Hello lovely people! I'm back with a new chapter. ^^~

Again, sorry for the late update. This chapter ended up being really long. No joke… Sooo I decided to divide it, and make the rest of it chapter 11. *Had to make sure I split it at the right place* But yeah, shoulda posted this a few days ago sowwy.;;

Well you can all expect chapter 11 real soon. ^^~

austriantatious: LOL Yes they did, and we'll find out soon who told them. xP Boris is a HUGE perv in the manga, Cheshire Cat Waltz. And I'm not gonna go into details on what happened in the 4th manga book. XD

Reaper . Death: Thank you so much! You're really kind. ^^~

And HAHAHA! I actually remember you disclaimer. :3

Disclaimer: I do not, never have, and sadly never will own Joker/Clover/Heart no kuni no Alice… T_T

Now on with the story!

-Chapter Ten-

-Dangling for Dear Life-

"Now listen boys. Let's not be too hasty and just think about this for a moment."

"But we already thought about it," said Dee as he pulled out a throwing knife.

"An' it's decided that you'll act as our piñata," added Dum.

"Now hold it!"

"What now?" asked Dee.

He looked like he was getting irritated from all my complaining. Of course, why the heck wouldn't I complain? !

"Why use a living piñata? I-I mean, you guys should get one with candy inside. You love candy, right?"

"Hmm we do. But living piñatas scream. Makes things much more fun," Dum answered.

Oh gawd, I'm going to die!

"Now hold still, sister," Dee said as he readied his knife.

"WAAAIIIT! ! !" I shouted, stopping Dee from throwing the blade.

"What now? !" asked the displeased boys. They wanted to have their "fun" now.

"Wouldn't you rather use a bat? I mean throwing knives at a piñata kind of ruins the game, don't you think?" I asked while sweat-dropping.

"Why?"

Dee's glare made me want to crawl in a hole and hide. If only I weren't tied upside down in a tree.

"Bat… whacks… piñatas," I said in a squeaky voice.

I was terribly afraid at this point. Dee looked like he really wanted me to pay the price, but Dum looked as though just the thought of killing someone was enough to satisfy him.

"She's right, brother," Dum said with a smile. "It's only natural to attack the piñata with a bat."

"Ahh but we don't have a bat."

"An' that's a problem."

"Should we use a large stick, brother?"

"We'd take forever to kill her, brother."

"I don't see what's wrong with the throwing knife," Dee said as he looked at his precious weapon.

"An' finding a bat would take forever. Poor sister would be tired from waiting," said Dum as he looked at me with sparkling eyes.

This was it. I was going to be murdered. These little devils would probably hide my corpse afterwards, and nobody would ever know.

"So what do you think, sister?" asked Dee.

Ahh but wait… Maybe if I told them that Alice would hate them, they'd stop?

"Sister?"

"She's not answering, brother."

I looked at the boys, wanting to tell them.

*Silence*

Tell them.

"Maybe she doesn't mind the knife after all," said Dee as he sighed.

Tell them.

"An' she's quiet, brother."

TELL THEM YOU STUPID IDIOT!

My brow twitched as I opened my mouth to speak.

*Silence*

"…"

"Let's get this over with," Dee said as he readied his blade.

My mind became such a mess as death awaited me.

The first knife Dee threw at me flew past the right side of my waist, barely missing me by an inch. My body froze in pure terror.

Why was it that the more terrified I was, the harder it was to get a word out? !

"Do it again!" Dum said excitedly as the boys laughed.

This time Dee threw the knife at my head, missing me by half an inch.

"Aww you didn't strike her, brother. My turn!" said Dum as the boys looked like they were having the time of their lives.

I could feel myself becoming woozy. This wasn't exactly how I wanted to die. It'd be nice to maybe, I don't know, be able to grow old and pass away in a warm bed?

'Today's the day of the coronation. You don't want to miss your big day, now do you?'

Uncle Aswal?

Exactly why am I remembering that now?

I mean I read in books before that your life flashes before you when you're about to die, but that's the only thing I'm remembering now? !

And the day of the coronation? Wasn't that the day I dropped into this strange world?

'Today is your big day, Alex. It's the day Aura will be cured, and all will finally be well.'

Right, the day that Aura would be saved…

I stiffened as another blade came flying towards me and barely missed.

Wait a second.

'You don't want to miss your big day, now do you?'

My big day?

Wasn't it supposed to be Aura's big moment, since the cure was meant for her?

'Once Aura is cured, all will be well.'

'How will she be cured, Uncle?' I asked with curious eyes.

'It's quite simple.'

Three men appeared from behind me as Uncle Aswal smiled.

'Uncle Aswal?'

I became frightened as one of the men grabbed me firmly from behind. Their faces were masked, and they wore black cloaks.

'Uncle Aswal?' I called out as the men dragged me away.

'You should cherish this day, Alex. For it will be your last.'

'What do you mean? !'

'We are all proud of you.'

My eyes widened in fear as realization dawned upon me.

I could remember being forced on my knees in the center of a large, candlelit room that was underground. Uncle Aswal and Aura stood side by side before me.

When did all of this happen? How? Since I came to this world, what in the world was that memory?

Other questions started to pop into my mind as I hung completely oblivious to the warm liquid that trickled from my mouth.

