Chapter 2
The first thing Annie felt when she came to was something cold dripping on her cheek. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open and she took a deep breath, the air musty and wet, but not unpleasant. She quickly took an inventory of her body, moving cautiously to test if there was any resistance, pain or (her greatest concern) numbness. After a moment she was satisfied to find that, other than a bump on her head, she appeared to be completely uninjured. She looked up to see where she had fallen from, but was only able to see darkness above her. Before her was a small tunnel that allowed for some dim light to enter her hole and, after a moment's hesitation, Annie crawled into the tunnel, her tension easing as the light became brighter. After what felt like an eternity she was suddenly out of the hole and in a large, sunny field, filled with daisies. She stood, looking around for a road or house to indicate where she was until something caught her eye. She looked down at herself and gasped when she saw that her jeans and tee shirt had been replaced by a blue dress.
Annie immediately closed her eyes and tried to muffle the squeal that was crawling through her throat.
"Okay…everything's fine. You fell. You hit your head. You're probably just experiencing some sort of visual…aphasia or something! There's a totally rational and treatable diagnosis," Annie told herself, ignoring the voice in her head that commented about talking to herself being a less than perfect way to validate sanity. After taking several deep breaths Annie opened her eyes and looked down again, immediately wishing she hadn't. She still wore a sky blue dress with short, puffy sleeves, a Peter Pan collar and full, tea length skirt. A ruffled, light blue apron was tied around her waist with a royal blue sash, matching the buttons on the bodice of her dress. Her stomach was beginning to turn as she pushed back her skirts to find she was wearing blue and white striped tights that matched blue and white boots that looked like the ones her great-grandmother had worn in the 1900s.
Slowly, Annie sank to the ground, her skirt pooling around her, and buried her face in her hands as tears began to spill from her eyes. She reasoned she was either insane or dying, having no other possible explanation for this vivid hallucination, and each tear she shed seemed to pull more despair from her as cursed herself for wandering down that unfamiliar path. She wondered if her friends would find her, either a muttering lunatic or a decomposing corpse and she sobbed harder as she thought about how much she was going to miss her adopted family.
"Oh crap, crap, crap I'm so late! Oh, this isn't good!"
A familiar voice broke through her weeping and Annie sniffled, looking for the source of the sound.
"Troy?" she called, her voice shaky as she searched the field around her, unable to see her friend. "Great. Now I'm having auditory hallucina…tions…" Annie trailed off as a figure came into view. Or, more accurately, hopped into view.
"Man, why do I always do this! I know I have to be somewhere, so why can I never seem to get there on time."
Annie hiccupped and gasped simultaneously as the thing with Troy's voice stomped its large foot. Admittedly, the creature also had Troy's face, albeit with whiskers sprouting from his cheeks.
Annie tried to quell her panic as she studied the creature. It looked like a rabbit, although it had Troy's face, complete with large ears and feet and a fluffy white tail. This creature, however, stood on his hind legs and Annie estimated him to be about four feet tall, counting the ears.
"Troy?" she called again, and this time the creature's ears perked up. When it turned to look at her, however, it screamed and hopped in fright.
"Ah! Monster! Don't eat me, please! I have so much to live for and all that regret is totally going to give you heartburn!"
"I'm…I'm not going to eat you, Troy."
"Uh-uh. I know the stories! That exactly what a Jabberwock says: right before it eats you!"
"Jabberwock? Troy, what are you talking about? It's me, Annie. Or did you fall down the hole, too?"
Annie's despair was finally giving way to confusion. If she was hallucinating, her delusions should be making sense to her, but Troy's babbling had her completely baffled. From the look on his face, he was equally confused.
"Annie? What's an 'Annie'? That doesn't sound like a predator." He cocked his head to the side the same way he always did when he was trying to puzzle something out.
"It's – I mean – I'm not. I'm your friend, Troy."
"What's a 'Troy'? Is that something you call food?" Panic widened his eyes again as he backed away from her a couple of steps.
"No. It's your name."
"Psh. No it's not. My name's White Rabbit."
"It's – say, what now?"
"White Rabbit," the creature over pronounced his words, as if Annie couldn't grasp English.
"Your name's White Rabbit? That doesn't make any sense!" Annie threw up her hands in frustration, sitting back on her heels as she looked at him incredulously. The creature because defensive, crossing his small paws and raising an eyebrow.
"And why not?"
"Because you're not white!"
"Whoa, hey now! I am as White as the next guy! Just because I go in the Pink sometimes doesn't mean I'm not White as snow."
Now Annie was certain she had lost her mind. Or had already died and was being subjected to a hell even Shirley couldn't imagine.
"Troy – "
"Quit calling me that! My name's White Rabbit!"
"Okay! Fine! White Rabbit – what the hell are you talking about? How are you 'white as snow'? And what's 'going in the pink'?" Annie was beginning to grow frustrated at just how convoluted this hallucination was becoming and she cursed her own imagination for creating such a place. For his part, White Rabbit merely cocked his head at her again, but seemed to relax slightly.
