Chapter 7 The town of madness

I felt so stupid, I can't believe I dragged him with me but it was nice to not be alone. "I didn't know you lived in Wonderland" He hummed as he spoke. "I don't," I told him as I looked at the ground. The path the mirror had sent us was beautiful. Red roses and poppies grew wildly around, the place was warm and calming. It was lively, bees and Ladybugs flew freely throughout the air. "How can I walk you home then?" He questioned looking out at a small wooded area, I didn't answer him. A deer drank from a small creek. The white dots that painted the white-tailed deer were a light pink color as if someone had painted the deer with red paint. "The Queen must leave her mark on everything" He frowned, "Why red?" I wondered as we arrived at a small town or more like a village. "It reminds the Queen how she got there in the first place"

"Starlight" I look at the sign that has a red poorly painted crown over the word 'starlight'. Underneath laid the word 'Madness'. "Welcome to Madness" Came a cheery voice. A girl had red hair that faded to pink at the tips. She wore a crimson and black uniform that went up to her neck. The girl looked me up and down as her smile became more sinful. "You must be Mina" she stood in front of me, her eyes piercing me like daggers. "Y-yes" I tried to stand tall making her laugh. "You have been invited to the queen's party" she smiled brightly. "Now get changed out of those dirty colors and get into something more" She looked around as she searched for the right word. "Appropriate or it off with your head" She stared into Zack with a creepy grin. "You may bring one other person" She looked back at me, as she held her hands out to the sides of her face. "Now! Enjoy your stay in Madness'' I grabbed Zack's hand. Her eyes made my body shake. The girl laughed as she walked away only to stop and turn back to us."And my name is Kaeya" She smiled and turned on her heels. "You okay?" I feel Zack rubbing the back of my hand. "My mother used to do that," I spoke softly. I shook my head, "We need to get ready" I held a small smile. He nodded, and we started walking around the small town. The town had been messily painted red. You could see the old paint behind it, it was a dull color old and chipping. "What lovely hair you got,'' an old woman told me, gently touching my hair. "My granddaughter's hair used to be this soft but now it is all thorny" Before I could ask her what she meant she left. "What did she mean by that, do you know?" He shook his head, touching the rose tied in his hair. "Come on, there's a store up ahead" He pulled me along, it seems he has been here before. We walked into a small shop with wooden models, the clothes were different from what I have seen. I mean they have beautiful dresses and fluffy skirts but also fantasy-like clothes, ones you would see in games or anime. One dress caught my eye, a rose-red dress with black long sleeves and a hood. The dress was short and long in the back and it came with a small dagger. The dagger was gorgeous, it was dotted with rose petals falling to the handle. I held the dagger and pricked my finger. The blood bubbled up on the tip of my finger before dripping to the floor.

"What are you doing Mina?" My mother asked me in a sleepy tone. It was 3 in the morning, I'm on the bathroom floor and a small blade lay beside me. "Mina hurry up" she whined knocking on the door. The tears form in my eyes as my voice shakes "I-I'll be out soon" I push myself off the floor, grabbing the sink as I pulled myself up. Finally looking at myself, my shoulder cut thinly, my fingerprints slit so lightly, my wrist puffy and red as blood smudged against the cut. "What did you do?" My grip tightens on the sink. "What did you do?!" I screamed, smacking at the sink. "Guillermina?!" My mother calls for me. Her tired voice had left and was filled with worry. "Mina!" She banged on the door.

"Mina?" I dropped the dagger, turning back to Zack. "You aren't supposed to touch those" he picked it up, putting it back in the holder on the dress. "Do you like it?" The owner came over to us as I wiped my finger on my skirt. "This dress is a beauty, Mrs. Alice used to wear it" The owner nudged my arm. "Alice?" I looked confused. "Who is she?"