-Capture and Defense-

I woke up shackled to a chair and couldn't remember how I got there. Some voices were talking, and I recognized one of them, or was that in my head?

"Alice?" I asked. I saw a figure turn to me but I couldn't see it's face, but he was defiantly male. He leaned in closer and I saw that he was wearing round spectacles in front of blue eyes, his face had many wrinkles and he was wearing something white over his lower face including his mouth and nose. He raised a metal object to my face and suddenly, the tip of it lit up and I was blinded by a bright light. I tried to close my eyes but they wouldn't go. He waved the light in my eyes a few more times before finally turning it off. Another figure walked up but because my eyes were still adjusting from blindness, I couldn't see any features.

"Is he stable?" The second figure asked in a strong man voice. Male, without a doubt.

"Appears so sir." The wrinkled man said. He was about to walk away when the other man grabbed his arm and told him to wait. Then the leaned in close to my face and squinted. He looked incredibly boring with his black hair tied back into a braid with the front curled up into a puffy spot. Long sideburns framed his face. His brown eyes were dull as if he had never imagined anything in his life. Even his clothes were dull, he was wearing a white collar turned up with a peach ascot which was tucked under an off-white vest under a black jacket. Wasn't he hot with all those layers?

"So, what's wrong with him?" He asked as if I wasn't even there. The wrinkled man seemed baffled.

"Isn't it obvious sir? See his hat and all the materials he has with him? He is a hatter, and judging by his skin tone and his medical condition, he has been greatly effected by the mercury of his trade." The black haired man looked annoyed at the other's comment. He rolled his eyes.

"I mean, why is he here and why did he go all ballistic on my men?"

"Oh, not sure sir."

"Is he friendly?"

"After that attack, you tell me sir." By then I had had enough with being a third wheel in this conversation.

" What are you-?" I barely got to finish my sentence when they jumped back in shock. The wrinkled man reached forward above my head and I heard a clicking noise and I could suddenly blink again. I sighed in relief and shook my head trying to get rid of the awful headache that suddenly wiped over me.

"Better?" the wrinkly man asked

"Much thank you. Where am I, and what's going on?" I asked, they seemed to calm when I thanked them, as if they thought I was hostile.

" My name is Dr. Richards." the wrinkled man smiled I decided that he seemed kind, although you should never judge someone before you truly know them (unless their Alice). The other man straitened up even more and softly cleared his throat, this was going to be good.

" I am Lord Malory Riplure, I am in charge of this establishment." I looked around, I was in a dark room and to my far left, there was a table with a few of Dr. Richards's examination instruments. It all reminded me of a torture room, not like Staynes, his was much worse, but this was still not pleasant.

" What are you doing with me? Why am I strapped to this chair?" The chair was made of old wood, splintering and all, it was extremely uncomfortable to sit on let alone be asleep on. Dr. Richards suddenly frowned and looked slightly depressed. He sighed as he walked over to the table and filled a syringe with something, my eyes widened and I swung my head to look at Riplure

"Well, if you really don't remember, you came charging through the front door of my office and demanded to see one of my patients. When I denied you, you started to break down doors looking for her, I sent my men after you but you ripped them apart. Now thanks to you, I have a black eye and three of my workers are in the hospital two with broken bones and one with a shattered tibia." Had I really done that? Had I been so blinded my the need to save Alice that I had almost killed a man? It was possible.

" So what are you going to do?" I asked, more to Richards than to Riplure but he was the one who answered

"You obviously are in serious need of my services Mr.-... What did you say your name was?" I didn't answer but simply glared at him. "Oh so that's how it's going to be is it? I don't want to do this who ever you are, but you are in serious need of my services. Dr. Riplure PHD in mental behavior, and welcome to the Brodland Mental institute for the mentally disabled. An insane asylum. My assistant Richards is going to give you a shot that will temporally disable you until we can get you to your cell. Any questions?" A ghoulish grin spread across his once dull face. He expected me to go down easily did he? Well, we'll see about that!

I screamed something in outlandish at him that should not be translated, and I kicked his stomach, pushing my chair backwards, which was stupidly not strapped down. I swung my myself out of the sitting position, and even though the chair was heavy, I managed to stand and pull it up and point it at the two before Riplure could recover from my blow. He was staring at me in shock and pain and breathing heavily and Richards's mouth was agape and his eyes were wide, he was near to dropping the Syringe. I pointed the chair from one to the other, Riplure had seen the damage I could do with my bare hands, let alone a chair, He was now trying not to upset me, but it was far too late for that.

"Put.. The chair...down." He said slowly as if I wouldn't understand or as if any random word he said would make me kill him.

" Not until you drop the syringe and let me go." Riplure chuckled like it was a joke and Richards looked totally all right with doing just as I asked.

"I'm sorry Sir, but not until you at least tell me your name." I thought up something quick.

"Tobias ." I told him, my father's name. " Tobias Rosland" My mother's maiden name. He smiled and then quickly hid it as not to upset me.

" All right, now if you'll kindly put down the chair Mr. Rosland,"

"Not until the syringe is dropped."

" In your dreams."

"Ah' only dr'am of Alice, n' tea" I argued, although, it might not have been the best comment so I added a little anger into it. " Ye' Slirvish Gallymonger."

" My! You need my help more than I thought. I can understand dreaming about a girl and maybe even tea for you crazy people, but making up words? That is not good for your health Mr. Rosland. In fact, I have the perfect place for you. Come along." With that, I felt a sharp pain in my arm, I looked over to see Dr. Richards hand jabbing the syringe of chemicals into me. With a strongly clenched fist, I uppercut the man and after a quick apology, I ripped the piece of equipment out of me, but the liquid was gone, it was inside my veins. I turned to Riplure and saw that he too worked quickly, he had a group of men at his side and they walked forward cautiously. No need though, the chair was becoming more and more heavy and I dropped it, then I found myself falling, landing in a position that would have been very uncomfortable, if I could feel my arms and legs. I watched as Riplure came and stood over me.

"Sorry we had to do that Tobias, but it's for the good of the community. Oh, and just for future reference, I never, ever, lose." I closed my eyes as he turned and told the workers to take me to a cell near Alice. "Don't let anyone see him. I want it to be a surprise." He snickered.