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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟑
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐊𝐍𝐀𝐕𝐄'𝐒 𝐄𝐗𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

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Despite wanting nothing more than to turn around and talk with his brother, Kaden hadn't moved from his spot since the Red Queen left. The Scarlet boy ignored the pleas from Will and kept his eyes glued to the empty cages in front of him. If it were up to him, Kaden would've unlocked the cell and helped his brother escape. Unfortunately, it wasn't up to him. Nothing had been up to him the moment his free will was taken away. And he was sick of it.

It wasn't long after Will gave up trying to get his brother back when the sound of heels clicking against metal filled the air. When Kaden turned toward the source of the sound, he found the Red Queen walking up the stairs with a determined look on her face. As soon as she got to the top landing, the blonde woman walked straight past her knight to stand in front of the Knave's cell. The two of them just stared at each other in silence for a long moment before Will finally decided to break it.

"What are you doing here?" the Scarlet man questioned without trying to hide the hatred in his voice, "I thought the whole point of becoming Queen was so that you never had to get your hands dirty again."

"Will, I still get my hands dirty," the Red Queen chuckled as she slowly approached his cage before stopping a foot away from the bars, "the only difference now is I get people to clean them off for me."

"So you've just come to gloat?" Will hissed while Anastasia continued to watch the brunette man with emotionless eyes, "remind yourself that you did the right thing all those years ago?"

"That's not why."

"Then why?"

For what felt like an eternity, all that was heard throughout the dungeon was the Red Queen's shaky breathing. Confusion flowed through Kaden's veins as he stared at the woman who he had never seen shed a tear. It took another moment for the blonde woman to gather her courage to respond to the man she once loved.

"I came to tell you that in a few minutes, the White Rabbit will be here with instructions to take you and Kaden out of Wonderland and back to where he found you," Anastasia explained, causing the blood in the younger Scarlet brother to run cold before his eyes fell to his glowing heart in the woman's hand.

"Will he now?"

"Will, I'm serious."

"Is this the part where you get to catch us escaping? Give you an excuse to kill us?" Will questioned while trying his hardest to the look of hope that began to form in Kaden's eyes.

"Will, I don't need an excuse to kill you. I need an excuse not to kill you," Anastasia explained while failing to hide the shakiness of her voice, "I'm involved with people who want you dead."

"Since when did you do what anyone told ya?" the Knave asked in a slightly mocking tone as his hateful eyes continued to scan over the woman he once loved.

"No. No, you don't understand. I'm trying to make it up to you."

"I don't need your pity, Ana."

"Actually, you do, because without my pity, you won't have a lot of things, including your head!" the Red Queen shouted after getting so close to the cell's bars that her nose was almost touching them, "so when the rabbit gets here-"

"I'm not going," the Scarlet man interrupted, snuffing out the small spark of hope that was forming in Kaden's chest.

"Oh, don't be a fool now, Will."

"If I'm a fool, it's only because you made me one," the brunette man retaliated while forcing himself not to look at his younger brother, "you're a terrible person who does terrible things to people. But I think there's one thing even you won't do."

"What's that?"

"Kill me," Will said in a tone just above a whisper before the two of them had another staring contest, "in fact, I dare you to kill me. Because personally, I don't think you've got it in ya."

"Will-" Kaden started, only to be cut off by the Red Queen raising her hand into the air.

"You should know better than anyone that the surest way to make me do something is to tell me that I can't," Anastasia hissed while keeping her arm straight up.

Will instantly got to his feet and stormed forward until he was standing directly in front of the blonde woman with nothing but the bars between them. "You can't."

The two of them continued their staredown for a moment longer before Anastasia turned around and stormed towards the exit. Kaden kept his eyes glued to the Red Queen until she was out of sight then turned his attention back towards his brother. A small wave of anger washed over him while Will continued to avoid eye contact with Kaden. The younger of the two kept his eyes glued to the Knave for a second longer before he turned and followed his queen.

