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Christian raised the hammer once more and brought it crashing down onto Wally's skull again. Acting fast, Alice dashed forward and collided hard with him. Though they had played rough and wrestled time and time before, something was different now. Christian felt somewhat heavier. It was like running headlong into a minivan.

"Move, b***h," he chuckled before grabbing Alice by the hair and tossing her to the side. As she landed with a thud, she was sure which part of the experience was more painful. The collision, the yank at her hair or landing on the concrete. Barely managing to lift her head in time, she noticed that Christian was getting ready to strike once again.

Pushing herself up , she managed to throw herself close him, allowing her to reach up and sink her teeth into his leg. He let out a yelp of pain and shot a glare at her. It was then that she could tell that something was really wrong. Christian's irises had became red. Red as the blood that poured onto the concrete from Wally's skull.

He let out a wild untamed shriek and swung the hammer down at Alice's head. In sheer desperation, she rolled out the way. He snarled and turned to fully face her.

"I'm gonna ******** end you, you worthless wretch," Christian shouted as he raised the hammer up.

Acting on pure instinct, she threw a single punch up at him. It caught him in the groin and he immediately dropped the weapon as he clutched at his twig and berries. He let out a howl of pain as he dropped to his knees. Alice quickly rose up and simply watched as he howled in pain.

It was as if he was being tortured. She moved close and slowly dropped to pick up the hammer. Without taking her eyes from him, she rose with the hammer in her hand.

Christian continued to howl for another couple minutes while Alice moved to Wally and felt for a pulse. Nothing. He was gone. As tears started to form in her eyes over the brutal slaying of her friend, she noticed that the howling had stopped. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the man in the top hat standing in between the two tall men who appeared to be made of nothing but muscle. She recognized all of them from their pictures in the hallway. The Warden and his two henchmen.

Each one of the identical goons was wearing a nametag though she couldn't quite make out what they said. Slowly standing, she kept hold of the hammer. Turning to completely face them, the first thing she noticed was the cat. The blood red, smiling cat was perched on the warden's shoulder like a parrot. Glancing at the three of them, she became quite nervous. Finally moving her gaze to Christian, she saw that he was leaning against the wardens's legs. Unconscious.

"What did you do to him?" she asked. "Why did he go crazy? Why is he out cold? Who are you?"

"Nothing," the goons stated at exactly the same time. "We did nothing."

"Who the ******** are you?"

"Such language, Ms. Liddle," the cat said. "Are you sure she is the guest of honor you want, Warden?

The Warden nodded as he stared down at the unconscious form of Christian, his face still hidden. "Dee. Dum. Please escort Christian to the party and Alice, you look hungry," he said after a small pause, his twisted voice chilling her to the bone. "Please have a bite to eat. I insist."

Alice opened her mouth to speak but as soon as she did a bright light flashed in front of her. She covered her eyes and almost immediately, it dissipated. Uncovering them she found herself standing in what appeared to be the cafeteria. Her eyes darted around the room, more fear pouring into her psyche. Looking down she saw that she was standing next to the stack of trays in front of a long row of food.

Eyeing the food, she suddenly realized that she was hungry. Really hungry. She felt like she was starving. Then the idea came to her that she had no idea how long she'd been here. She started to place one hand on a tray when a male voice suddenly came from behind her.

"No, that's how they get you. You let your guard down and the crazy takes over."

Turning suddenly she stepped back as she saw another person from the hallway. The bucked-tooth, blonde doctor. Dr. O'Hare. His glasses were cracked and he was no longer smiling. He looked terrified and slightly deranged.

"You have to come with me," he said. "Before they find you again. You're life depends on it."