The voices that called out to me were ignored.

When did I become partially blind in my left eye?

What was that drink that Aura tried to give me?

Why were parts of my past missing?

'Nobody would discriminate you if you stayed in Wonderland. You wouldn't be treated poorly since everyone loves outsiders.'

Nightmare…

My mind suddenly became blank as I fell into a slumber.

"…ter…"

"…ister…"

Someone's calling me?

"…wake up!"

Who?

"Sister!"

Dum?

"Wake up, sister."

Dee?

I wearily opened my heavy eyes to see Dee and Dum staring down at me with worried expressions.

I tried to speak, but words failed to escape my lips.

The boys sighed in relief to see me finally awake.

As my vision became more focused, I noticed that I was no longer in the forest but in my own room within the Hatter Mansion.

"Sister, are you okay?" Dum asked.

As much as I wanted to respond, it was just impossible at that point. Why I couldn't speak was beyond my understanding. What was really strange was the fact that my body felt so weak. Why was that?

"Alex," Alice said as she rushed to my side.

Was I seriously injured or something?

But how was I- Oh right… The twins decided to use me as a piñata. Exactly how much damage did they do? And exactly why did they look so worried when they were most likely the reason I was in this state?

"Alex, I need to know. Are you sick with something?" Alice asked with worry in her eyes.

I looked at Alice, feeling confused.

What did she mean by sick?

Did they find out about my marks?

"If you can't speak, then please nod your head or something."

If they saw the marks, they'd probably want an explanation. I nodded my head wearily.

"I knew it… Alex, how serious is it? Nod if it's serious, and shake if it isn't."

I didn't have time for something like this. There were more important things to do like figuring out what the heck these memories were about.

I simply closed my eyes and turned my head to the side.

"Big Sis, what's wrong with her?" Dum asked.

"I don't know, but she needs a doctor."

A doctor? How would a doctor help?

"Will she be alright?" asked Dee.

"I don't know, Dee. Boys, please stay with her," Alice said as she turned to leave the room.

"Elliot! Come here, please," Alice called out as the footsteps became fainter.

I suddenly felt warmth wrap itself around my body. I opened my eyes to see Dee and Dum hugging me with tears in their eyes.

"Sister, we're sorry," Dee said.

"Yeah, we didn't know scaring you would make you sick."

Scaring me?

Weren't they-

"We only wanted to teach you a lesson. We were never gonna hurt you."

Oh.

So they weren't going to kill me after all.

Realizing that made me feel somewhat relieved.

"Sister, don't die," Dum cried.

"We'll do anything. So don't leave us."

Don't leave us? Hearing those words come from Dee was a real shock. Didn't he dislike me?

'I hate you, Alex!'

Aura…

Tears started to fall from my eyes. It was becoming difficult to breathe.

"What's wrong?" Dee asked, not sure what to do.

Everyone hates me. So please don't act like you care.

Alice and Elliot hurried into the room.

"Thank you, Elliot."

"No problem. Let's get her out of here."

"Don't do anything stupid, chicken rabbit," the twins warned as a pair of strong arms lifted me from the bed.

"Chicken rabbit? ! You damn brats!"

"Hey! This is not the time. Get her to a hospital now!" Alice commanded.

"Dammit, let's go."

"Don't drop her, chicken rabbit!"

"I'm not going to drop her you damn brats!"

"Stop fighting!"

*SLAM*

"A-Alex? !"

"STUPID CHICKEN RABBIT! ! !" Dee shouted in anger.

"Yeah, you slammed her head against the wall," said Dum as he pointed his axe at Elliot.

"It was an accident. It's because you brats kept yelling at me!"

"Oh my god Elliot, she's bleeding," Alice said while panicking.

"Stuuupid!"

"Let us hold her."

"I'm not letting you fXXXXXX hold her! You'll drop her."

"We won't aXXXXXX!"

"An' we're not letting you carry her. You'll kill her before we even make it to the hospital!"

"Will you please stop fighting and just get moving?" Alice asked, ready to snap at any moment.

"Yeah! Give her to us, and let's go!" demanded Dee.

"Like hell I will."

"She really will die if you idiots don't move it."

*Bite*

*Pause*

Elliot screamed in pain as he dropped me on the floor.

"WHY THE HELL DID YOU DROP HER, CHICKEN RABBIT? ! ? !"

Alice quickly got in between the twins and Elliot to prevent them from trying to kill him.

"S-she bit me! Of course I'd drop her," Elliot said as he looked at his bleeding hand.

I stayed on the floor, completely furious with these morons. If I had the energy to move and speak, I'd make them all suffer.

"Enough of this! What's the matter with you people?"

"My what a ruckus. What seems to be the problem, dear Alice?" asked Blood as he walked towards the idiots.

"Alex. Hospital. Now," Alice said as she waved her arms up and down.

That was a lovely explanation Alice…

"My, she does seem to be in a rather bad state. Elliot, grab her, and let's be on our way," Blood said in that non-caring attitude of his.

I was so upset at this point, I was ready to explode.

Whenever I get better, I would make sure that these morons all paid.

Haaah poor Alex getting bonked on the noggin when she's already down. XD

Anyways the next chapter will be up quickly this time. ^^~

Thank you all for reading! Please review if you can.