Oooh, it's Friday the 13th :s And just for you, Alice get a taste of creepiness in this chapter, but first, I want to thank everyone who has reviewed in either of my Wonderland stories;

Jaimiegirl123

Filthyhalfbreed

I LOVE JACK ATLAS

Mattsloved1

SilverLunarStar

Kasbgre1107

Charlotte kalize

Thank you xxx

Right, onto chapter 9…

"Stayne?" I whispered as I crept into the dimly lit room of our small three room shelter. He was sat on a handmade wooden chair beside the fire and was gazing into its blistering depths.

My presence seemed to break him out of his trance and he smiled warmly up at him.

"What is it, Alice?"

He beckoned me closer and slipped an arm around my waste. The contact wasn't as disturbing as it should have been. After all, I had only known the man for two weeks, but it felt like so much longer.

"I couldn't sleep. Every time I shut my eyes, his face enters my mind. Its deranged and sickening. How can I try and get my life back when every time I close my eyes, the face that destroyed my life lingers there?"

"he truly is a monster. Do not fret though Alice, there are people who will help you get things right again. people care about you Alice."

He looked deeply into my eyes.

"people who would do anything for your happiness."

I tore my gaze away and looked into the fire. His hold tightened on my waist.

"you've helped me so much. And yet when you first found me, you didn't even know me. you helped me." I turned on him. "why?"

He didn't answer.

"I've seen you talking to creatures. And sneaking out after nightfall."

"Alice, I was only-"

"but I don't really care what you were doing. Because I trust you. Whoever I was before…I mustn't trust many people because it was hard to put my faith in you, but I have. And no mad Hatter or Queen can change that."

I silenced the small voice in my head that was telling me to be rational. I should have asked him what he had been doing, but my heart was overpowering the urge and crushing the doubt I had against Stayne.

One month later.

I stared blankly at the charred earth. I shivered as a gust of wind raised goose-bombs on my skin. I felt empty as I walked amongst the wrecked buildings and odd mangles corpses.

I had hoped a more intense visit to my village would trigger a memory, but nothing looked familiar. Stayne had been persist in voicing his view that returning here would just make me feel worse, but I had come anyway, without his assistance.

After an hour of rummaging, I didn't feel the slightest bit more intelligent about my past, so I walked back through the centre of the destruction in the direction of the home we had set up a few days ago.

I was walking slowly went I heard the first whisper.

'You don't slay.'

I gasped and spun around. The voice had sounded so close, like it was whispering in my ear. The woods though remained still and nothing moved. The wind picked up and my hair blew across my face.

'Alice'.

It had spoken directly to me. my skin prickled as I felt eyes on me. the wind blew harder, howling and rustling the leaves on the trees.

I reached down and gripped the hilt of the sword I had taken at Stayne's insistence. As I drew it, I felt grateful he cared for me enough to force me to bring a blade.

"who's there?" I said.

'When a champion steps forth.'

"who's there?" I demanded.

A second later, I dropped to the floor in pan and grabbed my head in agony.

"Aaaaaargh!" I screamed.

I imagined if one got stuck by lightning, it would feel like a moderate pin prick compared to the excruciating pain that was pressing against my skull.

A blurry picture filled my mind. It was of this exact spot. I was tiny and sat on someone's shoulder. His wild orange hair stuck out of his hat. 10/6 it read. The mad hatter, I realised, but the anger inside me couldn't rise because I had never seen anyone as shattered as this man. His expression could break the heart of a monster and fill them with a pain so heartfelt; they would never want to see sunlight again.

The vision ended and grabbed my sword again. I panted as my arms and legs worked to get me stood up again and then on my way home. I took one last glance at the ruins before turning my back and running out of the woods.

I reached the hut within the half hour and breathed heavily as I collapsed into a chair. Stayne came rushing in not a moment later.

"Alice! What's happened? Look at your dress! Are you ok?"

I barely noticed the mud splatter on my skirt. My mind was fixed on the image of the broken man that while looking at his expression, I could not believe he was as sadistic as I had been told he was.

"I'm fine. I just thought I saw something, so I ran."

He got down in front of me and grabbed my arms

"What was it? Did you remember anything? Tell me!"

I pulled on his grip.

