FINALLY! JEEZ, WHAT A NIGHTMARE THIS CHAPTER WAS! BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND IDEAS! AS A REWARD, HERE'S AN ODDLY LONG (CONCIDERING THIS STORY) CHAPTER THAT ACTUALLY PERTAINS TO THE PLOT!

I'D LIKE TO SPECIFCLY THANK JMichelleW FOR HER IDEA ON THIS CHAPTER AND ALL HER SUPPORT THOUGHT THIS STORY. *APPLAUDES*

Ch.13: An Actual Chapter!

P.O.V: Alice

I stared up at the ceiling of the tower, remembering earlier. After leaving Zoe's house, we had come back to the tower and officially introduced Nerd to the residents. They all seemed to have liked her well enough; even Julius didn't seem to mind Nerd's special brand of crazy. Now I was staring up at the ceiling of my own room on the bed.

I smiled. It made me happy to see everyone getting along so well lately. I noticed that since C.J's coming here, the violence of the role holders seemed to have toned down. Blood and Gowland hadn't tried to kill each other (to my knowledge), the twins had been far better behaved recently (by comparison)…all sorts of things were changing.

Including me…. I've gotten far more used to this world. To the people of this world. I'm not so scared of them anymore. The Jokers, who had terrified me to death, hardly seemed a threat. And Blood's constant mockery seemed negligible; I hardly paid him any mind anymore. I can't help but feel that with C.J by my side, (and Nerd now to!) I could do anything I set my mind to!

Which brings me to this….

I pulled my vial out of its drawer. Full to the cap. I laid back down and looked up at it in the light. "C.J's back now, and she's not leaving…she has no reason to leave, and every reason to STAY." I felt tears begin to prickle up. I miss my sister, but I was truly a burden on her. It would be better for her if I stayed. But family was family, right? I had been wanting to return with a friend, a good friend; C.J Thourn.

But C.J was with White Joker. I can tell by the way she looks at him that she likes him very much. And if she doesn't love him yet, she will soon. And then she'll never want to leave.

Don't get me wrong; I'm thrilled for her! I mean, she actually found a guy that she might love. I do hope things work out for her…but what will I do then? I'd have no reason to stay…and no reason to go back. I suppose I could stay for C.J. I'd kinda be a third wheel, but a friend in this world is better than no friends in our world.

And what about Nerd? She wasn't a player, so she could go home whenever she wanted. I suppose I can right now to…. Perhaps, if Nerd decides to return, I could go with her! But, if she stays in this world as well…I'm still in the same position.

I replaced the vial in the drawer and pulled the covers up to my chin.

In this world, I have more amazing, wonderful friends than a single human being could hope for. But in my world, I have my beloved older sister waiting for me.

So I guess my question isn't really this world or that one.

It's family or dearest friends.

….

P.O.V: Zoe

Stairs. So many stairs. And stares. I'm being stared at as I descended the steps. I'm being watched. By who? Or by what? I don't know; it's too dark to see. I can hardly see the step in front of me as I clamor down. They're all around. I can feel them.

And this song…it's reverberating all around me. The watchers…they're singing. A song with no words. Yet I've heard it before. In my *****.

The watchers.

No, not the watchers.

…The…my…OUR….

I missed a step. I pin wheeled my arms, trying to regain balance, but I ended up plummeting into the darkness.

And in the distance, past the song, I hear clocks ticking endlessly.

…..

P.O.V: Nerd

I started awake, almost screaming. I wiped at my forehead, huffing as I tried to comprehend the dream I just had. Blood. Lots of it. Hate. Anger. Rage. Frustration. Sorrow. Greif. A cloud of negative energy in my dream; an aura with no visible source. I had been swallowed by it. The cloud was all that was; all that has ever been.

And then I was a little girl again; cuddled up in my mother's lap and playing with her brown hair as she read me a book. We were at my grandmother's house, out in the country side, sitting in the rocking chair on the porch. It used to take three hours to drive there. Used to. My grandmother passed away and the house's deed went to my mother's oldest brother.