"You're not from around here, are you?"
"What was your first clue," Annie couldn't resist the sarcasm, but White Rabbit didn't seem to notice.
"Where are you from? You can't be from the Heartland, or you would have killed me already."
"No, I'm not from the Heartland, wherever that is. I'm from Greendale. I was out picking berries with my friends and I fell down a hole, hit my head, and now I'm pretty sure I've completely lost my mind."
"Oh! You're from Greendale! I…I've never heard of it. What kind of hole did you fall down?"
"I don't know. A big one. What does that matter?"
"Well, Miss Snippy, there are lots of different kinds of holes and I happen to know a majority of them. Maybe we can get you back to Greendale. Or at least find where you lost your mind."
Annie wasn't sure if she was just sinking deeper into the delusion, but his words suddenly filled her with hope. "You think you can get me back to normal?"
"Normal? I thought you wanted to go to Greendale." Annie had to bite back a groan of frustration as he cocked his head at her again.
"Yes, I want to get back to Greendale. Normal, Greendale."
"Okay, so, what kind of hole was it."
"Well, it was really deep. I couldn't see the top of it from the bottom; it was just black. And wet. And there was a long, small tunnel. I crawled out and ended up in this field."
White Rabbit seemed to consider her words carefully, and Annie found herself holding her breath waiting for his response.
"Well, it's definitely a rabbit hole. But probably an old one from before the war. Ladder must have rotten away, or was destroyed after the evacuation."
"Okay…so what does that mean? Can you get me home?"
"Not by the way you came, no. That's a dead end."
Annie felt the despair start to well up in her chest again and tears threatened once more. She could see the panic on White Rabbit's face and it was so much like the look Troy gave her when she cried that she couldn't stop the sob from leaving her mouth.
"Hey, don't worry. Wonderland's not so bad when you get used to it. Give it a week and I bet you won't even remember Greendale!" He tried to reassure her, his small paw patting her back as she wept harder.
"W-Wonderland? Why couldn't my m-mind have hallucinated Oz? Then I could h-have at least had ruby slippers!" Annie moaned and buried her face in her knees as she pulled her legs to her chest.
"Ruby slippers? Well if you need ruby slippers you just have to go into the Heartland…but I wouldn't do that if I were you."
"Whuh-what?" Annie looked up from her knees, sniffling softly as she looked at White Rabbit curiously. "The Heartland has ruby slippers?"
"Of course they do. But, trust me, you do not want to go there. Place is full of barbarians!"
Annie shivered a bit at his description, but he mind was already made up. "But if I can get a pair of ruby slippers, maybe I can use them to go home!" She realized the thought was completely insane, but since her mind seemed to have trapped her in a children's fantasy she figured it was as good a plan as any.
White Rabbit could clearly see she was determined, as he didn't even try to argue, but he reached in his shirt pocket and offered her a handkerchief. She accepted it with a watery smile and wiped her face.
"So, where's this Heartland?"
"On the other side of the Pink Zone. It used to be called the Tulgey Wood, before the war. Now, since it's the neutral area between the Heartland and the Hawthorne, we call it the Pink Zone. It's a little rough, but there are some great part…oh crap! The party! I'm late!" White Rabbit exclaimed as he hopped into a tizzy, trying to go in several directions at once.
"Party? What party?"
"The Mad Hatter's party! He always has the best tea parties and I'm late! Oh, look, it's been…weird…but I gotta go! Good luck getting back to Greenleaf!"
Suddenly he darted off through the field, hopping up to wave at her over the tall grass before bolting.
"Hey! Wait for me! Rabbit!" She got to her feet and ran after him, following the tips of his ears through the field until they reached the edge of a forest.
As soon as she was inside the canopy of the woods, Annie lost his trail.
"Great. There goes my tour guide," she muttered to herself as she tried to spy any sign of the anthropomorphic critter. A sign caught her eye and she walked to a nearby tree to read the notice.
"'Tulgey Wood Accord: The land of this forest is hereby considered neutral territory, not to be breached by military forces of either White or Red under any circumstances. Inhabitants of this territory are to be considered independent outlaws and are bound by no law Red or White. All loyalists of White or Red territories travel under their own protection and are expected to return to their respective nations by sun fall. ALL VISITORS OF THE TULGEY WOOD TRAVEL AT THEIR OWN RISK.' Well, that sounds welcoming," Annie said, shivering as she read the final words and looked into the dark forest.
"Well, he said the Heartland was just on the other side of the Pink Zone," Annie muttered as she began to make her way into the forest. She stayed on a relatively clear path that had obviously been intentionally made by travelers. She marveled at the odd, almost blue tinge of the woods and began to notice that many of the plants were, in fact, blue.
"Maybe they should have called it the Azul Zone," she commented to herself as she crossed her arms against the steadily increasing chill in the air.
