Page 9 of Wonderland Asylum (Wonderland Killers #1)

EIGHT

Where's Sierra Rose

I'll never get the image of her lifeless body out of my head. Something evil is going on at Wonderland.

-Presley Kate

I've received three more letters from TKOH since finding the one on my pillow at Kai's frat house. One seems more desperate than the next, and it's past the point of freaking me out.

I read them again one by one. If they continue, I’ll have no choice but to tell my stepbrothers.

1.

Dearest Presley Kate,

Why haven't you written me back? I watch for you always. It’s like I can feel you slipping away, but you have to realize I’ll never let you go.

With All My Love,

TKOH

2.

Dearest Presley,

Thoughts of you consume me, and your plan to ignore me has driven me insane. In fact, it’s what made me realize you’d be the perfect Queen.

To win your heart I'll write you sonnets, and bring you more dead roses.

What do I have to do to prove my love? Our hearts will forever be linked together.

Forever Yours,

TKOH

3.

My Dearest,

All I want is your heart, but you've hidden yourself away from me. Drastic times call for drastic measures. I'll fade into the background for now, but there will be signs that I’m waiting.

Love,

TKOH

P.S. Our love will live on, even in death.

It's been five days, and I haven't received another letter. I know he’s still there, watching me—toying with me. I’ve hidden myself away, and I haven’t come out except for work.

What does he want from me? The irrational side of me is still hoping that this was just a cruel joke, and when I didn't respond they decided to move on.

Even though I haven't stopped looking over my shoulder every time I leave my room, I'm getting more comfortable with the idea that this could be a prank. The thought makes me feel better at least.

These letters are the least of my problems. The rumor mill has been on a constant loop with accounts of the fight that happened between Kai and Chad. It's embarrassing, if all the guys were scared to touch me before, now they are damn near pissing in their pants scared.

Taking a cue from my "secret admirer", drastic times do call for drastic measures. I've always said that I'd never try online dating, but in this climate, my stepbrothers have left me with no other choice.

Late last night I downloaded the Pixie Hollow dating app, Twisted. I've talked to three guys so far. None of them have given me butterflies, but I'm open to possibilities.

Sliding into my favorite booth in the Wonderland cafeteria, I order chicken tenders, mac and cheese, and a Dr. Pepper Zero.

It's not Gunner’s cooking, but it’ll do in a pinch. My stepbrothers have meetings today, so they can’t eat with me.

For the second time today, I open my Twisted app. I get excited, because there’s new options in my inbox. The username of the one on bottom grabs my attention, so I check his first.

Lionhart: Hi!

Short, and to the point. I like it. A simple message isn’t a bad thing. Especially when I’ve been sent more dicks pics than any one person should be sent in their lifetime. Those guys were blocked and deleted in 2.5 seconds. Also, unpopular opinion, dicks really aren’t the cutest.

PKRules: Hey. I like your username. How long have you been here at PHU?

Lionhart: Thank you. I haven’t been here very long, but it seems like a cool place. How about a date?

Wow. This guy doesn’t screw around, and I have to admit, I’ve got some lite butterflies fluttering around.

PKRules: Only if you play your cards right.

Lionhart: I never lose a hand.

I giggle.

PKRules: Okay Mr. Lionhart, you have my attention.

Unfortunately, its time for me to clock back in so that I can make my rounds on time. When Lukas's room comes into view, I knock cautiously. He's the sweetest person, but that doesn't stop my heart from speeding up a little.

It's the fact that the Madd Hatter may be in control that's got me. When someone has their condition you never know which personality will be in charge at any given moment, and I don't like surprises.

Thankfully, it’s Lukas that answers the door. "Hi. It's time for your night meds."

He blushes. "Thanks PK. How's everything going tonight? "

"It's all good. Sierra Rose wasn't in her room though. Do you know where she might be?"

He shrugs. "We saw her in the courtyard earlier. I've told Dr. Jekyll, something's going on with her. Please, don't go out there and try to find her by yourself."

I shake my head. "I won't. I’m going to text Gunner, and make sure he knows.”

Me: I'm handing out nighttime meds, and Sierra Rose isn't in her room. Lukas said he saw her in the courtyard earlier acting weird. Should I go?

Daddy Dearest: No! Stay where you are. Kai's coming to watch over you while I help search the grounds.

Me:It's not so serious that he needs to watch over me.

