Chapter 8: Finding A Lost Memory
As Alice opens her eyes the world around her is very blurred and distorted. After a few minuets her eyes adjust and she realizes that she is back in the real world. She then notices that she is in a carriage with her former nanny and Arthur who is also walking up from being unconscious as The Mangled Mermaid burns behind them.
"What? The blood in my mouth tastes like bile! Where's the brute that hit me, Nanny?" Alice asks upset.
"Nasty prat's out cold. Not dead, and more's the pity" Nanny replies.
"What did he want?" Alice asks.
"What they all want, money he didn't earn. What were you thinking, butting into that mess? You could've been killed!" Nanny replies, "And who are you?".
"Arthur Kirkland i'm a friend of Alice's" Arthur replies shaking Nanny's hand.
"A friend?" Nanny asks smiling.
"Were just friends" Alice quickly replies.
"Alright" Nanny replies.
"Nanny, my mind is in pieces. I have terrible visions and I need to know-" Alice begins.
"About the fire, same as always. You need to move on Alice. So do I" Nanny replies.
…
"Well at least she's not spewing that asylum nonsense. "My past is dead, I killed them, I should have saved them, I should have died!" Her mind was in shambles. Radcliffe thought familiar faces would bring her 'round, after a year he lost interest in her inheritance, greedy sod. Still always asking his bizarre questions, a heavy dose of madness I'd say, but honesty's never the best policy in this life. When she wasn't comatose she'd gape with eyes like pinwheels, drooled, occasionally screeched, never uttered a sensible sound. And like the child she was, she kept her secrets close" Nanny's voice is heard saying as numerous events in Alice's life is shown.
…
"Gonophs and lurkers! Common as cockroaches. And those poor tykes are food for perverts. Like the blameless ants that wasps consume, or a spider's feeble prey" Nanny says noticing what appears to be grown men surrounding little boys.
"That is sickening" Arthur replies, "What has this bloody world come too".
"You visited my room at Rutledge. What were you?" Alice asks ignoring the situation.
"You recall that? Radcliffe paid me, for a bit. A woman alone sometimes does what she doesn't particularly feel like doing, as you know" Nanny states.
"Nurse Witless said you'd fallen on hard times" Alice says.
"I'm no drunk like her. I'm hurting no one. Hooking's not a bad life" Nanny replies.
"Except for the pimps. She also said you might have my rabbit. Please Nanny, talk about-" Alice begins before Nanny cuts her off.
"The damn fire! Never seems to help. Look Alice, I can't give you what I don't have. Radcliffe wrote the inquest report, I'll take you to him. Besides, he's got your damn rabbit, you should remember that" Nanny replies.
"Alright, but Mister Radcliffe's useless!" Alice states
"Don't I know it" Nanny replies as the carriage stops and Alice and Arthur get out.
"It was nice meeting you" Arthur says to Nanny.
"You too" Nanny replies and waits until Alice is out of ear shot, "Promise me you'll take care of her, she may think she doesn't need someone looking out for her but she does" Nanny replies.
"I promise i'll protect her with my life" Arthur replies.
"Thank you" Nanny says as he rushes off after Alice.
"So who is this Radcliffe fellow?" Arthur asks reaching Alice.
"A greedy asshole who tried to steal my inheritance which was practically nothing to begin with so he lost interest" Alice replies annoyed, "He was my family's lawyer".
"I haven't met the bloke yet and I already don't like him" Arthur replies.
"Trust me its impossible to actually like him" Alice replies as they approach a rather large house. Alice and Arthur walk through the gate and up the front stairs before Alice knocks on the door. The intercom then comes to life.
"Yes, who is it?" a man's voice asks.
"Alice Liddell, Mister Radcliffe" Alice replies.
"Ah, you're back. I suppose you'd better come up. Mind the latch" he replies disinterested as Alice opens the door and walks in with Arthur following her.
"Just wait down here I need to speak with him alone" Alice says.
"I'll be right here when you come back love" Arthur replies as Alice walks up the stairs. Upon reaching the second floor Alice walks into Radcliffe's office. Radcliffe is a fat man with white hair and glasses. As Alice approaches a chair to sit down she spies her stuffed rabbit thats missing an eye on his desk.
"You do have my rabbit!" she exclaims angrily.
"Forgotten your manners? And what else I wonder. You abandoned it at Rutledge Asylum, my dear. We've been over this before" Radcliffe states condescendingly.
