Wonder (Insanity Book 5) by Cameron Jace Read Free Book Online Page B

the kinds of feelings of someone wanting to hurt another.
    What in the name of paws and claws was that?
    The thing that bothered him the most was that these were human feelings. The humans he’d hated all his life — and planned to hate for eternity.
    How were they capable of this?
    “Don’t fall for it,” he told himself. “It’s just a facade made by the hypocrite humans. They use it to pretend they love one another while they don’t. It’s a cliché. It’s cheesy; even more cheesy than Cheshire cheese itself. Jub Jub and slithy and full of rotten mushrooms.”
    But still he knew it wasn’t really that. Because Jack was practically dead. And if not, the Cheshire had never possessed a soul that had the ability to mess with his brain.
    These were Jack’s true feelings about a girl he met in school a few years ago. It was so weird that the Cheshire began seeing her picture before his cat’s eyes. Not the usual black and white, but very colorful this time.
    The Cheshire heard his phone ring. It was Margaret. She was probably calling to ask about the progress of her plan. He picked up and said, “Jack speaking.”
    “What did you say?” the Duchess roared.
    The Cheshire hadn’t meant to say he was Jack. He realized that he was falling in love with Jack. Maybe Alice. Maybe both.
    Because who the heck exuded so much emotion toward a person who’d killed them in a bus accident?
     

Chapter 20

T HE F UTURE: O XFORD
     
    “Where are we going?” I ask the Pillar.
    “To meet someone who’ll help us with sneaking into the asylum.” The Pillar honks for the fun of it.
    “Someone? Who? Are they going to lend us doctor uniforms?”
    “That wouldn’t work with the Reds at this time. They can smell the likes of me and you a mile away.”
    “Then who?”
    “Someone who’s practically our enemy.”
    “Why would we use an enemy to help us?”
    “Because he has a gift like nobody else.”
    “Stop the puzzles, Pillar. Who?”
    “The Cheshire.”
    I say nothing for a moment. I know how much the Pillar and the Cheshire hate each other. I also have no idea how the Cheshire might help.
    “He’s lost his mind in the future. Really lost his mind. He is homeless now. Like most cats in this life.”
    I glance back at the dog we saved. He’s sleeping serenely after a big meal. “Homeless? The Cheshire?”
    “I know it doesn’t make sense. He should be Black Chess’s favorite monster, after all he did for them to win the war.”
    “Then what happened to him?”
    The Pillar stops the car near an abandoned building. “He’s fallen in love.”
    “The Cheshire?” I laugh. “No way.”
    “Yes way,” the Pillar says. “You didn’t ask with whom.”
    “I don’t think I want to know. First I need the fact that he fell in love to sink in,” I say. “I mean how? He doesn’t even have a real face. Who’d love someone with no face?”
    “I didn’t say he was loved back.”
    “Wow. That’s even more surprising. Are you saying the evil Cheshire is a hapless romantic now?”
    “Indeed.” He jumps out of the car, pulling his cane along.
    I follow him down. Apparently we’re entering that abandoned building. “So who’s the unlucky girl? Or is it a cat?”
    “No, it’s a girl,” the Pillar says slowly. “And it’s someone you know very well.”
    “Waltraud Wagner, my warden, would be a candidate.”
    “No, Alice. The Cheshire is in love with you.”
     

Chapter 21
     
    We step into the abandoned building, passing by a few homeless people. Insane ones, the Pillar says. That’s why he has his rifle with him. I follow him, awaiting an answer to my question: Why would the Cheshire be in love with me?
    “It’s complicated,” the Pillar says, looking sideways, in case we get attacked by another group of mad people. “Let’s start with him not really looking like a Cheshire at the moment.”
    “What’s new? I wouldn’t be surprised if he is possessing a priest.”
    “Worse.” The Pillar ducks,