More yelling surrounded us and I began to wonder if they would find us, if all this running was for nothing. We had weapons, but would it really be enough? Would we be able to escape them if we came face to face? Maybe with the soldiers, but with Bill, I doubted it.
Although I understood how dreams could be clouded in the darkness, I wondered how exactly those who have always been in Wonderland could be affected. That had existed for so long, yet they still had fears. But of what? Melvin, Davis, Chase, and Malcolm hadn’t been affected because they had learned to live with fear, but could it really be possible that they were the only ones who weren’t affected? It was strange to think that people who have lived so long hadn’t learned to live with their fears. Didn’t growing up mean that you could overcome your fears? That was always how I looked at the world. I guess I was wrong.
We hurried further and further into the city, trying to get out into the woods where we could hide much easier, I presumed. I just hoped I wouldn’t have to climb up any more trees, especially without Chase. At least with him, if I fell, he could easily catch me by making a portal.
I wished he was with me, as I felt most safe with him. Even though Bill could open portals, at least Chase could get us away from here and try to trick Bill into going somewhere else.
I hoped that they all were okay.
A couple of soldiers appeared before us, but Davis and Melvin pulled out their swords. Davis had a claymore while Melvin had a saber. It was strange that a lot of the people had different types of swords, but I guess it made sense that after so many years they would all have their own preferences. The soldiers pulled out their rapiers.
Melvin was the first to attack, his saber slashing down towards the soldier. The soldier easily defended against it, but Melvin had only been faking him out. Quickly he turned the blade and swiped from the opposite side, cutting into the soldier’s leg. The man fell to the ground, screaming out in pain, but I could tell he wasn’t out of the fight.
The second soldier headed towards Melvin, stabbing his rapier straight at Melvin. Davis was the one who stepped in this time. He countered the attack with the claymore, which he held almost like a katana. Strength was found at the top of the handle and control near the bottom. It was starting to make more sense when I saw it in action.
The first soldier started to get up, even with a wounded leg. Melvin slashed down at him but the man deflected the attack and parried it.
I watched in amazement as these two men fought like they did. I didn’t realize how good they were at sword fighting. It seemed like it was necessity in this place.
Suddenly, as I watched them fight, I felt someone grab me from behind. As I screamed, the person put a knife under my throat.
“Alice!” Melvin exclaimed as he cut down his opponent. “Let her go!”
Davis got distracted and I watched as his sword was knocked out of his hand and the soldier punched him in the nose. Davis hit the ground.
Melvin started for him, but the guy that held me stopped him. “No, you stay there. I am not kidding or the girl gets it.”
He stopped and stared at me, trying to figure out what we should do next. I struggled but it was useless. Besides, this man had a knife under my chin.
That was it. A knife.
I still had the knife from earlier. I reached for it, acting as if I was still trying to struggle as he kept his attention fixed on Melvin and Davis. The soldier was thrusting at Davis, trying to stab him through the stomach. Davis crawled away from him, trying to get back in a better defensive position but it was almost pointless. I had to act fast.
Drawing my knife, I stabbed the man that held me straight in the stomach, moving my neck away from his own knife as I spun around and stabbed him again. As he went down, I pulled out my katana and deflected the other soldier’s rapier as he thrusted at Davis.
“Not today!” I yelled as I slashed forward right through the man’s torso. The man hit the ground just as the other two had fallen.
I just killed someone. He had been attacking my friends, there was no other way. But still… I didn’t know what to think, but with everything going on, I didn’t have time to waste, I knew that.
Looking back up I found Davis and Melvin just staring at me.
“What? Shouldn’t we get going?” I asked, wanting to change the subject. I had to deal with this later.
“Yeah, let’s go,” Melvin put away his own saber. Davis quickly picked up his claymore and hurried after us.
As we ran, I noticed that it seemed like more and more men were starting to follow us. I hoped Malcolm and Howard were all right, after seeing many soldiers dashing through the city. Were they only going after Bill? Or were they trying to fight them all?
I could hear the clashing of swords behind us. Malcolm and Howard must have been close. I felt a bit excited, knowing that they were still okay, but then I realized that meant Bill was near, and our chances of escape
