Chapter 14
The Mad Hatter
Serena picked herself up the ground. She lent out her hand to the stranger. "Thank you?" she asked.
Standing up, he brushed himself off. "I guess you can say that."
The man standing in front of her was looking at the ground. He seemed very sad or at least very quiet. His hair was tousled, short but in need of a hair cut. He had a five o'clock shadow and looked like he hadn't slept for days.
Serena leaned over so she could see his face.
The man caught her off guard as he grabbed her wrist.
"Hey!" she yelled at him. She tried to free her arm, but he tightened his grip.
"Don't scream!" he snapped, his eyes wide. "Don't draw attention, especially when you know there is an invisibility spell!"
Serena cowered a bit, she understood that he didn't want anyone finding him. "Okay," she said. She let her hand go limp in his to show she wasn't going to fight him.
"Thank you." He told her.
She stared at him for a moment. He was still holding her wrist tightly. "No problem. Now, can you please let go of my arm?"
He seemed to have forgotten already. "Oh," he said as he let go of her arm, "sorry."
She rubbed her wrist. "Okay. So..." she paused. "What's your name?"
He squinted at her. He didn't know what name he should tell her. "I'm the Mad Hatter." He thought of saying. He didn't know what she knew about the Mad Hatter or if she would be scared. "I'm Jefferson." He decided to tell her.
She nodded and extended her hand. "I'm Serena."
They shook hands and Jefferson motioned towards the door. "Would you like to come inside?"
Serena took her chances. If she needed help, she'd just call for Regina. She smiled. "Sure."
The two went inside. Serena could tell that Jefferson was making something - or at least attempting too. The fabric and materials he was using were strewn everywhere.
Serena walked around the little house. She picked up some of the fabric that lay across a chair. "What are you making?"
"A hat." Was his response.
"Okay, great." Serena said, still curious. "So what for?"
Jefferson sighed. Here we go. "To travel." He decided to say.
This caught Serena's attention. "Like what kind of travel?"
"It is a portal."
"Portal!" She exclaimed. She ran over to Jefferson and put his hands in his. "Like between worlds? Realms?" She was basically screaming at him with excitement.
Jefferson looked at her in awe. He took his hands away from hers. "Yes?"
His reaction worried Serena for a moment. She calmed herself. Taking a step back, she asked, "Who are you, Jefferson?"
He smiled a big grin at her. "I'm the Mad Hatter!"
Eyes wide in astonishment, Serena smiled back. "Awesome!"
Jefferson was confused. "You're not frightened?"
"No, should I be?"