"One…Two…Three…"
A happy smile was painted on her childish face as she ran for cover in the great forest of flowers. The flowers giggled when she hid behind them, but hid their mouths behind large green leaves after receiving a stern "SHHH!" from the little girl. In the distance, the girl heard the counting stop, and she herself had to suppress her own giggles, lest her friend find her.
"Alice!" she heard him call, and to her nine-year-old ears, there was no sweeter sound. Alice was glad that the Rose had the good sense to hold her back when she took a step forward, for Alice always came when the Hatter called.
"Now let's see… where has that naughty little girl gone to?" his voice was very near to her hiding place so Alice cringed closer to the Rose. "Ladies," Hatter said, addressing the flowers, which all at once began to giggle. The Rose hushed them and turned her beautiful petals in the Hatter's direction.
"Yes?" She inquired of the Hatter in her musical voice.
"I seem to have misplaced my dear Alice," said he with a roguish wink, "have you any thought of where I might find her?"
Alice was paying so much attention to the Hatter that she didn't see the Rose nod and point subtly at her while saying, "Dear friend, I have not, but I assure you that if she happens to come our way, I shall see to it that you are informed at once." She sounded as if she had a smile in her voice. Alice saw the Hatter lift off his hat and bow to the Rose, who, in turn, inclined her head regally.
"Thank you madam," he said. The Hatter rose back up and began to walk away. Alice's heart wrenched at the sight of his retreat and she pulled away from the Rose and set off at a run after him.
"Wait! Wait!" she called, "here I am!" and the Hatter turned, a smile spreading across his handsome face. Alice ran to him and he scooped her up into his arms.
"There you are my dear!" he said with every aspect of delight mixed with feigned relief.
"I was hiding behind the Rose the whole time!" she told him with a laugh.
"Were you? I'd have never known!" he pretended to be astonished.
The Hatter bent and stood Alice on her feet. Alice immediately took his hand and they set off at a walk.
"Dear Hatter, I think I shall never leave you. I shall stay here forever." She said in all her childlike decisiveness.
"I should like that very much, and I don't believe I would ever encourage you to leave us, but I fear, my dear, that the day will soon come when you do just that and forget us."
"Oh no," Alice said coming to a complete standstill, "I will never do that! I love you so very much Hatter! Surely you believe me!" The Hatter smiled sadly and bent down on one knee so that he might look her in the eyes.
"I do believe you, little one." He said and Alice perked up, a bright smile showing her happiness. He kissed her forehead then pushed her a little way forward. "Run along and play now. I'll call you when tea is ready." Alice looked apprehensively over her shoulder but the hatter had gone. Alice frowned and stamped her foot.
"Hatter?" she called crossly, but she knew he wouldn't come. Already, the edges of her Wonderland were starting to melt away as if it were merely painted canvas that somehow had the misfortune to become wet. She heard terrible screams coming from the flower garden, and began to run toward her friends, but her feet held fast to the ground. "Hatter!" she cried helplessly.
Suddenly, her world went black and she was falling.