by Cameron Jace
“Okay.” I step up. “I’ll have to help them one by one to do this. I need you to be as fast as possible so we can cross as many as we can.”
“Can I be first, Alice?” Tom asks nervously.
“No.” Constance stops him. “You’re last. You’re always going to be last. Understood?”
“What about the water on the other side?” I ask the Dude.
“It’s lessening now. Once we cross over it will be of no threat. The police seem to think it will slow us down, but now they don’t have enough of the water to flush into the tunnel.”
“But the water must be blocking other tunnels. How are we going to escape?”
“Our escape door is right there.” He points at a side door, right after the fissure. “It might not look like a door, but once we cross over, I’ll show you how to open it. You have to knock six times on six different spots.”
“Okay?” I shrug my shoulders, already helping a Mushroomer on and getting ready to jump. “Why is this door so different? The police will still ambush us when get outside.”
“No, Alice,” the Dude says. “This door is a secret. They can’t find us, because it opens to the river. Don’t worry, it’s a short swim up.”
84
The Vatican
Angelo Cardone had been addressing and thanking all his followers across the globe via social media. Looking at his phone’s screen, he saw them gathered everywhere. Everyone was ready for the war on Wonderlanders — known as terrorists in the past.
The genius thing he liked about all of this was how he’d managed to get them to want to fight the terrorists themselves. Some men and woman had guns and knives ready with them, waiting for a signal from Angelo, and then they’d start attacking whatever Wonderlander he told them about.
But Angelo liked the women and men with cooking pans, brooms, and chainsaws better. Not that these home weapons were more effective, but he wanted this to end up in pure madness — if not melancholy.
Angelo smiled widely. There was no point to war if it wasn’t madness. Or it’d be just boring.
“You’ve surprised me, Angelo,” the man in the black suit said. “You’ve surpassed my expectations by far. We’re proud of you. The secret order in the Vatican has been waiting for you for years. We’ve always wanted a pope like you.”
“I know. I know.” Angelo stood up and gulped from another bottle of scotch. “I have to warn you of what’s coming, though. Things are just starting.”
“You have more to offer?”
“Other than just brainwashing people that they have to kill the Inklings everywhere?” He snorted. “Of course. The show has just begun.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Just watch me when I go out on this balcony.” Angelo began walking. “Just watch me speak.”
“But you’ve already told them what they need to know.”
“That was for the people in the piazza,” Angelo said. “Now watch me speak to my followers all over the world. Specifically, my fellow Brits.”
85
The Tunnels
The speed by which I’m jumping over the fissure and back is mind boggling, even to me. It’s like I’m in a spontaneous flow of mind. Something is happening to me. I can feel it. It’s as if I know I can save everyone. It’s as if I know who I am, finally.
I don’t resist the feeling. I don’t even give in to the rush of adrenaline and fear inside me. And I don’t try to understand the world around me. It’s not the past. It’s not the future. It’s the moment right now that counts.
“Alice, please!” Tom begs.
I dismiss him.
“Come on, Constance. It’s your turn,” I tell her. “Half of the Mushroomers have crossed over.”
“No, I’m last, Alice,” she insists. “I need to stay here and organize them with the Dude, so things flow nicely.”
“You don’t have to do this,” I say. “You came to help us and did what you came for.”
“I came to save lives, Alice. Just keep doing what you are doing.”
In a hesitant moment, I’m afraid if I don’t pull her over to the other side, I’ll end up losing her like the March. But the thought vanishes into air when another Mushroomer clings to me as we jump.
“Five minutes to go.” the Dude shouts over.
“That means about ten,” I argue. “Remember we’re at the end of the asylum, in a place they won’t find easily. We might have an advantage of a few minutes more.”
“I wouldn’t count on that,” the Dude says. “You still have to open the door to the river. Once you do, the water will flow in. It’s not going to be easy swimming through that without being hit back into the fissure.”
“You never told me this,” I say from the other side, having crossed another Mushroomer over.
“It’s war, Alice. There are always casualties. Not all of us are going to make it tonight. We’re doing our best.”
I don’t even have time to process what he’s just told me. Another Mushroomer on my back. Another jump.
“So the water will rush back into the asylum?” Constance says. “This is a plus. It will block the police, if not kill them.”
“Yes, that’s the plan,” the Dude says. “They don’t know we have a way out through a secret door leading to the River. Even if they figure it out, they’ll be too late. I have boats waiting for us up there.”
“Boats?” I shout against the noise of panic and the water in the distance. “Who are you?”
“I’m the Dude.”
“She means who sent you?” Constance giggles in the middle of all of this.
“Let’s talk about that later,” the Dude says.