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Indigo walked in front of Alice and Lizard along the stone path while ignoring their conversation. With all the thoughts bouncing around in her head, she wasn't really in the mood for small talk. Especially not with two people she barely knew. Though she would never admit it aloud, the Lark girl missed Will and their constant bantering. It gave her a sense of normalcy she hadn't felt in years. She longed for it and would give anything to get back to how her life used to be.

The Ace of Spades was soon pulled out of her thoughts when her eyes landed on a small group gathered in the distance. She just stared at them for a long moment before one of them started walking toward them. After making sure her hood was secured over her head, Indigo grabbed the man's arm and forced him to stop before she gestured toward the crowd.

"What's going on here?" the curly-haired girl asked after Alice and Lizard stopped behind her to listen in to the conversation.

"There's gonna be an execution," the stranger said with a large grin on his face and excitement in his voice then he continued on his way down the path.

Indigo took one look back at her traveling companions before he rushed toward the small group with Alice and Lizard on her tail. The three of them were stuck at the back of the crowd, unable to see what the excitement was all about. Annoyance washed over the Spade after the people failed to part for them when Alice asked nicely.

"I have a dagger," the Lark girl announced, making the group of Wonderlandians instantly scatter. A small smirk formed on Indigo's face as she walked past the shocked group and toward the posters nailed to the tree. However, as soon as her eyes landed on the familiar face on the poster, her smile fell and her blood ran cold.

"What's it say?" the Kingsleigh woman asked from her place behind the younger girl.

"Will...they're executing him," Indigo announced before looking back at Alice and Lizard with panic in her eyes, "today."

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Cheers from the Wonderlandians filled the air as Indigo, Alice, and Lizard entered the courtyard of the Red Queen's castle. The Ace of Spades scanned over the crowd for any sign of danger before her eyes went up to the balcony above her. Her heart instantly stopped when she spotted Kaden standing next to Anastasia with a stoic look on his face. That was the closest Indigo had been to the Scarlet boy since the day his heart was taken and the condition he was in broke her heart.

From what she could tell from her place in the courtyard, it looked as if the Red Knight hadn't slept in days. There were prominent bags under his eyes and he wasn't standing up as straight as he usually did. It seemed like he wanted to be anywhere but there, which was understandable. Who would want to witness their brother's execution?

"What's the catapult for?" Alice questioned, drawing Indigo's attention back to the situation at hand before her eyes fell on the large contraption in front of them.

"If you catch the head, you get a free dinner," Lizard responded after they watched the executioner slice a watermelon in half.

The three women watched the halved fruit as it slid down the ramp toward the catapult. Once it reached its destination, another man made sure it sat correctly in the catapult. It wasn't long after that when he pulled a lever and let the watermelon fly through the air. Everyone watched as it flew over their heads until it went over the tall wall and was out of sight.

"Still barbaric as ever," Alice muttered just loud enough for her companions to hear while the rest of the Wonderlandians resumed their cheering.

"We have to save Will," Indigo declared as she glared up at the Red Queen, who was waving down at her subjects with a large grin on her face.

"You have an idea?" Lizard questioned before she followed the curly-haired girl's gaze towards the balcony, "because this is looking bleak."

The Ace of Spades stayed silent while she kept her eyes glued to the woman who single-handedly ruined her life. That continued for a moment longer before her attention was drawn to Alice when she began to speak. "As a matter of fact, I do."

After Indigo helped Lizard knock out one of the executioners, she assisted Alice in getting into his uniform. The Ace of Spades zipped up the back of the bulky clothing while the Kingsleigh woman explained the rest of the plan. Once they all understood, the two brunettes left the courtyard and their blonde friend behind. Their walk soon turned into a run when they were away from the spectators before they found themselves in the hedge maze.