And then I noticed someone on the porch with us. It wasn't my Mimi*. And it wasn't one of my mom's previous husbands. It was a lady I've never seen before. She was frozen there, like a photo, a smiled on her face. And then the house started to rot.

The house's crisp white paint had peeled away, the wood of the porch wore out, the shingles cracked and brock as the house's foundation sagged. I looked horrified at my mom…to see a grinning machine staring at me. Gears and copper wires poked out of the places my mother's flesh had rotted away, and her brown eyes were replaced with button eyes, one dangling by its rayed threads.

I screamed and started to kick away. I wasn't a child anymore, but I felt weak. The doll of my mother was lifeless. It sagged in the chair and I skittered away, knocking the rocker over with my boot and sending the creepy façade to the ground with a clatter. I fell to the splintered steps and stared up at the strange woman. She kept smiling. As I took a breath to scream at the roaches skittering across my hand, the woman spoke, in a voice that sounded heavy of cigar smoke despite her perfect white teeth and pretty skin. "Are you having fun Dren?"

And now I was awake. I wrapped my arms around my torso and shivered. That…that was probably the scariest dream I'd ever had. Who was that lady? Now, wide and awake, I couldn't remember what she looked like very well. But I've never seen her before. Anywhere. That much I was sure of. Was she just an invention of my subconscious? If so, I needed to see a therapist ASAP.

I dragged myself out of bed, still thinking about the nightmare, and got dressed. It was strangely quiet in the Tower. I didn't hear any running around from Gray and Nightmare. And when I pressed my ear to Alice's door, I could hear a very light, almost nonexistent snoring. It was broad daylight, but perhaps the nightmare had woken me up exceptionally early.

I clopped down the stairs, taking the moment to explore. …Now that I thought about it, I hadn't seen all that many servants in this tower since coming here. One or two every now and then, but the place wasn't hopping with them like the mansion had.

And the more I thought, the more I started to question this. Not only were there few servants in the Tower of Clover, but there were none here at ALL right now. What up with that?

As I turned a corner, I froze to see Julius, the clock maker, sitting in a sitting room, looking worried. I was unsure of what to do. Julius was friendly enough when I met him, but he was kinda cold and distant. …But he does look like something's bothering him and I'm starting to get a lump in the back of my throat from going so long without talking.

I walked up behind him and, hearing my footsteps, he turned and raised his eyebrows at seeing me. I sat down on the couch, looking at the blue-nette. "Good morning." He gave me a nod in return. We sat in silence for a while. I cleared my throat, "Didn't sleep well?" He shook his head.

"Me neither. I had a pretty bad dream and I couldn't get back to sleep." He looked up in response, but didn't comment. "…So why are you up?"

"…I didn't sleep." I raised my eyebrows, "Um, dude, I heard about the whole work-aholic thing you've got going on, but that is REALLY bad. Alice will totally flip if she finds out!" He actually winced at what I said, looking pained. I raised an eyebrow, "What's the matter?"

He bit his lip, unsure of how to answer. "…I think Alice might go back to her world." My eyebrows went up. "What makes you think that?!" "She showed me her vial. It's full." I gulped, "…And she talked to you about it?" He nodded.

"What exactly happened?"

So he told me. After hearing it, I was chewing on my lip and twirling a lock of my hair between my middle and forefinger. "Do YOU want her to stay?" He blushed, "Of course I do!" I face palmed, "Then you should have told her to stay!" "Why?!"

I sighed and held up my finger in a lecture, "Alice is probably very confused right now. She has lots of friends in this world, but her family is waiting for her in that one. And Julius; when it comes to love, the levels stack like a pyramid. At the top is the love for the special other. Next is the love for family. And at the bottom is friends. So trust me; if she has to choose between family and friends, she WILL choose family!"

Julius looked at me worriedly, "But why?" I shrugged, "That's just the way things are in our world. Family comes first. Unless..." I held up my finger, "she meets a special someone. THAT will trump even family."

