Page 70 of Escaping Wonderland

Shadow darted through the door and into the dance hall.

The immensity of the space was apparent now that most of the revelers were gone—the handful remaining appeared to be unconscious, scattered about the room lying on the floor or slumped against the wall. Garbage—mostly cups, bottles, and discarded articles of clothing—was strewn about the checkered dance floor.

Andhestood in the center of the chamber, flanked by at least a dozen of his machine soldiers. The automatons dragging Alice were about halfway between Shadow and the king.

“Stop,” Shadow roared.

The king grinned. He lifted a hand and waved two fingers. The pair of automatons holding Alice stopped abruptly—and the weapons of all the rest turned toward Shadow. Neither the king’sgrin nor the wild light in his eyes wavered as he drew his pistol and aimed it at Shadow.

“You’ve caused a lot of trouble,” the king said. “I don’t know who you are, don’t knowwhatyou are, but I’m not going to tolerate your shit anymore. Today, your luck runs out. Today, you finally face consequences for all you’ve done.”

Shadow curled his fingers into fists. His short hairs bristled, and his tail flicked back and forth in agitation. His fury—the same overwhelming fury that had consumed him at the stream, the same fury he’d experienced when the guard had touched Alice—flared. Everything in this chamber was a threat to Alice, was an enemy to be destroyed without hesitation or mercy. The king was foremost of those threats; he controlled the automatons, and he would be the one to command them to harm Alice. But Shadow’s rage was tempered by fear—Sithix might have been a killer, but the king was cruel beyond imagining, and he wasmad.

Alice was in more danger now than ever before.

She was facing Shadow; the machines had hauled her backward out of the hallway. The same powerful, complex emotions that had shone in her eyes a few moments ago remained in place as she stared at him.

“If you could kill me, your machines would’ve fired the moment I emerged from the hall,” Shadow said, forcing his tone to remain even. He’d never once lost a game against the king. He certainly wouldn’t allow himself to lose this time—not when it was the only contest that mattered.

“You’re right,” the king replied. “You’re some kind of anomaly. Aglitch. But my programmers are closing in on you, and once they find you, that’s the end. No more fighting. No more games. No moreyou.”

Shadow tensed. His stomach felt like it was floating near his throat and like it had sunk into his groin simultaneously, and therapid thumping of his heart had risen to replace the beat of the music that had been playing in this room only minutes ago.

All it would take was one phase and a single swing of his knife. Two fast, easy movements, and the king would go down. Even the king couldn’t come backthatquickly. Could he?

There was no way to be certain. A few days ago, he would’ve dismissed the king’s ramblings as the product of a tired, damaged mind, but now they held an undeniable ring of truth.

“Go ahead,” the king said, grin widening. “Pull your vanishing act, and we’ll fire?—”

Shadow drew in a deep breath; he could endure a large amount of punishment, and he knew, somehow, that he couldn’t experience true death—not in this body.

And even if hecoulddie, it was worth the risk to protect Alice.

The king nonchalantly pointed at Alice. “—onher.”

The impossible, icy cold of the void spread through Shadow, consuming him from within. The automatons, as one, trained their weapons on Alice.

Her eyes widened, and she renewed her struggles against her captors for a few seconds. Her nostrils flared with a heavy exhalation before she eased. “Do what you need to do, Shadow,” she said in a calm, clear voice.

Shadow’s heart nearly shattered in that moment. She was so brave, so strong, despite the odds stacked against her, despite the very real, very immediate danger to her life. Death now would mean death inallworlds.

He remained frozen in place, torn between two choices that offered no difference in their inevitable outcomes—act and lose her or don’t act and lose her. Shadow knew the king well enough to understand that neither option would spare Alice suffering and pain.

“So, youdocare for her,” the king said. “You’ve never cared for a damned thing but your games. How about we play one now? Let her go.”

The automatons on either side of Alice released her and, in perfect unison, marched back to join the others in the firing line.

Shock and confusion strained her features, and she nearly stumbled as her legs were forced suddenly to support her weight.

Shadow’s chest constricted, and his heart felt like it was being squeezed out of his ribcage. He knew better than to hope, knew there were no good intentions behind this, but it was a chance—a chance to save her, a chance for the king’s arrogance to lead to his defeat just as it had so often in the past.

Alice ran toward Shadow, and he ran toward her. Though they were separated by no more than ten paces, he phased to her; he needed to have her in his armsnowbecause that was the only way he could get her out of here fast enough.

He materialized immediately in front of her and extended his arms to draw her into his embrace. She slammed into Shadow, throwing her arms around him. A thunderous boom echoed through the chamber in the same instant—much too loud to have been caused by her impact.

Something heavy punched into Shadow’s lower abdomen, followed by wet, slowly spreading heat.

Alice released a soft, startled grunt against his chest. Her hold on him tightened, and her fingers clutched at his clothing with desperate strength. She was stiff and still, so still,toostill.

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