She stopped walking when she heard a plaintive cry and, after the tremor of fear passed, she looked around and spotted the rear end of a large orange cat sticking out of a hollow in a tree.
"Poor kitty. Get yourself stuck?" she asked it as she took a hold of the furry creature and eased it out of the hole. "There? Isn't that – wah!" Annie screamed and dropped the creature as soon as she saw its face.
"Geez, lady, I might always land on my feet but there's no need to test it," the monster with Chang's face said to her as it rubbed its derriere with a paw.
"Ugh! Chang! What are you doing here?"
"Ah, you know my name!" it exclaimed, a wide smile practically splitting its face in half. Annie recoiled in horror as it began to wind itself around her legs. "I see my reputation proceeds me. So who might you be?"
"Annie, and I don't have time for you right now. I have to get to the Heartland." She started down the path again, but the creature trotted along right beside her.
"Annie? Strange name for a strange creature. And why, Annie, are you so desperate to get to the Heartland? Are you a loyalist of the Red Queen?"
"No, I'm not."
"You're not? Then you have no business going to the Heartland. Unless, of course, you wish to get a head of yourself! Ha!"
Annie grimaced that the pun but kept walking. "So it's just like the story then? The Red Queen is constantly shouting 'off with his head'?"
"Well…I wouldn't say constantly."
"Wonderful," Annie muttered, ignore the twinge of fear that twisted her stomach.
"Hey, you think you could slow down, sister? My legs aren't as long as yours."
"Sorry, but I need to get to the Heartland so I can get home. And I don't recall asking for you to accompany me. So if you can't keep up…" Annie let the comment trail off as she started to walk faster. She heard a huff and suddenly saw him appear on the branch of a tree.
"Fine. Be that way. But don't come crying to me when you Chang your mind about wanting company as you wander through these woods. Lost and alone, with the sun fall growing nearer."
Annie gritted her teeth and ignored the voice that seemed to still be coming from right beside her. Doubt did start to creep into her mind and she surveyed the darkening forest, but the sound of other voices reached her ears and Annie smiled in triumph.
"Looks like I won't be alone after all!" she commented, but even though she couldn't see him, she heard him scoff.
"Careful what you wish for, sister. Sounds like Tweedle Dean and Tweedle Dum, the interChangable nightmares. You're on your own…" his voice suddenly began to fade, echoing as if he were at the other end of a long hallway. It was an unnerving affect, and Annie couldn't stop the shudder that raised goosebumps on her skin.
Shaking off the creepy feeling she always suffered when she was around Chang, Annie tried to follow the sound of the voices. She couldn't quite make out the conversation, but the overlapping voices were growing louder.
"Hello?" she called, not wanting to startle whomever she was approaching. Suddenly the voices stopped and Annie froze, straining her ears to hear any sound to indicate where the speakers were.
"Hi!"
Annie screamed and jumped as two voices chorused directly behind her. She spun around and her stomach dropped when she saw not one, but two Dean Peltons, arms linked and inane smiles bright. They were costumed in mini robe d'anglais, like wigless, slutty Marie Antoinettes, in coordinating, but alternating colors. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the fuchsia and lavender, however her ears were already attuned to their voices.
"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you – "
"We just love to make an entrance! Where did you come from?"
"What are you?"
"Where did you get that dress?"
"Are those petticoats washable?"
"They look cotton, I would say they probably are."
Annie pinched the bridge of her nose as she felt the first tinge of a stress headache.
"My name's Annie, I'm from Greendale and I have no idea where the dress came from or if it's washable." Annie's answer came out on a single breath that she could watch float in the air. She began to rub her arms and wished she had hallucinated herself in one of her trademark cardigans.
"Annie? That's an odd sort of name."
"Greendale sounds magical. Is it far from Wonderland?"
"Not as far as you would think," she muttered as the two began to discuss what they imagined one would wear to a Greendale. Annie felt her patience growing thin as chills ran over her arms. "I'm trying to find my way to the Heartland. Tro – I mean – White Rabbit said that it was through these woods, but I have no idea if I'm going in the right direction, or how far it is. Can you help me?"
"Help you – "
" – go to the Heartland?" They spoke over each other, their eyes wide with horror.
"We don't go into the Heartland."
"Or the Hawthorne."
"It's too dangerous."
"Too scary."
"Although there is some great shopping."
"Very true."
"I'm not interested in the shopping," she practically shouted, stomping her foot on the hard ground. Both Tweedles looked at her with wide eyes and simultaneously fell into a pout.
"Well, there is no need to be rude," they said in unison, and if Annie didn't already think she was crazy she knew she would have surely lost her mind by now.
"I'm sorry, okay? I just want to get home and White Rabbit seemed to think that I could find what I needed in the Heartland, but then he went off about some tea party and abandoned me."
"Tea party?"
"What sort of tea party?"
"The Mad Hatter's." Annie marveled at how normal this conversation was beginning to feel. She also had the sneaking sensation that she had just said something she shouldn't have, as their eyes brightened and they grinned at each other.
