He let out a laugh. “Oh, miss Alice, do you really think you can defeat me? With a katana, no less.”
I shook my head. “No, I don’t think I can defeat you, but I’m not going to let you hurt my friends.” Taking a deep breath, I realized there was only one way to help them. “I will go with you, but you have to promise not to hurt any of them.”
Morpheus smiled. “Well, well, what do we have here? I guess you won the heart of this Alice as well, Hatter. How times have changed.” He looked over at Chase. “And how I bet some are jealous.”
“Alice, don’t.” Malcolm shook his head. “My life isn’t worth it. Just run away.”
“She has already made her choice.” Morpheus put his sword away and extended his hand out to me. “Now come, Alice. Wonders await you.”
I took his hand, fear engulfing me at his touch. He was powerful, that I could feel. I glanced back at the others who just stared at me, knowing they couldn’t do anything now that Morpheus had me in his hand. So I looked forward, realizing this was my choice and I had to face the consequences.
But what those were, I still had no idea.
“You’re a lot different than the Alice of legend, do you know that?” Morpheus said as he guided me through the crowd.
“I would hope so, a lot has changed in our world since then. Besides, I’m not that Alice, I’m an entirely different person.”
He laughed. “I would suppose so. The old Alice was curious, sticking her noise into things she didn’t need to. You, on the other hand, were dragged here, without choice, told to do this and that. You put on a brave face but, you know what? I can see the fear in your eyes. And they tell me you are screaming inside.”
I tried not to listen to his words. “I could say the same about you. You are afraid of me, that is why you want me away from the others.”
“Maybe, at one point, I heard whispers of your name and feared what you might bring. But now, seeing you as you are, I am no longer afraid.” He let out a laugh.
I felt a shiver go down my spine. I wanted to run, I wanted to run as far away as I could. He was right, I couldn’t beat him. He really doesn’t have anything to worry about. I tried not to seem afraid, but I knew he was aware of my fear. He was the master of nightmares, and I was exactly where he wanted me.
I shook my head. No, I wouldn’t let him manipulate me with words like that. I knew he was just trying to make me scared and I wouldn’t let him win. I had Chase and the others behind me, if anything happened they would save me, that much I knew.
We stopped in front of the main tent and he turned to the crowd. “Come one, come all to the Cirque de Rêves! Don’t let reality get you down, let your fears grow all around! Leave happiness outside, and let the darkness come alive! So grab your friends, grab you children, and join us as we bring you on an adventure that will change your life!”
I couldn’t believe it as people rushed towards the entrance. He talked of fears and death and yet people came. The people wanted to be afraid.
The dreams wanted to be destroyed. How was that possible? What was he doing that was so enticing, but at the same time destroying them one by one?
“Come, I have a seat saved especially for you.” Grabbing my hand, he led me into the darkness.
CHAPTER 15
Thousands of people crowded the benches to see the wonders of the show. Each of them with darkness encompassing their faces. It seemed darker here, as if the shadows were growing over their entire head. Was this how it worked, black clouds slowly clouding their eyes and then taking over their bodies? And would I become one of them? Would I lose my dreams?
Morpheus led me to a seat in the front, smiling as if it was all a game to him, and it probably was. I didn’t resist or try to run away, knowing there was no use, he was powerful enough to stop me. So I sat there and I waited for what was to come. And more importantly, I tried to prepare my mind.
I looked back behind me to find Malcolm and the others sitting a few rows up. They looked worried but they also knew they couldn’t do anything inside this tent. I whispered that I was sorry. It was my fault all of this happened. I should have thought it through, I wasn’t ready to face him.
The lights above the audience turned off and everything became silent. I felt uncomfortable, chilled by the pure black color. I couldn’t see anything, not even my hands in front of my face. I had always thought that living outside the city that it was dark at night, but at least then I had the stars and moon to guide me. This was nothing, trapped in a world I could not see.
And it was terrifying.
Never had I been so afraid as my heart pounded in my chest, my body not wanting to move in fear there was something out there. How was this a Circus? How was this entertaining? And how did this lead to people losing their dreams?
“Alice,” a whisper spoke in my ear. “What are you doing here?”
I didn’t recognize the voice, it wasn’t Morpheus but something about it seemed