But then Constance’s look at the Dude exposes her. She knows him. She knows who he is.
“Constance!” I say in the middle of my jump. “You know who he is?”
Constance shrugs. “Of course, not.”
“Constance, you’re lying. Good girls don’t lie!”
“Seriously.” She scowls at me. “I’m not a good girl, Alice. I’m a kickass girl. Much bigger difference.”
“Forget about it, at least for now,” the Dude says, helping line up the Mushroomers. “Are we set on letting the water in?”
“No, we’re not!” I say.
“Why not?” Constance asks.
“We should close this door leading back to the asylum so the water stays in the tunnel,” I say.
“Why? I don’t understand?” Constance is furious. “This will kill the police hunting us.”
“But it will also kill the Pillar.”
“The Pillar is dead already, Alice. The Pillar will either be caught or will burn with the asylum if he leaves the chair,” Constance says.
“Besides, the future predicted you will kill him. So ordering us to leave the door open will do that,” the Dude says. “It’s fate, Alice. There is nothing you can do.”
I take a moment to find the right answer inside me. I’m not sure why I suddenly don’t want to be the reason for the Pillar’s death, especially after he killed Jack. But I just don’t. He just came back and is sacrificing himself on that chair for us. I’m too confused to assess the situation logically, so I’m going with my gut feeling.
“Listen to me, both of you,” I tell them. “We’re not going to kill the Pillar. And by the way; the hell with fate.”
86
The Police, Outside the Asylum
The officer in charge of the collective forces gave a little speech just minutes ago. It was addressed to both the crowd gathered outside and his own force. In simple and short words, it was about how they hated killing civilians and whichever innocents may inhabit the asylum, but that it was such a small sacrifice for ending the terrorism they were facing.
All in the name of the Queen, he had said.
Now, he was readying his men, monitoring their moves and making sure they were covering all exit points of the asylum. ‘Shoot to kill’ was the order. They weren’t here to investigate. T
hey were here to end the reign of those who insanely called themselves Wonderlanders.
Alice and the March’s pictures had been sent to all units earlier. It was obligatory that those two were confirmed dead after the attack.
Then, he saw a woman from the crowd watching the new pope in the Vatican. That rebellious young man who did not sweet talk his people. He did not make excuses or preach for peace. Angelo Cardone was a loon, but one that people loved.
Including the officer ready to order his men.
He checked his watch.
Two minutes until the deadline.
But then, a vision of his niece flashed before his eyes. She’d been a victim of one of the attacks in the last months.
The man lost all control on his emotions and whistled.
The police began their moves.
“The hell with deadlines,” the man said under his breath. “All Wonderlanders must die.” Just like Angelo Cardone had been preaching in the Vatican.
87
The Tunnels
I transfer the last of the Mushroomers and wait for Constance.
The little stubborn girl insists on jumping herself. “I’m the one who’s supposed to save you all,” she says. “I will jump.”
And she does. Like a smaller version of me. A little superhero with the mind of tens of other little girls — surprisingly surpassing the mind of an adult one.
I try to catch her when she crosses over to my side, but she pulls away. She’s going to be one hell of a determined woman when she grows up.
“And me?” Tom reaches out from the other side.
“I say we leave him,” Constance says.
“I’m not sure,” I say, but already jump over to get him. “Tom.” I engage him, ready to jump back. “You’re a big mystery to me. I hope Lewis was right about giving you such responsibilities.”
We cross over. He pants with satisfaction once we do, but then snakes his way through the Mushroomers so he’ll be closest to the door to the river.
“I hope you can swim,” Constance says.
“Last time I did I was your age, but I think I will manage,” he says.
This leaves just the Dude.
He surprises me and jumps over with the March’s body on his back. That’s some flexible move I’ve not seen before.
“None Fu?” I ask him.
He nods and hands me the March’s body, then jumps back.
“Wait! What are you doing?”
“You need someone to close the door to the asylum behind you,” he says. “You said you don’t want to be the reason the Pillar dies.”
“Yes, but if you do it you will…”
“I was sent to help, Alice,” he says. “I hope I did. It’s your job to get the Mushroomers — most of them — up to the boats.”
He is about to close the door behind him…
“Just cool down…” I say. “Who are you? I need to know who sent you and why you’re doing this.”
He is about to say something, but the sound of the police barging in is deafening. Without my permission, he closes the door and disappears behind it.
88
The BBC Report
Breaking News
The international police forces are breaking into the Radcliffe Asylum right now. It’s unlikely that we’ll get clear footage, as we already hear the shots and everything around the asylum is more of a blur. None of our camera men dared enter, since it’s a shoot to kill situation.