"Did you know the Hatter was having a party?"
"I didn't hear a thing! I'm shocked no one told us!"
"Well, they've been under a lot of stress lately. What with that last skirmish with the Whites."
"Oh, true."
"So. Have you heard if March is going to be there?" They turned to Annie and she almost jumped, having thought they had completely forgotten about her.
"March? Um, I don't know. White Rabbit didn't say anything about a March."
"Well, he's not the most reliable source of information. He invited you to this tea party though?"
"Well…he told me about it. I wouldn't say he – "
"Perfect! We'll just go with you!"
"Just for a minute. Make the rounds, have a cup, you know."
They each hooked one of her arms and started taking her down a path she hadn't noticed.
"But, I wasn't planning on going! I need to get to the Heartland."
"Oh, not to worry!"
"You just come with us and get us in to the tea party – "
"And we'll give you directions to the Heartland!"
Annie let herself be dragged along, even though she was certain it was a terrible idea. She was becoming so cold, though, that her nose and fingers were growing numb and her mind was too tired to resist. She listened vaguely to the banal chatter of her companions and comforted herself with the idea of having a warm cup of tea.
"Okay, we're almost there."
"Now don't embarrass us."
"Otherwise you are on your own finding the Heartland."
"O…kay," Annie answered, her teeth beginning to chatter as they stopped in front of a fallen log, suspended by thick vines.
"Halt! Who goes there?" A deep voice echoed around them, and Annie found she was drawing the Tweedles closer.
"Guests!"
"For the party!" The pair seemed unphased by the ominous voice.
"Party? There is no party!" the voice boomed, shaking the leaves around them and making Annie cower behind the Tweedles who, to their credit, remained stalwart.
"Yes, Hatter. We are the invited guests of an invited guest of the White Rabbit," either Dean or Dum announced and there seemed to be a whisper of conversation pass through the trees.
"Very well. You may enter."
There was a loud creaking noise as the log lifted from in front of them, disappearing in the canopy as bushes seemed to retreat into the forest, clearing a path for them.
"How unnecessary…"
"I know, right? The man is such a showboater!"
Annie rolled her eyes as she followed the other two, her breath now blending into the fog that seemed to surround them.
A sound like laughter began to bubble in the air, and Annie couldn't decipher the direction of the noise as they moved through the dense mist.
"Guys? Are we sure we're going the right – " Annie was cut off by the mist suddenly clearing, revealing a small, bright meadow.
A friendly-looking cottage sat to one side of the clearing, and a long table was positioned in the center of the grass. The table was laden with what appeared to be several different tablecloths sewn together and a vast array of crockery and tea sets. An odd assortment of chairs and stools surrounded the table, making a pastel rainbow that matched the flowers peppering the meadow. Immediately, Annie felt the chill that had settled into her body begin to dissipate slightly.
"Whi-bit! We've been…oh. You're not White Rabbit," a voice spoke from behind them, and Annie spun around, relieved to see the very human form of Abed.
"Abed!" she exclaimed, fighting the urge to hug him.
"Abed to you too? Who are you? Where's White Rabbit?"
"I…you don't know who I am, either?" Unbidden tears began to fill her eyes as she felt disappoint swell within her yet again. He tilted his head to study her, and Annie, in turn, studied his appearance. A large violet top hat was perched on his head, his jacket was peacock green with a lavender cravat and maroon and violet striped trousers.
"You're not from Wonderland," he finally declared and Annie shook her head.
"No, I'm not. And I'm really not finding what's so wonderful about this place!"
"It's not wonderful – "
" – but it's full of wonder!" the Tweedles exclaimed, reminding Annie of their presence. Abed sighed with disgust and glared at the bald duo.
"You're not supposed to be here. You made the Changshire List after you replaced the crunchberry jam with your 'special jelly'."
"That was a misunderstanding – "
" – and a gross oversimplification of the situation."
"You guys know you're on hiatus until further notice," Abed declared as he motioned to the path they came from. The Tweedles huffed and whined, but complied as they tromped back into the forest. Annie's heart sank as she watched them retreat and realized she would have to go back into the cold wood.
"You can stay. I don't know what you are, but if White Rabbit invited you, then you're cool."
"Well…he didn't exactly invite me. He was telling me how I might find what I need to get home and then remembered the party and took off. I thought he would already be here. I lost him as soon as I got in the woods."
"Mm. He gets lost sometimes. And pretty easily distracted. He'll find his way here though. Always does. Would you like some tea?"
"I…actually I would love some."
"Okay. I'll have March bring some out. March!" He called out to the cottage as he walked over to the table, Annie tentatively following. "We have a guest! Bring out the tea."
"Yeah, yeah. In a minute." She heard the muttered reply from the house as she looked over the table, curious.
"Wait, you have all these teapots, and none of them have any tea in them?" she asked, raising the lid on a strangely shaped neon green pot, which, she discovered, was filled with chocolate-covered raisins.
