Chapter 9 - Wonderland-8 (1/2)

Chapter 9: Chapter 1 Wonderland-8

The night was deep. SoYoon mumbled as she watched the scenery pass by the window, ”I never realized I would be this close to a perverted serial killer.”

”I do have an obsession with glassware, but there's no reason to call me a pervert.”

SoYoon sighed so he could hear. Mad Hatter copied her sigh.

Mad Hatter glanced at her and said, ”White Rabbit, you are at this very moment...Hmm.”

Mad Hatter mumbled incoherently and went back to concentrating on driving. Fifteen minutes later, they were able to see the Wonderland sign. Before entering Wonderland, Mad Hatter parked the car and instructed her.

”Take out both boxes from the car, and carry just one of the boxes over. You can carry the big one. Unlike you, a brawny nitwit, I am a detail-oriented person.”

SoYoon followed his directions and went into Wonderland with the box. There was the sound of a car exploding behind her, but she didn't pay it any attention. She waited in front of Mad Hatter's door. Within five minutes, Mad Hatter arrived. SoYoon waited until he went inside, then knocked, and waited for him to invite her in. As she stepped in with the box, she heard noises.

”This way.”

Mad Hatter was in the kitchen. Unlike the living room and lab, he had organized the kitchen well. SoYoon realized that this cleanliness had nothing to do with food preparation. The kitchen's only purpose was to contain the sink, cupboards, and refrigerator.

”What are you standing there for? You can put that down here.”

SoYoon put down the box where Mad Hatter indicated. When she stood back up, she felt dizzy.

”White Rabbit?”

Mad Hatter called her. SoYoon shook her head.

”If I have to help you organize it also, then pay me first.”

SoYoon received the 400,000 carol, including the taxi fare from Mad Hatter, and left the house. Mad Hatter clicked his tongue at her wavering walk.

***

She didn't know how many years it had been since she'd gotten the flu, but it affected her greatly. Fever and lethargy and body aches that felt like her bones would squeak in protest made it difficult for her to get home. She didn't want to run into anybody. And of course her wish was not granted.

”White Rabbit? It's you, right? Where are you going so late?”

A slow baritone voice called out to her. It was the potion master, Duke. Under the night sky, Duke looked like the corpses he so loved. His yellow eyes watched her creepily.

”A young girl like yourself should not be wandering around this late. Really, you don't even look well, and you are all alone...You are a bad child. You need a proper scolding from an adult now, don't you? You are wavering. It looks like you will need some medicine. Why don't we go to my house?”

Duke walked toward her with his long arms and legs swinging. He reminded her of a praying mantis. As he reached out his hand, SoYoon pulled out the knife she hid behind her back and stuck it right up to his nose.

”Get lost.”

Duke was the only drug dealer in Wonderland. That was also the only reason this scum was able to survive in Wonderland for this long. But if I didn't kill him, and just chopped off two of his legs, wouldn't it be okay?

Sensing the danger reflected in those brown eyes, Duke backed away in fear. She put away her knife as she saw him running away.

Arriving at home, SoYoon replaced her patch and went to sleep and slept until the six-hour alarm she always set went off.

***

The next day, SoYoon woke late and stared a moment at the blurry ceiling above her, then closed her eyes again. She was shivering from the fever and cold sweats.

She hugged the blanket closer to her body and checked her cellphone. Heart had left a message to meet him around lunchtime. It was 11:17.

SoYoon got up slowly and went to the bathroom, splashed water on her face, and checked herself in the mirror after getting changed. She had a fever rash. Covering her right cheek with the mask, she no longer looked ill. With the sword and knife in place, she left the house.

The cool autumn wind blew past her neck and filtered through her clothes. She pulled up the zipper of the hoodie.

There was no way the attackers would stop because she was sick. SoYoon waved her sword at the constant flow of attackers. Arriving drenched in more blood than usual, she was shoved into the shower on Heart's orders.

SoYoon stood in the hot stream of water. She grabbed her shaking shoulders with all her strength. Heart saw this as he stepped inside the bathroom, but she didn't realize he had entered until he announced his arrival.

Finding Heart's interested gaze, she asked, ”What?”

”I was going to give you clothes to change into, but looking at you, I think this might be better.”

The ”better” were silk pajamas. He explained who the giant pajamas belonged to. So Yoon ignored him and snatched the original clothes out of his hands. It was the clothes she had left behind a couple of weeks ago. She sat on the sofa and dried her hair with a towel.

”Business?”

”I called you to eat lunch together. I hear you went to help Mad Hatter with cleaning house at Outhouse yesterday. Is that locator spell all figured out, then?”

”Mostly. Give me another towel.”