Hatter stepped out the door and onto the weed covered roof, holding the door open for Alice and I. He walked across the roof and right up to the edge showing us the ladder.
"Ladies first?" He said, smiling to us as I dared not look down, unlike Alice, who looked at him, then took one look down the ladder and stepped back. Hatter saw both of our reactions "Right. I'll go first then." he said, then began climbing down, I followed, then Alice.
As I climbed down I felt someone grab my waist, helping me down and off the ladder. I looked up at him in surprise, automatically latching on to his shoulder with one arm and the ladder with the other as I looked down and gasped "holy fuck". When Alice landed beside me I felt her cling to the ladder as well. Hatter looked at us, "What's the matter?" He asked, "Got a thing about heights." Alice answered in a shaky voice and I said "yeah me to" in an equally scared voice to Alice's. "Why couldn't you guys build this city on the ground?" Alice mused, Hatter sighed, "Look at me." he said suddenly, "Jackie, Alice." He said, trying to get our attention again. I looked up to him, my hand was still tightly on his arm as he took my waist and reached out a hand to Alice, who finally looked at him, she took his hand as he began to guided us "Try not to look down, okay?" he suggested. He locked eyes with me as Alice focused on her hand.
It didn't take long to get to wherever the hell he was taking us, but still afraid of the height I stayed only inches away from him and Alice doing the same to me.
After about fifteen minutes we reached the row of doors. He stopped at the second one he came too and knocked three times. It wasn't long before the peep hole opened.
"I'm returning a library book." he said after clearing his throat. "It's a work of Edwin and Morcaw." "How does the little crocodile improve his shining tail?" was the reply, making Hatter roll his eyes and answered impatiently "He pours water of the Nile on every golden scale." the sound of bolts and locks being undone came through the door. The door opened with a creak and a hiss, with an old man on the other side.
"Come on, be quick." he said, and Hatter ushered Alice and I into the elevator before him. Which looked strangle like a bus to me. "Hello Doc." he said, smirking a little as Alice and I practically fell into the seat behind her and onto each other when it started moving. He grabbed at the two poles on either side of him to steady himself, he looked to us and promised "It's alright." I smiled reassured as Alice remained stern. As it came to a hold I went to stand just for Hatter to say "Wait." and the bus dropped the last foot or so and he smiled briefly at to us, I smiled back as Alice rushed to escape the bus, leaving me to follow. However when we reached the door a petite older woman was pointing a rather large gun at us. There was another click from behind us, and the old man, Doc, was pressing a gun into Hatters back.
We all raised our hands in the air as we were prodded off the bus, and Hatter sighed heavily, seemingly annoyed. "Why don't we just put these things away?" He suggested, "Come on, you know me well enough." He said, trying to reassure the two old people. Alice just seemed stood there as I shake with fear, god I hated guns,
"We have our orders." Was Doc's reply as he and the women walked us onto the landing. "Keep that right hand where we can see it." The old women said "It's just flesh and blood." he said with a long sigh. "Right." the old woman said, disbelievingly "We've all seen what you can do with that sledgehammer." Alice and I on either side of him, glancing at his hand curiously, "Did you like the box of comfits I brought you guys last week?" He asked sourly "The cured meats...and the cheese."
"Well, they're all gone." Doc replied, lowering his gun slightly "Well, if you don't treat me with a little respect," he said with a hard smile "you won't get another crumb." They each sighed "I'm sorry, Hatter," the old woman said, sounding distressed as she lowered her gun and clutched it to her chest "everyone's a little jumpy." She turned away and led us down the hall, the man following. Hatter gently placed a hand at the small of my back, guiding me forward. "Everyone's always a little jumpy." He grumbled.
Alice followed walking beside me as Hatters hand remained on my back.
"Where are we?" Alice asked, curious "The Great Library." He answered, "Five hundred years of history hidden here." He said with a sad smile. "Art, literature, law...Rescued when the Queen of Hearts seized power. She'd like nothing more than to see this burnt to nothing." I looked around and amongst the books and artwork I saw people being tended to "Who are those people?" I asked "Refugees." He sighed, coming to lean on the banister standing beside me as I looked out to the people "Those who don't want to be part of the Queen's world of instant gratification." Alice moved to my other side, leaning over slightly to get a better look, "We give them shelter, and try to feed them the best we can, but...it is dangerous. If the Queen found out, they wouldn't stand a chance." he confessed. We stood there for a minute, I felt my tears of anger and sorrow bubble to the surface when I saw a child amongst the people, my Achilles' heel, he looked so lost, so broken, it broke my heart "Why would the Queen want to destroy all of this? Hurt all these people?" I asked and looked at him unashamed. He looked at me taking in my tears "Because wisdom is the greatest threat." he answered truthfully as he wiped away a stray tear with his thumb. "She controls people with a quick fix." I closed my eyes and relaxed into his touch but pulled away as I hears Alice begin to move away from the balcony, we then followed quickly to catch up with our guides
Doc pushed open one of the large two office doors and Hatter stepped in first, me and Alice close behind him. The three of us came to stand before a large desk, the branches of the tree that grew up the right hand wall arching over our heads, I looked up in wonder with a small smile then back to Hatter and Alice, who stood on each side of me. "She's looking for her boyfriend." Hatter said without preamble. "A 'Jack Chance'."
"Chase. His name is Jack Chase" Alice corrected, looking from him to the shadows.