"Nope. Wouldn't stay good if we did. Plus White Rabbit and I don't really like tea. Usually we just have special drink, but you looked cold, so I thought you might want real tea. It's what March usually drinks, since the coffee trade was shut down." He took a seat on one of the long sides of the table and poured himself a cup of what looked like chocolate milk. Annie hesitated before sitting in the opposite corner diagonally from the Hatter, choosing a wing-backed chair that was a little worse for wear, but quite comfortable.
"So, where are the other guests?" Annie asked, counting six empty seats around the table.
"Well, March is inside and White Rabbit is MIA, so I guess it's just us. Or just me, since you're not technically a guest. You still haven't said what you are."
"Okay, I don't want to sound like Britta, but I am a person, not a 'what'! All day people keep asking what I am; why doesn't anyone here ask who I am?" Annie tried to keep her voice level, but her nerves were beginning to wear thin. The Hatter merely tilted his head and studied her.
"Asking someone you've just met who they are is rude."
"What? How is that rude?"
"I don't know you. Why should I expect you to tell me whether or not you are morally centered or narcissistic? Or whether or not you have ambition? Besides, it's irrelevant. When you first meet me, you want to know I'm a Hatter, not that I'm ignorant to social cues and uncomfortably observant."
"But…huh…" Annie trailed off her objection as she thought about what he had said. She had never before thought twice about asked who someone was, never realizing that she what she really wanted to know was the person's name and some basic facts about them. She really didn't want to know who they were, just what they were. "You're right. I'm Annie."
"Annie. That's a strange name."
"Not as strange as Abed," she retorted, half-joking.
"You're right. It's not as strange as Abed. But who would name their child that?"
"No one you know I guess," she said with a sigh as she propped her elbows on the table and buried her face in her hands, closing her eyes and massaging her forehead to ease the worsening headache.
"We better have an actual guest this time, Hatter, and not one of your vivid delusions," a new, low voice spoke and Annie instantly looked up for the source. Her heart fluttered when she saw a familiar tall figure with broad shoulders, sandy hair and a bored scowl that transformed into surprise when he met her eyes. "Oh. I guess we do have a guest," he said as he set the decanter he was holding on the table and offered his hand.
Annie felt her knees grow weak when he gave her the smile she knew Jeff only used when he was trying to be maximally charming. She was so caught up in the feel of his hand taking hers that she almost didn't notice the large bunny ears that sprouted from the top of his head as he bowed to kiss the back of her hand.
"Milady," he almost whispered against her skin and Annie felt a shiver run through her body like an electrical current, shocking her extremities and heating her center.
"Milord," she returned out of habit, her voice just a little breathy as he kept her pinned with that hungry smile she had always dreamt he would someday give her without subsequently and shamefully averting his eyes.
"What brings a creature as lovely as yourself to our little mimsy corner of the Wood?"
"She said she was following White Rabbit but got lost. He was supposed to show her a way back to her home," Hatter interjected, drawing Jeff-rabbit's attention away from her a moment. Annie took the opportunity to compose herself, smoothing her hands over her hair and skirts as he took his seat at the head of the table.
"Let me guess: he got distracted by something shiny and is now MIA," Jeff-rabbit observed drily as he stretched out in his seat and returned his gaze to Annie.
"Um…I guess? I don't know. As soon as we reached the woods he was gone," Annie answered him, her attention finally drawn to the rabbit ears he sported. She wasn't surprised that one of the ears flopped in half, adding to his purposefully disheveled appearance, nor was she surprised by how much her fingers itched to touch the soft-looking fur.
"Yeah, let me show my surprise…not. I hope you weren't really counting on him to get you home." He reached for the decanter of what looked like tea, but didn't appear to be hot. He filled a teacup and then looked to her. "Would you like some?"
"Yes, please." She waited as he filled her a cup, picking one with pretty pink flowers to hand to her with a grin. She took a sip and immediately began coughing and choking.
Both men were startled and exchanged panicked looks as Annie regained control of her voice.
"That's not tea, that's scotch!" she choked, her eyes watering slightly as the liquid still burned in her throat.
"Scotch? That's an odd name for tea. Is that what it's called where you're from?" Hatter asked.
"Yes! Tea, where I'm from, is made from leaves and is certainly not 80 proof!"
"That sounds terrible! Why would you drink that?" Jeff-rabbit looked disgusted and Annie fought the urge to roll her eyes.
"Because when we're thirsty we don't like to drink something that's going to make us more dehydrated," she explained.
"Huh. Never thought I'd say this, but where you're from sounds more boring than here," Jeff-rabbit muttered, taking a swig from his scotch.
"Where is it you're from? Has White Rabbit been there?" Hatter asked as he drank from his own cup.
"No, he hasn't. Well, at least not that he knows. I have a friend though, Troy, who looks just like him, aside from the bunny parts. Actually, you all look just like my friends from school." Annie took another small sip of her scotch, for want of anything else to do, adjusting to the semi-sweet flavor.
