ALICE

Everything happened so quickly! First I was talking to a mad man, and now Im stuffed inside a bloody tea pot! Everything happened in a blur. I knocked on the kettle. "Let me out!" I screamed. It felt as if the sides of the kettle were closing in around me, suffocating me. I need to get out soon.

Well, since I am alone in the pot, there was really no reason to clutch onto my dress. I let the material slide down to my ankles as I felt the other worldly air lap at my skin. It bombarded my skin with a trail of its cool kisses. I shivered a bit.

What was happening to me? Was I going mad? This all had to be a dream. There were no such things as talking rabbits and funny looking men with eccentric orange hair.

I buried my face within the confined space of my hands. This had to be a dream; A very realistic dream. What I do not understand is, why can't I control anything in this dream? I've done so with my other dreams. Why is this one any different?

I've been shrunken, grown out, chased by a wild monster and semi-befriended a evaporating cat and I still have no control over anything! I winced as the wind drummed its playful fingers crossed the claw wound on my arm. It still stung, even with the binding containing it.

I was snapped out of my thoughts as I heard a deep voice. I froze. This voice, it sounded so familiar, but at the same time, it sounded like a voice from a dream that was long forgotten.

I tried to peer outside the spout, but I could see very little. All I saw was the black hair of some man. But, that black hair....it looks so familiar.

I strained to hear what was being said. Everything was muffled from the kettle. I did hear the hatter beginning to sing what sounded like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. I covered my mouth and giggled a little bit. The hatter maybe mad, but, he was funny.

Just then I heard a chocking gagging sound as the pot rattled a little. Panic flooded me. What was happening outside?

Then I heard that familiar voice this time. "If you're hiding her, you'll lose your head. That's a fair trade since you made me loose my eye" it said in a serious but somewhat seductive tone. I shuddered.

What did he mean by that? And who was the her? Was he talking about me? So many unanswered questions raced inside my mind, but I couldn't keep up with all of them. I strained to hear what was happening, but, it was all silence. It was as if silenced engulfed time itself.

I jumped as I heard a shatter of glass and a loud squeal that followed afterwards. I was starting to become very scared.

I heard a whinny of a horse, the sound of galloping hoofs, and then nothing. I waited a moment before the lid of the kettle was lifted and the Hatter looked in.

I gave a scream as his eyes widen and he quickly closed the lid. "I'm terribly sorry!" he said in a flustered tone. "What am I going to do for cloths?" I asked after I couldn't take the silence anymore.

There was a pause before his hand slithered inside the pot. He hands searched for a piece of cloth, but instead, he found my bare chest.

"Hatter!" I screamed. His hand quickly jerked back as If he was suddenly burned. "So sorry!" he said again as he quickly yanked a piece of cloth out of the pot. It was only a few seconds before he dropped a dress inside. "Here, try this on", he said in a semi- enthusiastic tone.

I obeyed and tried on the dress. It fitted me perfectly. Hopefully I wouldn't grow quickly, or else I would be in trouble.

I waited for him to reach in and grab me, but then I just remembered the two encounters already, and thought it best that I got his attention. I knocked gently on the lid of the kettle. As if instantly, his hand slithered into the pot and picked me up very gently.

I squinted as my eyes adjusted to the sudden light change. The hatter gently placed me down on the table in front of him.

Around his eyes was very pink and rosy as if in embarrassment. He eyes respectfully looked me over. "I like it!", he said cheerfully as he smiled at me. I couldn't help but love his toothy grin.

I turned and saw some blood on the table cloth and gasped. "What happened?" I breathlessly said as I saw the March Hare slowly get up while clutching his head. There was a bit of blood on his matted down brown fur.

"Nothing, nothing at all! He was just clumsy and dropped a cup", he said to quickly. He quickly turned me around so I could see him, but not before I saw the hoof prints in the dirt path.

"Hatter, who was here, I heard voices." He ignored my question and began pouring me a small cup of tea. "Would you like a cup of tea?" he asked happily as he held the pin sized cup to my face. I took it.

So many things were happening. I haven't even been here for that long and I've encountered so many dangers already.

"Why is a raven like a writing desk?" the hatter asked as he took a long sip of his cup. I just sat there for a moment, a little shocked at what he said.

"Pardon me?" I asked very politely. He started laughing. "You are pardon, but do you mind if I asked where you plan to go?" I blushed a bit, for that was not what I meant.

He was playing games with me so I decided to play back. "Hatter, what do people cradle the most?" He looked at me and laughed.

"Well, I would assume it was a child", he said in a smug voice.

I smiled and shook my head. "Incorrect my dear sir."

He really did wear his feelings on his face, for it dropped as he thought for a moment before answering me, "Then what?" I shook my head again.

"I can't tell you, its a riddle." His frown became upside down again as he waggled his finger at me and took another deep drink from his tea. I was silent for a moment as I took the time to look around.

Everything was so...dead and desolate. The trees that was once happy were nothing but former skeletons of there former selves. The grass, once green like the richest emeralds, lost its perfect shine as was dull. My eyes fell on the March Hare again.

The mouse was tending to his wound. I watched as his small paws worked gracefully and picked out shards of white glass. I took another look at the hoof prints leading away.

I was determined to find out what happened. "Hatter, who was here. What happened?", I demanded. He tried to distract me again, but I wouldn't allow him to.

"Hatter, if it involves me, I have a right to know." He was silenced for a moment before he gave out a defeated sigh.

"The people who were here, they were looking for you. They were guards of The Bloody Red Queen, and somehow they found out you've returned to Wonderland and they...have a bone to pick with you."

I took this in for a moment, before remembering the man I saw with black hair. "Who was the man with the black hair?" The hatter's face grew grim.

"Well, I hoped that you wouldn't have seen him. He is the Knave of Hearts, or as his real name, Stayne. I just call him Sir Jack!" he said with a little giggle.

I knew this was serious, but I couldn't help but smile. So, his name is Stayne? The man who's face I did not see, but whose voice captured me? "Hatter, who is Stayne? What does he want with me?"

The hatter took in my question for a moment. "He is the Red Queen's right hand man. He must have found out you're back and has orders to take you in. He is dangerous so be careful of him, Alice's", the hatter said as he eyed me.

" I like dangerous men", a voice nagged inside me. I flushed. I did not say that! I would never think such things!

Something must be wrong with me. Before I could ask anymore questions, the hatter stood up.

" We must be going; we have already wasted too much time." He took of his hat and placed it in front of me. "Your carriage, my lady."

The mouse's ears pricked up as he heard this." Oh I do love a good hat riding!", the mouse squealed as he began to walk up to the hat. The hatter held his hand out in front of him. "Dormouse please, not this time." The mouse pouted and walked away.

I looked at him for a moment. "A hat?" I asked in disbelief. He snorted. "Only the best can ride by hat. Anyone can ride by horse or by carriage!" Before I jumped on the brim of his hat, I tore some fabric off the hem of my dress and wrapped it around my hair in a horse tail.

Before we left, the March Hare threw a cup at the hatters head. I gasped as the hatter gracefully ducked, as a smile danced on his lips. Behind me I heard both rabbit and mouse laugh. "How horrid", I muttered and stepped onto his hat before we took off into the unknown of the forest.

So watcha think?