Chance struggles to stay awake as Jervis finishes reading to herself and the three Alices who have yet to look away.
Note to self: as soon as I get home I'm buying a copy of the freakin book and burning it along with Tetchs hat!
He marks his place and closes the book before setting it on the small table by the chair.
"To be continued! Now it is time for afternoon tea."
...
Chance wakes up the following morning in her new room with the three Alices standing over her, waiting for her to wake up. Once up, they point to a door on the other side of the room and Chance walks inside to find a large bathroom.
Once Possitive that the door is locked, she turns the the tub and frowns at a lack of a shower head. With an annoyed sigh she turns on the bath and opens a closet to find her dress hanging amongst the towels.
After she's dressed, she walks out to find the three Alices standing by the door waiting for her. Alice number one takes Chances pile of clothes and before she can protest, is led to a chair and pushed down into it.
"What are you...?"
Alice number three walks up to her with a hairbrush and begins to gently brush her hair, earning a shiver of unease from Chance. Alice number two walks over and carefully picks up Chances hand before slipping an elbow length white glove on her. She stands up and moves to the other side before repeating the process.
"Um...can't I just do this by myself? I'm perfectly capable."
All three shake their heads simotaniously in response. Chance rolls her eyes once Alice number three sets aside the brush and picks up a bow.
This is going to be a very long day.
Once Alice number three is satisfied with Chances hair, she pulls her up and out of the seat. The three Alices rather forcefully guide her to the dining room where, what else? A tea party is set up.
Chance takes her seat at the head of the table. Jervis walks in moments later and beams a smile at Chance.
"Now Alice, doesn't it feel more pleasant to be in your real clothes?"
Chance leans against her arm on the table.
"Yeah, sure."
Jervis walks around the table to stand behind her.
"Why can't I get ready on my own?"
"Because there is no need Alice, you are but a curious child, not an adult..."
Her response is cut off by the feeling of him running his fingers thru her hair slowly.
"Please stop."
"Why?"
"Because I don't like this and honestly? It's really creepy and I would know."
"But Alice, you're at my tea party. Don't you want to make me happy?"
Chance gets wide eyed and pushes herself from her seat.
"Hell No!"
Jervis removes his hand from her hair and spins her around to face him.
"Young ladies watch their tongues!"
"Well guess what?! I'm not a kid! I'm twenty three years old! I'm sick of this and I've only been here for a couple of days! You said you wouldn't try anything and now your earning a definate ten in the creep o meter right now! Screw this freakin dress, screw your little tea party, and screw you! You can go rot in..."
She is cut off by a scream of pain as wave after wave of shocks course thru her body causing her to fall to her knees. Jervis slowly walks circles around Chance as she cries out and shivers in agony.
"Now Alice, I have been patient with you, you may have forgotten who you are, but I suggest you try to remember very soon. If you lash out like that again I just may have set aside my patience. Do you understand?"
"...Yes..."
"Then appologize for your outburst."
"...I'm...sorry...Mr Hatter..."
The shocks cease and Chance pulls her knees to her chest as involuntary tears of pain fall down her cheeks. Jervis pauses before helping her up and back into her seat.
"I do appologize for that Alice, but I gave you a more than fair warning. Now, I'm sure you won't let that happen again. Alas, I anticipate the day that you recall who you really are."
He gently moves her hair to one shoulder, stroking her neck along the way. Chance squeezes her eyes shut as he leans down to leave a trail of kisses from the top of her neck, to her shoulder, pushing aside her dress strap in the process.
Chance bites her lip and grips her dress as he stops to smell her hair. Unable to stay silent any longer, Chance hops back up out of her seat and snatches his hat before running at full speed twords the door.
She dashes past the three Alices and is two feet from the door when she is taken down by the Alices jumping her from behind. Chance hits the ground hard and is turned onto her back as the girls pin her down.
Jervis walks over slowly, glaring at Chance. He crouches down and pulls his hat from her hands. Studying it, he tsks in disappointment.
"Oh dear. It seems that you've gotten much too excited. No matter, after a nice rest, you'll be fit enough to battle a jaberwalkie. Don't fret, It's only a matter of time before your mind repairs itself. Until then, certain precautions will have to be taken."
He puts his hat back on and Chance winces in anticipation. However, instead of pain, she feels tired. She struggles to fight off the growing blanket of sleep sweeping over her.
"Rest my sweet Alice. It'll allow you to clear your mind properly. Allow yourself to remember."
Chance quickly finds herself slipping unconscious against her will.
"It seems there is much work to be done."