"Really? So we have doppelgangers? Do I have a beard? I've always wanted to grow a beard." Hatter became animated, his reaction so much like Abed's Annie giggled.
"No, you don't have a beard. You look exactly the same, except for the hat and you aren't wearing skinny jeans. In Greendale you and Troy are best friends and are moving into an apartment together."
"Fascinating. And what about March?" Hatter asked.
"March?"
"Me. They call me March Hair." The Jeff-rabbit lifted his cup as he introduced himself and Annie blushed.
"Oh. Well. You're…um…you're my friend Jeff. I mean, you look like him."
"And what's this friend Jeff like?" he asked, leaning on the table with a smirk playing on his lips.
"Well, um, he's sort of the leader of the group, though he hates responsibility. He cares more than he wants us to know, too, and I think, deep down, sometimes he's scared to tell us how he feels because he's afraid we'll reject him."
Annie stared at her cup as she mused about him, glancing up in time to see March's shoulder's hunch slightly.
"I can understand why he would feel that way. Having feelings is dangerous. Means others can use them against you. At least, that's the way it is around here," he said darkly, catching Annie's attention.
"What do you mean?"
"He means the Heartland or, rather, the Queen of Hearts. She rules over everything that has feelings. She traps you by manipulating how you feel and guilts you into becoming her subject," Hatter explained, popping open a sugar bowl and grabbing a handful of what appeared to be cocoa puffs.
"That's awful!"
"Yeah, but that's why we can live here in the Pink. I'm too emotionally detached for her powers to work on me and March is too self-absorbed – "
"Hey!"
" – to fall victim to her magic," Hatter continued despite March's interruption.
"So what about the other side? White Rabbit said he was from the Hawthorne?"
"Ah. The land of the White Queen. They just flat out bribe you there, but with empty promises. We're too smart to be in Hawthorne."
"So you're stuck in between? Isn't there anywhere else to go?"
"Not really. It's not worth the risk going through either kingdom to get to somewhere else. And, from what you've said about your Greendale, it doesn't sound much better than here. And living in the Pink isn't so bad, as long as the treaty holds."
"That was the Tulgey Wood Accord, right?"
"Right. It marked the end of the Color War and created the Pink Zone. That's when we became exiles."
"Aw, that's so sad." Annie couldn't help but think about the fighting that had been going on with her own group, and the fear that had settled in her stomach ever since Pierce walked away began to knot itself. With the loss of one member of their study group Annie wondered how long it would take before each of them drifted away and she would be, once again, left all alone.
"Hey! Hey, hey what do you think your doing?" March asked as tears began to well in Annie's eyes. "You can't go getting emotional like that here! Do you want the Red Guard to come storming in here?"
"N-no. I'm…I'm sorry." His harsh voice didn't help the threatening tears and she saw him soften slightly when he realized what he was doing.
"It's okay, just…put a damper on it. Having emotional outbursts is like sending up a flare for them with a big arrow that screams 'here I am, come and get me'. It's bad news."
Annie wiped her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to clear her mind of her friends and home. She was growing tired, and noticed the sun was starting to sink in the orange sky.
Orange? Since when was the sky orange?
"Drink some more tea. It will help numb the feelings," March advised and Annie complied without thinking, too focused on the odd hue of the sky.
The orange began to morph into pink and purple simultaneously as the sun began to dip behind the Tulgey Wood, making it glow like a sapphire. Hints of green trimmed the edges of the trees and Annie marveled at the beauty of the shifting colors.
"Do you have a place to stay?" March's voice broke through her reverie and Annie blinked at him a few times as she tried to understand his question. He must have seen her confusion because he continued. "Tonight. Once the sun goes down it's not safe to travel through the woods."
"Oh. I didn't really think about that. I didn't know it was so late." Annie knew she should be concerned, but a warm, fuzzy feeling dulled her mind. She looked down and realized that the teacup in her hands was empty, explaining the heat that radiated from her skin.
"We already have accommodations ready for White Rabbit. It wouldn't take me long to get them set up, though usually he helps with the supports," Hatter joined the conversation, beginning to clear the table. Annie stood to help, though her head spun a little when she got to her feet. She began to gather dishes, trying to stack the odd assortment of pottery carefully so as to not chip anything.
"You really don't have to help with that," March told her as he poured himself another cup of scotch.
"It's the least I can do, since I'm going to be imposing on you," she replied as she reached for a small sugar bowl. Her movement caught March's attention and he suddenly sat up in his chair.
"No, don't touch that!" His reaction startled her, causing Annie's hand to knock the lid off the pot. As it clattered on the table a small brown head with large round ears appeared over the lip of the bowl.
"Hi guys! I've just been sitting in here waiting for you to feed me. I'm getting a little hungry, and you know I have a condit – " the creature was cut off as March lept from his seat, scooped something out of another bowl and dropped it in the sugar dish before slamming the lid back on.
"What the hell was that thing!" Annie yelled, horrified by the tiny creature.
