A Dream
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A man kills his wife, and many people watch him do so. Yet none will be able to accuse him of murder.
Why?
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The second sun that looked over Wonderland was beginning to set as Hatter tumbled through the forest, pushing through the plant life and sludge made by damp leaves.
"Alice! Alice! Alice can you hear me?" Hatter continued to push through thick foliage, tripping over the large protruding roots and piles of mud. His head was spinning and a dull ache was growing in the side of his head, as if someone was using a dull saw to cut through his skull. He'd been searching for hours now, and yet Alice was nowhere to be seen. The light was slowly fading, and without the light of day he knew that finding Alice would get that much harder.
"Alice!" He cried again, now begging to the forest.
"If she had heard you she would have replied you know." Hatter jumped a foot in the air, spinning to face the culprit before falling backwards. He hit the ground with a thud, the air knocked out of him for a second. Crawling backwards he glared at the long bearded man in front of him, a squeaking lamping jumping up and down beside him, illuminating the darkening forest.
"Tobias?" Tobias looked away from the trees in front of him to Hatter, a large rugged stick held in his hands and a confused looked on his face.
"Hm? Oh yes, that's me." He laughed as he tugged his floppy brown pointed hat further down, blocking his eyes. Hatter stared at the old man with wide eyes, as if trying to see if he was really standing there. After all, Wonderland at sundown wasn't like Wonderland during the day. Even the sanest of Wonderland residents would go madder if they spent time in the forest during the night. As they say, the shadows like the play tricks.
"But...you're out of your cave!" Tobias frowned and looked around, scratching the mess of black hair hidden under the hat, Lux following suit. "Oh, so I am." He replied as if just realising. "I thought it was a bit too cold." Hatter glowered at the kind smile the old man gave him, muttering under his breath as picked up his hat.
Tobias said. "So you've lost the human girl-"
"Alice." Tobias ignored him.
"Then? Weren't you supposed to be watching her?"
"Hey! Listen here! I was watching her. She's the one who...ran off!"
Heh, heh, heh.
"Did you hear that?" Hatter asked. Tobias frowned deeply.
"If you're referring to the laughter then yes, I did hear it." Both men looked to each other.
"Aw shit." Hatter said before taking off through the trees and towards the laughing.
He finally reached a large clearing, close to a small lake that Hatter didn't recognise – which was something as Hatter had memorized the map of Wonderland during one of the more boring days. Streamers and lanterns littered the trees and grass, along with bucket loads of glitter which had already covered Hatter. Small children, who looked like crude, DIY, clowns in makeup and ribbons, danced about, laughing and giggling. He couldn't stop the shiver run down his spine as he watched them. It always did with the Lost Children. They moved as if they were being controlled by a puppeteer, their movement's irregular and wrong, each one had the same blues eyes and perfect skin. No one knew exactly where they came from, or what they were. There were rumours of course, that they were human children that had fallen down the rabbit hole and become twisted through the magic Wonderland possessed. Or that they were created by Morpheus himself, puppet creatures that roamed Wonderland looking for lost souls like them.
Hatter thought they were both silly rumours, yet even he had no explanation.
A large table was set out in the middle of the clearing, covered in foods Hatter had never seen before. And in the centre sat Alice.
But she looked different. Her hair was in a loose ponytail, glitter covered her face making her seem like the pixies that hung around the Tea Shop. She wore a similar outfit to that of the children but unlike them, a DIY crown sat on her head. From what he could see it was purely made of flowers and twigs, obviously made by the children. She sat on the largest seat round the table, her eyes glazed over as she stared straight ahead, the smudged clown makeup making her blue eyes look almost white.
What have they done to you Alice?
"The Lost Children." Hatter pursed his lips to stop himself shouting at the old man's sudden appearance. Turing slowly to him, Hatter refrained from pushing Tobias over, but only just. "They always did like to steal people away."
"They think she's their mum Tobias!" he whispered. "You know what they do to those who are their 'mum'. How are we to get her away when she's like that!" he motioned to the comatose Alice. Not getting a reply from the wizard, Hatter looked away muttering, trying to sort through the ideas running through his head.
"We could always try distracting them. Throw something that will make them investigate. What do you think Tobias? Tobias?" He turned to shout at the wizard but didn't find him there. "Tobias!"
"Um, excuse me!" Hatter froze and turned towards the clearing slowly. The festivities had stopped, the children looking at Tobias as if he was some sort of strange creature. "I was wondering if you could help me. I've gotten a bit lost you see." Subtly, Tobias waved Hatter towards Alice behind his back, keeping the children occupied. Hatter chuckled.
