A/N: Because I feel so bad about the whole not updating thing, I'm gonna update super early because I'm awesome like that. And it's the weekend so no classes. Yay! Anyway, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Alice.
According to Plan
Hatter's P.O.V
The drive to Mad March's palace was achingly short and, although Julia kept trying to make pleasant conversation, quiet.
I frowned sadly remembering Alice's face as I left. I may have talked a big game about not being scared and coming back alive, but I thought we both knew it was fake.
I wasn't coming back.
Mad March was going to kill me and the only thing I could do was make sure everything went according to Jack's plan and that Mad March was killed.
"Julia, I have a few things to request of you," I stated abruptly.
Julia glanced at me hesitantly, but nodded anyway.
"If you manage to kill Mad March, destroy his brain and all of his organs. Make sure he can't come back and if you get the opportunity to kill him do it no matter what," I paused hesitantly and glanced up at her to look her in the eyes and continued, "When I don't come back, get Alice out of here."
She gave me a disbelieving look and began, "Hatter, I don't kno-"
"It wasn't a request. It was a demand. She won't leave so willingly. She'll want to be here to mourn me and all that, but you've got to get her out of here. Knock her out, drag her kicking and screaming, but get her out of here and destroy the Looking Glass."
She nodded sadly and inquired, "Anything else?"
I nodded and replied, "Don't let her see my body."
She nodded grimly and stated, "Hatter, I-"
"Please don't. I know you're going to say something about us or what if we never ended and I don't want to talk about it. It won't do any good. I'm a dead man walking."
She looked like she wanted to protest, but the driver of our jeep (I know pretty advanced since last time, but it's been a long time. SO, bear with me.) suddenly exclaimed, "We're here. We're a little late though."
He said it nonchalantly as if I hadn't just cost someone their life, even though the murders were on a need-to-know basis and he didn't need to know.
I leapt out of the car and started running in the direction of the large castle, ignoring Julia's screams.
I heard a loud bang and froze.
Another life. Another soul on my conscience. I needed to end this.
Julia caught up to me and exclaimed, "Are you insane? You could've been killed!"
I ignored her question and muttered gruffly, "Plan. Now. Go."
She nodded sadly and ran back to the cart without another word.
I paused hesitantly and thought about what I was doing. I was giving myself up. Unofficially ending my life.
I began walking towards the large black castle. It looked like a medieval villain's castle in fairytales with its black walls and sharp edges. I figured that was what March was going for.
I approached the gate silently, still in my all black guard's uniform, and pulled on my helmet. As was expected, several guards were stationed at the gates.
I stood erect and approached them confidently, but when I neared the door, they stopped me and the closest one ordered in a harsh voice, "Remove your helmet for identification."
I stopped myself from cursing under my breath. They'd obviously heard about Alice's and my theft of the uniforms. I quickly decided that I had two options. One was fight my way out of this. A quick glance at my surroundings proved that I was outnumbered 10 to one and all of them were armed with huge guns while all I had was a small gun.
My second and favorite choice was to lie my ass off and hope they buy it.
That just happened to be my specialty.
"Can't do that, mate," I replied calmly.
The guards tensed and drew their weapons.
"Why not?" he inquired angrily.
"See those cameras there," I motioned to the various cameras that were pointed in our direction. When he nodded I continued, "Well, I'm assuming the boss man is watching us right now, correct?"
Hesitantly, he nodded so, I continued, "Well, the other day while the boss was in one of his moods, I bumped him in the hall and he ordered for me to be executed. Of course my helmet was off, so he saw my face. Anyway, the guards let me go and said to avoid him and keep the helmet on. If I take it off, he sees me and I'm dead. Do me a solid, mate. You know how he gets."
I looked at him nervously and saw him press a hand to his ear. Most likely that meant that Mad March was talking to him about me.
He glanced at me again and answered quietly, "No sir. This is just one of the patrollers you sent out reporting back. No sightings. No intruders, sir."
He removed his finger and clapped me on the back, saying, "Aye, I do. We slaves have to stick together. You're free to go, mate. Good luck."
I smiled widely and let out a chuckle. I replied, "Thanks. I'll need it."
He chuckled lightly and let me pass. The doors opened when I got near enough and smiled at what I had heard.
The guards obviously hated March. They were like dominoes all lined up and all it would take was a push to start a war. I intended to be the one to push them.