He rubbed his temples, "And why is that?" "Umm, duh! Because once she's met her true love, she can have her own family! It's the circle of life Julius, and it moves us all. Don't make me sing the song." Normally I would want to, but I seem to be lacking a small animal to hold up. He gave me a weird look and shook his head, "So then how can I get her to stay?"

I tapped my chin, "Weeeelllll…are you the only one who wants her to stay?" He shook his head, "I'm sure I'm not the only one." I held up my hand, "Then the way I see it, we have two options to get Alice to stay. One; we play matchmaker and try to get Alice with one of her many eager suitors." Julius shuddered. "Or two; YOU grow some steel and make a move."

He blushed the brightest red I've ever seen, "ME?!" "Don't you like her? Maybe love~?" He shook his head and hands in denial, "No! No! It's not like that! We're friends!" I sighed and rolled my eyes, "Then match making it is. Now, who do we know that would more than happily be with Alice?"

Julius rubbed the back of his head, "This is very uncomfortable for me." "You want her to stay, don't you? So let's see…Peter White is defiantly into her, but that's not going to happen in a gazillion years. Blood's out, because he's a jerk. Elliot, possible. Boris, also possible. He's nice, and about the same age as us. Hey, what about-!"

Julius stood up, "Look, I want her to stay, but it's not fair to Alice to be talking about this!" I raised my eyebrow, "Oh, so now you're worried about her feelings?" "Yes I'm worried about her feelings! Who wouldn't be?!"

I stood up and poked him in the chest, "Anybody who wasn't in love with her." His eyebrows shot up. I poked him again, "Don't try to deny it, I've seen the way you look at Alice. You're always worried about her safety and well-being, even before your own. Therefore…" I grinned, "I approve."

His look of confusion was priceless, "Wait, what?" I took a step back and gave him some breathing room, "It's in the girl code. In the absence of any family guidance, it's my duty as Alice's friend to keep an eye on her love life. Scum, abusers and miscreants don't even get a foot in the doorway!" I pointed at him, "You are a kind, respectable man who clearly loves her and would take good care of her. And I'm sure she's fond of you already. Therefore, I approve."

"…Wait…what?" "But you clearly lack the experience and confidence in this kind of matter to do anything about it, so I shall help you!" "…What?!" I waved at him, "Relax, I won't do anything too drastic. Just a little nudge here and there. YOU'LL be the one who has to make the moves."

"Now you just hang on a second! What in the name of the Dealer makes you think this can happen?!" I smiled. Julius was flushing so red, it was a wonder to think there was any blood actually doing its job. "We're in Wonderland, right? I'm sure stranger things have happened."

….

Stranger things indeed.

After our little talk, Julius mumbled about work and hid up in his room. After a while, servants started to show up. Apparently they all live in the nearby town and go sleep at their own homes. Then the girls woke up and Zoe showed up, wearing a red cloak and carrying a little round basket covered by a red and white checkered cloth. She looked just like Little Red Riding hood. Like, EXACTLY. Why do Zoe and everything to do with Zoe look like it just popped out of a Disney movie? I was seriously expecting her to start singing for no apparent reason and for little woodland critters to join in chorus.

Anyways, we introduced Zoe to the Tower residents. They were all nice and polite to her, and she smiled, but I could tell that being around so many role holders made her uncomfortable. So, we got out of there and started to head for the Park as soon as we could.

On the way there, we ran into Yuri! He grinned when he spotted us in the street and ran up, an arm load of groceries, "Hello! Ms. Zoe, it's nice to see you out and about." C.J laughed and took a box that about to fall off the pile in his arms, "Nice to see you to Yuri. What are you up to?"

He wagged his tail adorably, "I'm just running some errands for Black. There was recently a big riot in the prison that he's been cleaning up after. The man doesn't even have time to run to the store for food!" Alice giggled and I patted his shoulder, "We're headed to the park to introduce Zoe to Gowland and the boys. I see you're busy right now, so catch ya later, ok?" He nodded and called a goodbye as we headed on our way.

