Luna clambered over the fence and landed on the other side, facing the Wonderland house. She scanned the front door, using her x-ray vision.

The empty room was still there, with four sleeping gas tanks behind the walls, and a hidden doorway concealed in the back wall. That must be where the Cheshire Cat comes through to abduct his victims.

If Luna enters the room again, the hidden traps will gas her out again. And there doesn't seem to be a way to disable the tanks without alerting the target.

But what if she could pretend she was unconscious inside the room? The Cheshire Cat might enter the room to pick her up. Then she could arrest him and force him to release her partner. It sounded better than hunting him through a dark house with God knows what traps he placed.

Luna padded her gun holster to remind herself she still has her black rail pistol. After losing another one, the MCPD weapons department loaned her the new gun, which uses an electronic magnetic force to blast a strong energy projectile. The officer said nobody could escape from the kinetic energy weapon without losing a limb or two. No more transforming guns or elemental guns for Luna. All she needed was a good killing tool to take down the predators.

She approached the door and slowly pushed it open. After she stepped inside, the door closed as she expected it.

When the gas hissed into the room, Luna dropped to the floor near a tight corner. She held her breath and sneezed her nose as the mist flooded around her.

It only took a few seconds for the traps to stop, but the gas still flowed inside the room.

Come on! Come on! Luna could hold her breath for three to five minutes without damaging her brain. She practiced a lot in the military, even if she barely encountered water during her missions.

Soon, the gas faded away, and Luna released her breath. No odd smell touched her nose, but she remained laying so she could look unconscious.

When the suspect comes to take her, she will be ready to take him down.

*****

Rei sat down inside a dark hallway and checked her right foot. She swore she stepped on something sharp from the floor. But no splinter or nail struck out through her paw pad.

Rei sighed and gazed at the ceiling.

What the Cheshire Cat knew about Mr.Dreams had surprised her. At first, she thought he was only a nice man running a theme park. Not only did he trick Rally and her, but he also murdered his own father to inherit his park. But his reasoning was vague because he didn’t tell the Cheshire Cat much since the cat blackmailed him.

If Rei survived, she wondered if she should reveal Mr.Dreams’s dark secret to the authorities. Depending on the evidence, he might get a life sentence and lose his theme park. Whatever his reason, it doesn’t excuse him for murder.

“The white rabbit is still running, my Alice,” the Cheshire Cat spoke from the darkness. “Keep moving or your own time will end. Hehehe.”

Rei rubbed her foot and got up. “Can’t I catch a little break!?”

“Did Alice take a break while chasing the white rabbit?”

Rei never thought of that from the book. She only knew the main character never gave up while trapped in Wonderland.

“Move! Before I lose my patience!” The speaker shouted.

“Okay, okay!” Rei moved forward. “Dangsin-ui mal-eul boyu!”

The corridor end has no doorway, but tall bushes blocked the open entrance. Rei pushed the leaves aside as she walked through the brush.

She entered another big room with lots of fake green trees, almost touching the black ceiling. She kept pushing through the bushes until she reached a clearing with a tall tree at the center.

High in the tree, a purple cat with a large grin sat on the branch, glancing at Rei with its wide green eyes. Its tail wiggled behind its round body, and its big head rested on its front paws. “Surprise!”

Rei screamed and fell onto her butt. Her heart raced as her breath escaped from her panting lips.

The purple cat giggled. “What’s the matter? You never seen a cat with a big smiling face before?”

Rei was sure the Cheshire Cat’s creepy voice came from the purple cat. But it couldn’t be him since the cat only twitches its head and wags its tail. It must be another animatronic with a speaker inside its mouth.

Rei rolled her eyes and got up. “Hahaha! Am I supposed to be laughing?”

The robotic cat tilted its head. “You don’t often see a cat without a grin, but never a grin without a cat. Hmmmmmmm?”

“It depends what kind of cat, I guess.”

"Hehehe. You are so cute!"

Rei snarled and pointed her claw up. "You're not allowed to call me cute! When I get out of here, your butt will get busted!"

The robotic cat laughed. "Don't count your chickens before they hatch. You still have plenty of more to go."

Rei gulped. "How much more?"

"I can't tell you that. But I will tell you what the next room has. Unless there is a question you want instead. Hehehe."

Rei wasn't sure what else she could ask the Cheshire Cat. However, learning what could be in the next room might save her life. "Just tell me what awaits me!"

"The Mad Hatter’s house is your next destination. Go through the door on your right. You will not miss it."

Rei spotted the door between two trees on the wall. To stand out, the door illuminated a green spectacle with a top hat image on the center.

Without allowing her fear to overwhelm her senses, Rei strolled toward the Mad Hatter door.

*****

Luna opened her eyes, still facing the corner on the floor. What was taking the suspect long to enter the room? If she falls asleep, she might lose her chance to catch him.

She pinched her cheek to make sure she wasn’t in a dream. This is no time for a catnap, Luna!

Finally, she heard a soft creek behind. It must be the hidden door opening up!

With her eyes closed, laid silently as light footsteps approached her. By the time a hand touched her shoulder, she swung her leg backward, swiping the dark figure off his feet.

She pounced him and pointed her rail pistol at his face. “I got you, sucka!”