Chapter Two

By the time I became aware of myself, I was already in the gardens. With a small choking noise, I collapsed onto the nearest bench. Resting my head in my hands, I allowed the tears to run down over my cheeks. Sure, we faceless were used to the idea of death in everyday life, that didn't mean we liked it. I was now caught in indecision. If I didn't do my job, I would surely be punished. However, if I did go find him, my life was walking a razor blade. It was times like this that I hated to be who I was.

It was very abnormal, but id often thought of running off. To find out what was beyond the borders of Wonderland, where no one ever went. And then there was her. It had been almost a year now since she'd returned to her own world, leaving the role holders grieving. Alice, who everyone loved. But in the end no one person had grasped that special place in her heart, although she had loved them equally in return.

I had met her only once, in rather strange circumstances. I'd been carrying a large pile of washing at the time, and hadn't seen the young foreigner until it was too late. We were both sent sprawling to the floor in a heap of limbs and white sheets. "Oh, I'm so very sorry miss, allow me to...". Just then we heard faint footsteps, accompanied by a cry of "Alice, where are you, I know your around here somewhere"! With a horror struck look Alice jumped to her feet and pulled me behind the nearest set of curtains, clamping a hand over my mouth. I gave up on struggling, and we watched as Peter White came skipping joyously down the hallway. Seeing the pile of washing, he stopped and looked around.

"Hmmm, I was sure she came this way". It seemed that we would go undiscovered, but his ears suddenly shot straight up, and he spun and violently pulled back the curtains. "Oh Alice, how can you be cheating on me, and with the staff" he pulled out his watch, which immediately became a gun, pointed right between my eyes. Realising how this must have looked, I jerked away from the girl.

"No Master White, I mean we, we just...".

"Were taking a look at the scenery" finished Alice.

"The scenery"? He raised an eyebrow sceptically.

I turned and realised that the only thing out the window was a rather barren and morose looking courtyard. Figures with my luck that we'd find the only window in the castle with a bad view. "Still, only I should get Alice's hugs, so now you must be eliminated" he again turned the gun on me, and I tightly squeezed my eyes shut. But just like this morning, the shot didn't come. Looking up from where id dropped to the ground, I saw Alice standing in front of me, hands on hips and furious.

"That's it, today I actualy thought that I might come to see you, but not now, Maid-san, were leaving". And with that she pulled me to my feet and bolted off down the hall way. We finally came to stop somewhere in the east wing, bent over and panting. "Sorry for dragging you into all this, it's just that, well I'm lost" she smiled at me, and her face lit up. "Why did you..."? She gave me a questioning look. "Well, why did you save me, he could have accidentally shot you or something" I felt rather bold, talking like this to someone who wasn't faceless.

She reached out a hand to help me upright "Believe it or not I value life, and I wouldn't want you to be hurt just because of me". I just looked up at her in puzzlement. "Hehe, you're very cute".

"Whaa, me, no" I blushed, then what she had actually said hit me. "Wait, I don't look different to any other servant". Now it was her turn to look puzzled.

"Yes you do, your shorter than most, and your hairs curly and brown.

"Ahhh, please don't eat my soul!" I slapped a hand over my eyes. She just laughed again, an almost melodic sound, and prised my hands away.

"Oh, I'm sorry, but I still can't see your eyes".

Un-scrunching my eyes, I looked at her in relief. The aqua orbs blinked back at me, so full of something I hadn't seen in many people around here. Kindness.

"So, I'm sorry to trouble you more, but I can't seem to find my way to the exit here, think you could help".

"Sure, and don't be sorry, as long as you don't start setting up campfires it's fine". We both laughed at this and I headed off towards the nearest exit. The washing could wait until later. On the way I had a good look at her. So this was the reason for Master White's strange behaviour. Ever since a few weeks back the land had been in a flurry over the new arrival, and the castles Prime Minister had gone through such an attitude change that most would think he had been replaced with an imposter. We staff weren't complaining though, the death toll was lower than it had been in years.

After a short walk and some easy conversation, we arrived at the garden exit. "I'm sorry miss, I can't take you any further than this".

"Don't worry, and Alice will do just fine, thank you for helping me".

"No, thank you, for saving me, I'm very grateful".

"Don't worry about it, see you around". With another smile she slipped out the door. I had seen her a few times after that, and she'd waved and said a quick hello. It had puzzled me to no end how she remembered my face. Luckily though, Master White didn't, and I had escaped to live another day. Pretty ironic, considering the current situation.

Then she had left. The mood in Wonderland was solemn for months after, but life had gradually wound back to normal. Unfortunately so had the death toll, and not without a slight rise. But it had made me think, about the fact that there were worlds beyond here, where fate didn't decide your life for you. Where you could be free.

Because this was not the life I wanted for Oliver or myself. To be here one day, then gone the next, barely even leaving a shadow. With a sigh, I realised that I couldn't stay here sulking all day. I brushed the tears from my eyes, and rose unsteadily to my feet. I'd been there so long that my legs were now asleep. Taking a step towards, my dress got caught between my feet, and I went flying through the air. I gritted my teeth and braced myself for pain, but (I was thinking this a lot today) it didn't come.

I landed in a pair of arms, barely inches from the gravel coated ground. My rescuer helped me to my feet, and I turned to thank them. "Thank you very much I, Master Ace"! I jumped a few feet in the air in shock. "Ah I'm so sorry for inconveniencing you like this" a blush of shame spread over my cheeks, and I bowed low.

"Don't worry about it, can't ignore a damsel in distress now can I"? He motioned for me to straighten up. "Hey, you're the Maid from this morning, the one who got assigned to White".

"Yes master" I said miserably.

"So that's why you were crying before" he smirked.

"I was not crying" I snapped, before quickly covering my mouth with my hands. Today was just not my day. "Oh really, then what's this"? He moved forward and touched my cheek. Pulling back his finger, sure enough there was a glassy sphere on the skin. "Tsk tsk, talking back and lying, not very good behaviour for a maid".

"Yes master, I'm very sorry master". I did my best to be as meek and obedient as possible. "Oh well, I have somewhere to be, no time to chat" (I knew that he was just lost again) "but I'll tell you something, you can find White in the library, if you decide to do your job". Leaving me blushing angrily, he wandered off again into the hedge maze, and I swear I heard a laugh.

Ok, from now on I think stuff might actually happen. Sorry for the uber long intro, but once I type something, I don't go back. And what I typed happened to be long and boring. Oh, and reviews make me happy, so please be kind to a newbie writer!