Chapter 135: Tentative Question

Pre-Author Note: Please read the announcement in Author’s Thoughts section. Happy reading!

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After a rather eventful journey through the rest of the Outlands, one where they’d managed to unclog one of the tributaries that the Knave of Hearts had blocked to return some color to Wonderland, the scene Niall and Mary-Beth had filmed three days ago, was their very arrival at Time’s Castle of Eternity.

All they had needed to do at the time, was have varied expression on their features as they looked up at its imposing architecture.

Alice, looking on in a mix of wary determination. Alistair staring with unflinching resolve.

More than that, they’d caught up to the Knave of Hearts, just as he was about to open the massive gates to the Castle.

What followed that scene in particular, was what they were currently filming.

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{A Maddened Wonderland | 21st, March 2019 | Act 4 | Scene 4 | Take 10}

The Knave of Hearts slowly levitated above the ground, Chaos Magic swirling around him.

Even though he had the seal, Time seemed to have sensed something off about him and refused to open the gates nonetheless.

"Very well," The Knave spoke, a jaded apathy to his voice.

Immediately after, a flood of Chaos energy surged forward, morphing into astral hands that slowly began prying the gate open.

Time wouldn’t permit him entry willingly, yes. But as long as he had the seal, he could easily walk through its halls.

That was the only logical reason the gate didn’t just open and then directly trap him in, instead of barring him entry altogether.

Reaching the Well of Wonder afterwards would be a piece of cake.

Below...

"What’s rightfully yours will be returned to you, so when you get it, run! Run and don’t look back! You hear me?!" Alistair warned, his finger pointed at Alice and the lady promptly nodded.

Immediately after, Alistair surreptitiously placed a card in her hair with a sleight of hand, then flicked another to the ground in the same smooth motion with his other hand to distract her.

Jumping onto it, Alistair flung himself forwards and upwards, a surge of the familiar purple energy propelling and sending him crashing into the Knave of Hearts.

Between trying to maintain a delicate balance on his focus to prevent the seal from crumbling outside of its intended owner and trying to pry the gates open with as much force as he could, the Knave found himself unable to protect himself, both he and the young Hatter soaring high!

High and far above the castle, altogether.

In the same vein, Alistair whipped out a card between his fingers, using the distraction to his advantage to rip the seal from his hand!

Flicking a finger, the minuscule, incomprehensibly growing character veiled in a globule of Chaos energy hurtled downwards, instantly embedding itself right into Alice’s chest who stood far below!

The young lady audibly gasped for air, a well of energy she hadn’t realized she’d kept in her being immensely overwhelming her, her irises aglow for the briefest of moments.

Stabilizing her breathing a few seconds after, she immediately began a frantic run across the long drawbridge that would take her into Time’s Castle of Eternity!

"No!" the Knave of Hearts let out his very first visible show of fury, his Chaos-imbued fist connecting to Alistair’s jaw!

A sonic boom rippled through the air as the young hatter was launched backwards, only for his finger to flip out a card that enlarged behind his back.

The Knave of Hearts had already launched himself forwards to attack Alice and regain the seal...

...only for him to catch the sight of Alistair’s body sinking into the enlarged card like gelatinous rubber.

Within seconds, the young hatter was flung back towards him, a dangerous grin on his features.

Flicking several cards as he did, each one morphed into one unpredictable item after the other ranging from a small knife, to pillows, to a halberd, to a rubber duck and everything in between.

Swiftly, he launched them all at the Knave in quick succession before he reached him... only for them to flashbang him at the last minute before he could deflect them!

Alistair used the distraction, landing a Chaos-enhanced curb stomp to the man’s face mid-air, his form flipping mid-air as he flicked two cards and landed deftly on them to hover, his tail coat billowing in the breeze.

Equally flung backwards and downwards, the Knave of Hearts grunted in pain as he cartwheeled through the air.

Stabilizing himself a moment after, eyes widening upon realizing the improved control the young hatter had, the Knave’s expression went deathly cold.

