Page 69 of Knot My Wonderland

"Possible," Vee stated after a moment of consideration.

"Though taxing," Dee added, their dreamy voice carrying a note of strain. "Creating simultaneous corridors through the Forgotten Lands requires considerable energy."

"We can manage it," they concluded in unison, though I noticed both twins looked paler than before, their forms flickering slightly at the edges, “Though we won’t be able to do much else after.”

Heart stepped closer, his ruby eyes locking with mine. "If the Tweedles create a direct path to the Sanctuary, who goes with Alice?" The question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken territorial claims.

"I will," Chi said immediately, his form solidifying completely as he moved to my side.

"As will I," Varik added, adjusting his hat with practiced precision. "The Sanctuary responds to those who've visited before. I know its rhythms, its defenses."

The silver patterns beneath my skin flared painfully as another wave of visions crashed through my consciousness—Heart leading a desperate rescue through blood-soaked fields; the Red Queen standing amid ruins, her crown pulsing with stolen life force; myself at the center of the Sanctuary, silver light pouring from my hands as the pattern within me reached critical mass.

"We're wasting time," I gasped, reaching for the wall to steady myself as reality fractured around me. "Heart, go save your people. Chi and Varik will get me to the Sanctuary."

Through our connection, I felt Heart's reluctance warring with his sense of duty. The Heart Stone pulsed against my chest, warm with shared emotion that transcended the chaos of the Forgotten Lands.

"I'll return as soon as I can," Heart said finally, his ruby eyes holding mine with fierce intensity. "The stone will guide me back to you, no matter where in the Sanctuary you may be." He reached out, his fingers brushing mine in a touch that sent silver light spiraling where our skin connected. "Stay alive, Alice."

"You too," I whispered, the words inadequate for the complex emotions flowing through our bond.

Heart turned to the Tweedles, his expression hardening into the battle-ready mask of a resistance leader. "How quickly can you open both paths?"

"Simultaneously," Vee replied, already drawing intricate patterns in the air with his fingertips. Silver light trailed behind their movements, creating geometric shapes that hung suspended in the temporal currents.

"Within moments," Dee added, hisopalescent robes beginning to glow as they mirrored their twin's gestures. Where their fingers moved, reality bent and twisted, forming the skeleton of doorways that led to distant places.

Martha and the selected fighters gathered their gear with practiced efficiency, checking weapons and supplies one final time. The scarred young man—Thomas, I remembered—caught my eye as he secured his pack.

"Thank you," he said quietly, his voice carrying the weight of someone who understood the cost of the choice being made. "For what you're doing. For what you're becoming."

I nodded, not trusting my voice as another wave of visions washed over me. The silver patterns beneath my skin flared in response, creating luminous spirals that traced my veins like living calligraphy.

The Tweedles worked in perfect synchrony, their movements mirroring each other with uncanny precision as they wove reality into new configurations. Two doorways began to materialize—one shimmering with crimson energy that smelled faintly of smoke and battle, the other radiating a calm, steady silver light that somehow felt like sanctuary.

"The path to the Valley is unstable," Vee warned, silver monocle reflecting the chaotic energies they were channeling.

"Cross quickly, remain together," Dee added, sweat beading on their pale brows as they maintained the complex temporal manipulations.

Heart moved to Martha's side, giving final instructions in low, urgent tones. Through our connection, I felt his focus shift—the personal connection between us receding as the battle commander took control. It wasn't abandonment, just a necessary compartmentalization as he prepared to lead his people into danger.

"The paths are ready," the Tweedles announced in perfect unison, their forms flickering with the strain of maintaining dual portals through the temporal chaos of the Forgotten Lands.

Heart turned to me one last time, his ruby eyes meeting mine across the distance. No words passed between us, but through the Heart Stone, I felt everything he couldn't say—concern, determination, and something deeper that neither of us was ready to name.

"Go," I said simply, the silver patterns beneath my skin pulsing in rhythm with the crystal at my throat.

Heart nodded once, then turned to lead his fighters through the crimson portal. Martha went first, followed by the others in swift succession. Heart was last, pausing one last time before leaving us behind. Through our connection, I felt the moment he crossed the threshold—a stretching sensation as the Heart Stone maintained our bond across realities. Then he was gone, thecrimson portal collapsing behind him in a shower of temporal energy.

"Now you," Vee said, gesturing toward the silver doorway with visible strain.

"Before we can hold it no longer," Dee added, his opalescent robes fading as he poured the last of hisstrength into maintaining the second portal.

Varik moved swiftly, gathering his remaining belongings with practiced efficiency. "The Sanctuary will stabilize your condition," he assured me, adjusting his hat as he prepared to cross over. "Its temporal fields are designed to contain and direct chronological anomalies."

Chi materialized fully beside me, his form more solid than I'd ever seen it in the presence of the Forgotten Lands. "I'll go first," he said, his teal eyes meeting mine with uncharacteristic seriousness. "The transition can be... disorienting."

He stepped through the silver doorway, his form blurring slightly before disappearing into the luminous corridor beyond. Varik gestured for me to follow, his wild green eyes watching the Tweedles with growing concern as their forms flickered with exhaustion.

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