The two of them stayed hidden and let the silence surround them until it was broken by a loud alarm ringing in the distance. It wasn't long after that when the sound of footsteps against the stone ground cut through the air, causing Indigo and Lizard to share a concerned look. A small sigh passed over the curly-haired girl's lips as she unsheathed her dagger and prepared for the possible battle ahead. However, when she saw who was coming her way, Indigo couldn't help but let a large grin appear on her face.

"How the bloody h*ll do we get out of here?" the Knave of Hearts asked, only to jump when a hand was placed on his shoulder in response before he turned to look at Indigo and Lizard.

"Come on. This way," the Caterpillar's collector told them while the Ace of Spades gestured towards the path behind them.

"Lizard," Alice called, causing both the girl in question and Indigo to stop in their tracks before they looked back at the speaker, "you knocked him out cold."

"What were you thinking?" Will questioned as his eye scanned over the three women that surrounded him after Lizard let out a small chuckle, "all of you could've been killed."

"A simple 'thank you' would suffice," Indigo playfully scoffed before a small smirk appeared on her face.

"Thank you," the Scarlet man told her then he turned around to face his allies standing behind him, "all of you."

Before their conversation could continue, the sound of the Queen's guards cut through the air that surrounded them. The group of four quickly exchanged concerned looks before Lizard gestured for them to follow her. They continued to sprint through what seemed like a never-ending maze until they reached a small field in the center of the labyrinth. Right as they were about to run down another part of the maze, a silhouette appeared in the air in front of them. The group of four stopped in their tracks as the shadow got closer and closer. It wasn't long before a man on a magic carpet came into view.

"Hello, Alice," Jafar greeted while the woman in question just stared at him with wide eyes.

"Who's that?!" Lizard questioned without even trying to hide the shakiness in her voice.

"I'll tell you later," the Kingsleigh woman told them before she turned around to face the way they came, "we need to get out of-"

Alice cut herself off when her eyes landed on the Red Queen along with her Red Knight and the Tweedles blocking their only exit. Indigo just stared at the expressionless Kaden for a long moment before her attention moved toward Anastasia when she began speaking.

"Leaving so soon?" the blonde woman asked in a mocking tone as a sly smirk slowly formed on her face.

The next thing anyone knew, Lizard turned around and hurled her dagger straight at the raven-haired man behind him. To their dismay, the vizier used his magic to stop it inches from his face. Indigo just watched as the dagger fell to the ground before the powerful man lifted the brunette girl into the air and tossed her across the clearing. The Ace of Spades just stared at the unconscious Lizard for a long moment before her attention was drawn back to the man on the magic carpet when he began speaking. "I suppose it's time we met. My name is-"

"I know who you are, Jafar," Alice interrupted the sorcerer without even trying to hold back the disdain in her voice, "Cyrus has told me all about you."

"Interesting," Jafar responded with a hint of annoyance in his voice as he continued to glare at the blonde woman, "it seems I've learned a little bit about you today as well, Alice."

"And what was that?"

"That you're willing to do anything for a friend. Quite touching, actually," the raven-haired man stated before his eyes landed on the Knave and the Spade. The next thing anyone knew, Jafar stuck his hand out toward Indigo and Will. They soon felt their airways close and a snake-like pressure wrap around their necks. Their gasping was the only thing that could be heard in the small clearing before Indigo felt her feet leave the ground as the pressure around her neck grew even tighter.

"Stop it! They've done nothing!" the Lark girl barely heard Alice's pleas as she continued to struggle to get air into her lungs, "please! I beg you!"

"You don't have to beg, Alice. Just wish," Jafar told the Kingsleigh woman while keeping his hand aimed at the woman's friends.

"Anastasia..." Will managed to say as Indigo's tearful eyes landed on Kaden, who was staring back at her with eyes full of concern and panic.

"Just make a wish, Alice!" the Red Queen shouted while keeping her attention glued to the Scarlet man.

