In the gloomy corridor Agent White waited, the dank smell coming from the pool of water which lay ankle deep around him. Occasional flashes of illumination came from the live cables hanging frayed and torn from the dangling light fittings around him. The grey corridor was once a hive of activity, with offices reverberating to the soft hum of countless conversations and constant whirring of machines. Doors in constant motion as busy employees transported information and documents to their destinations. Now nature was staking a claim, salvaging what it could from the ravages of man amid the electrical jungle of the lights. On the floor piles of rotting paper provided the soil for new grass islands, small refuges from the encroaching lakes and ponds.
Around the corner was the landing harbour from where the warning thump had stopped him in his tracks. He was the last one through; there should be no one else. There was only one logical arrival, an unnecessary problem. He stood immobile, ears straining for the telling sounds of his quarry. He held his breath and willed his heart to quiet, frozen in place.
There it was! The dratted oyster had followed him down the rabbit hole. Well she was on his patch now, time for a lesson in the price of interfering. He delayed for a moment or two, listening to her movements as she got her bearings and called out. Then, once he was sure she would follow, he moved from his sanctuary, into her line of sight and down the corridor, making for the exit. He scurried and splashed, leaving an audible trail, ensuring to keep ahead and planning as he went. She should have left well enough alone, it was none of her business. Well she could join the other oysters. That would tie up the loose ends nicely!
As he burst from the shadowy building he squinted in the harsh glow of the pre-dawn light. The fumes that still surrounded the city added to the feeling of dry, chemical heat, the vast grey tower blocks seemingly monochrome in the flat light. Poor vegetation, stunted and colourless, sprouted wherever it could find a foothold, the thin soil only supporting the hardiest of species. As his eyes acclimatised he sped down the narrow ledge to his right and caught up with his suits, the knave they had accosted still unconscious between them. He harried them on, glancing around to ensure there was no one else around to interfere. Glimpsing a blue shadow skirting around the building he smirked. So far so good, her determination was triumphing over caution.
Crossing a narrow bridge between ledges he glanced around once more, before rushing up the steps and through the door of his headquarters. "Get him to the landing dock. And lock him down, we can't have him getting away again" he instructed the suits. Turning to two more he added, "Clear the corridor, we have an extra treat for the casino. One more oyster,"
He strode to a side room, as the corridor cleared, thinking of the best way to trap his prey. She was inquisitive this one, better to let her put herself in danger than confront her again. As he reached his office he paused, issued another set of instructions then continued inside to check on the transport for the captive. The sooner he was delivered the sooner this whole mess would be over and he could get back to business as usual. He took the ring case out of his pocket and placed it carefully in the centre of his desk.
-oOo-
Alice dashed down the corridor, determined not to lose her only link to Jack, she wasn't sure where she was or quite how she had got here. Finding Jack or his captors might be her only way home.
Bursting out of the building she slammed on the brakes as she found herself teetering on the brink of a huge drop. She scuttled back, till her back was securely against the wall and tried to make sense of what she could see. She was standing next to an Edwardian style office block, built with grey stone blocks, with another facing it across the street. Except there was no street, just a fall to the ground of several hundred stories, while above her the buildings reached as high again. The side walk she stood on was simply a grass covered ledge and as she looked at the one across the street she began to wonder what was keeping it up.
Nervously, she swallowed her doubts, focusing on Jack. She needed to find him and help him. As she looked up the street for her quarry she spotted him, halfway across a bridge over the non-existent street, hurrying the two men who were dragging Jack between them. As she examined Jack to see if he was okay the party hastened up the steps of the building and straight inside. After a quick look around, Alice sped across after them, careful to keep to the middle of the bridge. She didn't want to fall.
The doors of the building were of frosted glass with a crest containing a white rabbit on, the same as the lapel badge she had noticed in the alley. Reluctant to go straight in Alice moved to the side windows to peer in. This building seemed as derelict as the one she had just left, with panes of glass broken and dirty, hiding whatever was inside. As Alice considered her options a motorised whirr caught her ears.
Turning, Alice first looked to the street, then, realising there could be nothing there, she looked up to find the strangest sight. A flying machine, shaped like a beetle, was skimming along the edge of the buildings with a search light underneath. Moving back under the door canopy she followed its progress towards her, trying to get a better look at it. What was it? How could it fly? As she pondered these questions the light brushed over her arm and Alice jumped further back into the shade as she felt it burning. To her horror her skin was scorching, yet instead of blistering red, it was turning green, revealing swirling spirals. She rubbed at the mark to try and sooth the pain, then dampened her fingers on her lips, before trying to wash the mark away, without success.
The machine moved on out of sight and Alice's thoughts returned to the building behind her and Jack. She had no choice, she needed to go in. Cautiously she opened the door and peered inside, before stealthily creeping through it. She lowered the door silently back into place and looked around. This was another derelict office building from the looks of it, with corridors moving deep inside. Green vines curled their way up doorways and walls, reclaiming this urban jungle. Jack was in here somewhere. Alice stole forward, ears straining for a sound to give her a clue which way to turn.
As she reached the junction of two corridors she noticed at the end of one was a three legged table made of solid glass, with nothing on it, but a small bottle with a paper label around it. Puzzled, Alice walked towards the table and picked up the bottle. She held out the label and read 'Curiosity'. Intrigued she turned it over; here the words 'killed the cat' had been written. Feeling a prickle of awareness, Alice checked over her shoulder to see if someone was watching her, seeing no one she returned to her inspection of the dead end. Spotting a small grate in the white padded wall, she replaced the bottle on the table and walked over to it. Pushing the small grey handle she moved the grate to one side and peeked through.
-oOo-
Agent White watched the oyster as she caught sight of the other thirty, packed tight and sleeping in their crates. She gave a slight gasp and he saw her mouth widen in shock as she moved closer to the small grate. She was still riveted by the sight as he gave the order to close her crate. He smiled as he heard her panicked shout and the thuds her fists made on the panel as she tried to get out. They increased as the sides began to close in around her, enclosing her as well as any of the oysters.
He couldn't resist opening the panel and peering in to see the fear on her face. "Hey, let me out of this thing", she demanded, as feisty as ever.
"Temper, temper," he admonished her, enjoying her discomfit.
Alice refused to be quelled "What the hell is this place?"
"You shouldn't have come after me little oyster" He taunted her and then stepped back to watch this crate be lifted and stacked with the others. "Must dash, I'm running late!" he added, although by this point she was unable to hear him.
He turned on his heal and trotted up the overgrown corridor back to his office. He picked up the ring case and placed it securely in his pocket. He gave a satisfied 'hm' as he considered the nights work. The ring was found, the knave apprehended and the only witness was trussed up with the other oysters and ready to take to the casino. All that was left was to deliver them all and collect his reward. He swept out of the room, making for the scarab.
AN - I am intending to feed in an number of voices into the chapters, hence the white rabbit POV in this chapter. I am hoping to expand beyond the scenes within the miniseries and explore some of the subplots that were hinted at, but never really explored. (Jack and the resistance, Hatter and Mad March to name two). I also wanted to try to make sense of Hatter, as his turn about from whealer dealer to in love with Alice seemed too sudden in the show. For this reason I also expect that some scenes will differ from the miniseries (this goes along with the idea of this being novel that was adapted as novels are often changed to fit screen time.) It is also possible that at some point it will change direction from the miniseries, although this is not the intention at the moment, I will have to see where it takes me.
Finally, although I am writing this primarily for myself and my own pleasure, I would apprieciate any constructive feedback on my writing, style, grammar etc as I am hoping to continue after this with some original plot in this and other fandoms. Thanks.