Page 96 of Wonder

He looks embarrassed. I offer him a smile. “Don’t be. I enjoyed it.”

Before he can say anything else, I stroll to the edge of the lights, staring up at where Red sits in the darkness.

“Well?” I shout it up to her. “I think we met yourcriteria.”

I don’t know about them, but I think that might’ve been the best show I’ve ever been to.

38 - Alyss

Slowly, the lights flicker back on, one by one.

Red smiles, but she looks unhappy as she reaches for the microphone. “That was…. quite the show.”

I hold her gaze. “We did what you asked. You told us we’d have a chance of getting out.”

My eyes slide to Hatter. “We. All of us.”

She grins. “So I did. Very well, then. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The chance toearnyour freedom.”

“That’s not what we agreed.” Hatter is on his feet, visibly shaking. His face shifts between mine and Red’s, anger filling it. “That wasn’t the deal, Red. They don’t need to earn it.”

“It’s the only deal I’m offering,” she says coldly. “And it’s more than they would have had otherwise. Now sit down and be a good boy.”

My head swivels between them, ice stealing up my throat at his words. “What have you done?What deal?”

The microphones pick up my voice, throw my question at him. “What did you promise her?”

Red smiles. “I mentioned that you had been sold, no? Hatter gave up the only thing he had left to offer to buy you a way out of here.”

She leans into him, possession in her eyes. “Himself. You may find yourself leaving Wonderland tonight, Alyss. But Hatter will stay.”

My eyes flicker to him. “Tell me she’s lying.”

He doesn’t say anything. Red’s hand slides over, gripping his leg. “A riddle.Oneriddle, and then you can leave. All of you. Except for Hatter, of course.”

Do you like riddles, Alyss Lidell?

Buck and Kayden come to stand beside me. I twist my head. Chess is groaning, Aiden beside him.

“How good are you at riddles?” Kayden asks. “Because Red isverygood.”

I take a breath. “Good enough. Ask, then.”

Red settles back in her chair, smiling.

“Tell me what the next three letters in this combination, and you can leave. Listen carefully. You’ll only hear it once.O,T,T,F,F,S,S.”

I blink. Beside me, Buck swears. “Fucking hell.”

“No,” I whisper. “This is… fine.”

Because I know the answer. A vague memory of Adam and I, bored at home, reading out riddles to each other and daring the other to guess.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

“Well?” Red’s lips stretch wide. “If I didn’t mention, there’s a time limit. Thirty seconds.”

I don’t look at her. I look at Hatter. “I’m coming back for you.”