Zoe straitened, "Oh! Wait Yuri!" He stopped and turned back, looking at the little doe running up to him from over the pile. She dug around in her basket and produced one of her little burlap tea bags and stuck it on top of the pile. "Here you go. A present." He blushed, "You didn't have to." She smiled and hopped back to us, "It's no trouble! Have a nice day Yuri!"

And then we all continued on our way to the park.

…..

We stared at the scene before us. C.J pointed at the sight, "What the f*** happened here?!" We were starting at what I assumed was the Park. Maybe. There were some really tall structures that might have been rollercoasters. But the area before us…was completely overrun by…mushrooms. I mean EVERYWHERE.

The fungus were even growing on the sides of the whimsical buildings. Massive ones, littler ones, spotted and striped and solid, and every color of the rainbow, the things were everywhere!

Just then, the Park owner appeared out of the jungle of fungi. He sweat dropped and rubbed the back of his head, "Ah, girls! And you brought Ms. Doey! It's a nice surprise ladies, but I'm afraid the park is closed today for some, ahh, maintenance." Alice gestured to a nearby mushroom, "No kidding! What are these things Gowland?!"

He sighed, "These things are Agustshroom. We get cases of them springing up every now and then, but they're quite easily handled…if you get ahold of them quick."

"Yeah!" We all looked over to see Boris leaning up against the shaft of one of the mushrooms, "But this time, no one noticed them. And they spread faster than an infection. They've taken over the park!" Peirce came tumbling out of the forest, "I keep tripping over them."

Gowland sighed and led us over to a bench that was outside the little forest. "We'll have them all hacked down as soon as we can, but for now there's not much we can do. Sorry you girls came all this way." Boris sighed and Peirce nodded in agreement, "Yeah, just sitting on a bench isn't much fun."

"What are you all talking about?" We all looked at Zoe, "What?" The little deer stood up and walked over to one of the smaller mushrooms, about knee high with a diameter about as big as my arms at the side. She put one foot on the top of the mushroom and stepped up, bouncing considerably. "The tops of Augustshrooms are some of the most resilient natural hides in Wonderland! You can bounce on them like a trampoline!"

She demonstrated, the top of the mushroom giving just a little under her weight before sending her back up, higher than when she jumped. C.J's eyebrows raised and she grinned, "Weird…really weird…but awesome!" The blonde ran up and jumped on a smaller one, before bouncing high and landing on a much bigger, higher one. She bounced a bit, regaining her balance before motioning to the rest of us, "Come on, this is awesome!"

I didn't waste time. I grabbed Alice by her wrist and dragged her over, laughing. I stepped up on a low mushroom tip, the skin strangely plastic like, yet elastic. I bounced as I stepped up fully and jumped, laughing as I saw Alice playing on another.

The boys joined in and, soon enough, the twins showed up and hopped up to play. Probably skipping out on work again, but I don't blame them. Who would pass up on this?

After a long freaking time, I hopped down and sat down on the bench, joining the already tuckered out Zoe. "Nice call on those mushrooms! Say, how do you know so much about plants anyhow?" Zoe twiddled her thumbs, "Umm…as I've said, I'm a gardener." "That doesn't answer my question. Zoe sighed, "Well…my mother was a gardener as well. She taught me much of what I know, and the rest I learned from her journals that she left when she…passed."

I stared at her, "Was she…replaced?" Zoe shook her head, "No, actually. She was caught in a cross fire." Zoe tapped chest, "Her clock was shot through. …I think it's better that way." I was about to apologize for prying when Boris sat down across from us, Gowland taking a seat next to him and Peirce next to me.

Boris held some lemonade out to the two of us, "Have fun?" I grinned and took the drink, Zoe following suit. "Yeah, this was great!" Gowland waved, "You ladies should come when the park is actually operational; it's ten times more fun! That reminds me…."

