Breaking Wonderland

BTAS (Batman Animated Series)

Alice Pleasance is happily married... well sort of. Though the criminals in Arkham have other things on mind.

Sorry for any grammar mistakes, typos, anything else.

Chapter 10: Bittersweet

Alice dreamed that she was lost in a maze of cards. She wandered around trying to find her way out. Her anxiety grew as she was lost. Finally Alice banged on one of the cards, letting out her frustration. Then suddenly the maze of cards all fell down. She was surrounded by darkness.

"Alice!" a familiar voice rang out. It was Billy's, "Alice! Where are you?" it echoed.

"Billy?" Alice yelled out as she looked around the darkness.

"Alice! Come get me!" Billy replied and Billy stood out like a shinning beacon. Suddenly the Sun was shinning and Billy ran up towards a huge hill with a huge tree on top. He glowed a bright white.

"Come on Alice! Come get me!" he yelled out again playfully.

"Billy wait!" Alice called out as she started to run following after. He continued to zig-zag up the hill looking back every so often making sure Alice was following him. Finally he was on top for a moment before falling into the ground. Alice ran faster up towards the hill and made it to the top. The tree was even bigger in person. There was a hole on the bottom near the trunk. Alice tilted her head confused.

"Who do you think you are coming up here?" a light snooty sounding voice spat out. Alice looked up Denise came out from behind the tree, she was dressed like a butterfly.

"Why are you here?" Alice asked sternly.

"Why I'm here? Well that's simple, its my hole you're looking at!" Denise replied bitterly.

"Your hole?" Alice repeated in shock.

"That's right and if you want to get in it you have to go through me first!" Denise replied as she turned around about to walk way. Alice tighten her jaw, anger and jealousy took a hold of her as she threw her arms out and yanked off her wings. Denise yelled as she turned in shock.

"What? You pulled off my wings you-" Alice kicked Denise hard in the stomach and Denise rolled into a ball and tumbled down the hill. Alice stared for a moment and then looked back down at the hole. It was dark and scary. She could see nothing at all. Alice got on her knees and stuck her head in.

"Billy! Are you in there?" she yelled out but only her voice echoed back at her.

"Whatever are you doing?" another familiar voice startled her from over her shoulder. Alice's eyes widen as she looked up to see who was behind her.

"Jervis?" Alice whispered. She got up wearily her heart skipped a beat, she was scared. "What are you doing here?" she asked cautiously. He shook his head.

"What am I doing here? Isn't this your dream?" he replied. Alice looked at him for moment he was dressed like the Mad Hatter.

"Yes it is! Why are you here?" Alice asked more bravely. The Mad Hatter placed his hands behind his back pacing around examining Alice and the hole. "Well tell me!" she yelled threateningly.

"I came here to warn you," he said simply. Alice looked confused.

"Warn me?" she repeated. "From what?" she questioned.

"Don't follow Billy into the hole, Alice," Mad Hatter replied sternly. He stuck his leg out in an exaggerating manner before turning pacing back the other way. Alice looked back down into the hole before slowly stepping away from it.

"Why am I listening to you? You never wanted me to be with Billy in the first place!" Alice ranted as put her hands on her hips. The Mad Hatter looked taken aback as he looked truly offended then strangely his expression softened.

"Yes it's true, I never did wanted you to be with that fool of an oaf Billy," he stated. "Though the hole is a trap, my dear Alice," her replied walking towards the hole.

"Why?" Alice inquired, somehow she believed what he was saying.

"Because once you go down there you will never come back," he said. He looked up at her serious. "Once you fall in you'll never be the same, my dear. Your life will always be different. I don't think you want that, Alice," he said seriously. Alice slowly looked down the hole again.

"But Billy-" she started.

"Don't you see, he tricked you, he's selfish, he wants you to fall! He wants you to be nothing without him! He's..." he paused and his eyes glazed over, "He's like me," he said numbly. Alice stepped further away from the hole and the Mad Hatter. He walked over towards the tree. "Alice my dear, you don't want to go into Wonderland," and with that he stepped in and fell into the hole.

"You JERK!" Alice spat out in anger. She walked over towards the hole.

"You're going to let him talk to you like that?" this time it was a female's voice. Alice looked up Catwoman was nestled on a branch that was part of the huge tree.

"What do you mean?" Alice asked looking up amazed how she got up so high.

"He's the one that caused you all this strife, don't you have anything else to say to him? Didn't he murder your Billy?" she added.

"Yes," Alice replied tightening her fists, her fear was slowly turning into anger.

"He's the reason you're alone, Alice," Catwoman spoke again, her voice became rich. "Besides I think Billy needs to be reckoned with too, don't you think?"she purred. Alice looked confused. A thought occurred what if the Mad Hatter was right? "I'd go in there but I don't have a reason to get even" Catwoman said as she hung upside down on the branch. Her green eyes staring into Alice. "Maybe it is best for you to stay Alice after all the Hatters's right once you're in you may never come out. I think I'm going to have some fun," with that Catwoman slipped into the hole as well. A cold breeze blew and Alice was alone on the top of the hill. The leaves of the huge tree shook.

"Alice-" Billy's voice came out in a ghostly howl.

"Billy?" Alice bellowed down at the hole.

"Alice-" the voice drowned away.

"Billy is that you?"

"Alice!" Billy's screamed his voice ridden with fear.

"Don't come in here Alice! I'll take care of him, he's mine now!" The Mad Hatter's voice ended angrily.

"Billy! NO!" Alice jumped into the hole. She was surrounded in darkness, bits of pieces of memories flashed around her. Memories of when her and Billy were happy. Then images of The Mad Hatter pushing Billy off the rail of the club popped in her head.

