Square One
A world of shifting lands, gun fights and swords, warring factions who compete for control over useless land that could be here one day and gone the next; a place with talking doors, forest whales and tick-tocking clocks in place of hearts. It's the greatest story told by a crazed woman who, in truth, as she neared the end had lost her mind.
"Soooo, you are the one Alice has sent?"
I shook my head and the world around me fell into place. It was place that was formless and yet formed; Solid and yet invisible. Overhead I heard a warm chuckle and looked up. A handsome man, with an eye patch, stared down at me from where he floated looking cocky.
"You must be Nightmare."
Silently he floated down to hover at my level, "In the flesh." He bowed elegantly as if to a royal.
I looked away, "Don't kiss ass." And stared into the strange black-grey void, "It's very unbecoming of you."
Without warning his nose suddenly burst with blood and I couldn't help but jump back. Nightmare floated down to the floor where he sat and held his nose.
"Such rude words!"
I frowned as his blood began to pool around his knees, "Now I know your Nightmare."
Hating to see him suffer I stepped closer, dipping my bare feet into his blood, and crouched down with a sigh, "Let's not call you Nightmare."
I waved away his hands, grabbed his nose, and forced his head back so that he gazed upwards.
"That is my name."
"Wouldn't you want something nicer than Nightmare though? You seem too nice of a person to me to be called something so unpleasant."
"What should I call you?" he asked in response.
"Ari."
"Ari, it's time to wake up."
My eyes were suddenly open and the world around me came into focus. Above me was a canape top, the color of crimson berries, and to my left bright sunlight was streaming in. Beneath my back I felt the softness of a bed and the coolness of silk sheets. The aches and pains of the night before, and my escape, brought my body up from the brink of the dream world with alarming pain.
"Uhhhhhh……"
The voice that rattled through my throat and out my mouth sounded foreign to my ears. In the struggle I had yelled and screamed straining my vocal cords to their brink leaving me with a wavering, weak, pathetic voice. Gradually, as my head was spinning, I sat up in the bed and gathered my bearings.
This place was massive! The room had ridiculously high ceilings with golden crown moldings and crimson painted walls. Slowly I slinked to the edge of the huge bed and peeled back the thin curtains. No one seemed to be here. Kicking my legs out over the side I hopped from the bed and felt the strain of weight on my soar, adrenaline burned muscles.
Next to the bed was a heavy looking wooden nightstand painted red and accented with gold like much of the rest of the room. The floors were dark wood and cold against my bare feet as I made my way through the room. Across from the bed was a gaudy vanity with a large oval mirror and I quickly hurried to it. Bowing down a bit I stared at the nasty reflection in its glossy surface. The reflection was pale, whitewashed, sickly looking and covered in nasty black, yellow, and purple bruises…Its top lip was split and the bottom was swollen…..Its arms were feathered with clear outlines of big hands, abusive fingertips, and dangerous palms.
Jackass. It was the only thing I could think so early in the morning. With a heavy sigh I stood up right again and looked down. I was covered from head to toe in mud, my wedding dress was nothing but a rag now, giving me some satisfaction that I'd ruined his "gift". Looking aside I stared at the grand balcony doors, nothing but glass running from floor to ceiling, and made my way to them. As soon as the sun hit my skin I felt human again, felt it soak into my bones, race across my skin warming me from my long stretch of fear.
Throwing open the balcony doors I stepped out onto the narrow balcony and a warm wind raced by me. Below me was a massive sprawling complex of balconies, copper weathered roofs, and many irregular levels giving me the idea that I had somehow ended up at The Hatters Mansion. Further below I could see manicured grounds with pebble covered paths, green lawns, and even a rose garden. The perimeter wall, as far as I could see, was solid stone and rose up to about twenty feet leaving only one way in and one way out of the mansion. Two heavy cast iron gates sat closed, secure, and guarding them were two little boys. Beyond the gates was nothing but thick dense forest.
Hmmmm. Strange. I turned away from the balcony and stepped back into the room. I thought grandma had said you start at the Clock Tower. Without thinking it through I rummaged through every drawer I could find looking for anything useful. Why did I end up at The Hatters? In the end I found only a couple of letter openers that were dangerously sharp and so I wrapped them up in a handkerchief, the initials of my father stitched into the pale white fabric, and hid them in my dress.
Grandma had said many things as she spiraled into her dementia. Father had called it all nonsense and often boxed my ears if I repeated any of it. Crossing the room I went to the door and silently cracked it open. If I've somehow started at The Hatters….Beyond the crack I could see a long hallway, with many doors, polished floors, high ceilings…..does that mean that The Game has changed?
From another connecting hall a few maids sauntered out into my sight. They wore black and white outfits with mini-top hats on their heads and tilted slightly to the side. As they laughed and talked with one another I saw one of them turn their head aside and I quickly realized that the maid had no face. "There are those With Roles and those who are Faceless." Grandma's words sent chills down my spine.
