-Prolouge-
Breath. Stop. Breath. Listen.
*Bump, Bump*
A heartbeat. Rapid, almost bone breaking. Too fast. Too loud. Where was it coming from?
Look. Stare. No. A body. Yes. Did I know them? Maybe.
Someone walked into the room. Human. A doctor. No. A scientist.
What are they doing?
The body moved. He/She was alive. Maybe not for long.
Why was I so numb? Why couldn't I move?
The body moved again. It's arm stretched out. The body's skin was almost blue.
Didn't that mean they were dead? Was I dead?
No.
I was alive.
The scientist picked up a scapel, and began to step towards me.
What is he doing?
The body was gone. The scientist was here, and so was I.
Breath. Think. Run. Breath.
The body was still here.
I saw it. Behind the scientist, like a shadow.
A single slice. No pain.
Blood drowned the floors. The scientist was dead. I was alive.
The body whispered...
"Keep running,"
-Chapter One-
Wonderland. It couldn't be my home, could it?
It didn't matter, they'd still find me.
They'd still capture me.
I could never be safe.
Nothing can ever keep me safe.
- Chapter Two-
*Crunch*
Leaves snapped like bones underneath my feet. I froze at the sound. Someone was watching me. Breath, I told myself, just breath. I took another step foward but stopped almost immediantly.
Someone was watching me.
I could hear my now rapid heartbeat. An almost rib breaking sound. Nearby a tree creaked. Just the wind, I thought, Just the wind. But it wasn't. I knew it wasn't 'just the wind.'
I started to walk again just as a manical laugh echoed through the woods. I was in mid-step. That wasn't my insane imagination. That laugh was real. It wasn't in my head.
I turned to meet a pair of static yellow eyes. A spark of amusement appeared in those eyes. "Hello, Nephilim," My heartbeat quickened. Breath, just breath. I said once again. Wait, Nephilim? Oh, no. I took a quick step back.
Big mistake.
The figure disappeared and reappeared behind me. "Are you afraid, Nephil?" I felt his clawed hand brush against my arm from underneath the blazer. For some reason, I shook my head in response.
It was obvious that I was terrified by this...creature.
"Hehe, I don't believe you, Nephilim," Of course he wouldn't. No one would.
Was he a Guardian?
No, I would captured or flying away by now.
"W-who are y-you?" Only once before had I been so terrified by someone. He laughed once again, then grinned, flashing a mouth full of sharpened teeth.
"Cheshire Cat," Was his response.
No way.
I remembered hearing about him. He was a wicked creature. Cheshire could manipulate anyone and everyone with one word. He could be anywhere and nowhere at the very same time. Cheshire was someone you wouldn't want to run into.
"How do you know what I am?" Cheshire grinned again as he began to crawl up the crooked old tree. "Because I know many things, Nephilim," I scowled.
"Don't call me Nephilim," Another wicked laugh.
"What shall I call you? Airielle?" I stopped cold. "How do you know my name?" Now I was getting annoyed. This cat was a freak.
"Hehe, it isn't very nice to call me a freak, Airielle," I growled in his direction making his grin widen. "..Cat?" Venom dripped off every word that escaped from my mouth.
"Now if you're going to ask like that, I'm not going to answer you," I saw how amused he was toying with me. Oh, this cat was going to pay. "What do you want," Just stay calm, Airi. Cheshire Cat tilted his head and put on a sly grin.
"Well, Airielle, there are many things I want. You'll have to be more specific," Cheshire was very amused at this point. So amused that I could feel it.
"Alright, why are you here talking to me?" Cheshire laughed. "Because I know why you're here, Airielle," Immediantly I stepped back. "And why is that?" I scowled again.
Suddenly, Cheshire was behind me, grinning even more. "You believe you can go anywhere but never be safe. You believe that even Wonderland can't protect people. But you're wrong," I unclenched my hands, just noticing the broken skin.