"For and old geezer he had guts." Pushing his hat down he snuck over to Alice's seat at the table, avoid the children's gaze. He had to hand it to Tobias, he knew how to hold children's attention.
Finally he reached Alice, who looked worse for wear now he saw the damage. Her already pale skin was now a dull grey, the glitter only covering the real damage.
"Come on Alice. We have to go now." He said softly, tapping her face. But she didn't reply. Swearing under his breath he took another look to Tobias and tried again.
"Alice you have to wake up. I can't carry you." Yet still no reply. "Alice look at me!" grabbing her face he turned her so she looked him in the eyes. Hatter paled.
She didn't say anything but her eyes spoke enough. In the light of the lanterns, her eyes glistened, a golden spark going in and out of brightness.
"Shit!" he shouted, covering his mouth instantly. The children had heard him, looking up he saw a dozen pairs of small eyes watching him like a hawk.
Realising that talking would be pointless he grabbed Alice and hefted her over his shoulder. She wasn't the lightest thing in the world, her weight already felt on his damaged back, but she was light enough to carry.
"Tobias run!"
But he was already too late, the children's eyes where changing for the innocent pale blue to a bright, angry red. Their face morphed drastically, allowing their over sized, needle sharp teeth to be revealed as an ear shattering scream echoed through the forest, throwing dead leaves of the trees.
Both men dashed out of the clearing, Lux following closely behind. The children followed and gained quickly.
"You really should practise whispering." Tobias called, running at a good pace given his stature, his staff helping him propel forward. "It can be a useful ability at times."
Hatter grunted, shifting Alice over his shoulder. "Really? I would never have thought of that one!" Suddenly Tobias stopped and began feeling around in mid air.
"What the hell are you doing you old loon, their after us!" Hatter cried. Tobias ignored him and continued working.
"Tobias...Oh." As Tobias stood back from the place he previously stood, a bright white light appeared the area pushing backwards to reveal a small doorway. Hatter reddened. He hadn't realised he was so close to the doorway he'd told Alice about, he'd been to worried about Alice's disappearance to check the map and the lack of daylight made the forest look the same in every direction. But you were still the 'guide' you should have remembered.
Muttering softly, he shifted Alice again so he was carrying her bridal style, her eyes still wide open but vacant.
"Shall we?" Tobias asked, motioning for Hatter to go first. "This should take us to the Sprite Borders, just before the Queen's Land." Tobias stated as he followed behind, shutting the door. The room was dark, but they were only there for seconds before another door opened in front of them, a large open field full of poppies.
"Super." Hatter said. "Poppies."
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"Pixie Dust?"
"Looks like it."Hatter sighed and looked back over to where Alice sat motionless as Tobias thought over Hatter's words. It was the next morning, Tobias and Hatter taking to sleeping on a small patch of ground. Alice still hadn't come too, her eyes still focused ahead and shining gold as the light hit them, but Hatter knew the reason behind it. "But how on earth did the Lost Children get their hands on it?" he thought out loud. "Pixies aren't the easiest things to catch. Trust me, I've tried."
Tobias was quiet, looking down at the gravelled ground. Poppies still surrounded them, but the qualities that made people collapse at the mere sight of them was gone, ran out several months earlier. They wouldn't be back to that stage for another year which relieved Hatter. He didn't need any more drama with Alice they way she was. Tobias spoke.
"I believe the Lost Children are looked after by the Cheshire Cats. They are known to be rather sneaky."
"But I thought the Cheshire cats had died out with the Wizards?"
"So had I. But I survived the Wizard's genocide, why couldn't one of the Cats have done the same?"
"Good point. I guess your tagging along then?" Tobias nodded.
"Might as well. I'm not sure of the way back. And I don't think the children will take to me very well now." Chuckling under his breath Hatter looked around, the first sun of Wonderland starting to peer over the silhouettes of two castles in the distance. Stuffing his hands in his pockets he said.
"We should probably leave now. We can't let Alice remain like this for much longer."
Without a word Tobias stood as Hatter lifted Alice. Her eyes were still open and vacant, her red hair had fallen out of the pony tail and she still looked like one of the Lost Children. Once again her eyes gave off a flash of gold. They didn't have much time.
"You ready Tobias? Tobias?" Turning to the older man Hatter found him doubled over, gasping for air. He went to go over to him but the words had already been said.
"Card guards." A chill ran down Hatter's spine. He stood perfectly still.
"Now?" his voice was demanding, his jaw clenched.
"There at the door. We've got about an hour's head start."
He had no time to lose. Hatter nodded as he took a gulp.
"Better get going then."
They travelled quickly, Lux jumping ahead because, apparently –as Tobias had told Hatter- Lux had seen the Queen's before the mess had started. Lux knew the simplest way to the castles without arousing suspension or getting caught in the traps. Like the poppies.