From the little we could see outside, it does seem like no one is getting out alive today. This is going to be one of the most remembered moments in the history of mankind.
On the other hand, Pope Angelo Cardone is about to announce something in a few minutes. His followers all over the world are ready for him. Most enthusiastic are the British followers at Oxford, whom he’d addressed earlier. They’re standing in the streets of Oxford, near the asylum, waiting for the pope’s instructions.
It escapes our mind what he could possibly ask of them. But we shall see.
End of News
89
The Tunnels
Though I hadn’t ordered the door open yet, Tom did it. He’d found the six spots and pushed them until the door loosened and all hell broke loose.
The water rushing in guarantees killing one third of us, but I have to manage and help out as much as I can.
Surprisingly, many of the Mushroomers know how to swim. Unlike them it takes me some time to adjust the new situation.
The transition from an environment in which one can breathe to one where you need to hold your breath as much as you can, scares me. With the March on my back, I try to cling against the walls of the tunnel until the water stabilizes. It’s as if I’m being shot at by an enormous water-cannon. I’m plastered against the wall for a few seconds then begin swimming with the March on my back.
It’s far from an easy task.
My eyes dart around to make sure most Mushroomers are swimming out. I can’t see Constance, though.
Outside the door, we’re in the river. I can even see some fish before me. The smart Mushroomers paddle up to reach the surface. The others are blacking out or lost in a haze of panic. It’s hard to help enough of them out.
But Constance does.
She is a fierce little, weightless thing.
She pushes the Mushroomers up, making use of their light floating bodies in the water, and pulls them up.
In a glance, I see Tom has reached the surface. I can only see his legs from down here. At least it means the surface isn't that far.
I paddle with all my might, a little weighed down by the March, but I manage. It’s only seconds before I reach the surface.
I take in a long breath and stabilize for a second. The night sky is dark and I can hardly see anything. Tom points out at the small boats spread all over the river. No lights, though, so the police won’t figure them out soon.
I paddle to the nearest, watching Mushroomers crawl up into it.
“Here,” I tell those on the boat. “Take him.”
I pass over the March’s body, though I don’t see who I’m dealing with. I need to go back in to see if someone else needs help.
Down there it’s darker than before. The flashlights a few Mushroomers had held up before aren’t there anymore. The one bonus is that all the doctor’s outfits they picked up on their way out are all white.
One of them has drowned and is dead already. I pull him up though, remembering the Dude’s words. This is war. There will be casualties. It’s a hard truth to stomach, but it’s true.
It also explains why war is utter madness.
Last Mushroomer up. I hang onto the boats edge, panting. “I can’t believe it was so easy,” I wheeze.
“Me neither,” Tom says. “Where is Constance?”
“What? She isn’t up already?”
“The last Mushroomer who saw her, said she was stuck down below. I thought she’d fix it. She always fixes things.”
“Damn you, Tom. Why didn’t you tell me?” I jump back, realizing I might be too late.
90
The Vatican
Angelo Cardone was on his way out to meet the people when the phone call came.
“It’s for you,” the man in black said, handing the phone over to Angelo.
“Who is it?” Angelo said.
“It’s me.”
Angelo shrugged and said nothing.
“Are you ready?” the voice said.
“Been ready all day,” Angelo said proudly. “Did you see how I brainwashed the world?”
“I did. I’m not impressed. It’s your job.”
“Then why call now if you’re not impressed?”
“You’re my Plan B. I need you to execute the plan we agreed upon.”
“The only plan that’s been in preparation for two hundred years.” Angelo smirked.
“That’s it,” the voice said. “Be careful. It has to work.”
“It will. I pretty much like being a pope
. Tons of fun, Mr. Jay.”
Mr. Jay said only one thing before he hung up. “The War has begun.”
91
The River
I swim and paddle like a maniac in the dark waters. I’m afraid my panic is what really blinds me, not the dark. The eagerness to find Constance is compromising my inner thought. I shouldn’t be thinking anything yet. But why is it when you have to focus on the here and now, your mind reels with every dark possibility for the future?
I’m already imagining I will not find Constance. I’m imagining I will never see her again. I’m imagining that I will end up crying and cursing myself for letting her go. Just like I let the March go. Just like I let Jack go.
I could have made better choices with each of them, but I messed up.
Sinking deeper into the water, I realize I might have delved in too far. I might not have enough air in my lungs to swim back up.
But I don’t care.
Constance is worth it.
Me saving my loved ones is worth it.
And what’s that happening all around me all of a sudden? Small bubbles slice through the water on my left and right. As if they’re bullets.
Wait, are these bullets?
Who’s shooting at us? Are the Mushroomers safe up there?
My instinct drives me to keep swimming. Constance is a priority.