"That was the Toddmouse. One of the most awful creatures on the planet! Trust me, you don't want to know anything about it," March panted as Hatter returned from the house to gather the rest of the dishes. He took the plates in Annie's hands and somehow managed to balance the rest of the table settings in his arms as he returned to the cottage, leaving the decanter and two teacups on the table. March returned to his seat, shaking his head and downing his cup of whisky.
"Have a seat, kid. The Mad Hatter is going to be busy for a while putting up the hotel and you do not want to get in the way of his work. Trust me." March used his foot to nudge out the seat she had been sitting in previously and Annie took the cue.
He poured her another drink without asking and Annie almost stopped him, but decided she was enjoying the warm feeling that had settle through her. More than that, she liked the fact that this version of Jeff, while he called her 'kid', didn't seem to view her as his inferior. Of course, she didn't know what sort of laws they might have about drinking age in Wonderland, so she supposed it might not have been as significant to have him openly offering her alcohol as she had thought. She found she was beginning to enjoy the flavor of the drink as she sipped the golden brown liquid, discovering past the taste of oak there were hints of toffee and cherries.
"So are you setting off tomorrow for home?" he asked her and Annie shrugged.
"I guess so. I don't really know how I'm getting there exactly, but I have to try. See, I fell down an old rabbit hole, and I guess it was a one-way trip, so I have to get creative to get back. Troy-bunny – I mean – White Rabbit mentioned I might be able to get a pair of ruby slippers in the Heartland so I was going there to give them a shot."
Annie curled up in the chair, gesturing with her cup as she spoke. She found the more she thought about it, the more her plan was making sense to her.
"That doesn't make any sense. Why would a pair of shoes help you get home? I mean, I'll admit, your boots don't look particularly comfortable, but they seem good enough to get you where you need to go," March observed, shaking his head.
She wrinkled her brow and frowned at him before she broke into giggles at his misunderstanding.
"No! You don't walk in ruby slippers! You click them together three times and say 'there's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home', and then poof! You're back in Kansas!" A splash of scotch sloshed from her cup as she spoke, but March didn't seem to notice.
"Kansas? I thought you were going back to Greendale?"
"Yep! Greendale, Colorado: home of the Human Beings!"
"I see. You know, I think you maybe had enough scot…er, tea." Annie felt him take the teacup from her hand and she let her arm fall limp to her side as she looked at him and giggled.
"I think you had enough! You drank, like, three more than me!"
"Yes, but apparently you're not used to drinking it. You're only supposed to drink enough to feel numb, not paralyzed."
"Psh…you sound like an alcoholic. Or this guy from NA. He was always talking about how good it felt to be numb and check out from life and I never understood why he would want to do that. I mean, feelings feel good. Even the bad ones, cause they're exciting and they mean you're living and growing up. My mom always used to say that the more awful things you go through the better you are than people who have had it easy! That was before she disowned me…" Annie trailed off as she looked up the sky and saw what looked like individual multi-colored Christmas lights floating and flashing in the air. "Are those fireflies?" she marveled.
"Yes, they are. You know, I think I'm going to get you some water. Stay put, okay?" She didn't answer him as she watched a pink light glow intermittently as it travelled over her head from her left to her right, until it disappeared into the wood. Annie watched the fairy lights dance above her until she felt someone pressing something cool and smooth into her hand. She blinked until March's face came into focus, then she began to giggle at the sight of his enormous rabbit ears.
"You're a bunny."
"And you're going to really feel like crap tomorrow if you don't drink this whole thing. Now come on. Sip slowly, though." He helped bring the drink to her lips and Annie kept her gaze focused on his eyes as she tasted the cool water. She was fascinated by the way his eyes grew darker as she finished the drink, and his lips parted when she lowered the glass and ran her tongue over her own lips to capture the last drops of moisture. His hand covered hers on the glass and clenched slightly as she sighed contentedly. He finally pulled away, clearing his throat as he set the glass on the table. Annie let her head fall back against the chair, the velvet upholstery brushing her cheek.
"Just like my Jeff…always pulling away when I want you to come closer."
"I'm sure it's not any easier for him than it is for me," he muttered as he buried his hands in his pockets, pulling out a small object, just slightly larger than a marble. He toyed with it between his thumb and forefinger, studying it closely.
"Whassat?" she asked, leaning forward to try to get a better look.
"It's my blackberry," he explained as he showed her the little glass figurine that was a perfect replica of the fruit. Annie burst out laughing, tears rolling down her cheeks before she could catch her breath enough to speak.
"Even here, you have a Blackberry!"
"Yeah, and he has it out all the time. None of us know what he's doing with it, he just plays with it," Hatter explained as he joined them. Annie laughed harder and the men exchanged baffled shrugs. "Well, the fort's done, so you guys can come in whenever you're ready. Good night."
"Night!" Annie called as her giggles began to dissipate.
"So…we should probably get you to bed," March said after Hatter had retreated and the last of Annie's giggles had escaped, leaving her exhausted.