…
In a huff as usual, oozing with attitude and accusatory flummery. I've "stolen" her rabbit! Ridiculous pretext. She's here about the fire, again. All the mad child wants to talk about. My report found her family dead by misadventure, she won't accept it, goes on and on about her killing memories, and her need to know the truth. The alleged truth is the fire began in the library when the cat knocked over a lamp. The blaze trapped her parents and sister upstairs. Sister Lizzie never even unlocked her door, died in her bed. The guilty cat always sets her off, she denies it, "It makes no sense, it can't be, etcetera..." Agreed. From the outset, Alice was my candidate for the pyromaniac. The girl has a fixation with fire. I once remarked that I thought she might have had a larger role in causing the tragedy. She suffered some sort of psychotic episode" Radcliffe's voice is heard saying as various images are shown.
…
Alice wakes up in a daze holding her head.
"Did I rip his head off? I... wanted to…" she asks aloud as she notices that Radcliffe's house looks like it has been abandoned for years, "What's left of my brain will explode. Is it mad to pray for better hallucinations? Perhaps I'm fated to expire, right here…" Alice states last she hears footsteps coming towards her. She turns around and sees a frantic and panicked Arthur. Upon seeing her, he lets out a sigh of relief and pulls her into his arms.
"Oh love thank goodness your okay, I was so worried something happened to you, one minuet everything was fine then there was this blinding light followed by complete darkness and the the house transformed into this plus its snowing outside and its a little too late for snow" Arthur rambles panicked as Alice blushes and hugs him back.
"I'm fine Arthur, everything is fine…" Alice replies, "I think" she adds on still confused about her new surroundings. She then blushes again remembering how he said he was worried about her. It confused her, how could he care about her even though they only met recently, even the people who knew her for years stopped caring about her considering her a lost cause…but he doesn't, he's seen how mad she is, he's seen other people's reactions to her, hell he went to Wonderland with her and wasn't the least bit terrified…maybe, maybe he's just as mad as she is. But that can't be right, he's intelligent, he's caring, he's kind, he's handsome-. "Wait where did that come from…of course he's handsome thats just a fact I mean its not like I'm attracted to him right? i'm just admiring his good looks I mean what would he even see in me. He's got his whole life ahead of him why would he even give a girl whose going nowhere but a possible early grave a second glance" Alice thought to herself as Arthur's grip on her tightened. "He was terrified when he thought I died back in The Radula Room …wait he said he doesn't want lose me again…I interpreted it as he wanted me to warn him about my abilities to he could be prepared next time but what if…I have to know truth" Alice thought pulling away from Arthur.
"Love whats wrong?" Arthur asked confusion covering his face.
"Do I know you?" Alice asks as Arthur stares at her confused.
"Love if this is kind of joke it not funny, Amnesia is a serious thing" Arthur says.
"I'm not joking Arthur, do I know you personally I mean" Alice replies as Arthur finally understands what she means.
"You mean you remember me?" Arthur asks.
"I don't know" Alice states confused, "There are bits and piece of broken memories that i'm trying to piece together but I need your help…now please tell me do I know you!?" Alice asks crossing her arms and getting upset.
"You know I never liked how when I was little if one of my friends wanted to have a tea party they always pretend to have tea when really they were drinking nothing but air" Arthur states randomly.
"What the hell does that have to do wi-" Alice begins before it all comes back to her.
…
"Hi do you want to join my tea party?" she asked smiling big. Arthur wan't in the mood for a tea party...but something about this girl made him feel different...they way she smiled, the way she laughed...her big beautiful green eyes full of innocence and child like wonder. He smiled at her and walked over.
"Sure i'd love to join your tea party" Arthur said sitting down.
"I'm Alice Liddell" she says holding out he hand.
"Arthur Kirkland" he says placing a kiss on her hand.
"Welcome Arthur" She said pouring him a cup of tea.
"You brought real tea with you?" He asked curiously.
"Of course...whats a tea party without tea" The girl stated.
"True but usually people pretend that the tea is real" Arthur said.
"They do?" she asked confused making Arthur realize she must not have very many friends.
"You don't have many friends do you?" Arthur asked.
"Of course I do…I have Dinah" She said motioning to the black cat who stared at Arthur with curiosity, "and of course ...rabbit" she said motioning to the stuffed rabbit, "I also have loads of friends who live in my Wonderland" she finished.
…
Alice stands there as the memory floods her mind. She shakes her head and stares at Arthur before tackling him in a hug.
"Oh my god I never thought I would see you again" Alice replies tears forming in her eyes as she finally remembered her best friend that she hasn't seen in twelve years. She then realized something and began blushing in embarrassment, "I can't believe I forgot you…i'm such a horrible friend" Alice states as she is about to pull away but Arthur wraps his arms around her and pulls her closer to him.
"Its okay love I understand why you forgot me and i'm not upset" Arthur states.