"No-!" Alice awoke she was sweating. It was late in the morning. Alice got up and made her way to the bathroom. She took a shower, trying hard not to think of the strange dream she had. She then got dressed and ate some breakfast, she thought about what Catwoman had told her the night before. She didn't want to be a victim and she wanted to let others know that. Alice made her way back to her office and made her way towards her friends along with some other secretaries. Two of them were having a conversation about a meeting, completely not noticing Alice was there right behind them.

"Good Morning," Alice spoke up. One women dropped her paperwork startled by the cheeriness of Alice's voice.

"Alice? Is that you?" one of the ladies turned.

"Yep, it's me," Alice said simply.

"You seem to be doing a lot better. How are you?" another woman asked.

"I'm doing much better, I just want to let you know that I'm not a victim anymore," Alice stated. The two women looked at each other confused.

"Are you sure you're feeling better?" The woman who picked up her paperwork asked. Alice realized how odd that must of came out.

"Ah, yes I am, I mean-" Alice stuttered. "I'm doing much better, I'm going to get going now, bye!" Alice said as she waved. The two women looked back at her astonished. That was close Alice thought inwardly, she almost lost her composure for a moment. Alice made her way towards the water cooler room. She waltzed in confidently, "Hello!" she announced as she cut in front of line and poured herself some water.

"Alice?" one of the women said.

"Yes?" Alice replied.

"Are you alright?" the woman asked concerned. Alice mouth twitched a bit.

"Yes, I'm alright," Alice replied with a smile.

"Are you sure?" another woman asked as she placed her hand on Alice's forehead checking her for fever.

"Yes, I am," Alice replied.

"It's just that you're so happy, it's like Billy never-" the other woman elbowed the lady in the gut. "Ugh sorry," she ended. Alice stared at her, her smile faltering a bit.

"I'm fine thank you," Alice replied strongly. Alice's fellow employees exchanged frightened glances.

"Oh really?" a woman by the door stood there her hand on her hip. The others rolled their eyes as they stared at the woman by the door.

"She isn't in the right state of mind Lizette, leave her alone," one of the women replied. Lizette strutted in the water cooler as if she owned it. Alice's smile faded.

"She looks fine to me," Litzette examined looking Alice over grabbing a paper cup and filling it with water. A woman let out a loud sigh.

"I am fine Lizette, thank you," Alice divulged taking a sip from her water.

"Really? Well I'm so glad you're over that cheater of a boyfriend. What was his name again?" she started as she took a sip out of her paper water cup. Alice dropped her cup before ripping the cup out of Denise's hand and tossed on the floor in front her.

"His name was Billy," Alice let out bitterly. The other women stepped back alarmed.

"Hey now, Alice," another women started. Lizette looked startled for a moment then smiled.

"Oh really, now what is little helpless Alice going to do about it? If I was you I'd turn heel right now," she hissed.

"Or what?" Alice asked clenching her fists and stepped up facing her. Lizette smiled sweetly.

"Or I'm going to make you cry," Lizette replied simply.

"Just go and try!" Alice bellowed her voice came off sounding more nasal like than before.

"I slept with Billy," she said sweetly. Alice swallowed she did not see that coming. Her eyes blinked as they started to water. Suddenly she swung her arm and punched Lizette hard in the face. Lizette fell back into the water cooler knocking it down as she fell. Water spilled around the thin carpet flooring.

"You bitch!" Alice yelled out before breaking into tears. The other women looked terrified at the scene. Alice's heart went down a notch as she shook her head. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she automatically let out before running leaving the room. She made her way to the elevator and out of the building.

Alice tried her best to calm herself as people gave her looks as they passed her in the street. She shook her head in disbelief. "No, no, no, I'm not a victim," she said to herself. Some guy bumped into her knocking her down.

"Oh sorry 'mam, are you alright?" he asked helping her up, dusting her off. Alice looked up at the handsome fellow.

"Yes," she replied trying to cry on his shoulder. The man pulled out a tissue.

"There, there 'mam I'm sure everything will be okay," he spoke quickly. "Here have a hug," he demanded and embraced Alice. "There isn't that much better? Now how about a pick-me-up?" he said nicely to her. "Look at you. You're quite the doll aren't ya," he continued examining Alice closely. "Stay right here, how about I get you some coffee," he asked and with that he walked off. Alice felt a bit happy to see there still gentlemen in the world. Alice sat on a window ledge waiting patiently for a few minutes. After a while Alice checked her watch, when she realized her watch was gone. Along with her pearl necklace and her wedding ring. Alice's eyes widen as her face went blank for a moment. Anger and hate overcame her as she bit her lower lip so hard it started to bleed. An older man and woman noticed.

"Look at her Hubert," the older woman said. "Now go on and ask her," she shoved her husband. Hubert made his way toward Alice.

"Are you alright young woman?" he asked.

"Just PEACHY!" Alice snapped, her eyes watering up.

"Oh dear!" his wife gasped taken aback.

"Whoa!" the old man whelped stepping back afraid. Alice stood up and shoved the old man away from her.

"Just leave me alone," she said bitterly and stormed off. Alice wandered around Gotham. Pushing herself against the cold wind. Her eyes too dry to cry. Alice slipped and fell to the ground barely putting her hands down, saving her face that almost slammed onto the concrete. She looked up trying hard not to cry. She grabbed on to a brick frame before reaching onto a large window her hand leaving a dirty print. Alice looked into the window. It was a costume store and there in the window was a familiar set of clothes. A Red Queen, across it was an Alice and in between them a White Rabbit. "Billy," Alice whispered as she stared into her reflection and what she saw startled her. Her eyes puffy, her make-up runny, her hair a mess. She was a victim. Alice carefully stood up and stared into the glass. Her big blue eyes were wide as a thought came to her. That she would never be in this horrible situation if if wasn't for him.