the least likely to survive, alone instead?
Although, the way he’s studying his reflection is telling me differently. The glass in front of Eli warps, extending his face bone thin and hollow. He doesn’t flinch when his reflection’s mouth stretches inhumanely wide, its eyes maniacal and delirious. Doesn’t blink when it reaches for the glass, clawing desperately like it wants out.

Eli just watches, silent and waiting. I go still as our eyes meet. There’s no surprise. No fear. Just glazed over and exhausted. Like reluctant acceptance. Oh, I recognize that look. My smile widens and I take another step closer. That explains how he was alone in Wonderland and is still breathing. He’s done this all before. 

“Of course they left the most experienced guest behind,” I purr, tail flicking with interest. “Tell me, mirrorwalker, how many times have you had the pleasure of visiting our world? Remember anything fun?”

“Remember, remember…” Eli stars, voice already beginning to tremble. “The clocks, they spin backwards, sideways, always spinning. There’s never enough time…” He blinks, like he’s trying to pull himself out of a memory. “Monsters hide in those horrific dolls, but never let them touch you.”

I tilt my head, intrigued as his eyes dart back to his reflection. “The… the mirrors lie… keep you trapped. Keep you contained.”

“Ahh, so I see that your last visit was with the rabbit and the queen,” I murmur sarcastically. “It must have been thrilling for you.” It had to have been them. The two are obsessed with beauty.

Eli takes a step back, the familiar scent of fear rolling off him. “You’re all monsters,” he mutters, breathing heavily. “Every last one of you, monsters.” My eyes snap back to his face, narrowing.

“Monster? You don’t even know me,” I try to keep my voice steady, keeping control of that ugly feeling growing in my chest. “I’d never been so ordinary like the others.” I mentally flip through all of Alice’s friends, heat rising through me. “So never group me with them. I’m something entirely different, and you’d be smart to remember that.” 

Eli recoils at my sudden temper, but refuses to back down, eyes fixed on mine. “You can call yourself whatever you want, but a monster is still a monster, no matter what it’s labeled as.” 

My ears flatten and I bite back the insults growing on my tongue. “How very human of you,” I maintain a composed tone. “Trying to give a word with only one definition several.” My smile tightens. “A monster kills because its in their nature. I kill because I’m bored. There’s a difference.”

“Boredom is a nature,” Eli argues, mimicking his own restrained smile. My tail flicks and I have to hold myself back from lunging at him. I need to get to the child before they make it to their destination. I can’t keep arguing like this. 

I pull away slightly, taking a slow breath through my nose. “Monsters have to follow the rules of Wonderland,” I explain, digging my nails into my palm. “For me, rules are easy to break. Fortunately for you, I’m able to break them and get you back to your little group. It’s safer for you guys to stick together, and we both know it.”

Ei freezes, waiting for me to continue. “I can help return you to the group, but I want something in return. A trade if you will.” My tail shakes at the idea of making another one. “You see, I traded my sanity for curiosity. Best trade I’ve ever made.”

“What did you want to know?” Eli asks hesitantly and my smile widens. Smart man. 

“Have you ever lost someone of importance to you? A family member? A close friend?”

Eli’s reply was instant, almost defensive. “Everyone who gets stuck in Wonderland ends up getting close to one another. Bonding through trauma will do that to you.” I tilt my head, studying his reaction.

“And let me guess,” I purr. “You didn’t go home aloe by choice, correct?” When he remains silent, I slowly begin circling him, finding our game amusing.

“You do understand how this is going to end for everyone, don’t you?” I ask, lowering my voice. “Your survival last time was a fluke. It won’t be happening again. Are you prepared for that?”
Eli tenses, his gray eyes tracing my every step. “Is that your question?” he asks, voice cutting. “If I am prepared to die in Wonderland?” I don’t answer, just stare with expetation. 

“Of course I’ve lost close friends,” he snaps, back on my previous question. “I’m the only one who remembers them. They’re even forgotten about by their loved ones too. Like they never existed. It’s horrifying being the only person to leave Wonderland. I look insane. Feel insane…” The dazed look returns back to his eyes, like he’s lost in thought.

I stop pacing, eyes flared. “People don’t just ‘leave’ Wonderland,” I hiss, my tail bristling with tension. I hate that someone like him just… walked out. “Wonderland must have let you leave… Why? How? Does Alice know?” My mind reels, confused at how escape is a possibility.

“I didn’t break the rules,” Eli whispers. “I had something that belonged to Wonderland, so it let me leave.” My eyes immediately snap back to his.

“You actually took something from Wonderland?” A low growl escapes my chest, my fingers flexing anxiously at my sides. My grin curls into something ugly and envious. “And that worked?” I would have killed to find a way to leave for Alice’s sake, yet this human did it so casually. “And what, pray tell, did you take?”

Eli’s answer hits me hard, and something in my chest tightens. How absolutely frightening. But absolutely… fascinating as well