WONDER ( Twisted Forbidden Tales ) Book Three

The Tweedle Club Part One

ALISSA

Coming to Dream City always left a bad taste in my mouth. Enzo and Zuri Tweedle were my worst enemies. Picking up Happy from the ground, his presence brought me a familiar calm. Haku and I, in our disguises, headed across the border of Dream City. The tall buildings and enticing lights and images displayed on the digital billboards were a dazzling temptation, but one can never let your guard down here. However, this time I wasn’t so uncomfortable and felt more at ease and safe holding Happy in my arms. Maybe it was because I knew he wasn’t your average pet cat. Happy just seemed more attuned, smarter, and wiser than a cat should be. For a moment, I wondered how he would be if he were human.

I shook my head and got back on track. As we approached, the sounds of laughter and music filled the air, mingling with the scent of exotic spices and sweet treats. The forest seemed to fade away, replaced by a bustling cityscape filled with neon signs and towering skyscrapers. It was as if we had stumbled into another world entirely, one where anything was possible.

The information Haku gave me all pointed to here in Dream City, more precisely, the Tweedle Club. Among the buildings were still some rough terrain and forest surroundings. The forbidden spell has made a lot of places here even more skewed than they already were. The only way to the Tweedle Club was a lit pathway between two tall cityscape buildings. Magic was used for the club, making the pathway visible at a certain time, drawing its customers in droves from the mysterious vibe alone.

Getting through the border was a piece of cake even with our disguises. The guards on the Dream Forest city border were friends of Haku and me, having built up a growing fan base like the Mad Bandit and Dark Rabbit around the lands. The original Mad Bandit had passed the torch over to me after my first year here in this place. Everything he taught and showed me in order to survive here would stay engraved in my soul forever. The only strange glances we got were because of Happy, his purple-striped color fur stood out along with his cheesy smile, which added to the uniqueness that was my title in my bandit get-up.

Happy had been silent during the trip here. I knew he was observing things around him just like he did in our home. He just really wasn't a normal cat, it would be awesome if he could talk. I had a feeling we would get along quite well even if we butted heads.

“Stay on guard at all times Mad, the Tweedles are a tricky bunch,” whispered Haku as we walked the hidden magic path leading to the Club, our cloaks easily picked up on the hidden traps looming around us waiting to rap innocent victims unaware. As we reached closer to the entrance of the Tweedle Club, it was clear why this club was so popular and was packed despite its dark and ominous underground activities.

The Tweedle club was decked out in its usual neon gaudiness. Even so, the design and attraction still appealed to the masses. A sick feeling rose in my stomach as the memories that I wanted to forget tried resurfacing with each step I took further inside the club.

We entered with ease, with these particular identities. People only glanced at us for a second but kept their distance. The Mad Bandit was known to be crazy but always stood on the side of justice. Building this reputation took time and I could not be more grateful to the original mad bandit for taking me in after finding me almost near death not far from Dream City back then.

Happy let out a subtle purr in my arms. He must have felt my emotions. I needed to keep my focus in this place or the Tweedle’s scheme could easily pull you in without your knowledge. The spiral entwining staircases were a sight for the artistic eye at first glance. One would easily get led astray by choosing the wrong path, but Haku and I knew where we were headed and would not detour no matter what. Our cloaks were equipped with various amounts of protective spells, one of which lined a path like the one we should take.

Holding Happy closer to me, we finally reached the stairs that lead to the VIP private rooms above the club's dance area. It would not surprise me if the Tweedles were lying in wait because they had eyes everywhere and the tingling sensation I felt all around me when I entered was telling for itself. The real happenings were on this level, for the club had always been just a front. I made sure Haku stayed close by my side. In this place, he was a prime specimen of the sick games that went on here.

I couldn't wait to take them down one of these days, but Enzo and Zuri were more slippery to catch than most. They were more than likely to. The next, prey up above white the innocent victims were left none the wiser. Mixed in were the all-so-helpful accomplices who worked as bait to reel you in. Once you were caught, it was difficult to get away. The night would seduce you, it would compel you into an addiction to never leave of your own will.

The V.I.P. Lounge on the upper level was a lot more spacious than the one downstairs. Instead of an entrance rope gate to lift to gain access, a magic entrance barrier was put in place. This was something new and made me suspicious because in a place like this Enzo and Zuri were open about how they dealt with things. With the barrier entrance, it meant they had something here that they wanted to hide. This didn’t deter me though, I needed to confirm something, and they had the answers and information I would need to lead me where I needed to go in this case.

As expected, the three of us walked through with ease. Enzo and Zuri indeed seemed to know we were coming. How interesting? I secretly looked at Haku as he was walking in front of me. Haku worked in Heartland palace. I never asked what he did or his position, but it was clear he was close to the princess. Even knowing that some pieces of his story were slightly off to me, I still took on this job because the princess had not stepped up to do so. The number has been rising at an alarming rate of missing teens and elderly as of late.

There was no coincidence that his clues would lead here. If anything, Enzo and Zuri no doubt have their beady little hands in the trafficking business too. After passing the lounge, we came to a long hallway. On each side of the hall wall were four doors and at the very end of the hall in all its glowing neon multicolor glory sat the Premium V.I.P. room door.

Billows of green fog surrounded us, then dissipated to reveal a man standing at the door. As he waits in the VIP section, the atmosphere crackles with energy, the thumping bass of the music reverberating through the air. Neon lights pulse and flash, casting an otherworldly glow over the crowd below. The club is a labyrinth of shadows and secrets, each corner shrouded in mystery.

With a charming smile playing on his lips, his wavy, illustrious hair streaked with black added to his air of mystery. Each strand seemed to dance in the dim neon lights, enhancing his allure. His eyes, sharp and calculating, gleamed with mischief as he surveyed the room, plotting his next move.

His nose, slightly angular, added to his striking features, while his ears, adorned with subtle piercings, hinted at his rebellious nature. His mouth, framed by lips that promised both sweetness and danger, curved into a knowing smirk.

His skin, a warm olive tone, glowed under the neon lights, adding to his magnetism. The memories swarmed over me again, and I wanted to vomit at the mere thought of once being a victim in his hands back then. His outfit, a tailored ensemble of dark hues and bold textures, accentuated his sleek physique, drawing the eye with every step. All of this was his trap, to get one to let their guard down.

As he stood before the ominous yet alluring neon-colored door at the end of the VIP hall, his presence seemed to command the surrounding space. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation, a palpable tension that seemed to hang in the air.

Haku froze for a moment but then continued to walk forward. He was more on guard than I was and that made me proud. I wouldn’t let him be entrapped by them. Never again would I fall victim to Enzo and Zuri, never again would I believe that they were good friends.

In the depths of his eyes, a spark of intrigue flickered as he watched us approach, a hunger for the thrill of the unknown. I knew that for him, this was just another twisted game, another chance to outmaneuver his opponents and claim his prize. And as he waited, I could feel the thrill of anticipation coursing through him, driving him ever closer to his goal. But this time it was the goal he would never achieve, for I was here as the Mad Bandit and not the ever-naive Alissa that I once was back then.