Cheshire suddenly grasp my hand and began to wipe away the blood. I tensed up immediantly. "Don't touch me," I grit my teeth, just as the cat lifted his head and grinned. "Well, you really have a temper don't you, Airielle?"
I jerked back, frowning. "You're really testing my patience, Cat," I began to step back as the cat stepped closer. I was suddenly able to see what he looked like.
Cheshire had short, uneven black hair with thin cat-like ears sticking out the top, with a few small golden hoops pierced through them. His eyes were cat-like, and the area that was usually white was black. He had olive skin, which seemed to show his stiches, dark clothing, and tattoos even more.. A long tail, also pierced, sliced through the air like a sword.
He was wicked. He was evil.
"Now, will you let me help you?" I shook my head. He smiled. "Alright, but you will change your mind, Airielle,"
Just like that, Cheshire was gone.
I was alone. But the feeling that cat left was something that confused me.
-Chapter Three-
An old record player was one nearby. I took a step foward, slightly curious.
A small group of somewhat humans sat around a tea table, grinning. They all looked mad, but in a more insane way. A man sat at the very end of the table, looking bored. His purple hair stuck out from underneath a black and blue hat.
An adorably insane hare-like man sat on one side of the table, laughing to the music. On the other side, A man with mouse ears sipped at his teacup, laughing inbetween gulps.
I took a step foward allowing the three men to see me. "Um, hello?" The Hatter lifted his head and gasped. The others seemed to follow in suit. "A guest?" They all suddenly began to dance around the table, pulling me with them.
This was actually...fun.
We sat down moments later, the Hare pouring me a cup of tea. "It has been so long since we have had a visitor!" I heard the dormouse say in excitement. I brushed back a strand of my blood red hair just as the Hatter spoke. "We haven't seen anyone like you before. Are you from here?"
I shook my head. The Hatter grinned in response.
Suddenly that manical laughter made me stop mid-sip. The other three frowned. Apparently they didn't like who our new 'visitor' was.
You've gotta be kidding me.
"Well, well, well, what a party!" I lowered my head just as a man slithered towards our table. Of course, it just had to be him.
The Cheshire Cat.
"Oh! It seems that you have kidnapped my angel!" He gasped in amusement. I dug my nails in my hand almost breaking skin, again. "Your angel?" The Hatter questioned in surprise. I rocked back and forth before standing up.
"U-uh, I-I must g-go!" My voice cracked as I nearly tripped over my own chair. Cheshire was right behind me, grinning. "And leave the party?" I nodded before running into the forest. Gotta get away! Gotta get away from him!
Just then I hit the ground, my head making contact with a rock nearby. I groaned as everything became fuzzy. Oh no!
A shadowy figure appeared. More followed. My breathing became shallow as they surrounded me. "Is she still alive?" I heard them say.
I clenched my fist trying to move. No luck.
I was right. They would find me, no matter where I was...
-Part Two-
Ugh, why did my head hurt so much?
I opened my golden eyes but saw only red.
Where am I?
Voices echoed nearby. "Is she awake?" They weren't yelling but their voices made my head pound. "Yes, I believe she is awake," A sigh.
I've gotta get out of here!
Metal clincked together as the voices came closer and closer. "Let's hope she is unharmed, as well," A hand touched my arm. I was somehow able to grab the hand and yank it's owner onto the floor.
"Don't touch me," I hissed towards the enemy.
I glared at the other 'soldiers.' Men dressed in armor, red and covered in hearts. They clutched red spears, but I saw the fear in their eyes.
"Where am I?" Another hiss towards these 'soldiers.' They hesitated to answer. "Y-you're in the Q-queen of H-heart's castle."
Pathetic.
They weren't Guardians. Not even close.
"Why am I here?" Each word was filled with venom, which seemed to terrify the soldiers even more. "T-the Q-Queen h-has r-requested your p-presence," I rolled my eyes and stepped foward. "Fine."
