Oh he looked like the Hatter alright. Mad too, Alice could tell, even if he did spend most of his time at the asylum in complete fright of the surroundings. Her wandering thoughts strayed Alice far from reality and she was very shocked when Maggie's bone gripping hug snapped her back to life.

"I'm so scared Alice." Maggie mumbled as she wept into Alice's arm, and Alice felt a pang of sadness sweep throughout her body. She knew that with the man here now she could go to Wonderland but Maggie would have to stay in the asylum. There wasn't a single inch of her that would risk taking Maggie there with her. And the boy would have the same thing applied.

"Listen to me Maggie," Alice began, holding her at arm's length, and trying to keep her voice steady as tears filled Maggie's eyes, "I'm going to Wonderland."

"Wonderland?" Maggie said, her voice sounding at first confused. But she quickly turned to a desperate tone.

"Oh, take me with you!"

"I can't Maggie. It's too much of a risk. Listen to me. Your going to get out of here. Your going to be strong and brave." Alice said.

"But how can I be Alice? I'm not like you. I never will be strong."

"Then you will pretend to be me."

Maggie was shaking violently now. Alice couldn't go. She would be dead for sure by time her only friend came back. Then out of the corner of her eye she saw the cat. The mangy coat, the bone chilling grin on his face. No! She would not be left in the dark.

"Alice, it's time." The cat said. And with one last guilty look, Alice turned away. Maggie shook her head. No no no! That was when she grabbed on to Alice's leg.

"DON'T LEAVE ME!"

Alice was on the verge of crying, Willy was looking completly shocked as he had no idea what was going on. As for Charlie, he stood in the corner of the cell with his eyes shut. Finally after she had shushed her, Maggie started to cry quietly.

"What's going on?" Willy whispered, not wanting to attract more people into the cell. Alice freed her leg of Maggie before she spoke.

"The mirror. It has more powers than you think."

"Powers?"

The cat continued for his friend.

"You cursed yourself when you got that mirror. You both did. And now you must go to Wonderland and destroy it."

"But Wonderland doesn't exist." Charlie said speaking up for the first time.

"Does it?"

"Of course it does. Right through the rabbit hole." The Cheshire Cat

There was a yelp from the floor and everyone turned around. Right in the middle of the floor was a large hole. That wasn't there before. Alice knew what was coming. She walked up to Willy.

"We both have to go. Alone. You can't take him with you. Do you understand?"

Willy was silent for a moment. It came to a point where it looked as though he might cry but eventually there was a nod. As he got up Alice turned to The Cheshire Cat and his two friends.

"I want you to take care of them."

"You have my word Alice. Not a finger will be laid."

Alice smiled and turned back to Willy.

"Are you ready?" she asked, as they neared the edge of the hole.

"And how deep is that hole?" he squeaked.

"It's a soft landing. Hopefully."

"Hopefully?"

"Well," Alice began. "The Queen rules the land, so there could be anything down there now."

"Anything?"

"We have to do this alright? Besides the landing should be the least of your worries."

"Least of my worries. What's down there?"

"Anything and everything as I already told you. Now we have to jump so when I count to three. One...Two...Thr...Oh for goodness sake, take my hand. We'll do this together. Do you have the mirror?"

Willy's eyes were shut and he nodded.

"Good. And Maggie?"

Alice turned around to see her hiding behind one of the mangy cats along with Charlie.

"I will come back for you. And we will escape and find you a family. One that will love you."

"It sounds wonderful." Maggie said. Alice nudged Willy.

"Don't you have something to say?"

He had forgotten about his best friend. His whole mind seemed to be focused on Alice holding his hand.

"I'll come...back too."

He turned back to the hole.

"Are you ready now?" Alice asked.

Willy squeezed her hand and shut his eyes again.

"Yes."

One.

Two.

Three.

Then nothing...