Chapter 18
Three days have passed since Loki received Asgard's letter. Desiring a stroll to ease by the day, Meg and Erik request that he goes by Raven's house first and take him with.
"Fine." Loki replies. "I get why everyone is worrying now, so I won't complain."
Nearing Raven's home, he peeks around for him, all around the house and in the nearby streets, but he's nowhere to be seen. Just when he's about to give up and go on his walk by himself, Raven pops up, tapping Loki's shoulders.
He jumps while he turns around. "Whoa! Don't do that Raven, you scared me." He waits for an apology, but as usual, Raven's pride doesn't allow one. "Whatever," he grumbles. "Where were you? I've been waiting a long time."
"What do you need me for?" Raven asks.
"Meg and Erik won't allow me to be by myself, so they sent me to get you."
"Keep quiet then and follow me." He says while he starts to leave. "I'm still on lookout for Asgard and Wonderland. Did you bring your pocket watch with you?"
"Of course!"
"Good. Well, Alice will be by momentarily."
"Sure, that's fine."
The conversation and new silence felt awkward for both of them. Did something happen? Raven begins to wonder. Edwin isn't disagreeing or questioning anything I say. It's like we're strangers.
On the other hand, Loki begins to wonder, Should I tell him about the dreams I've been having? It's not like it's all that important, but it might give him some ease. He's seemed stressed lately. No. This would only stress him more.
Alice appears during their silence, even more confused than either of them. "What?" She asks. "Did you two have a fight?"
"No, but," Loki pauses, unable to find words to describe the situation. "I don't really know what's going on either."
"It's not anything to worry about, forget about this." Raven says before Alice can tell them off. "More importantly, did you figure anything out?"
"No. Wonderland is keeping a low key. I can't find them anywhere. I don't know what their plans are either. It looks like we're going to be completely in the dark now." She remarks sadly.
Loki grits his teeth. Wonderland, he thinks. The Knave of Hearts is from there. I hate him.
Alice notices his anger. "Edwin, what's wrong?"
"Hmm? I'm fine." He puts up an act.
"Edwin," she says, seeing through his act. "What's bothering? No. What has been bothering you for the past two days or so?"
"Nothing. I told you I'm fine."
"Edwin!" She yells. "We both notice that you're not okay. Why don't you let us help?"
Taking a step back, he picture her as Lacie. No. You can't help me. If what Erik said is true, then none of you should. I won't let tragedy fall again.
"Please stop asking!" He yells before running away.
I wish you would come back, Lacie. I need you. You held everyone together, you were their strength. Now that you're gone, I can't take your place. My courage is left when you disappeared. We all need you, in order to win this. Only you could make sure that tragedy won't fall on us.
Alice tried to call out to him, but Loki kept running. Along the way, he bumped into someone, falling against the building at the muscular man.
"Oh, I'm sorry." He apologizes before looking up at who he hit.
As the strange man spoke, Loki recognized his speech patterns. "No, no, I'm fine?" He says.
His eyes widen in terror as his eyes look upon the man. "No. It can't be. You're," his lips tremble as the memory of him comes back, playing the scene he dreaded most. "You're the Knave of Hearts," he says at last.
The more he stares at the Knave of Hearts, the more he trembles while his hatred grew. This person hurt Lacie. I should pay him back for it. But I'm not strong enough. I'm so weak that he could easily kill me. I'll end up worse than Lacie.
Raven comes around the corner and finds Loki. Upon spotting him, he also sees the Knave of Hearts. He dashes in front of Loki, his instincts telling him to grab him and run, but his mind says otherwise. This is my chance, he thinks. I can pay him back for putting that scar across my eye. I'll pay him back double!
Reaching for a staff, Alice comes from behind and pulls Loki back. She grips tightly on his hand, fearing the sight of the Knave of Hearts. Yet, the Knave of Hearts felt calm.
Is that Edwin? He begins to wonder. Or rather, Loki, as Asgard calls him. The Queen of Hearts told me to get his pocket watch, so I should, but this person in front of me, Raven, I remember him. He's the fool who challenged me to a fight long ago, didn't he? He looks thirst for revenge. I hate revenge and grudges.
I wanted to find Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. They don't mind playing with me. I don't have to talk too much around them. It's fun. They're not afraid of me like Alice and Asgard is. Lacie wasn't, but I had to deal with her, otherwise the Queen of Hearts will hurt the ones I care about most.
