((Hi, guys! I'm so so sooo sorry it took so long for me to update! This week has just been me running around non-stop! Thankfully, I'll be having some down time so I'll try to update as much as possible. I'm so thankful for everyone's patience and kind words ^-^ From now on I'll do my best to make this story the best that I can. Once again, thank ya'll so much! Without further ado, Chapter 14! Enjoy!))

Chapter 14: Taken

"Why hello, Alice. Long time no see."

"…Hatter?" Alice breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.

"My what a brilliant little girl," he complimented, tipping his hat to her. His lips turned up into a mocking grin that made Alice's stomach churn.

She was warned to beware the other kingdom heads. She learned from the servants that resided within the Cheshire's castle that each head had their own niche which made them extremely dangerous. They started off by warning her about the Cheshire—and even though she was told to be careful around him, she knew very well that he wouldn't do anything to endanger her—who was very intelligent and cunning; his craftiness made him nimble like a cat, always one step ahead of the competition. They followed up with the Queen of Hearts, who intimidated her subjects into obeying her, and continued to warn Alice that the Queen often times killed innocent people upon a whim. And lastly, they finished up with the Mad Hatter; whose poise and gentlemanly nature charmed his subjects into obedience. But the Hatter didn't simply get the title of being "Mad" from mercury poisoning that came along with his trade of making hats; according to rumor, he was truly and undoubtedly insane.

"What's your business here, Hatter?" Alice questioned, struggling to control her wavering voice. She wouldn't willingly let him know that she was frightened of him, that would only get her into trouble. So instead, she would put on a tough persona that displayed no weakness.

However, the Hatter seemed to notice her distress rather quickly and sauntered forward on a pair of confident legs. "Oh Alice, 'tis hardly a way to be a good hostess, ain't it?" His voice was husky, and begun to weave in and out between an American and European slur.

"You shouldn't be here," Alice stated as firmly as she could. She held her ground as he stalked over to her, his lean and lanky body towering over her mere height. He grinned at her, and she could smell the trace of tea heavy on his breath; reminiscent of the stench of alcohol upon a drinker's. Perhaps his tea was why he was truly mad.

"Mm, and you shouldn't be here either," he murmured.

His breath was sticky and hot in her ear and made her stomach churn. As he leaned in closer to her, and her hands shot out to his chest to keep him at bay. "Stop!" she shouted, craning her neck up toward him. His defined jaw was clenched, and his once sapphire eyes—Alice swore he had blue eyes—were now a burning emerald color belonging more to a wild tiger than a human being.

"Alice!" he shouted rather desperately, a momentary flicker of sapphire swirled around his pupils before being taken over by green hues. "You're nothing buh a bother!" he growled through his teeth, his hand closing around her forearm. "Why did you come back?"

She winced as his fingers dug into her arm. She instinctually backed up as far as she could manage, and struggled to escape from his grasp. "What did you mean come back?" she all but cried out, her brain begging for some sense in the midst of madness.

"Do you know how much trouble you cause us? Why do you keep returnin'?" He snarled furiously, clenching her wrist in his calloused hands. As she opened her mouth to answer, he let out a grunt and violently pushed her.

Alice felt as if she was falling in slow motion. She felt herself being flung toward the stairs, and watched in horror as the Hatter's eyes emerald feverishly stared down at her with a renewed sense of hatred. Her fall took ages, as increments of time seemed to slow momentarily. Then, with a sickening thud, her spine hit the staircase.

The wind was forced out of her, and her lungs burned as they tried to replenish the supply of oxygen they were deprived of. Once she took a wavering first breath, the agonizing sting of the impact flooded the nerves of her back and traveled to her brain in frantic tidal waves. Her breath struggled to escape her throat as she stared on helplessly as the Hatter flung himself onto her.

"Alice, oh Alice!" he cried, scooping her up into his arms. As she stared up at him, the emerald hues gave way to topaz ones that contrasted against his fuchsia colored tresses. "Why don't you remember me?" he breathed, a shaky hand rising to stroke the side of her face. "Alice, remember me. Remember me please!" He begged.

Alice's head whirled, either due to her fall, or the madness of it all. The only thing she knew was that the rumor about the Hatter being insane was not a rumor, but reality, and she was experiencing it firsthand. She lay helpless as he gathered her in his arms like a child picking up a rag-doll, her body refusing to react in any way. Soon, her vision grew blurry as the Hatter's silhouette faded into a haze of gray.

"Alice," She could hear the Hatter call, but it sounded as if he was miles away. "Are you alright, my dear?" Through the fog that invaded her mind and sight, she somehow conjured up the realization that the "normal" Hatter's state of mind had once again emerged. With a bit of remorse, she submitted to the pain flooding her nerves and closed her eyes in the arms of an enemy.