Page 16 of Cheshire

“Thanks,” I whispered, finally meeting his gaze again. There was something hypnotizing about those eyes, like they were casting a spell over me. And for the first time since waking up in this strange new world, I felt a glimmer of hope.

Maybe, just maybe, I could survive this.

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my nerves as Cheshire began introducing me to the others. “This here’s Eliza,” he said, his voice casual but confident. “She’s going to be staying with us for a while.”

“Eliza, meet Knave.” Cheshire gestured to a burly man, ink covering every inch of his arms. Knave nodded at me. The man looked a bit scary, but I knew better than to judge a book by its cover.

Carpenter was next, then Rabbit, who was a wiry man with a nervous smile. He gave me a quick nod, his gaze lingering on me just a bit too long for comfort. It made me feel like he saw far more than I wanted him to.

“And finally, we have Tweedle,” Cheshire said, motioning to a man leaning against the wall with a beer in his hand. “You’ll have to meet the others later.”

“Nice to meet y’all,” I mumbled.

“Likewise,” Knave drawled.

Just then, a woman approached the table, her fragile frame belying the strength in her eyes. She offered me reassuring smile that made my heart slow just a touch. “Hey, Eliza,” she said gently. “My name’s Jo. Welcome to Underland.”

“Thanks,” I replied, finding some comfort in her presence. She looked like she knew what it was like to be afraid, to feel hunted. Although, the fact she was perfectly at ease around these men spoke volumes. If she felt safe here, then I could too.

“Can I get you something to eat?” Jo asked, her voice quiet but strong. I could tell she was trying to make me feel welcome, and it meant a lot.

“Sure,” I said, smiling weakly back at her. “That’d be nice.”

As Jo went to get me some food, I watched the others, their reactions to me still a mix of curiosity and concern.

Jo returned to the table, a steaming bowl of something that smelled like heaven in her hands. She set it down in front of me, along with a bottle of water.

“Are you okay, Eliza?” she asked, sitting down next to me. “You need anything for the pain?”

“Uh, no, I’m all right,” I replied, trying to sound braver than I felt. I glanced at Cheshire, who looked like he was listening to every word even though his gaze was on Hatter. Over the counter meds didn’t do much for me anymore. They’d barely take the edge off for thirty minutes.

“Good,” Jo said, still speaking quietly. “Just let me know if there’s anything you need, okay? We’re here to help you.”

“Thanks,” I whispered, taking a bite of the warm, slightly salty food and letting it soothe me from the inside out. It wasn’t much, but it was something, and right now that meant everything.

As I ate, I couldn’t help but notice the silent communication between Cheshire and Hatter. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and then Cheshire leaned in close, his breath tickling my ear.

“Listen, Eliza,” he said, his voice low and steady. “I know you’re scared, and you’ve got every right to be. But we’re going to make sure your dad can’t get his hands on you again. You aren’t alone anymore.”

Something deep within me unclenched, just a little bit. I barely knew these people, but they seemed to genuinely care, and that was enough for now. I nodded, not trusting myself to speak without crying.

“Thank you,” I managed eventually, my voice trembling only slightly. Cheshire just squeezed my shoulder and looked away. It only took me a moment to realize he was doing it for my benefit. With so many eyes locked on me, I felt like a bug under a microscope.

As I finished my meal, I tried to focus on the conversation around me, on the laughter and the camaraderie of these strangers who were offering me protection. It was an odd mix of comfort and fear, but it was better than being alone, better than feeling like a hunted animal with nowhere to turn.

I felt like I could learn to trust them -- especially Cheshire, with his piercing blue eyes and that damn grin that made my heart race every time I looked at him.

Watching these rough men laugh and bust each other’s balls, I could feel something shift inside me. It was like a tiny spark of hope flickering to life, and even though I knew it might be snuffed out any second, I clung to it. It was the first time I’d felt relieved in so very long.

“Eliza,” Jo whispered, leaning closer so we wouldn’t be overheard. “I know this all seems crazy, but you can trust these guys. They saved my life when I thought there was no way out.”

“Really?” I asked, my voice shaking just a bit less now.

“Swear on my life.” She nodded, her eyes sincere. “Hatter and the others, they’re good men. They want Warren to be safe. They’ll help you, just like they helped me.”

“Thank you,” I whispered back, feeling that little spark grow stronger. If they’d done it for Jo, maybe they could do it for me too. It seemed like Maria had been right about the Underland MC.

“Hey, Jo, tell Eliza about that time Hatter kicked Tweedle’s ass in pool,” Cheshire chimed in, his grin wide as ever.

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