"But I forgot you, I forgot my own best friend…how can you forgive me after what I did?" Alice asks.
"Because you are not a horrible friend" Arthur replies, "You went through something absolutely horrible and traumatic" Arthur says, "If anyone was the horrible friend it was me for not being there for you".
"Thats not true, how could you have known…its not like our families knew each other" Alice states.
"I looked for you, for a while anyways…I waited in our spot in the woods for weeks and when you didn't show up I went out and tried to find you…but after a while I thought you left me like everyone else" Arthur replies on the verge of tears.
"I could never leave you…your my best friend" Alice replies before remembering something, "What did you mean like everyone else" Alice asks.
"You were so lucky to have a sister like Lizzie who loved you unconditionally" Arthur replies, "My older brothers hate me and I mean they really hate me especially Dylan. When I was little they pelted me with stones, Dylan made it his mission to turn every friend I tried to make into an enemy by telling them I was weird for talking to imaginary friends which drove any potential friend I had of making away" he says starting to cry with anger, "He even made Alfred and Peter my own younger brothers hate me as well telling them that I had wished they were never born" he says tears flowing out of his eyes in anger as he turns around and punches a hole through the wall, "That manipulative bastard made my own family hate my guts just because he wasn't the baby anymore, did you know what he got me for my last birthday?" Arthur asks.
"No what?" Alice asks growing enraged as the seconds pass.
"I opened the box and there was a noose with a note that said "No one would even miss you"…" Arthur says his voice getting angrier as his eyes flash blue and pink, "I SWEAR IF HE WASN'T FAMILY I WOULD KILL THAT BLOODY NINCOMPOOP!" Arthur yells infuriated his eyes turning blue with pink swirls before turning back to green. He then hears a loud crash which startles him. He turns around and sees the abandoned desk had been thrown to the other side of the room and smashed to pieces but what shocks him even more is Alice. She's in Hysteria Mode. Her Vorpal Blade appears out of nowhere and she turns to Arthur, her blood red eyes staring straight into his startled green ones. She then opens her mouth and what comes out terrifies him.
"Where. Is. Dylan?" she asks him her voice completely distorted. It sounds like three voices at once. Alice's, another woman's voice that sounds similar to Alice's but different at the same time and a demon's voice all rolled into one. Arthur immediately realizing whats she wants to do runs towards her and wrapps his arms around her.
"Let. Go. And Tell. Me. Where. He. IS!" Alice demands getting angry.
"Love as much as I want him dead I am not going to let you kill him" Arthur states.
"HE DESERVES TO DIE!" Alice yells breaking free of his hold on her but he quickly wraps his arms around her again.
"Love you will get caught if you try and hurt him and I won't lose you again now that your remember me…I don't want to lose my best and only friend" Arthur says tearing up again as Alice feels a pang of pain in her heart that calms her down. Hysteria Mode deactivates as Alice now back to normal pulls a crying Arthur into her arms comforting him. After a while he stops crying and looks at her.
"Thank you for being my friend Alice" Arthur states sincerely.
"Thank you for being my friend Arthur" Alice replies just as sincerely as they hug again. Arthur then stands up off the dirty floor and helps Alice to her feet.
"Come on love lets get out of this depressing dump" Arthur comments.
"Gladly" Alice replies as they walk downstairs only to find the front door blocked by a toilet, "There's an exit around back follow me" Alice replies as they head out the back door only to see that it is snowing. Before the door closes Arthur snags an umbrella that he saw standing near the door. He quickly opens it shielding himself and Alice who he pulls towards him from the snow.
"You don't mind sharing, do you love?" Arthur asks.
"N-Not at all" Alice replies blushing as a small smile graces her face. She then stares at the snow falling as a look of pain crosses her face.
"Whats the matter love?" Arthur asks her.
"It was snowing the night of the fire" Alice replies as Arthur holds her closer comforting her. The two then walk forward and come upon a small statue of The Mock Turtle.
"Love I don't think were in London anymore" Arthur states as the two walk around the corner and find a giant burning mushroom.
"We are defiantly not in London anymore" Alice replies as they hear a loud metallic screech. They both look up and see the train driving into a red vortex in the sky. A blinding light appears before Arthur and Alice find themselves in a destroyed world. The sky is a huge red vortex and there is lightning and thunder crashing in the background. Alice and Arthur are once again wearing their classic Wonderland attire.
"This bloody Ruin! It's corrupted nearly all of Wonderland!" Alice replies disgusted.
"Seeking refuge from the wicked world? Perhaps things only look like they've gone to hell" The Cheshire Cat says appearing with a twisted grin on his face.
