-Alice's POV-
I woke up in a fright, underneath a thick, green willow tree. I couldn't see out and no one could see in. As long as I was in here, I was safe. Looking down, I noticed the dirt and dried blood splattered across my hands and arms. If only I could bathe. But what if they find me? I've been in living in constant fear for quite some time now but it keeps getting worse. After trying to pick off the blood for a frustrating five minutes I decide to peek out of my clever hiding place. No one's out there. I take my chance and run for it all the way to the pond.
I go in fully dressed. Who knows when I'll have to make my way out of here or how quickly? I bathe silently, hoping I can fully clean myself before I am discovered. I have a blade strapped into my boot but I don't know if that will always be enough of a weapon. Once I finish bathing, I take a look at my surroundings. Strange that no one is around. I decide to try and find the Hatter. He seems to be the only one around here that's on my side. I hope he's alright. If anything happened to him, I might as well let them take me too. No sense in fighting when your only reason to live has gone away into a better place without you.
I find his house rather quickly in the overgrown forest. I've been here enough times now to find it easily enough. I push his door open and walk in. He gets terrified if I knock because he fears it could be the Red Queen's guards coming to take him away. When I come in, I see the Hatter asleep at his table with a half finished hat next to him. It's rather good and I think of how tired he must be from just getting that far. I quietly make my way to his closet and pull out one of the many dresses he's made for me, just in case I ever needed them. He wakes up shortly after I finish dressing and smiles at the sight of me. "I was wondering when you'd ever wear one of the dresses I made you," he laughs and comes over to me, pulling me into a hug. In his arms is the only place I feel safe here in this living hell. I wonder if he feels this way too. When he lets go, I quietly sigh. He winks at me and I smile. This is a happy moment for the both of us but it quickly ends as soon as we hear the army marching close by.
