Current Song: "3 Libras" - A Perfect Circle

Here I am expecting just a little bit too much from the wounded
But I see, see through it all
See through, see you

Alice tried to remember to breathe this time. She even surprised herself by twisting to come through feet first. However, this was not where she had last seen the looking glass. The mirror was propped at odd angle, sending her tumbling sideways to plant firmly on her knees. She could already feel the bruises forming. "Ow." She gave an indignant pout and stood to dust off her pants and grab her bag, having dropped it in her fall.

Clearing her throat, she shouldered the bag and looked around. Where exactly was she? The room was dark and dingy, marble floor cracked and caving while just a bit of light came through one half boarded window. "Hello?" The door dangled on its top hinge and dropped off completely when she attempted to make her way through. Alice dodged the toppling wood and came face to face with one of the royal Suits.

"Don't move." He ordered, leveling his gun at her head. Alice put her hands in the air, but just as she started to speak:

"Stand down!"

Jack.

"Oh, my God, Jack!" She dropped her hands and shoved past the Suit, throwing her arms around his neck; an embrace he barely returned. She pulled away, brow furrowed. "Jack, what's going on?" The king nodded to his suits and eyed their movements as they rushed the building. They carried out the looking glass, the same Suit approaching while returning his weapon to its holster under his jacket.

"No, sign of him, your Majesty. Or the ring."

Jack swore softly. Alice placed a gentle hand on his shoulder and dipped her head to keep his gaze. "Jack, what's happening?" It hadn't taken her long to notice they were on the outskirts of the city, just by the old smuggling docks. The city looked even more run down than it had before, if that was even possible. The air was stale and other than Jack and his men, there wasn't another soul in sight. The young king regarded her with a frown.

"Things in Wonderland are…complicated right now, Alice." He turned as a number of Suits formed a protective circle around them, keeping time with his steps. There was a terrible roar in the distance, but he spoke again before she could question, "Why have you come back?"

A small voice in the back of her mind warned her to lie. "I promised Charlie I would visit." She waited and received a nod, but he appeared skeptical. "Jack, who were they looking for?" He visibly flinched and avoided her gaze. Alice was sure he even picked up his pace.

"We have a lot to discuss, but not here. It's… not safe." Another roar. Alice spun and looked to the city, questioning him again. "Not here, Alice." They boarded the Scarab, Jack led her to a small room just behind the pilot and motioned to one of the two seats. Alice nodded, sat, and chewed on her lip.

"Jack," she waited until he closed the door and took a seat across from her. He didn't look at her. "Jack, who were they looking for?" She had a feeling she already knew the answer and her stomach began to twist and knot as he looked up. His eyes were stone hard.

"Hatter."

Alice shook her head and watched the video for a second time. She just couldn't believe it. Tea-heads were tearing the city apart, but not just out of withdrawals: they were ruthless animals. The whites of their eyes were tinged red and they were attacking anything that moved, clawing and biting until they were disgustingly satisfied. Then they would move on, dragging their feet and moaning until the next victim caught their eye.

Jack rubbed a hand over his tired face. He had watched these videos more times than he cared to admit. "It's a new tea. Not emotions, but a poison. A drug." A woman screamed on the video as three tea-heads tore into her, her pleas drowned out by the primal screeching and growling of the monsters. "They were addicted to the queen's quick fix. When that was taken away, they turned to the next one. But this…it turns them into mindless – "

"Zombies." Alice finished, watching with horror-filled eyes as the woman staggered to her feet and filed in with the slow moving creatures that had just maimed her. "So…they are like…the walking dead?"

"Not exactly." Jack pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. "Not like the movies from your world. If the injuries are severe enough, they die."

She couldn't believe what she was seeing. "And you think Hatter is behind this new…drug?" She crossed her arms across her chest and narrowed her eyes. "I don't buy it, Jack." The king sighed and crossed the room. He stopped in front of a clear case that stood just a bit shorter than Alice and typed in a code on the keypad that held it locked. "Hatter is… is… he's selfish and stubborn and sarcastic." Jack pulled another disc from the case and returned to the monitor. "He's a lot of things, Jack, but this?" She motioned to the screen as he changed out the disc.