He turned back to the forest and called over C.J, Alice and the twins. The four had still been playing. The all ran over and Peirce handed them some more lemonade. Alice sipped and the twins gulped, but C.J CHUGGED. It was a big glass, but it was gone in four drags. C.J sat down next to Zoe and wiped her mouth, grinning, "Thanks guys! That was so awesome! I can't wait to come here and ride the roller coaster though; I've been wanting to since the first time I came here!"

Gowland tapped his chin, "Ah, that seems so long ago, doesn't it?" Boris snickered, "Yeah, remember when she punched Blood?" Peirce fist pumped, "He had a black eye and everything!" Alice giggle and leaned on the table, "Memories…."

Gowland snapped his fingers, "Jeez, that reminds me!" He stood up and whipped out a violin. "I STILL haven't given C.J, and Nerd now to, their welcome to Wonderland song!" Everyone except C.J and I froze up. Even Zoe.

Alice held out her hand, "G-Gowland, NO!" Too late.

Gowland dragged his strings across the bow, and a shrill sound pierced the air. Everyone yelled and covered their ears, the sound too much for them. Zoe had tears in her eyes, "Great Dealer, make it stop!" I blinked at them, curious. Sure, this kind of music wasn't my thing, but each style had its own way. This must have been his.

C.J grabbed the bow out of his hands and snapped it over her knee, "Enough of that!" Gowland gapped at her, upset, "C.J! You broke my bow!" "I'll break your face if you start that up again!"

Gowland sulked as C.J sat down, huffing. I looked at the park owner and smiled. I clapped a bit and everyone stared at me in horror. I looked back at them, "What?" The twins pointed, "You actually LIKE his terrible playing?!" Gowland huffed, "HEY!"

I smiled, "Well, all music is good in its own right." Gowland had tears in his eyes, "Finally, someone who can see my musical genius!" He was about to glomp me when I finished my thought, "I mean, screamo isn't really my thing, but I have no right to put down a style of music."

Gowland fell to the ground in tears in mid-glomp. "Oh, that was so cruel!" Everyone else was laughing their heads off. Except Zoe. She was giggling hysterically. Laughing her head off would have required her to make loud noises.

Alice wiped at her eyes, "Well, it's been great guys. But it's starting to get late. We should head back to the tower." Zoe looked at her, "I should get home as well. I need to water the plants." I nodded, feeling just a tad sleepy (as I hadn't had my eight hours of beddy-by last night) and C.J grinned, "We'll see you all later. And Zoe, same time tomorrow? We could take you to the Castle."

Zoe smile, "I'd like that." I stood up, Alice and C.J following. "Well, see you all later!" As we were walking away, I heard Zoe talking, "Ah! I almost forgot to give you all your presents!"

We made our way back to the tower, had some dinner, talked to the guys (and Ace, whom was apparently going to head out to the castle with us) about he situation at the park. Alice opted to stay up for a while, as it was still fairly early, but C.J and I decided to turn in. C.J had played harder than anyone, and I was more than a little drowsy from my lack of sleep last night.

In my room, I changed into one of the various night dresses, tossed my clothes down the chute, and curled up on the bed. I closed my immediately, sleep coming to me all too eagerly.

P.O.V: Nerd and Zoe

Dark. So very dark here. Ticking. Singing. All around me, in my head, the song with no words is playing. There's someone else here. That woman. Who is she? And why does she smile as she falls to pieces?

And the clocks keep on ticking.

*BREATHES DEEP* THANK THE GODS THAT I MADE IT THROUGH THIS CHAPTER! INCLUDING THESE AUTHORS NOTES, ITS 4000+ WORDS! THAT'S PRETTY DANG BIG CONCIDERING MY TENDANCY LATELY FOR SHORT CHAPTERS!

DREN P:

BLACK: 23

YURI: 15

PEIRCE: 2

ELLIOT: 2

BORIS: 1

NIGHTMARE: 1

ZOE P:

PEIRCE: 3

BORIS: 6

ELLIOT: 1

GRAY: 1

YURI: 4

PLEASE KEEP UP THE REVIEWS AND VOTEING AND I'LL SEE YOU ALL NEXT CHAPTER!