Chapter 39
Once he said the magic words, the floor beneath the sitting man started to shake. Surprised by the floor rising, the man dropped the magic storage unit. Mad Hatter didn’t miss the timing of the sudden break in the spell.
“Melt.”
The magic storage unit started to melt from its corners. The man, losing his protection, started to panic. Mad Hatter stared down coldly at the man and used his powers to knock him out.
“You aren’t going to kill him?”
“I will leave that up to you. I hope it will be the most painful death.”
“I have an appointment, so that will be difficult. Will you be content with the second most painful death?”
“That’s fine. Now, please return White Rabbit.”
“Is it a trend to take things from other people like it is yours? You’re being a nuisance.”
The different tone meant that Heart was not in a good mood. They stared at each other murderously. SoYoon moaned in that tense moment, and they forgot their anger at each other.
“I don’t like it, but let’s call a truce for now. But what’s up with this girl?” Mad Hatter asked, staring at Alice. She had blood all over her, but not a single drop of it was hers.
“Alice.”
“I didn’t ask for her name. I’m asking why White Rabbit would go to this extent to protect her.”
SoYoon was not the type to think about other people’s business. Other than for work, she had never helped save anyone other than March and Dor.
Yet she had thrown her body in front of Alice to save her. She may have known that the sword on her back would have protected her from becoming deathly wounded. Either way, the two men felt threatened by Alice due to the mere fact that SoYoon would even consider such actions.
“Did they know each other from Outhouse?”
“That’s what’s strange. It’s not like they don’t have any connection.”
Henry Liddell, Alice’s father, was a researcher at the facility where SoYoon had been captive. Heart could not figure out, however, how this relationship would prompt SoYoon to protect Alice.
“They may have known each other personally. Maybe this girl has a power that Whitey needs.”
“So basically, you’re telling me you don’t know? Useless. Isn’t your specialty finding out the truth from girls?”
The two men glared at each other. Outside the room, Heart’s men waited nervously. Heart broke the gaze first and pointed to the door.
“Let’s leave.”
Heart called his men to collect Alice and his fallen men, then left the room. Jack and his minions were bound kneeling on the floor. Jack, without a single injury, looked up at Heart and ground his teeth. Heart smiled joyously.
“This is what they call self-inflicted punishment. What a wonderful state you put yourself in. Where did that man who told me to kneel in the middle of Central go?”
If SoYoon had been awake, she would have recognized the anger behind his relaxed voice. Heart signaled his men to bring the man from the room and threw him in front of Jack.
“It looks like I’ve given you too much of an allowance. A joke is no longer a joke if it goes too far, my little brother.”
“I am in no way the younger brother of a lowlife like you!”
“The ploy you used was not so gentleman-like either. I’m not trying to reprimand you. I’m complimenting you. Using a girl was a good tactic. If you had done it correctly, I wouldn’t have just kneeled before you, I would have given up my heart to you.”
After ending the conversation there, Heart smirked. The smile was one that smelled of blood and revenge. Jack cringed without realizing. However, Heart didn’t miss the fear in his eyes. He crouched and pushed his face up close to Jack and whispered in a small voice.
“You used the wrong hostage, you idiot.”
He watched in amusement as Jack’s face changed from confusion to realization to disbelief. When Jack looked over at SoYoon, Heart kissed SoYoon on her temple to prove a point.
“You just wait. You’ll be begging me to kill you soon.”
The moment Heart stopped talking, his men blindfolded Jack and gagged him. Heart commanded his men only after Jack stopped resisting.
“What happened today will stay a secret. If I hear one word about today’s happenings...”
Heart smiled widely. Within his smiling lips and soft eyes was a chilling menace. His men froze in fear, then quickly came to their senses and filtered out of the room one by one. Jack and his men were swept along with them.
When the last man carrying Alice left, SoYoon opened her eyes.
Upon looking around her surroundings to figure out what happened, the first question she asked was, “What about Alice?” Heart’s arm and Mad Hatter’s gaze both seized up.
“My Whitey threw her body to protect her. So of course, she’s okay. Do you have anything else to say?”
“Who healed me?”
“I did. You don’t think it happened through your actions, do you? What would you have done if I wasn’t here?”
“Thank you, Mad Hatter.”
There were only a couple of people in Wonderland who knew that Mad Hatter was a wizard. She thanked him sincerely for his decision to risk exposure to help her. Heart snorted with discontent.
“Let her down now, Heart.”
For obvious reasons, Heart did not let her down. He instead pressed SoYoon’s head tightly into his shoulder.
“My Whitey, don’t you think we have a lot to talk about regarding our relationship?”
“You’re not the only one with something to say. White Rabbit, I also have things to discuss with you.”
“We can’t talk here, so you choose.”
“Whose house will you go to?”
Although the two voices coming from opposite sides were different, the meaning behind them was the same. SoYoon wanted to run away. But she of all people knew that she could not do that. After a few seconds of thought, she looked at Mad Hatter.
“Mad Hatter.”
When SoYoon called his name, Heart’s arms flexed. Mad Hatter’s blue eyes fluttered, and he smiled. She felt a strange guilt toward Mad Hatter, and she continued.
“To check up on Alice, I’ll stop by Heart’s house first.”
Mad Hatter’s expression deflated. On the other hand, SoYoon didn’t see it, but Heart smiled as if he had gained the entire world. His laughter carried a tone of victory that both SoYoon and Mad Hatter felt. Heart, still carrying SoYoon, started to walk with pride.
“Well, then, we will be on our way. See you later, Mad Hatter.”
“I’ll stop by tonight.”
“Says who? I’m going to make you cry tears of joy all night.”
“You need to release me now.”
As the two people passed each other, Mad Hatter smelled the scent of trees and dew, blood, dust, and a whiff of fruit. All of a sudden, he was hit by a strong migraine that nauseated him.
From his lips escaped a chilling laugh. His eyes that had been peeking sideways at her were now looking down coldly as if he had done no such thing. In it was not his usual cool-headedness, but a hazy shakiness.
“...If you don’t leave.”
She was still here. Even though she knew everything about him, he did not want her to see him swept up by the emotions of his past. He stumbled out of the hideout. It was night outside.
SoYoon, in Heart’s arms, looked up at the sky that resembled Mad Hatter’s blue eyes. The sunset that had dyed the sky when they had invaded the lair was now only barely present. In a place other than the neutral zone, it was a time where no eyes were looking at them. But SoYoon still felt uncomfortable, so she pushed Heart’s shoulder.
“Let me down.”
But Heart continued without saying a word. SoYoon gave up and sighed while leaning her head on his shoulder. Heart flinched for a moment, then stopped and hugged her. His embrace squeezed her shoulder and arms, and it pressed her sword into her back, but she didn’t say anything.
Luckily, the two did not meet anyone while on their way to Heart’s house. There wasn’t anyone to greet them, and the few men who reacted in surprise were swiftly ignored as they passed by. Heart quickly entered his bedroom, made her remove her sword, and laid her down. She had assumed he would have thrown her, but she was caught off guard by his careful handling of her.
“Heart?”
He climbed onto the bed and hugged her with his entire body. Even a person drowning would not have held on as tightly to their savior. She didn’t know how to respond.
She could feel his heartbeat through her own. Unlike the previous times, his body was cold. The cold felt too unnatural to assume it was because he had just been outside.
“Heart.”
She called him in a quiet voice. He stepped back slightly and kissed her head. The quick peck was now on her forehead. His lips traveled to her temples, then her eyes, then, removing her mask, he kissed her paler-than-usual cheeks.