"Alice, sit down." His tone was soft, which did nothing but bring more alarm to her already raging senses.

"I'll stand, thank you."

Jack sighed and pressed a button on the remote. Alice immediately recognized the room as the hall where the looking glass was once kept. A surveillance camera of some sort, pointing down over the mirror and the immediate arear around it. A technician was tapping away on a keyboard beside the glass and there was Hatter, pacing a few feet at a time. He wasn't saying anything but was clearing running through a conversation in his head. She couldn't help but smile as she watched him. Jack approached with a few Suits. Hatter stopped, nodding as Jack spoke to him. His expression quickly turned to one of anger as Jack's hand snapped out and grabbed his arm. God, how she wished the video had sound. Jack had held the man still (which she knew he wouldn't have been able to do unless Hatter was allowing it) and reached into Hatter's pocket, pulling out two small vials. Hatter stepped back, looking stunned, as the Suits fanned out around him.

Alice lowered into a chair as the room on the screen suddenly filled with tea-heads. Everyone scattered; Jack was led out of the camera's view by one of the Suits while the rest tried to fend off the creatures. Hatter had backed against the wall, eyes wide with terror as the technician and two Suits were killed. The screen went black just as Hatter ran out of view. "Oh, my God…" She whispered, feeling a tear escape down her cheek.

"I'm sorry, Alice. I know you wanted to trust him." Jack looked at the door as Duchess entered, already sporting a sympathizing expression toward Alice. "The royal scientists are examining the formula and trying to improvise a cure." Alice nodded numbly, staring into nothing as Jack knelt in front of her. "Alice, I have to ask." Her lip quivered as she met his gaze. "Have you heard from Hatter? Do you know where we can find him?"

There was that voice again. Alice shook her head. Jack placed a hand on her cheek before nodding to Duchess. The future queen returned the gesture and placed her hands on Alice's shoulders.

"Come, Alice. We have a room prepared for you."

Alice allowed herself to be steered to the door, but stopped short of leaving the room. "Jack?" She didn't turn around, but she knew he heard her. "Why was Hatter at the looking glass?" Duchess quickly turned to her fiancé, squeezing Alice's shoulders supportively.

"He was leaving."

Another tear escaped down Alice's cheek.

"He was coming to be with you."

"Alice?"

Blue eyes cracked open, but she didn't move. Only allowed her attention to focus on the voice coming from the opposite side of the door. It was Duchess.

"Alice, we've summoned the White Knight for you. He should arrive by first light." There was a beat of silence. "Are you hungry?"

As if acting on its own violation, her stomach growled. She could ignore it, but it would probably just leave her feeling worse than she already was. She forced herself out of bed with a sign and padded over to the door. Her mind was in chaos. She trusted Hatter, but the evidence against him was overwhelming. And then knowing that Hatter had been coming to her world… to be with her. It was all too much. She couldn't bear to sit with Jack right now, knowing that he believed Hatter was guilty.

Duchess took a step back as the door opened to reveal a very tired-looking Alice. Her heart ached for the girl, it really did. She bore no ill will toward Alice, even though Jack's feelings had been made abundantly clear. Duchess was his second choice, but at least he cared for her. Maybe one day, he would even learn to love her. For now, though: "I could have Eight bring you something so you can have some privacy tonight?" Her offer was rewarded with a small but grateful smile and nod. Alice made to close the door, but Duchess reached in to place a small hand on her forearm. There was a silent understanding between them before the future queen bowed away.

Alice closed the door and returned to her bed. Tomorrow, she would see Charlie, the brave White Knight who had done his part in securing Wonderland's freedom from the queen. She really wanted to hear his take on all of this. For a crazy old man, he sometimes made more sense than any other person she knew. Maybe he even knew where she could find Hatter. Something told her he wasn't rebuilding his tea shop. She needed to hear his side, to know why he left her the note. Perhaps more than anything, she needed to know that he was okay.

Cause I threw you the obvious
To see what occurs behind the eyes of a fallen angel
Eyes of a tragedy
Oh, well
Oh, well
Apparently nothing
Apparently nothing at all

TBC

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