I looked nervously down the hall upon arrival and tried to recall the blueprints that Jack had showed me. I had tried to memorize them, but something or someone (*cough cough* Alice *cough*) had distracted me.
I decided to take a chance and took a left. The halls were bustling with activity. Men and women in uniforms marched through the halls and men in various lab coats scurried by.
Jack's voice filled my ear through the headset I was wearing. It was part of the helmet and I actually liked it. He said, "Hatter? Can you hear me?"
"Yeah. Are you set up?" I inquired.
"Not quite yet. Give us some time," he replied calmly.
"Oh. Ok. Take all of the time you need. Sit back. Have a cup of tea. I'll just sit here and wait until Mad March kills me or somebody else. But as long as you're enjoying it. Take good care of Alice, now Jackie boy."
He chuckled lightly and replied, "Setting everything up isn't an easy task, Hatter. We've got to do this right or you're as good as dead. Where are you?"
"Honestly, I have no idea."
"You weren't studying the map? What were you doing?"
"Preparing to die, saying good bye to Alice, writing a novel, the usual."
I could almost hear Jack roll his eyes.
"Hatter, this situation isn't funny," he scolded.
"Nah. Dying is freaking hilarious."
"What floor are you on?" he inquired, ignoring my sarcastic remarks.
"First, I think."
"Hatter, what you need to do is-"
His voice became static and I heard Mad March's voice through my headset. He said, "I'd like to see all of the guards in my office, now."
I froze and looked around. I noticed all of the guards turn and begin walking in one direction.
"Hatter? What happened?" Jack inquired urgently.
"Can't talk now, Jackie boy. Get set up," I murmured, following the other guards before pressing the button that turned my headset off.
Mad March's office was huge. It managed to fit a lot of guards. I only saw 50 guards which meant that March had told some of them not to come.
His office was entirely gray. It had gray walls, floors, a desk and a chair.
However, scattered along his wall were various newspaper clippings. Upon closer examination, I noticed that all of them were about me. They were about my parents' deaths, Sophie's demise, the various times that I'd killed him and everything else under the sun. There were also various candid pictures of me. It was clear that he'd been stalking me and I didn't know that they were being taken.
I frowned at the ones with my parents. He'd been stalking me long before our falling out. I felt a sudden wave of fear and nausea flow through me. This was more intense than I had first assumed.
He was obsessed.
He clapped his hands together and boomed happily, "Everyone remove your helmets, immediately."
He seemed to look at me when he said it and I stiffened.
Everyone immediately removed their helmets, which left me standing there with mine on.
He smiled maniacally and approached me, circling me like I was prey.
"You disobey me, soldier?" he inquired jokingly. I was positive that he knew it was me. I was also positive that nothing was set up yet.
The other soldiers parted and clung to the walls, avoiding March's wrath.
I didn't dare to speak, lest he hear me and recognize my voice.
"Remove your helmet," he commanded.
Determined on seeing this through and buying myself time, I shook my head.
He frowned slightly and continued, "Remove your helmet. I want to see the light leave your eyes as I kill you."
I frowned and shook my head again.
No way was I going out lying down.
"Fine. I'll have them remove it for me. Your choice," he mused, motioning for the guards to approach.
I held up my hand and motioned for them to wait. I was not going to be manhandled.
I removed my helmet and the room collectively gasped.
"Did you think you were clever? Lying your way into my castle and secretly communicating with Jack? I must admit, you fooled my guards and it would've worked of you had realized that I can tune into the frequency of these helmets. Now, what are you planning?"
I smiled widely and replied, ignoring him, "So, Marchie, looks like someone has a little bit of a crush on me. Sorry, mate, I'm taken."
His practically glowed with fury.
"It matters not. I most certainly don't have a crush on you. But Alice is lovely. She'll soon be available when I'm through with you," he replied smugly.
I frowned and grit my teeth. If he laid a finger on Alice I'd-
"Come to my mausoleum. Like the ancient Greeks, I believe in killing my enemies publicly. I'll gather everyone else. Grab him."
I struggled when they first grabbed me, but I stopped after I realized how hopeless it was.
My only hope was that the plan would still work in the mausoleum and that he would take his time. I only needed to buy my team time. I intended on doing just that.
Among the many things I was sure of, I was positive that nothing else would go according to plan.
A/N: How did you guys like it? Was it great? Did it suck? I tried to be descriptive and humorous at the same time. Turns out, I'm not gonna co-write a story. I have a hard enough time updating and studying. Please review! Feel free to tell me if I'm not funny.