Author's Note: Thanks to all of my "story alert"-ers and my reviewer! This chapter has some action, hope you all enjoy! ^.^
Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to the book Alice in Wonderland either. I read it sure, but I don't even own a copy of it. :\ Thought I'd mention that since I'll be using references…
The Insanity of Power
Chapter 2: Four Shots
Carroll ate daintily and very little, Alice noticed her mother's lack of appetite long before Hatter did (he was primarily focused on the food). He looked up, slightly embarrassed and slowly lowered his fork, locking eyes with Alice. She winked at him and twirled her hand in a circular motion under the table, beckoning for him to explain Wonderland to her mother. He looked at her, at a loss for words, so she began.
"Mom, do you remember that book daddy used to read me? Alice in Wonderland?"
Her mother blinked suspiciously at Hatter.
"What is this about Alice?" her mother almost looked scared now, as if pleading with her daughter silently not to go on. Seeing Alice's resolve melt away Hatter stepped in, he always would be coming to her rescue.
"Ms. Hamilton, I know it's difficult to believe but there are places like Wonderland, in different realities, that can be accessed from here." He looked hopefully at Alice's mother. Carroll's mouth hung open slightly and she looked between the two with an air of indignity.
"I'm sorry, I don't believe you…" Then aside she whispered to her only daughter "Alice who is this man?"
"His name is Hatter, not David, and he's not a construction worker. He's a…" she glanced at Hatter "well temporarily unemployed. When I went searching for Jack I fell through a mirror in an old warehouse, on the other side was," she paused knowing just how senile she sounded to her only parent, "it was Wonderland. And that's where we met." Her mother's head shook tightly side to side.
"Please, finish you meal and leave." Her eyes were closed and her arms were folded neatly into her lap, crinkling and un-crinkling her napkin ever so slightly. Damp tears glistened from just under her eyelashes, it broke Alice's heart. Hatter's guilt overwhelmed him. He stood, nodded a thanks to Carroll for the meal, kissed Alice's neck just behind her ear and left. Alice's eyes glistened now too.
"Please Alice, you finally commit and it's to someone who needs to be committed! Just find yourself another nice boy like Jack and take a risk."
"I've already found one, and you're right, I should take a risk. Mom, I love you, but I can't loose him now as well. I'll be back." She tossed her napkin on the table and rushed outside, running along the same dark allies that would lead her to the mirror. She turned the last corner in the warehouse, a few feet away she saw his leather-clad back and rushed towards it, clinging on for her life as her weight pushed them both through the looking glass. He yelped in surprise but it was lost in the tunnel between Wonderland and the warehouse.
They landed, a loud moan escaped from both. Hatter rolled her carefully off of him. She crawled to her knees, noticing happily that on the way to the mirror Hatter had replaced his hat and now that they were both back in the dreary light that Alice had grown accustomed to he looked more normal. With a closed-lipped smile she breathed in the cool Wonderland air. It was damp and sweet, like a beautiful watercolor painting of singing flowers and tea parties that had been left in the rain until all the bright colors where grey ghosts of their former light.
Hatter rose from his back onto his elbows, observing their surroundings curiously. The looking glass that had been gold and shinning when he left had dulled to a tarnished bronze and grime lay over every surface. If Wonderland had had spiders he would've no doubt observed a multitude of stringy white webs.
"Alice, you shouldn't have followed me." He said as worry began to nag at him.
"I couldn't be separated from you again, it doesn't matter that mom doesn't believe, I have feelings for you." She said, hoping he would at least look at her this time.
"Alice! Something's wrong," he turned his gaze to her, she was shocked by the pleading in his eyes. She lowered herself to the ground so that they could face each other, she couldn't stand looking down at his troubled and insistent features. Her next sentence was on her tongue when something hit her from behind and knocked her into Hatter. She turned and moved aside quickly as he instinctively wrapped his arms around her, trying to come between Alice and this new being.
"Mom!" Alice yelped. Carroll sat before her, hair askew and powered makeup forming a cream with her sweat. Hatter stood to help Carroll up, Alice followed.
"Ms. Hamilton, are you going to be alright?" Hatter asked. She answered, mouth gaping, with an awed sigh.
"Oh my dear Alice," she pulled her daughter close and kissed her face. "forgive me, please. This is… incredible." Hatter looked cautiously at Carroll, then towards the mirror. Something had changed within its reflection. The looking glass had turned completely grey like the backing of a mirror. He poked an experimental finger at it. Solid.
"Alice, Ms. Hamilton… we should get going." Hatter whispered.
"Where would we go?" Replied Alice, apparently she was not taking Hatter's command seriously.
"Anywhere but here, come on." He began away from the grey wall at a quick walk, being aware that Carroll was out of breath already. Alice followed, her hand around her mother's arm, she tried to explain things now.
"You said he was 'Hatter' is he… you know… mad?" Carroll whispered the last word, hoping he wouldn't hear and take offense. Alice just laughed quietly
"No, he's quite sane. Most of the time."
"So he's not the Mad Hatter." Carroll affirmed. Alice shook her head, and waited for her mother's next question, but it never came.
In its place Alice heard the deafening blast of a gun, four shots.
Shot one hit Carroll, snatching her life in an instant.
Shot two clanged against the grey backed looking glass.
Shot three charged at Alice and would've hit if Hatter hadn't grabbed her hand.
Shot four found its mark, embedding itself in Hatter's right shoulder.
He only held on tighter to Alice's hand though, pulling her faithfully away from her mother's resting form, the grey wall that had swallowed Alice's home, and from their shadowed attacker.
To Be Continued…