"She needs help. I thought of you, Dodo." He said as Dodo stirred within the shadows, coming out into the dim lamp light where we could see him. "Really?" the butch old man asked sarcastically. "And why would I want to help your oysters...when you know that bringing them here puts us all at risk?" "Oh please." Hatter said snidely. "I've spent years smuggling things more dangerous than this down here." he said with a look in our direction, Dodo smiled depreciatively at Hatter, "You know what rankles most about bloodsucking carpetbaggers like you, Hatter?" Dodo asked snidely "Your gall. While we risk our lives trying to bring freedom to ungrateful leeches like you, you swan about, living the good life." Hatter went stiff at the other mans words, his proverbial hackles rising. "Stop your crowing." he barked "You know I'm on your side." Dodo scoffed "I'm sure you say that to all your enemies." was the cold reply. "I do what's necessary!" Hatter snapped "I kiss what buts need kissing so your machine stays oiled." He bit back "If you can't help us, we'll just leave. Come on Jackie" Alice said firmly, taking my arm and turning to walk away. She was brought back by Dodo's voice though, and turned to look at him, eyes narrowed "Headstrong, isn't she?" he said with a laugh. "Can you help me get Jack out of the casino?" she pressed, "I don't see how." Dodo replied.
"The resistance has contacts in the Casino, right?" Hatter asked, "No comment." was the reply "Use them to find her guy. they can pay you." he ignored mine and Alice's confused looks and pressed on "But I want my usual cut, up front." I looked to Alice wondering what we could pay Dodo with "Pay me?" Dodo said, coming around his desk slowly. "Pay me...with what?" Hatter moved around to glance at me and spoke again. "Show him the rock, Jackie." he said, keeping an eye on Dodo as he did so.
"What?" I asked, unsure of his request. "The stone, on your neck." I looked from him to Dodo and back again. Then cling to my necklace "No fuckin way. My grandad gave me this" I hissed "It's all you have, Jackie!" he whispered back, meeting my eyes now.
"No! fuck off!" Hatter nearly jumped as Dodo suddenly appeared in front of us, snatching up my hand away and looking at the necklace himself. He went very still for a moment, then looked down at Alice's hand and raised it to examine her ring the way he had my necklace.
"It's not possible." he hissed, and I watched as she snatched her hand hurriedly from him.
"Where did you two get these?" Dodo demanded. "It's none of your business, there not for sale." Alice said flatly, shifting her position, standing in front of me for protection. "WHERE DID YOU GET THEM?!" Dodo bellowed, advancing on us now, "W-What is it?" Hatter asked
"Your Oysters are wearing the Stone of Wonderland and the Cats Grin Amulet." Dodo said, looking at him briefly. we were wearing what?! "That's impossible. The Cheshire Cat was banished, like seventy years ago" he said quietly "I'm never wrong." Dodo insisted, moving forward again, and forcing Alice to move back taking me with her,
"Jackie, Alice, Where did you get them?" Hatter demanded, though not so harshly as Dodo had "Jack gave it to me!" Alice insisted, looking at him briefly with pleading eyes, "my grandad gave it to me before he died" I offered "Jack? Your grandad, what was his name?" Dodo asked. "Jack Chase! The guy we're looking for!" she shouted, getting angry now. As I looked back to Hatter with pleading eyes and said "Chester, Chester Cattman" I took a step back "aahhh! Chester Cattman, the Cheshire Cat had a family who'd of thought?! Now Jack Chase, Well where did he get the ring?"
"I don't know!" she said, and I began to shake in fear
"GIVE IT TO ME!" the man roared.
"No!" she shouted back, defiantly. He then ordered "Take her out!"
The click of a cocking rifle seemed to echo in my ears as I yelled "you fuckin touch her an I'll remove your kneecaps" and Hatter hurriedly stepped between the old woman, who held the gun pointed at the both of us, with wavering hands.
"Are you crazy?!" Alice cried as the gun was pointed directly at my chest.
"Stop, just wait!" Hatter said, holding a finger up to the old woman. "You're in way over your head, Hatter." Dodo growled. "Just give me one second to talk to them, okay?" Hatter insisted, pleading for time, trying desperately to defuse the situation.
"It controls the Looking Glass," Dodo said, pulling out his own gun now, the three of us take a step back. Alice and I raised our hands, but Hatter didn't bother. "You know that."
My heart pounded in my ears and my breathing came fast and shallow as I began to shake worse than before, tears forming and burly able to stand, I really, really hate guns.
"Calm down, put the gun away. I'm sure we can all get what we want here." Hatter said, eyes shifting between the three gunmen/woman. "Look, no one is getting this ring." Alice said, making Hatter and I look back at her with a flash of annoyance as I say "Al, do me a favour and STOP talking". Dodo came closer again "We've been waiting for a break like this for years, now it falls into our laps... And not just the ring but also the Cheshire Cat descendant with the Cats Grin amulet" Hatter looked to us, then me and saw the tears and fear in my eyes, placed himself between Dodo and us girls, one arm out protectively, "Stop waving that thing around, you're scaring everyone." Hatter insisted, "If we can return the Oysters, back to their world, maybe we can save ours." He rabbles on
"Put the gun down!" Hatter repeated. "Think about it," Dodo insisted, and we all the almost psychotic gleam in his eyes "the Queen reduced to mopping floors. It'll be just like the old days." Hatter glimpsed back at Alice and I again "Justice, reason, and the rule of law!" Dodo cocked the gun and grabbed the barrel of the gun "STOP THIS!" he shouted just before he was shot in the chest and blown backwards into a stack of books. As I saw him go flying Alice and I screamed, but when I went to run to him Alice grabbed by arm to hold me back.