"Yeah, we probably should," she said before she stood from the chair.
Immediately the earth pitched underneath her feet and Annie felt herself falling forward. A strong arm wrapped around her waist and her own arm found purchase on his shoulder as she stumbled into him, knocking him off balance so that they tumbled onto the large toadstool-like stool behind them. Annie found herself seated on his lap, pressed into his chest and just a breath away from his lips. A warmth that had nothing to do with the alcohol began to rush through her veins, making her cheeks turn pink and her breathing become shallow. The hand that wasn't clutching her waist now rested on her thigh and she thought she felt his thumb stroke her skin through the fabric of her dress.
"Annie – "
"Yes, Jeff?" she breathed, her eyelids lowering as his mouth seemed to remain just out of reach. She felt his shoulders stiffen, and in a moment his mouth moved well out of reach of her lips.
"It's time to get you to bed. Busy day ahead of you, and you don't want to be asleep on your feet when you're traveling through the Tulgey Wood. Good way to get yourself eaten."
He didn't exactly toss her from his lap, but one minute she was comfortably snuggled next to him and the next she was on her feet, trying to regain her equilibrium. The warmth was slowly dissipating, replaced by the familiar annoyance that seemed to only be brought on by men who looked exactly like Jeff Winger. Annie barely kept from huffing as she followed him to the entrance of a giant blanket fort. She was distracted for a moment from her anger as she took in the scale and complexity of the structure, mystified by how Hatter could have put it up so quickly. March pulled back the blanket that served as the door and gestured for her to enter.
"Milady?" He offered her a weak smile and Annie returned the smile, despite the frustration that remained twisted in her nerves.
She had to duck to enter the fort and crawl through a series of tunnels that eventually led to a large open area that was scattered with pillows, cushions and what appeared to be three rolled-up sleeping bags. Hatter was there, having changed into pajamas that featured dancing hats, and began unrolling one of the bags.
"Hey guys. Annie, I wasn't sure what was normal for Greendale, but here women generally prefer privacy when they change into pjs. There's an area over there that I set up so you can change, if you want." He gestured to a small section of the room that had been segregated by a hanging sheet.
"Thanks, Hatter," she grinned at him, though she wasn't sure if he realized she had nothing with her to change into. Still, the stiff crinoline under her skirt was becoming itchy, and she really didn't want to sleep in her dress if it was all she had to wear.
God it's weird not even knowing what underwear I have on, Annie thought to herself as she pulled the privacy curtain and began to unbutton the bodice of her dress. She wiggled out of the blue fabric, relieved to find she had a thin white camisole underneath it. She untied her boots and slipped off her tights, but left on the simple white cotton petticoat that had been the final layer under her skirts. She looked herself over and realized that she was more covered than what she would have been in normal modern pajamas. She gathered her clothing, the buzz of the alcohol wearing off and leaving her feeling overwhelmingly tired as she pulled back the curtain. Her eyes immediately met March's, who had already settled into a sleeping bag and looked away with a guilty expression. Annie quirked her brow, but chose not to say anything as she set about laying out her clothing and unrolling her sleeping bag, turning the V-shape the boys had created into a Y.
"Good. You're finally ready. Now I can open the skylight," Hatter said as Annie slipping into her sleeping bag and fluffed a pillow under her head.
"What are you talking about?" March asked as Hatter reached for a cord hanging from the ceiling. When he pulled on it the top-most blanket fell down on them.
"Hatter!" Annie and March called in unison as they struggled with the fabric, their hands becoming entangled as they fought with the blanket. Annie looked at March and noticed he was blushing a bit as they worked together to uncover themselves. When they did, Annie gasped as she looked up and realized Hatter had truly made a skylight in the center of the fort. She gazed up at the clear sky, amazed by the way the stars swirled and moved like Van Gogh's 'Starry Night'.
"It's beautiful," she murmured, sitting up to have a better look at the twisting lights.
"Beautiful," March agreed, his voice a husky whisper that sent pleasant chills up Annie's spine. She looked down and when she saw the tender awe of his expression her heart began thudding and her breath caught in her throat. Her hand unconsciously moved up to her chest, as if to stop her heart from bursting its way through her ribs and out the skylight to explode into a burst of color like the stars. This rabbit-eared man who was identical to Jeff in seemingly every way was admiring her without shame or censure, and Annie began to wonder why she was so desperate to return home.
"We…we should get some sleep," he finally said, although his voice seemed hesitant to work.
"Yeah. You're probably right," she heard herself reply.
What? No! What are you doing? Annie Edison, why are you crawling back into your sleeping bag? She chastised herself as she nestled into her bag and focused her attention back on the sky.
He's not my Jeff. Even if he seems the same, he's not. And for all of their quirks, you want to be home with the friends you know and love. You can't be tempted by an imposter. Annie's rational voice reasoned clearly in her head, pushing images and memories of her study group around her mind until she was able to forget about the alluring Jeff look-alike next to her and finally fell asleep.