-The Queen's Throne Room-
"Well, she seems to be unharmed. LEAVE!" The soldiers ran from the room leaving me with their queen. "Now, you are not from here, child?" I shook my head, attempting to stay calm. "Where are you from then?" She sounded curious.
Lie to her. Obviously.
"I don't know,"
It wasn't a full lie. I didn't know where I came from, place wise.
"You don't know?" Another shake of the head. The sun escaped into the room allowing me to see this 'queen.'
She had long reddish hair and white eyes. Her clothing was consisting of black, red, and multiple hearts. An interesting crown rested upon her head with another heart extending from it.
If she was the Queen of Hearts, I wondered how much of a heart she had herself.
"How do you not know where you're from?" Don't answer that! I shrugged. The queen was getting annoyed.
All of a sudden the door burst open. I turned my head to see the Hatter being forced into the room, handcuffed. "Hatter?" I gasped in surprise.
"Hellooo," He whispered. The Queen grinned. "Well, you have finally caught the Hatter! Good. Good," She brushed her hands together before standing up. I dug my nails into my hand, breaking skin. "Mr. Hatter, why did you run away from me?"
Who wouldn't want too? I almost laughed.
"I wanted to be...free," The Hatter still looked bored, but there was a slight amusement in his eyes. I shook my head and chuckled. "Free? FREE!"
Oh no.
The Queen's screech had shattered almost every window. I turned away as glass fell to the ground in millions of pieces. The Hatter looked around, confused. "Yes," This time I fell to my knees, laughing. The Queen stared at me in shock. "Why are you laughing, girl?" She was a lot more then angry.
She was furious.
I knew that there was only one way to get out of here. I would have to risk it. "Hatter," I hissed towards the amused man. "Grab my arm. Hold on tight," He did just that. "What are you doing?" The Queen screeched again. More glass shattered.
The blazer I wore slid off, and a mass of black feathers stretched out. "Ready, Hatter?" He gasped as did everyone else. "Hold on,"
Just like that, I shot straight foward, the Hatter clutching my arm in amazement. "Hatter!" The man lifted his head and grinned. "You really are an angel!" A shurg was my reply. "Not quite!" I yelled.
Multiple soldiers were below, trying to decide if they should attack or leave us alone. "Hold on, Hatter!" I flew faster away from the castle. "Bye bye, Queen!" She screeched in anger.
The Hatter just stretched out his arms as if he were the one flying.
-Chapter One(Of Part Two)-
We landed a few feet from the tea party. The dormouse and the Hare rushed towards us, laughing. "You're alright!" I looked around, just noticing how bright it was. "How long was I gone?" The three of them turned their heads.
"Almost a week," The dormouse answered. "Oh, wow," Was my reply.
"By the way, I'm Mally," The dormouse, Mally, shook my head, smiling. I smiled back. "I'm the March Hare," I shook his hand as well. "I'm Airielle, call me Airi," They nodded.
Wow, I actually felt safe here. But that wouldn't last long.
-Chapter Two-
That body. I knew them.
A strange stench filled the small room.
What was that smell?
Blood and...roses.
Everything was numb. Everything was cold.
A room. A door.
Step into the room. Bodies.
Bodies were hooked to the ceiling. Thin ropes extended from their backs.
Drops of crimson blood covered the floor.
It should have disgusted me.
But it didn't.
It made me...thirsty.
I took a step towards the bodies. Their blood called to me.
Breath. Just breath.
'Fullfill your thirst,'
That voice.
Was it in my head?
No.
Another step was made towards the bodies.
Reach.
Drink.
'No.'
'Drink!'
Breath.
Blood.
The bodies were cold. So cold.
But their blood.
More.
'Good.'
That voice.
Where was it coming fro-
Footsteps.
The body was here. But so were they.
The Guardians.
'Run, Airi, run!'
The voice yelled.
So, I ran.
