Hi! This is my first fanfic! All reviews are welcome, but please be gentle with me. I break easily. :) I don't know what I'll write later on, but this is rated M for a reason. So... watch out for a lemon. Also, I don't know how often I'll be able to update this during the school year, so don't be too disappointed if updating this takes a while.

PS: I own nothing! This goes for all of the other chapters too.

Chapter 1: How is One to Find Her Way?

"Forgetting pain is convenient. Remembering it, agonizing. But recovering the truth is worth the suffering. And our Wonderland, though damaged, is safe in memory... for now." said Cheshire.

"That's nice and all, but what am I supposed to do now, you darned cat? I'm out of a job and a home. And what do you mean, 'for now'?"

"I am afraid that is out of my jurisdiction Alice." he disappeared, his bloody grin the last thing to go.

"Don't you dare... Damn!" She was back in London, smog and all. She certainly couldn't go back to the orphanage. Dr. Bumby definitely wasn't expecting to die, so a will hasn't been made. It would most likely go to a cousin or another distant relative, who would probably sell it. Besides, it probably wasn't wise to stay here. Thanks to all of the murders occurring, this would most likely be considered a homicide. So... Where could she find work?

"I'd best look in the papers." she concluded. As she walked down the grimy paved streets, towards the square, she finally found a boy selling them.

"Jack the Ripper strikes again! Read all about it!"

"Excuse me." Startled, the boy looked up at her with wide eyes.

"Yes, Mam?"

"How much would one of those papers cost?"

"Two farthings Mam." the boy said, but Alice, noticing the boy's skeletal figure, gave him a shilling instead.

"Here you go." she handed him the money with a small smile. He looked up at her with a similar expression.

"Thank you mam. Here be yer paper." She started reading the grimy print as soon as he handed it to her. She was devastated to find that Nan Sharpe, her only friend left in the world, was gutted by the ripper just last night. She ran down the street, the paper clutched in her right hand, until she came upon a deserted alleyway. She promptly fell to her knees, sobbing.

"Everyone I love dies violently; unnaturally. I'm cursed! Why go on? I'll just hurt others."

"Now, what would cause a pretty thing like you such distress?" Alice quickly pushed her dark hair out of her face and wiped her tears.

"Who are you? I don't take kindly to strangers who interrupt things they know nothing about." She said, glaring through blurry eyes at her current annoyance. From what she could tell, he was actually quite handsome, albeit dark, with black hair falling messily to his shoulders.

"Why I am only a knight, looking for a damsel in distress, not a damsel to distress. You have nothing to fear from me."

"Do you think I'd actually believe that load of bollocks? Men always distress their damsels sir, be it in this world or the next. What do you really want?" With her left eyebrow raised, she examined him from head-to-toe. Not only did he have a handsome face, but he was wearing gentlemen's clothing, proving he wasn't a pimp or a gutter rat.

"Yes," he said wistfully, "that is true, isn't it? However, I'm not here to take anything from you... Not unless you're willing to give it to me, that is?" his violet eyes twinkled; his smirk grew to Cheshiric proportions. His full lips thinned over his surprisingly white teeth.

"No, you silly nit! Now, what is your name?"

"Graham MacKenzie, hatter extraordinaire, at your service Miss." He bowed and took off his top hat, the only thing of any color on his head. Though it was hard to tell, because the fabric was a dark navy. "Alice Liddell, cleaning extraordinaire," she said sarcastically, "Pleased to meet you. Mr. MacKenzie." She reached out to shake his gloved hand.

He's probably hiding mercury stains. She thought.

"Miss Liddell, are you currently employed?"

"Not at the moment, no." She eyed him suspiciously.

"Don't give me that look. I was only going to offer you a job."

"That is why I'm looking at you. It is too convenient that you would walk up to me with a position that needs to be filled. I am not a stupid woman Mr. MacKenzie, so what do you really want?"

"Do you always question strokes of good luck Miss Liddell?"

"I didn't use to, but I've been backstabbed too many times to not question things anymore Mr. MacKenzie. Pardon me if I am a bit cynical."

"Well, even if it was in your power to trust me, you don't have much of a choice anyway." he said while pulling out a paper from his coat. "I have read the same newspaper that is in your hand from front to back. Not a single position is available for a woman of your expertise. Check if you don't believe me."

Calling his dare she did, in fact, check. She checked it once. She checked it twice. She even skimmed over it a third time for good measure, but nothing was found, not even a position for a barmaid.

"Blast it all! Fine, you win. When do I start?"

"Immediately if you would like. I take it you don't have a place to stay, do you?"

"No."

"I live in an apartment above my workshop. You can have one of the spare bedrooms."

"That would be fine."

I don't trust him, but at least this will save me from having to pay room and board... Damn! If Nan was alive I could've gone to her. Now I have to rely on this stranger.

"Miss Liddell?" She snapped her head to face him once more.

"How tolerant are you to mercury fumes?"

"I can handle them, but I don't like them. If that's what you're asking."

"Then you might want to take the corner room with two windows. It is a bit smaller, but sometimes one window can be all that's standing between you and your sanity."

"I have enough trouble keeping that already. Thank you."

"Don't we all?"

"Maybe some more than others... Where exactly is your shop Mr. MacKenzie?"

"On Fleet Street, left of the barber and meat pie shop."

"That's an odd combination."

"Yes, that might explain the dreadful smell coming from over there lately... Anyway, gather your things and come when you're ready." he said, flipping his ebony black bangs out of his eyes.

"Will do." she replied. Now it was back to the orphanage.

See what I did there? See you guys next time!