I hate this! Wonderland always takes away the people I like. Maybe I should leave and pretend I didn't see any of them. But if I do, then the Queen of Hearts might hurt the twins or the Mad Hatter. They're all I have left. I must have the pocket watch and protect them.
Pulling out his sword, with scabbard on, the Knave of Hearts readies for the fight. "Edwin," Raven yells when he sees the Knave of Hearts' motivation. "Grab Alice and go! You know where to hide so stay there until I come. I'll come the same way I did last time. Now hurry up!"
Alice tugs on Loki's shirt, pulling him back, but he doesn't budge. "But isn't this the person you faced last time and lost?"
"Yeah, he is," he says, but then his voice grows dark with vengeance. "But it'll be different this time."
Wanting to press further to help, even if it's only a little, he tries to voice a denial. However, the Knave of Hearts strikes at Raven. All of them see the intensity he carries, the loyalty in his eyes.
Edwin is going to get away from me. I have to get his pocket watch, for the twins and Mad Hatter, he thinks. Yet, his words imply something else. "Watch is m-mine?" He pauses. "The Queen of Hearts wants it?"
"Oh no you don't." Raven spits. "I won't let you lay a finger on Edwin or Alice."
Courage swells in Loki as he yells out one last time before dragging Alice away with him. "You better beat him up for me, too!"
At first, a smile creeps to Raven's lips, but then his confusion sets in. He know now, doesn't he? He determines. He's figured out that the Knave of Hearts was the one to hurt Lacie. That's why he's been acting differently. Curse it all! Why did he have to figure it out? I didn't want him to end up like me. He has an innocence and trust in people, unlike me, and beams the brightest smile. Why did the Knave have to tear it apart?
He thrusts his staff at the Knave of Hearts, his frustration and anger taking over his mind.
As Loki and Alice run away, they hear the clashes between the Knave of Hearts and Raven. At every clatter of their weapons, Loki winces, feeling the grinding of the wood against the metal of the scabbard.
Upon reaching Meg and Erik's house, they wait at the doorstep. "What happened?" Erik interrogates with worry seeping from his words. "You're breathless."
Bending over and leaning against the wall, Loki wheezes, "Wonderland...the Knave of Hearts...Raven."
He tries to repeat himself and connect the words, but Meg shushes him, letting him catch their breath. "We get what's happening. Take us to the fight, we'll stop it and make sure that nothing happens to Raven. We won't let his thirst for revenge take him over, right?"
He nods. As Alice opens the door to let them out, she says, "I'll keep watch at the house. I'd just get in the way there."
Running as fast as their legs can carry them, they travel back to the street near Raven's house. Yet, when they get there, it was already too late. The battle was over and by the blood stains thinly splatted on the walls and floor, and a body on the ground, they could figure out who won.
"Raven!" Meg screams.
She rushes to him, picking up his motionless body, her tears landing on his chest. He groans. Everyone smiles at the life coming from his throat, even though it's ragged. "Sorry I couldn't beat him up for you, Edwin?" He winces in pain as his voice becomes hoarser. "All I did...was give a few scratches." He starts to heave.
Meg silences him with a kiss on the forehead. "Don't talk Raven, you're going to be alright." She brushes her tears away while her smile grows. He holds her hand tenderly.
Erik turns around. "How dare he act like that to my sister?" He mumbles. "I will never accept this relationship."
"Erik," Loki comes near him, holding a hand on his shoulder. "Give it up. You're not going to win." He sighs. "Maybe Lacie and I would've been like that if I had the courage to tell her I love her, but I never did."
"I'm sorry Edwin," he apologizes. "I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."
"You couldn't have known I would start connecting it to Lacie, don't be like that. Besides, we should get Raven to the hospital." He smiles.
"And soon." Erik adds.
When they come back home, Alice waits at the doorstep, eyeing for their arrival. When just the three of them come back, a few specks of blood stains on their shirts, she starts to fear the worst. "What happened? Is Raven alright?" She immediately asks.
"He's going to be fine," Meg comforts.
"Raven is in the hospital, but the doctors say that he'll be able to leave in a few days at the earliest. At the latest, it might be a few weeks." Erik encourages, but fails to provide hope. "However," he sighs. "We probably will have to count him out of the war. He'll be in no condition to fight Asgard or Wonderland."
"At least he's okay," Alice breathes.
"Now," Meg chimes in happily. "How about we have something to eat. All this worry has made me hungry. Anyone else think so, too?"
Loki's stomach growls loudly. While blushing, he holds it and looks down.
Meg laugh. "I guess that makes two!"