Hovering in the air, his gaze laser-focused on Alistair who simply tilted his crooked top hat, he slowly raised an arm, outstretching it into an open palm as he charged a gargantuan beam.

Then he pulled a last-minute switch on Alice, the beam heading for the lady whom had already arrived at the gates which was already opening!

"Alice!" Alistair bellowed, his form already hurtling towards her, courtesy of multiple playing cards he’d already stacked beneath his boots propelling him at a blitzingly frightening speed!

In a matter of seconds, he’d arrived before the beam just as Alice looked back, everything seemingly crawling to a halt as Alistair managed to curve the beam up with a swirling deck of cards.

Unfortunately, the impact sent him flying right through the maws of its half-opened gates, way before Alice could even manage to step in!

Immediately, the gate snapped shut and vanished from existence, locking not just her out, but the Knave as well!

"And...Cut!"

-

For a few minutes, Mark buried his face into the lead cinematographer’s camera, his gaze intent as he and the man exchanged a few words inaudible enough for everyone else to hear on set.

Then, bobbing his head in satisfaction, he raised his megaphone to his lips a moment after and said;

"Alright, everyone.Great job. Let’s take ten, then we’ll film the last scene of the day."

Most of the crew members on set seemed to smile in clear excitement mixed with visible relief.

Granted they hadn’t used as many cuts between the scenes at they usually would’ve thanks to The Volume (at least a makeshift version of it), it hadn’t detracted from the fact that it had been one of the most intensive scenes they’d had to film in the whole movie.

In fact, considering Niall, Johnny, Mary-Beth and Johnny’s stunt double all had to get on the hydraulic platform at frequent intervals to bring the scene to life, it was a miracle they’d managed to have it all filmed before this late into the afternoon without tapping out from exhaustion.

Quickly, two of the production assistants walked over to the actors and stunt actor, handing over bottles of water they were more than grateful for.

In any case, the scenes following after would be one of The Knave of Hearts trying to retrieve the seal from Alice yet again...

...only for the cards Alistair had secretly placed in her hair for protection to be the one to save her.

Actually, they’d filmed this scene much earlier since they began the movie’s production.

However, after realizing that Mary-Beth had more to give than her previous acting in the scene, Mark had figured she could improve upon said scene to really sell the almost palpable breakdown she had in the scene.

In any case, Niall was currently seated in a corner of the set, waiting for the scene to be filmed as he took a few gulps of water.

Soon enough, Mary-Beth walked up to him, a rather bothered look on her features.

Upon noticing this, Niall raised his gaze to her and asked, a genuine concern to his tone;

"Hey, Mary-Beth. What’s up? You good?"

"I’m... I’m fine," she replied, nervously running her hand through her hair.

Then she tried to speak, only to pause almost immediately afterwards whilst fiddling with her hands.

Seemingly unsure of whether she should even proceed or not with what seemed to be a question, Niall watched her perambulate for a while, his expression curious and his head tilted slightly.

Having settled into a decision a moment after though, she then spoke, her tone tentative;

"Forgive me, if it’s too personal Niall, but how can you be so passionate about your work that an attempted murder on your life barely fazes you from continuing with it?"

To that, the young star had a rather surprised on his look as he inwardly remarked;

’That’s what’s bothering her?’

Nonetheless,

"I don’t mind, but why do you ask?" Niall asked instead, his expression curious as to why she wanted to know.

For a brief moment, the lady was reluctant to respond.

Eventually, she ended up replying;

"You remember that day you asked me on set why I was holding back?"

Niall nodded in the affirmative, his curiosity increasing.

"Well," the lady took a seat next to him and then proceeded to briefly give him a download of everything she’d had to deal with in her life thus far and her supposed lack of passion for acting.

To that, Niall heaved in a deep breath, a certain sense of heaviness washing over him.

Then, after mulling over for a bit, he proceeded to give her his honest thoughts.