Read Online Family (Insanity Book 7) by Cameron Jace - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Cameron Jace
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finger at the Pillar, who avoided it the way you avoid an annoying mosquito.
“Why are there tunnels underneath the floor?” I ask.
“Lewis Carroll was a devoted supporter to mental illnesses, because he was worried he was mentally ill himself. The migraines had increased and he had recurring relapses of blackouts where he didn’t remember what he was doing,” the Pillar says. “He ended up investing in the Radcliffe Asylum to cure himself, and later, to have Tom Truckle create an Inkling army of Mushroomers.”
“It doesn’t explain the tunnels.”
“The tunnels were Carroll’s Plan B to escape if Black Chess ever attacked, just like today.”
“But Tom told me there is no way out, only a contained bunker of some sorts. The walls and all that.”
“That’s part of the truth.” The Pillar shushes Tom before an attempt to object. “Lewis never told Tom about the tunnels.”
“And he told you?” I mock him.
“No, he didn’t. I learned about them later,” the Pillar says. “The reason why he hadn't told Tom is that the tunnels were a mess. Lewis wasn’t a good architect. He screwed up the math. Most tunnels reached dead ends and never led the way outside.”
“Then how did you get outside?”
“I used my own magic spell. It widened the size of the tunnels and lead to a backstreet, right underneath a public toilet,” the Pillar says. “Unless you’ve got something against the smell of human urine and poop, I shall show you.”
His remark almost makes me laugh. Sometimes I feel as if the Pillar has a spell on me. This unexplained feeling of caring for an unethical person like him urges me to ask the question I’ve postponed so long.
“Pillar.” I dance on my tiptoes, feeling tense. “We’re not leaving before you answer an important question.”
“Again?” He sighs impatiently. “We’re about to get killed.”
“I don’t care, besides you said they might be bluffing.”
“Questions will get you nowhere, Alice. It’s all in the Wonder note.”
“I doubt this question is.”
“What do you want to ask me, Alice?” His voice stiffens and he knocks his cane against the floor.
“Are you my father?”
Suddenly, the air in the room isn’t enough for both of us to keep breathing anymore.
Chapter 31
White Hearts Hospital Asylum
“You think they’re really breaking in?” Fabiola asked Lewis.
“They’re bluffing. Just trying to scare them to get out. This plan requires convincing the public that the Queen of Hearts and her men did the best before they shoot them dead.”
“I see,” Fabiola says.
Lewis stares back at her for a minute too long. The silence almost suffocates her.
“What is it, Lewis?”
“I’m wondering if you were going to leave to go to the asylum and take Alice’s side?”
Fabiola didn’t find the right words to answer. She never had.
“I mean you’re confusing me, Fabiola. Most of the time you want Alice killed…”
“You know how evil she can be.” Fabiola felt the need to explain.
“Then, in Russia, you took a stab in the back for her.”
Fabiola pursed her lips, thinking. “It was different in Russia.”
“How different?”
“The way she fought.”
“Tell me about it.” Lewis looked proud of Alice.
“She was unstoppable, so strong, as if she would not rest before she rid the world of every last Black Chess.”
“I assume she reminded you of yourself, back in Wonderland.”
“She did.” Fabiola nodded. “I had to stand by her side when I saw that.”
“Why not stand by her side now?”
“Because I still fear her, Lewis. Remember her family?”
“What she did would be considered brave by some.”
“Pure lunacy by most,” Fabiola said.
“She needs you, Fabiola.”
“I’m not sure she does.”
“She is young. It’s hard for her to ask for help. You were the same when you were her age, so stubborn.”
“I know.” Fabiola fumbled with the covers on her bed. “But then, it’s also you,
“Why are there tunnels underneath the floor?” I ask.
“Lewis Carroll was a devoted supporter to mental illnesses, because he was worried he was mentally ill himself. The migraines had increased and he had recurring relapses of blackouts where he didn’t remember what he was doing,” the Pillar says. “He ended up investing in the Radcliffe Asylum to cure himself, and later, to have Tom Truckle create an Inkling army of Mushroomers.”
“It doesn’t explain the tunnels.”
“The tunnels were Carroll’s Plan B to escape if Black Chess ever attacked, just like today.”
“But Tom told me there is no way out, only a contained bunker of some sorts. The walls and all that.”
“That’s part of the truth.” The Pillar shushes Tom before an attempt to object. “Lewis never told Tom about the tunnels.”
“And he told you?” I mock him.
“No, he didn’t. I learned about them later,” the Pillar says. “The reason why he hadn't told Tom is that the tunnels were a mess. Lewis wasn’t a good architect. He screwed up the math. Most tunnels reached dead ends and never led the way outside.”
“Then how did you get outside?”
“I used my own magic spell. It widened the size of the tunnels and lead to a backstreet, right underneath a public toilet,” the Pillar says. “Unless you’ve got something against the smell of human urine and poop, I shall show you.”
His remark almost makes me laugh. Sometimes I feel as if the Pillar has a spell on me. This unexplained feeling of caring for an unethical person like him urges me to ask the question I’ve postponed so long.
“Pillar.” I dance on my tiptoes, feeling tense. “We’re not leaving before you answer an important question.”
“Again?” He sighs impatiently. “We’re about to get killed.”
“I don’t care, besides you said they might be bluffing.”
“Questions will get you nowhere, Alice. It’s all in the Wonder note.”
“I doubt this question is.”
“What do you want to ask me, Alice?” His voice stiffens and he knocks his cane against the floor.
“Are you my father?”
Suddenly, the air in the room isn’t enough for both of us to keep breathing anymore.
Chapter 31
White Hearts Hospital Asylum
“You think they’re really breaking in?” Fabiola asked Lewis.
“They’re bluffing. Just trying to scare them to get out. This plan requires convincing the public that the Queen of Hearts and her men did the best before they shoot them dead.”
“I see,” Fabiola says.
Lewis stares back at her for a minute too long. The silence almost suffocates her.
“What is it, Lewis?”
“I’m wondering if you were going to leave to go to the asylum and take Alice’s side?”
Fabiola didn’t find the right words to answer. She never had.
“I mean you’re confusing me, Fabiola. Most of the time you want Alice killed…”
“You know how evil she can be.” Fabiola felt the need to explain.
“Then, in Russia, you took a stab in the back for her.”
Fabiola pursed her lips, thinking. “It was different in Russia.”
“How different?”
“The way she fought.”
“Tell me about it.” Lewis looked proud of Alice.
“She was unstoppable, so strong, as if she would not rest before she rid the world of every last Black Chess.”
“I assume she reminded you of yourself, back in Wonderland.”
“She did.” Fabiola nodded. “I had to stand by her side when I saw that.”
“Why not stand by her side now?”
“Because I still fear her, Lewis. Remember her family?”
“What she did would be considered brave by some.”
“Pure lunacy by most,” Fabiola said.
“She needs you, Fabiola.”
“I’m not sure she does.”
“She is young. It’s hard for her to ask for help. You were the same when you were her age, so stubborn.”
“I know.” Fabiola fumbled with the covers on her bed. “But then, it’s also you,
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