"We're about half mile out now Hatter. We should be there in about 10 minutes. It'll be okay." Resisting the temptation to make a remark Hatter smiled softly at the old man, and began walking faster. Suddenly Lux began jumping up and down on the spot, making soft squeaking noises and motioning behind them. Both men turned, paling at the sight of white and red.
"I think now would be the perfect time to run." They did.
Although the run was much harder with Alice in his arms they still managed to stay ahead of the guards who noticed them only seconds after they took off.
10 minutes. Only 10 minutes away.
Finally the walls of the White Queen's castle came into view, and as they ran to the white brick pathway, a young woman dressed in a white dress came running out, her pale blue eyes unfocused as they flitted across the scene.
The guards were on their tails, almost grabbing the hem of Hatter's coat as they the two men crossed line. The woman was already at their side, waving her arm in front of her, reinforcing the magical field that surrounded the castle ground.
"Go back to you Queen." She said, her arms moving around softly as if independent from her body. "You have no power here." The guards stopped, looking to a larger guard, who was covered in so many scars his skin was rugged and thick. They looked like the stereotype of a troll, with thick skin, and straggly hair, but instead of a nose there was a grotesque snout that twitched as the guards looked at each other.
They didn't say a word, but the larger one grunted and the others backed off, never turning their backs on the White Queen. When the guards where far enough away from castle the Queen spoke.
"Bring her inside. My sister will need to take a look."
The White Queen led the group to one of the guest rooms in the castle, the chess guards carrying Alice in place of Hatter who followed behind, trying to keep up with the Queen's fast pace. She stopped to speak to a knight chess guard who stood beside the door.
"Ask my sister to come to the 1st guest room at once." She said softly. The knight nodded, eyes flickering warily to the group beside her.
"Place her on the bed." The Queen said to the guards that now carried the unconscious Alice, as she motioned to a double bed in the centre of the white and pale blue room.
"How long has she been like this?" she asked, as she waved her hand over a desk, causing bottles and boxes of questionable content to appear.
"A-about a day," Hatter replied. "The Lost Children caught her and put Pixie dust in her eyes. She's been unresponsive ever since." Hatter watched as Alice was placed on the bed. Suddenly the door slammed open and a second woman - who looked identical to the Queen – sauntered into the room, her red dress that was covered in tiny crystals trailing across the floor as she walked towards Alice.
"Ah, so this is the girl you were talking about sister. And here I thought she'd be a feisty little thing." Grabbing several bottles she poured some from each-rather haphazardly –into a large pot, fizzing as they came into contact. "It's a good thing you arrived on time." She said to Hatter. "She's barely breathing as it is." She smiled slyly as she pulled crow's feet out from one of the boxes and threw them into the pot. Hatter looked to Alice in panic. "Don't worry; she'll be fine now that she's here. Come here sister." She left the pot as it boiled going to the other side of the bed, opposite her sister. As they joined hands, they began muttering words under their breaths. Words Hatter had only ever seen in the books on the old days.
"Cover your eyes." Tobias whispered as he leaned over to Hatter. Frowning, Hatter turned back to Alice only to cover his eyes quickly. A small crystal, no bigger than a child's fist, hung in mid-air above Alice's chest, glowing bright amber. The Red Queen smiled.
"Now that is interesting."
Hatter looked to Tobias in confusion but the older man gave nothing away in his expression. This was wrong, even Hatter knew this. Dream crystals where rarely removed from their host, and when they were – for he had only seen it done twice before – they were never that bright.
"What's wrong with her?" he asked as the crystal returned to Alice's chest.
"It's Wonderland. It's killing her. I suspected as much, poor humans can't take so much magic in one sitting." The queen replied, pouting. Seeing Hatter incredulous look she sighed and went over to the pot. "In layman's terms, her body couldn't handle the sudden influx of magic from the pixie dust, a human's body rarely can, especially in such circumstances." With practiced ease she poured the mixture in the pot into a glass, the liquid grungy and a dull orange.
"This should help her this time, but she won't last long her afterwards. I believe Duchess told you as much while you where there?" The White Queen asked as her sister gave Alice the mixture. Tobias nodded, Hatter still watching Alice.
"You will need to get her out of here. One more human sacrifice and the Queen of Hearts carelessness will wipe out almost all of Wonderland."
"We understand your majesty." Tobias said, bowing slightly. Smiling at the Wizard she said.
"You can stay here until the girl is better. In the meantime I believe you have some questions for us?"
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A/N: I apologize for the three month hiatus. And I hope this makes up for it. Hopefully this hiatus between chapters won't become a thing.
Thank you for being patience.