“Why would they do that?” the Pillar asked. “Entertaining themselves?”
“Worse. It’s a trick. A master plan by whoever hired them.”
“I’m not doubting that at all. They fooled me into listening to Margaret’s conversation, and made me think I managed to time-travel through the Tom Tower when it was the doing of the Tick and Tock couple. The question is why.”
“Because according to some book concerning the rules of Wonderland time travel, whoever cheats death in the future is vulnerable to die within the next twenty-four hours as a consequence.”
“So getting the keys from the future was only a game?”
“I can’t believe we fell for their trick,” Fabiola said. “The keys can only be found in the past where Alice hid him them. Now Alice is obliged to travel to the past to get the keys and save her life. That’s what it’s all about.”
“How can she save her life in the past?”
“By finding something called the Wonder.”
The Pillar shrugged. Fabiola realized he knew what it was. “What’s the Wonder?”
“Something she shouldn’t find,” he said stiffly.
“What does that mean?” She was about to lash out at him again. Deep inside, she didn’t want to have this conversation with him. But she had to, so she could save Alice’s life, if possible.
“It’s a paradox. Two things that contradict each other. She won’t live if she doesn’t find her Wonder, and horrible things will happen to her if she does.”
“Don’t do this to me, Pillar. Don’t play those games with me.”
“Let’s not fight, Fabiola. Not now.”
“Then what do you suggest we do?”
“We have no choice,” the Pillar said. “Alice has to go back to fit into whatever plan they cooked up for her. She needs to get the keys and find her Wonder. The rest of the consequences are going to shatter us all. But they’re undeniable now. I’m such a fool. I should’ve read between the lines.”
“You messed up, Carter,” Fabiola said. Only she called him by his first name. Only she knew him well enough to do that. “Why don’t you just leave us be?”
“It’s you who called for me, Fabiola. Remember?”
“I hate you so much,” she said, gripping the door.
“Nothing new with that,” the Pillar said. “You always did. In return, I’ve always loved you.”
“Don’t start!” She loosened her grip and waved her other hand at him. “Just don’t. You don’t even know why I hate you now? It doesn’t have anything to do with the past. This is about now.”
“Why do you hate me now, Fabiola?” The Pillar sighed.
“Because this girl inside apparently isn’t Alice,” Fabiola said. “I’ve forced myself to pretend she was, over and over again. I tried to make it easy on her and not tell her the truth. And now, the poor girl is risking her life, and for what? If she dies within twenty-four hours it’s going to be your fault.”
“I’m aware of that,” the Pillar said without the slightest hint of sympathy. She couldn’t stand him being so cruel — or was he just too tough? “This still doesn’t justify why you hate me so much right now. What is it, really?”
Fabiola hesitated then said, “Because I love her. The girl is energy of light. Smart, ambitious, and has a heart of heroes.” She stamped one foot on the ground. “I bloody love her. And I swear to God, I’ll kill you if anything happens to her.”
Fabiola wiped away her tears and prepared to go back inside. She hated it when her anger surfaced like that. She had sworn not to give in to the woman she was in the past. Back in Wonderland, when she wasn’t a nun or a bartender, but the bravest of warriors.
“Fabiola,” the Pillar called after her. “When it’s over, I’ll be in Tom Quad in Oxford University.”
“So what?”
“I think you’ll want to see me once Alice returns to the past. Something horrible is going to happen then. We’ll have to talk about it.”
“You arrogant prick,” she said. “Why are you always sure of yourself? I don’t want to see you ever again.”
“If I had a mushroom for every time I heard you say this.” The Pillar rolled his cane in the air and walked away. “I’ll be waiting in Tom Quad. Trust me, you’ll come.”
Chapter 44
THE PRESENT: INSIDE THE INKLINGS, OXFORD
I’m back to the present life. My name is Alice and I hardly know who I really am. Names are the just the layer on top. You peel it off and there is the real you beneath. Have you ever seen the real you? Have you ever tried to?
Now that I’m back from the future, Fabiola returns to the Inklings, helping me drink a lot of water, cleaning off all the blood from my nose. She helps me sit and hands me a cup of milk and some food. We’re alone in the back room, waiting for Mr. Tick and Mrs. Tock to return. Although I want to smash their heads against the wall, there is nothing I can do to them. They’re practically immortal. I hate time so much right now.