The Adventures of Alice and Max
Chapter 23: Alice and Max are NOT OK
Alice and Max trembled as the thug kids roughly covered their heads with black bags. They didn’t know where they were being taken but they knew one thing: they were kidnapped.
The car sped off down into a main drag and eventually led them onto a highway. A highway that went off into the lonely outskirts of the City where few people lived.
With the car stopping and slowing down, they could hear the ruffling of the muffler as it slid into a protective covering. That much they knew. Abruptly, the car jerked forward and stopped as the two kids were forced out.
As the two bags were taken off, they could see they were in a tiny car garage and then they were violently led into a room where the goons left them, shutting the door.
“You can’t do this to us! What’re you doing?” Alice screamed bloody murder. Hope dwindled. Faith slipped from their grasp. Love seemed far away.
“It’s gonna be OK,” Max managed.
“No, it’s not Max, we left Lily with the baby.”
“There’s nothing we can do. We have to figure out how to get outta here!” They stopped for a second because they heard shouts and muffled footsteps outside. Stairs were being trampled upon and voices swept up to their ears. The doors burst wide open.
“Let’s go!” The four kids all squeezed both sides of their arms and led them outside. On the other side of the door, a whole playground lay before them. It had monkey bars, slides, and everything you would hope for in a ground for playing.
A whole squad of teens of different ages, sizes, and colors were all about. Running and talking lively with banter that would surely never end, kids smoked cigarettes passing them along for a drag. Small kids lounged on concrete walls listening to tunes, talking about where they came from and who they were before. Fields lay ahead of them outside the gated playground. More kids were out running freely. Dead woods were on the outskirts of the many acres where branches on the trees were all rotted and black. The sky danced with turquoise clouds on the darkened day.
“Welcome to paradise. Hope you like it,” the tall brute said. “We’ll bring ya to Muze first, then get you situated. He’ll tell us where you’ll be stayin’. His house, his rules.” Alice and Max looked at each other, terrified of what was coming next.
They were led into the main building. Inside, kids were all scrounging for snacks and wrestling in the hallways. None of the thug kids batted an eye. They didn’t seem to care as they went up to the top floor. It was quiet and it smelled of some sweet and musty aroma giving off an attractive scent. It made Alice calm and she liked it, begrudgingly.
Opening the door, the kids brought in the two and put them into the welcoming chairs. The room was vast and held many hidden pleasures within. Tiny lanterns with strange lava flying inside them painted the massive desk in the back of the room. Elk heads and a bear head decked the blue walls and furnishings of strange make in a cluttered mess.
The main steel black desk was giant with papers all scattered about and an older kid teenager of about eighteen sat in the dark leather chair waiting for them.
“Thanks, guys,” he said genuinely to his henchmen. “You can shut the door.”
“What about our payment, sir?” the driver of the thugs said.
“After I’m done, Pig,” Muze said. Pig and the two went on, but the Brute stayed standing in the corner, waiting to strike if needed.
Muze briskly paced the floor. “What’s going on?” he said cheerfully with a broad smile.
“Why did you take us?” Alice said, accusing him.
He kept smiling, “Why not? Were you going somewhere? Had a better place to be than this?”
“Yes, actually,” Alice said.
“That’s where you’re wrong, honey. You see that City out there? I saved you. I saved you from all of the dangers out there. You’re in a new place.” Alice perked up. “This is paradise. A kid’s paradise without any rules of grown-ups. No adults allowed. None whatsoever. Everything here is for you. Made for you, designed for you, kids. Small children, teens, outcasts, orphans, all belong here. Every. Single. Child. Period.”
“We kinda liked being out there,” Max said.
“Sir,” the big brute said. “I think these are the two on the TV. Remember we saw them a few days ago on that show?”
Muze looked up, “Oh, is that so? Max… I remember. Chance, was it?”
Max was confused. “How’d you know that?”
“We saw on the TV, dummy. That show is ridiculous. I can’t believe people pay to watch that. We have some survivors here from that terrible place. That guy was a psycho, but you killed him.”
“I did.”
“Well, I should be thanking you two. We’ll celebrate, tonight. Guys, tell everyone. We’ll have a big bash. Scavenge some extra food and drink for tonight. Abe, you lead the men.”
“Got it.” Abe turned and left.
“So, what’s your name?” Muze looked at Alice.
“I’m Max.”
“Not you,” he glared. “You, pretty face.” He smiled.
“Alice,” she said. “I’m not gonna kiss you if that’s what you want.”
He laughed as walked back to his seat, “And I don’t expect you to. I just know beauty when I see it. You’re free to come and go as you choose.”
“Why did you take us like that? Against our own will?” she asked.
“Because some kids don’t know what’s good for them. Some are so broken that they’ve forgotten what love was like. What sanity’s like, what anything good is. Some need to be brought to a place and be reminded. Some have never experienced anything like this before. Some would never come because they would think I was lying or it was too good to be true. They’ve forgotten what it was like. They’ve been betrayed countless times. I think you two have as well. Am I right?”
They nodded.
“So, Max,” Muze said. “What about you? What can you do?”
“Me? Well, I can lead people pretty good. I can fight.”
“Alright, good. We’ll find something for you to do. And Alice, what about you? What can you bring to the table?”
“I’m resourceful. I can hunt, fish. Teach others if you’re willing.”
“Good with a weapon?”
“Of course,” she said flatly.
Muze chuckled, “Well good. I like you, Alice. I like you a lot.” Alice blushed and chuckled.
Max’s chest started to boil with anger. “So, what do you do here? Muze, is it?”