"You're not that good a liar, and I'm not that stupid. But something a bit less calamitous would have been welcome" Alice replies.
"I concur…this is stressful enough, do you really need to add onto it" Arthur asks annoyed.
"This unmitigated disaster is your doing, and it will get worse. Your train keeps a hellish schedule. Get moving. Time waits for no one. The change has begun" The Cat replies.
"The train is perfectly capable of terrifying us, Cat. You should find another job. Is there really so little hope?" Alice asks annoyed.
"There's even less. And if fear paralyzes you, we are lost" The Cat replies disappearing as several Insidious Ruin and a Menacing Ruin appear and attack Alice and Arthur who pull out their Vorpal Blades and prepare to fight. After quickly dispatching the Insidious Ruin, Alice pulls out her parasol and deflects the Menacing Ruin's attack destroying its arms allowing Alice and Arthur to finish it off together. After killing it Alice notices a hookah cover in ruin. She quickly walks over to it and smashes the ruin with her Hobby Horse. She then inhales the fumes.
"Arthur quickly inhale" Alice replies coughing.
"Love we shouldn't be smoking its unhealthy" Arthur replies.
"Its not real where in Wonderland or whats left of it" Alice replies.
"Good point" Arthur replies inhaling as well.
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" a voice is heard saying
"A single step of London Bridge could end my journey" Alice replies as Arthur wraps his arms around her again comforting her.
"Failure as an epitaph? I'd hoped you were more courageous" the voice responds.
"Love I want you to know, I know what your going through with the suicidal thoughts…believe me its impossible to not think them when your brother's are practically begging you to do it anyways, please promise me if you have these thoughts again you'll come talk to me first" Arthur states.
"Only if you promise me the same" Alice replies.
"Deal" Arthur replies as they hug again. As they pull away a look of confusion crosses Arthur's face, "Whose voice was that?" he asks.
"Caterpillar, come on lets get this over with I can only stand being around him for so long" Alice replies as she and Arthur jump to a floating platform that leads them to a ledge on the other side of the platform they were originally standing on. Upon reaching it they pass a broken statue of a crying Alice and a destroyed train station.
"I feel as if we have been here before" Arthur replies.
"We have" Alice replies emotionless to hide her pain. Arthur knowing better grabs her hand and squeezes it letting her know he is here for her. She smiles at him as the two best friends continue on. Upon reaching the second hookah they both inhale again and hear Caterpillar's voice.
"That vaporous ledge only appears as flimsy and insubstantial as your confidence. It will hold you. Trust me" he tells them as they jump to another floating platform that brings them to a clearing where they find two Teapots that are surrounded by a messed up table that is spiraling like a snake and numerous floating chairs.
"Teapot Cannons…well at least we know Hatter wasn't completely useless before his demise" Alice replies chuckling as her and Arthur each pick up a Teapot Cannon. Just then the ground begins to shake as a Colossal Ruin digs its way out of the ground. Arthur and Alice immediately pull out their Pepper Grinders and begin attacking the numerous heads. The Ruin then lets out an angry scream and a massive head appears plus four pipes that shoot out fire.
"Shoot the head with the Teapot Cannon NOW!" Alice yells taking out her Teapot Cannon.
"On it" Arthur replies as he follows suit. They both shoot the giant head before it can get close to them. The Ruin then leans over and Alice rushes towards it attacking the massive head with her Vorpal Blade as Arthur follows suit. They both quickly finish the ruin off allowing them both access to the third hookah.
"I'm devastated. Look what's become of my beautiful valley!" Alice states after they both inhale.
"All things change in the fullness of time. Often not for better" Caterpillar's voice tells them as they move forward.
They then reach another hookah and both inhale.
"It's not only about you, Alice! Look at the destruction around you! Consider its cause. Then, come join me" Caterpillar's voice says again as both Alice and Arthur notice what looks like life among the destruction as there is a waterfall and greenery. They both walk towards to and see a tiny mountain with a shrine on top.
"You are familiar with the saying, that "smoking stunts your growth?" Caterpillar's voice asks.
"Adults assault children with that adage, usually while they've got a pipe stuck in their mouths" Alice replies smirking as Arthur chuckles.
"Father used to do that, he'd warn us about the dangers of smoking while he was in the middle of it" Arthur says reminiscing.
"I won't ask either of you to inhale, let the smoke envelope you Caterpillar's voice says as the smoke envelops Alice and Arthur as they slowly shrink.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter…originally I wasn't gonna have Alice remember Arthur until after she killed Bumby but I decided it would be better if she remembered here…R&R and tell me what you think…Alice and Arthur ascend the mountain next in search of Caterpillar…have a great day:)