The Big Bad Wolf

Chapter 3: Wonderland

(Big Bad/Brandon's POV)

"This city is beautiful.", I thought while staring into the vast expanse and twinkling lights of Wonderland, the capital of all things bright and hopeful. In this city, a poor man could be made rich and a rich man could be made poor in a matter of seconds. These streets were paved with golden opportunities, each one more lucrative than the last, but that wasn't the only thing they were known for.

In the shadows made by all the flashing lights and shiny cars, was an evil deeper and darker than any other. The back alleys and side streets of this town could scare the strongest of men with the things it kept secret behind its shadowy veils. A fool in Wonderland could fall and fall hard if he wasn't careful, but that only made the city more alluring. These streets were crawling with monsters, and I was the king of it all. Well, most of it all.

I sighed and sipped the dark-colored liquid I'd been nursing for the last few minutes as the sound of distant footsteps caught my attention. I waited patiently as they drew closer, preceding a round quiet taps at my door. "Come in.", I called just as quietly as whoever had knocked. The door opened, and I picked up the scent of one of my housekeepers. "Sir, I've just gotten news from the men you sent to get Ms. Red.", she spoke in a hushed, almost fearful tone. Her fear was understandable considering I knew she was the bearer of bad news. "Go on.", I replied before downing the last of my drink and sitting the glass on my desk with a loud thunk.

"It appears they didn't have any luck retrieving her. The men she escaped with made sure to keep her far enough from danger.", she answered and I could hear her heartbeat increase in speed. She wasn't telling me everything.

I turned to face her with a smile. She returned it purely for the sake of politeness, and I could tell she was struggling to maintain composure. She was terrified, but that didn't matter to me. "How many men did I lose, doll?", I questioned and listened to her heart rate increase yet again. Poor thing was tip-toeing on the edge of a heart attack. "A-almost all of them, sir. Only three of the eighteen survived. I've been informed that Ms. Red and one of her colleagues are responsible for that.", she explained in a whisper. I stared blankly at her watching as a tiny bead of sweat collected on her brow. I narrowed my eyes earning a harsh gulp from her and stared for a few moments longer. Eventually, I nodded and waved her away. "Thank you for the news, Ms. Smith. You can leave now.", I ordered while returning to my previous position at the window.

I could hear her sigh in relief and begin making her exit. "On second thought,", I started suddenly smirking at the sound of her breath hitching, "Maybe you should go home early tonight. You're looking a bit sickly, I do hope you're feeling well.". I glanced over my shoulder to see Ms. Smith standing frozen halfway in the door and halfway in the hall. "Is there something wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost!", I inquired feigning innocence. She smiled and shook her head a tiny bit harder than necessary. "It's nothing, sir. Thank you for your kindness, have a good rest of your night!", she answered with a bow before fully making her leave.

I smirked as I watched the lights of the city twinkle like the purest of diamonds. Midas might've owned this entire city, but there was something he didn't have. He didn't have a hold over the people's hearts or their fear. That... that was all mine.

(Back to normal POV)

Red stood quietly near the door of a very large, very familiar house as William and Arny checked to see if it was safe. After that fiasco on the highway, they'd traveled a bit longer to one of Grandfather's safe houses on the outskirts of the city. It looked like it had been abandoned for a few years, but it was evident that someone had been around recently.