Daddy Dearest: Maybe not, but he's still on his way.

Me: What are you not telling me?

Of course, there's crickets, I knew there was no chance he'd answer me. Walking with purpose, Kai comes to stand beside me with a smile. "Wazzz up?"

"Stop smiling at me." I roll my eyes.

He chuckles. "Nope."

"What's going on? And don't say nothing."

"Come on, Princess, don't give me a hard time."

"Ummm...have you met me?"

He smiles, then throws his arm over my shoulder, sending chills down my spine. “What’s up, Lukas.”

Lukas nods in his direction. “Let me know if you need any help. See ya later, PK.”

He shuts his door, and Kai maneuvers me to the nurses station. "I don't know if anything is wrong. You sent Gunner into panic mode when you asked if you should go after Sierra Rose. He's been uneasy since she said that shit at tea time the other week. Honestly, I just think she's unstable."

I nod, but turn my face so he can’t see it. She may be unstable, but she wasn’t wrong about my admirer. "Thank you for filling me in.”

The static of Kai's walkie-talkie goes off, and Gunner’s voice is filled with concern."We need you out here, put Presley in the safe room."

Blindly, I follow Kai, to the basement where the secret passageway that is the safe room is located. Gunner's never given him that command before. Not even when two of the most dangerous patients escaped from lockdown last year. This is serious.

Bending down, Kai gently kisses my forehead. "Don't open this door for anyone, I'll be back to pick you up as soon as we're done."

I cling to him. "Please be careful, and take care of Gunner."

"Don't be afraid, I'm sure it's nothing. You know how anal he gets." He reassures me.

"Do you promise to tell me what's going on?" Leaning back, I make him meet my gaze.

"I promise, even though he won't like it." He admits.

Turning me around he slaps my ass, and ushers me inside. He does a once around to make sure no one is hiding in the corner before he leaves.

I lock the door behind him, and sit on the lone red velvet couch in the corner of the room. Besides a lamp, and a bookcase that has only nonfiction books on the shelf there's nothing else in here.

I feel like they could have planned this safe room out a little bit better. There's no entertainment and my phone won't work down here. I definitely don’t want to read a nonfiction book.

After an hour passes worry sets in, and I begin pacing around the small area. Being enclosed in a soundproof room with only my sounds to greet me is making me go bananas.

For him to be gone so long, whatever this is has to be bad. What if they're hurt and that's why they haven't come to get me yet? I need answers sooner rather than later.

I've spied on my stepbrothers before, and never gotten caught. As long as I take the east entrance to the courtyard there shouldn't be a problem. There's plenty of places to hide within the bushes on that side. My plan will only work if they’re still outside though.

My decision made, I unlock the door and quickly ascend the basement stairs. I’m definitely not a fan of the atmosphere down here, without Kai being with me, it's creepier than hell.

I hold my head high as I walk through the hallway, I don’t have to fake any confidence because the place is deserted. I shouldn’t receive any resistance when I head outside.

Which means they've put the place on lockdown. Alarm bells send my mind into a frenzy of doubt and intrigue. Something truly awful has happened. Will Sierra Rose be okay?

When I open the double doors that lead to my destination, the smell of blood and decay punches me right in the nose. It's strong enough to almost knock me on my ass.

Oh God. Lights from multiple police cars shine brightly through the trees as I wander into the abyss of the maze.

Voices weave their way toward me the closer I get to the crime scene. The police tape circles a large area in the middle of the clearing, lying within that perimeter all in a row are three dead bodies.

There's a reverence in how they were positioned. They are posed with their hands as if clasped together in prayer. Their vacant stares are turned toward me.

All three are women.

All three are dead.

All three are missing their hearts.

I don't know the first two, but the body closest to me is the Queen of Wonderland, Sierra Rose. I gasp when I notice the hollow crevice where her heart should be.

Her mangled breast hangs to the side, and almost makes me gasp. This was a brutal killing.

She's wearing a crown made of dead roses on the top of her head while her usual braided hair is undone. The raven curls cascade as if staged all around her and her white dress is stained with her blood.

My stepbrothers stand to the side talking with Dr. Jekyll who is pissed about what's happened.

What's most alarming is that seeing their bodies like this doesn't make me sick. I feel nothing, only numbness. Not for the first time do I realize something is very wrong with me, but this time I can't blame it on my mother.