"You're hurting me, let go!"

His hands didn't loosen.

"Tell me!"

Why was he acting like this? I could have said it was just him worrying, but he'd never been like this before. Did he have an idea of what I happened? Or could he detect some trace of alarm on my face. Either way, I felt it was best not to tell him.

"Let go!" I stood up, knocking the chair backwards. "Nothing happened! What's wrong with you?"

"I need to know if your mind has been messed with. The White Queen has many spies on her side. Even some of the trees. They could have planted a memory in your head, but you mustn't believe it. They're all lies!"

So he was worried I wasn't loyal to his side anymore? I hated the White Queen and her subjects, but Stayne's behaviour was coming closer to theirs every day. I was loyal to the rebellion, but my opinions about this man were changing.

"I'm still for the cause, Stayne! Why are you so paranoid with my memory? Its like you don't want me to remember!"

Without another word, I stormed out of the hut and passed the group of creatures that had been adding to our group for a couple of weeks now.

I found a large tree and sat under it. I wasn't far from the hut; I could still see the glowing light of the fire through the window. I sighed into the night and looked up at the crescent moon. For a second, I thought I saw it turn into a grin, and two eyes appear above it. I closed my eyes and shook my head. When I opened them, the face had disappeared, but i was left with the uncomfortable feeling that I was still being watched.

Three weeks later

"Can I rest now?" I panted. "Please."

"Of course my sweet."

I walked over to the wall and slumped against, dropping my shield and blade. I leant my head back and shut my eyes as the sun warmed my sweaty skin. It felt nice, despite the fact that it was making me warmer.

"Alice dear, are you alright?" He shouted.

I opened my eyes and watched as Stayne strode closer to me. He looked worried, so I quickly sat up straight and composed myself as not to worry him.

"I'm fine, just tired that's all, we've been practicing since dawn. Can't we rest? I'm already pretty good; I mean I'm not perfect-"

"Well you need to be perfect!" He growled.

I was slightly taken back. He had been getting more easily frustrated every day, but whenever I asked him about it, he simply apologised and left. It was the same each time. He would snap at me, then the next time I would see him, he would kiss me passionately and take me back to his room where I would tell him I wasn't ready for that step and make some excuse to leave. We had only known each other for just over 2 months, but he always acted as though it had been a life time. Sometimes, he treat me like I was a weak woman, unable to think for myself, but I always proved him wrong when I beat him in sword fights.

Sometimes, I would begin to question things, but he would reassure me I knew everything there was to know and remind me that his heart belonged to me. I would swallow his words, but there was still a small part of me that sensed I was not getting the whole story.

"Why?" I demanded. "Why do I have to be perfect?"

He grabbed me roughly by the shoulders and pulled me to my feet. He was almost 2 heads taller than I was, so I had to crane my neck to look into his eyes.

"Because you need to be able to defeat any opponent you face! The knights of the White army will not take pity on you because you are a woman. They might… underestimate you, but -"

"Well they shouldn't! Women are just as capable as men."

"I know that… Now, shall we get back to practicing?"

I groaned. I had first picked up a sword on my third day of being awake. I had swung it around a bit, unaware of my audience. Stayne had been watching me. He had said I was a natural. Apparently I had looked so focused as I swung it around and attacked my imaginary target. I didn't know why I did it, but I remember as soon as I picked up the blade, something just felt right.

Since then, Stayne had me training everyday with him and a number of odd card people he called the red knights.

"No! I'm tired, I want to rest." I fought.

"Your opponent wont let you rest when he's about to slice your head off! Now get up and fight me!"

I stood up and Stayne took his position, but I walked straight past him and out of the courtyard.

I heard him shout at me to return, but I paid no attention to him.

I walked into the stone castle and ran my hands along the walls. We had been moving from place to place every few weeks, but Stayne had told me we were staying in the castle from now on. It was once the home of the gentle Red Queen before she was killed by her sister.

I entered my chamber and quietly shut the door behind me. My body was sticky with sweat, so I stripped off my armour and lay naked on my bed. I let my eyes close for a second, but it felt too good to open them again and I felt myself getting drowsy before becoming unaware altogether.

The dream was the same as the one the night before, and the night before that, and every night for the past week. As I became more suspicious, the dream grew stronger.