Poking my head out I looked up and down the hall. The maids sauntered to the end and turned left disappearing around a corner. Outsiders are immediately liked in this place so….maybe I can walk right out the front door. With the coast clear I slipped from my room, closing the door behind me with a soft click, and headed down the hall. The wood floor against my bare feet was cold giving my chills and goosebumps up and down my body.
To the left and the right there were many doors but no windows. Somehow without the use of lights or candles the corridor was warmly bright. Who needs this many rooms? I couldn't help but wonder. Unless they're just facade doors to use as a distraction during an invasion or something. The concept annoyed me, a lot, as I recalled how much fighting grandma described. It seemed near impossible that she would survive such a place.
Ahead I heard heavy footsteps approaching and before I could really comprehend a plan a man, tall, sly, handsome came around the corner. He wore a top hat with roses, his back hair was long and shaggy but his holly berry eyes were focused downward on papers in his hand. I jumped left, opening the door I ran into, and slip inside careful to close the door quietly. My heart was pounding in my skull, between my ears, as I listened to the footsteps come and go before disappearing completely. I breathed again and put my forehead against the smooth wood door trying to force my heart back into my chest.
"You're not Alice?!"
I whipped about face, towards the inner part of the room, to see a man with soft carrot colored hair and giant rabbit ears sticking out of his head…..He was also completely naked and wet as if he'd just come from the shower.
"Um….."I felt my cheeks blush with heat, "I-I'm sorry. I'll take my leave now."
I gave one last glance at him and that's when he reached for his gun hanging from the canape railing on his bed.
BOOM!
The gun went off like thunder and I dropped to my knees as the shot went whizzing by. It struck the doors and splinters fell down across me.
"ELLIOT STOP IT!" I yelled grabbing hold of the door and swinging myself out.
BOOM!
Another round burst through the door, as I stumbled from my crouching position up to my feet, spraying splinters everywhere. Blindly I charged down the hallway not caring if I was spotted because as much noise as that gun was making I was sure a hoard of mafia goons was on their way. I heard the door slam open just as I reach the first corner and peered back as I went around. Elliot, the March Hare, was still naked and running down the hallway towards me.
I couldn't help but laugh at him even if he was trying to shoot me, "Elliot put some clothes on!"
He slipped, falling back, and landed with a smack on his back side. The painful sound echoed down the hall, a few maids came out of a room and gasped at his nakedness, and then that's when the man from before joined the mix. His crimson eyes saw Elliot then looked up at spotted me right away. Instantly I remembered grandma describing this man as Blood Dupre.
"Elliot go fetch our guest." Blood spoke casually.
I didn't wait around to see who was making a move towards me as both maids and man servants were beginning to gather in the hall. This hall was an exact copy of the one I'd come down with the same number of doors and no windows. Behind me I could hear footsteps following me. I dodged right, slamming into a door, and sent it flying open to nearly tear from its hinges.
Throwing the door shut I quickly grabbed the nearby dresser and dragged it in front barricading the door shut. Loud pounding and shouting followed seconds later followed by rapid gun fire. Until I could figure out if the game was the same, as for my grandma Alice, I couldn't trust anyone NOT to kill me. I turned towards the room, it was stale with lifelessness, and charged across to the balcony doors.
RAT-TAT TAT-RAT-TAT TAT.
My pursuers were shredding the door to nothingness. With no time to waste I climbed over the balcony banister and jumped down onto the steeply slanted roof.
"HOT SHIT!"
The brilliant dual suns in the sky above had heated the tarnished copper roof to near boiling. Immediately the pain made me fumble about and losing my balance I fell back onto my back, scorching any flesh that the dress didn't cover, and I started to tumble down the roof. I soared off one level, hit the next, and kept rolling until I hit another all the while trying to stop my motion so I could get back on my feet.
"Yea! Brother lets-"
The sound of a body hitting the ground pulled the twins attention. Had an enemy slipped by them? Slowly they turned around looking through the bars of the gates to the frail looking body lying on the ground. Although they didn't know it the twins hearts jumped in unison as they took in the brilliant golden hair…..but then she lifted her head.
"You're not Alice." Dee whined.
She replied, "No, I'm not." And got to her feet.
"Then you're a stranger!" Dum barked.
BOOM!
I ducked as the round, shot sloppily from far behind me, soared over my head. Dee and Dum dodged out of the way of the round leaving the gate unguarded. Jumping to my feet I took the opportunity and charged towards the gates, throwing them open, and headed into the forest.
"Stupid bunny!" Dum yelled.
Dee added, "Chicken bunny!"
Elliot lowered his gun and inspected the tool. Why the hell was he missing so much? Scratching at his head he stared stupidly at the weapon.
"Elliot."
Dropping his attention at his weapon Elliot looked up to see Bloods trolling across the green lawn looking casually cool as usual.
"Blood I think my gun is broken."
Blood smirked, "Your gun is fine. Now put it away and go bring her back. Alive."
"What?!" Elliot gawked, "Why?!"
"She is an Outsider who came to us, I'd imagine, without the 'help' of Peter White. After all she did appear in my rose garden instead of the tower."
Elliot shrugged, "It's just a glitch."
"Go find her Elliot." Blood turned and headed back towards the mansion, "Don't come back empty handed."