“Yep, you got it, pal. Muze because I like to think deeply about things, make music, paint a picture, sing a song. I love that. And so can you. The world is your oyster, you two. Imagine it and you can do it! Like this place: I imagined one day that there would be a safe place for kids like me, a place where anything’s possible. Outside the City here, we’re safe. No one can touch you. But there’s a price.”
“Here it comes,” Max said.
“Nothing terrible we only ask that you give us something in return: your obedience.” Max rolled his eyes. “Whatever I think is appropriate for the group is deemed sacred. Understand?” The two eyed each other when his back was turned.
“Yeah, we get it,” Alice said with a sly smirk. Her innocent grin calmed Muze.
“So, we understand each other. Any other questions for me?”
“Just one,” Alice said. “How many kids are here?”
“Oh, too many to count. Most sleep in here. There’re tents on the other side of the facility where the new kids live. Unfortunately, you’re gonna have to sleep in a tent. Work for you?” Having no choice, they agreed.
“Great, well it was a pleasure meeting you both. Especially you, Alice.” Muze beamed at her warmly and she smiled back with a wink. Once they passed through, Alice sighed with relief.
“So, I guess you’re gonna have to watch yourself,” Max said slyly.
“He’s trying to play it cool, but I know what he’s up to. Please look out for me.”
“What are friends for?” he said with a wink.
The thug kids, Abe and Pig, led them outside to where the tents were situated. About twenty tents all lined up on either side with different kids sleeping, cooking, and playing card games inside each one. The rain clouds started to move in. Then rain poured down.
“Come on, in here! Faster, faster!” They forced them into a free tent. Clouds poured down buckets of rain onto all of the kids. The thugs left them in a flash. Situating themselves comfortably, the rain then stopped in a moment.
The quiet was freeing. The smell of the remnant of the wet cold rain was satisfying.
“Well, this sucks,” Max said.
“Yeah, I want Miss Rose,” Alice said.
“Remember, no home,” Max said quietly. Alice nodded affirming. “Remember, Ty?”
She smiled, “Yeah, what about him?”
“I think I see him.” He pointed. A young kid a little bit older than them was sitting and laughing in a cozy tent with three other kids. Alice looked behind her shoulder and saw their friend, Ty.
“How my… Ty!” she dashed after him and went inside the tent. Max followed behind.
“What are you doing here? I thought you were gone forever, Ty!” She hugged him and kissed his cheek.
“Alice! What’s goin’ on? Max, buddy! How are you?” They all embraced warmly and were introduced to Ty’s friends. They all exchanged names and greeted each other heartily.
“Hey, I’ll catch up with you guys later. I haven’t seen these two in a minute.”
“We were just gonna go play kickball. You’re more than welcome to come join us later if you want,” one girl said.
“Great to meet you!” Alice said. The three kids ran off. “What happened to you, Ty?”
Ty sighed deeply. “What hasn’t happened to me?”
“Yeah, man, we never knew what happened to the older kids,” Max said. “We never hear from them.”
Ty was quiet. He was always reflective, but he seemed disturbed by something. “And there’s a reason for that.”
“Oh, no,” Alice said, horrified, her imagination causing stress.
He looked around worried, anxiety loomed over him. “They don’t take us to a better place,” he said whispering. “Jezebel Sweed does terrible things.”
“Sweed? You mean our caretaker?” Max asked.
“Yes, she’s not who she seems,” Ty said trembling. “She’s in cahoots with the Queen. They have some deal. I don’t know exactly what it is, but… I know something is wrong.”
“What? How didja escape?” Alice asked.
“I was taken in the middle of the night. I knew something might happen because all older kids eventually get taken. You know that, I’m sure. That’s why you’re here.”
“No, we escaped, Ty. I knew that place was doing something evil.”
“Evil, that’s right. And so much more. I escaped too. They had me on this spaceship from the City. I pretended I was asleep and as soon as we landed I ran off into the rainy night. I was at the port and I found my way around quickly. But I was surrounded suddenly, but then this thing happened.
“There was this bright light that shone out of nowhere. It blinded the guards and I ran faster than I ever have in my life. And I just kept running until I was out of the City. The only grass, brown grass in the whole world, I think. This is where I ended up.”
“The light? Where did it come from,” Alice asked.
“I don’t know. It was everywhere. But it didn’t blind me, it led me to safety.” Max and Alice exchanged glances and thought about Mr. R.
“Is this place safe,” Alice asked.
“Very much so. You can do whatever you want here but you know the golden rule.”
“Undying obedience,” Max said.
“Exactly. Muze is a good guy but don’t cross him. Just keep your head down. That’s what I’ve done.”
“He’s definitely something,” Alice said smirking. “We were just questioned by him.”
“Watch your back, Alice. He has a thing for blonds.”
She rolled her eyes, “Of course, he does. I’ll be OK.” They talked for hours reminiscing about their life back in the orphanage. They laughed and hooted until their sides hurt and their faces became crimson. Tears filled their eyes and then they relaxed. The two hadn’t had that much fun in a long while.
“Hey, you wanna play kickball?” Ty said excitedly.
“Sounds like fun,” Max said.
“Yeah, let’s do it!” Alice chimed in.
The trio was off and joined in the kickball game out on the brownfield. The rain had ceased and three kids now joined the game. Some were playing and others were on the sidelines cheering. All played a good game and Alice’s team one.
They were finally living the life they always wanted. As children are supposed to live.
But Muze watched them play above in his isolated office. He leaned back in his comfy chair with a wicked smile. “Control. That’s what we want, Muze. Total control.”
To Be Continued…