The white clouds faded and I was stood on a balcony with two other people. A man and a woman. I was invisible to them. They couldn't hear, touch, smell or see me and if I tried to touch them, my hand would go straight through their solid bodies.

"Don't blame yourself. None of this is your fault." She put a hand on the mans arm.

"But it is. I gave her the cake. I fed her the poison. I made this happen." He replied.

"No, no, no, no. She would have eaten it anyway. It's just a miracle you didn't ingest any."

He turned sharply and glared at her. His golden eyes were piercing.

"Are you saying you're glad it's her and not me, because if you are -"

"Tarrant!" She said sternly.

I felt anger well up inside me. The first time she had said his name, I had aimed a punch at his head, only to have him stand there as though nothing had happened. And if he was Tarrant Hightopp, that made her the White Queen. Although I been here many times, I still shook with rage as I stared at the people who destroyed my life.

"I'm sorry your majesty. I'm just...I couldn't bear if anything happened to her."

"I...I don't think whoever gave her the cake planned to kill her. I think they want to take her. And... Mould her into their weapon. She won't remember us either. She'll be putty in their hands."

"Yes, I did consider that. But who could it be? I know of no enemies of Alice."

Alice. Me. The 'her' they were talking about was me and it made no sense. Why would the Hatter care for me and who would want to mould me into a weapon? They were my enemies! I always became confused and annoyed at their words, forgetting I was only dreaming. Everything just seemed so real.

"Stayne." The Hatter growled.

I narrowed my eyes. He was the one who cared for me, despite not showing it sometimes.

"Impossible, he's in exile with my sister. They're guarded. We'd know if they escaped."

"Who said they escaped?"

"You think they have someone on the inside?"

He nodded.

"Majesty, does Alice have to reside here from now on? I will miss her dearly, but if it's what's best..."

The clouds began to gather again and their voices started to fade.

"She does not have to reside here. I am not forcing her to do anything. I only believe it will be safer for her here. We have guards and protection for her."

The last line was always the one I felt most effected by. My body became weightless and I could no longer see them. The Hatters' voice came from all around me.

"Yes, but which ones are faithful?"

Then, I was pushed into my body again. This time, everyone could see me. I seemed to be all they could see. Thousands of eyes were fixed on me as I stood in-between red and white, my sword raised to the creature I had to kill.

I screamed as the dragon like creature loomed towards me. It snarled and snapped its pointed teeth together. I froze in panic and could only braced myself as its armoured tail struck my size. I felt a large pain in my size as I fell to the floor. The sword I had held was now 20 feet away from me. I tried to scramble backwards as it raised its large tail and with a viscous roar brought its tail down onto me.

I screamed and bolted upright on my bed. My body glistened with sweat and the sheets were damp with it. It was only a dream. It was only a dream. I told myself as my panting became quieter and I fell backwards onto the pillows.

"What do they mean?" I whispered to myself. "What am I supposed to do?"

I hurriedly washed my body with a rag and the jug of water that sat upon my writing desk. Writing desk. Why is that so familiar? I pulled a dress over my head and walked out into the cool corridors of the castle. I thought over the dream again.

I couldn't bear it if anything happened to her... I will miss her dearly... Stayne.

What was the meaning of my dream? They had said I had been poisoned. By who? They had suggested Stayne, but he had been nothing but generous to me since I woke up. Their words seemed to loose meaning after that, but I couldn't help be drawn in when they said I wouldn't remember them. They knew I would forget everything and they were sad about it. But why? They hated me. They had destroyed my village.

Stayne.

What if he had been lying? I had had doubts since the beginning and they were only growing stronger. But he had shown me the ruins and the severed heads. He was training me so I could protect myself in battle. The battle against the White Queen, who in my dream had seemed so fair. But Stayne had said that's what she did – pretend.

I shook the dream from my head. I didn't know what to believe anymore. Was my subconscious warning me, or was my mind being invaded and influenced by the White Queens' power?

"Alice!" Stayne yelled from down the corridor.

I shivered as I realised I would never think of him the same again and turned to meet him.

Ok, so this might be a little more than 10 chapters.

Please review because if people don't, I don't think anyone's reading it and I won't have any motive to finish it :(