Silence surrounded them once again as the blonde woman stared at the two people who were willing to help her get back her one true love. She knew what she had to do, but she knew she wasn't going to like it. It wasn't long before she found herself looking over at Jafar with defiance in her tearful eyes. "I wish if the Knave or the Spade die, then I die!"

It wasn't long after that when the pressure around Indigo's neck vanished and she fell to the grassy floor. The Lark girl fought to stay conscious as she took deep breaths to fill her lungs with air. However, despite her effort to stay awake, the Ace of Spades soon succumbed to darkness.

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When Indigo finally came around from her forced sleep, she was greeted by silence. A shaky sigh passed over her lips as she looked up to find Jafar staring at Alice with determination in his eyes. That continued for what felt like an eternity before he turned and flew away. The Lark girl watched the sorcerer until he was out of sight before she glanced over at Will, only for her blood to run cold. Indigo didn't move from her place on the grass as she gazed up at the Knave of Hearts before she rushed to her feet.

Tears ran down the Ace of Spades' cheeks as she stared at the stone statue in front of her that was once her friend. She brought her hand up and placed it on his cheek while she let the river continue to flow from her eyes. It wasn't long after that when the sadness within her turned to anger before she turned around to face the Red Queen. The Lark girl's hands clenched into fists at her sides as she opened her mouth to speak. "Help him."

"Why would I want to do that, darling?" the blonde woman questioned in a mocking tone as the smirk on her face slowly grew.

Despite wanting to step forward and slap some sense into the Red Queen, the Ace of Spades managed to keep her cool. Instead, Indigo opted for simply taking a few steps toward Anastasia before stopping a foot away from her. The two women just stared at each other for a long moment as the tension around them became so thick you could cut it with a knife. Indigo studied the blonde woman for a moment longer before she opened her mouth to finally break the silence. "Because you loved him once...and I think deep down, beneath that mask you decide to put on every day, you still love him."

"You don't know me," the Red Queen hissed while keeping her hateful eyes glued to the girl standing in front of her.

"I know you better than you think, Anastasia," Indigo responded, causing the look on the woman's face to falter a bit as the former continued to glare at the latter, "you can still help him."

"She can help him!" the blonde woman shouted after she looked over in Alice's direction, "wish!"

The anger building up within Indigo soon became too much for her, which led to her swinging her fist at Anastasia without thinking about her actions. Just as her hand was about to make contact with the woman's cheek, the Red Queen used her magic to stop the Lark girl's movements. The two of them just stared at each other before the Red Queen started to chuckle after her eyes fell on the fist that was frozen inches from her face. "You do that, dear, and-"

"What? You'll kill me? You can't," Indigo retaliated with defiance in her voice after bringing her arm back down to her side, "you think you have the advantage, but you don't."

"I'm not the one whose friend turned to stone and whose love is in my possession," Anastasia stated with a small smile as she used her hand to gesture toward Kaden, who stood by her side with a blank expression on his face, "now, you can carry on behaving like the little girl you are. Or you can grow up and do what common sense compels you to do. Either way, you know where to find me."

Indigo just stared at the woman for a moment longer before the Red Queen turned around and walked toward the exit of the maze. While Alice went over to examine the statue that was formerly the Knave of Hearts, the Lark girl's attention fell on Kaden, who was already staring back at her. Their eyes stayed locked for what felt like an eternity before the questions running through her head seemed to vanish so one could stand out among the rest.

"You know if you don't try to get an answer now, you'll regret it," Jefferson's voice rang through her ears, causing Indigo to let out a long sigh before she finally built up enough courage to call out to the Red Queen.

"What's it gonna take to get you to give Kaden his heart back?"

The Red Queen stared blankly at the young girl for a moment as she studied all the emotions in Indigo's eyes. The same emotions that Anastasia once felt a long time ago.

"It's quite simple really," the blonde woman said while masking her true feelings with a bored tone, "just wish for it."

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