Page 4 of Ace of Spades

"Yeah, punctuality isn't exactly my best feature,” I slurred, accidentally spilling vodka into my lap. "Let me guess—you must be the White Rabbit. Are we late for a very important date?"

"Oh, that date has come and gone," he scoffed, although there was a concerned edge to his voice. His eyes flicked impatiently between me and the gold pocket watch he held in his trembling hand. "Alice, you aren't just late. You areyearsbehind schedule!"

“Years? Wow...” I said, marveling at his commitment to the joke. "Either you're one hell of a method actor, or you're on somereallygood drugs."

"Terribly sorry, Alice, but I’m no actor. I’m here to escort you to Wonderland.” He leaned in closer, his voice low and urgent. "You’re very,verybehind schedule. Time is of the essence."

"Look, Mr. Rabbit—” I squinted at him, trying to discern any ulterior motives but finding none— “I’m glad you’re having a good time tonight, but I’m not about to leave here with a stranger and go to a second location. My life might as well be over right now, but I don’t feel like getting murdered.”

He blinked curiously at me.

“Murdering you? Why, that’s the very last thing I want to do to you.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Whatever. I’m not interested in fucking you.”

“Nor am I interested in fuckingyou,” he replied with a sudden fierceness that made me pause. I suddenly realized he didn’t play for my team.

"Please don't misunderstand me," he clarified, a hint of distaste creeping into his voice as he glanced at his pocket watch once more. "I have no interest in seducing you, Alice. My concern lies solely in saving Wonderland. I’m frustrated by how dreadfully late you are.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, feeling oddly relieved by his apparent disinterest in my body. I’d met plenty of weirdos in Los Angeles, but none quite as unique as Mr. Rabbit. He looked so posh and out of place in his pristine white suit, surrounded by the grime and debauchery of this nightclub in downtown Los Angeles.

Plus, the way he looked at me was a welcome change from the usual leering stares I attracted. He looked at me like I was someone important.

Not famous or notorious.Important, like he respected me.

Like I was a queen.

I started to let down my guard.

"Fine. I’ll play along,” I sighed. Despite my inebriation, I couldn't help but be intrigued by the man's commitment to his role. He seemed harmless enough. And what did I have to lose? I’d already lost everything else. "Tell me more about saving Wonderland.”

"Time is running out for all of us who live there,” he explained, his voice tinged with urgency. “Andyou, Alice, are the key to saving it.”

I folded my arms across my chest, purposefully pushing up my tits. Mr. Rabbit’s eyes never wavered from mine. Impressed with his genuine lack of sexual interest, I raised an eyebrow at him.

“You said I was late. Tell me more about that.”

"Time is a fickle thing in Wonderland," Mr. Rabbit explained, his fingers drumming anxiously on the bar top. "For us, years may have passed, but for you... it's like no time has gone by at all. However, your absence has left a void that is tearing our world apart. You must understand, Alice—you are our last hope."

"Me?" I scoffed, swaying slightly on my barstool. "You've got to be joking."

“I’m deadly serious," Mr. Rabbit insisted. “Your role in Wonderland is not just important—it's absolutely crucial!”

"Is it now?" I smirked, the alcohol in my veins making me bold. I leaned in closer to Mr. Rabbit, my breath nothing but fumes of vodka. "And what, pray tell, does this 'crucial role' entail?"

"Ah, well, that's the thing," Mr. Rabbit stammered. His gaze flickered to the dance floor, where sweaty bodies writhed together in an erotic display.

“It’s rather...complicated."

"Of course it is," I drawled, rolling my eyes. “It’s always complicated.”

I chomped on an ice cube while Mr. Rabbit launched into a sales pitch that made hardly any sense to me. He talked about some bitch called the Red Queen, who basically went insane and started beheading everyone who lived in her kingdom. Her sister, the White Queen—how creative—did her best to control her, but apparently she was too far gone to fix.

Then Mr. Rabbit mentioned something about a battle between demons and fae, some weird mutant pet of the Red Queen’s called a Jabberwocky, and a magic sword.

My eyes glazed over as he spoke, and the longer he went on, the more fascinating his story became.

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