A/N: A shout-out thanks to my brother who helped me with this story.
To the third installment!
It wasn't long till Alice fell onto hard marble floor tiles with a thump. A mad grin above her head got her to stand up quickly.
"Chessur?" Alice's eyes widened.
"Why yes, I'm practically a sight for sore eyes." The once-tubby gray and turquoise striped cat looked furless and was now covered in strange markings. He lashed his bony tail ever so lightly.
"I'm afraid you have to forgive me for the entire fiancé fiasco," he purred, grinning. "It was the only way to enter without freaking you out entirely." He raised a thin unsheathed paw. "Considering the way you acted in the bathroom."
He licked his paw and drew it behind his ears a few times.
"Where's Nivens?"
As if right on cue, there was a soft thump behind Alice. Nivens Mctwisp dusted his waistcoat, embarrassed.
"Hello Chessur." He greeted the bony cat, waltzing over to Alice.
Chessur dipped his head in reply and looked beseechingly at Alice, a large grin on his face.
"Where are we?" Alice asked quietly, examining her surrounding. They seemed to be in a dark room, with dull grey walls and cold white marble tiles.
"Upstairs. In the March Hare's small house." Nivens answered meekly, his small head darting up and down, looking nervous.
"The March Hare!" Alice pursed her lips. "Where is he?" half-hoping he wasn't dead.
Nivens seemed to read her mind. He placed a soft paw on her hand.
"He's not dead, if that's what you are thinking." He murmured ever so quietly. "But he's not here, and not exactly… normal."
Alice shuddered lightly. Not exactly normal? But she didn't press on.
The White rabbit twitched his whiskers impatiently. He turned to Chessur, who stared back calmly.
"What now, Chessur?" Nivens inquired.
"Why ask me? I'm no blue caterpillar." The cat replied cryptically, grinning.
"Chessur!" Alice sounded annoyed, "This is important!"
The cat rolled his bright sea-green eyes.
"Well, to over-throw the queen, you can't expect to do it alone. So I suggest you try and gather a successful army." He smiled.
Alice folded her arms. "Is that what the caterpillar said?" She blinked.
"No. He disappeared soon after he said you were the one to save us all." Chessur purred, cocking his head to the right. "The red queen must have killed him before he could tell us anymore. Poor, poor Absolem."
"Anybody who disobeys her will get killed, so most of the creatures in Underland are either dead or under the queen's orders."
Alice's heart raced. "What about the March Hare and the Mad Hatter?' She asked, remembering the two crazy friends and their mad tea parties.
The white rabbit looked terrified. "Well… Well… They are not exactly normal… but not insane… but…"
"What Nivens is trying to say is that your friends," Chessur cut in, looking murderous, "Are not what they were before."
"Are they dead or servants of the queen's?" Alice inquired slowly.
"You can say they are neither." Chessur purred ever so lightly, smiling. "While they are neither dead nor servants, they are still definitely… mad."
"Where are they? They could join our army. I can try to coax them!" Alice looked pointedly at Chessur.
Nivens opened his mouth to speak, but Chessur stopped him with a raised paw.
"Your army." He corrected Alice coolly. "I can take you to them, but that's the furthest I can go."
"No!" Nivens jumped up, looking worried. "She can't… clockwork…"
Alice grabbed Niven's paw. "I'll be alright. Don't worry Nivens." She whispered gently.
"After all, I am the one to the save Underland. My decisions would probably be for the best."
The white rabbit shook his head stiffly. "It's dangerous out there!"
"Nivens. I'm supposed to gather an army." Alice rolled her eyes, "You have to help me too, and I need to find a few more people that aren't dead or servants of the queen. Can you do that?"
"Oh yes, oh yes. I can try, but Alice," he glanced at the girl, "you'll have to be careful."
Alice nodded. "Hurry, time isn't on our side."
"Not yet." Nivens sounded terrified. "I don't think – oh dear oh dear, I'm late!" With that he scurried off, out of the room and bounded down to what seemed like a flight of stairs.
Taking a deep breath, Alice turned to the Cheshire cat. "Lets go." She told him.
"Follow me." Chessur beckoned to her with a long bony tail.
Alice trembled, watching Chessur in front of her disappear and appear consecutively. She feared for Nivens and herself. The dark twisted world of Underland felt nothing like the old happy Wonderland she remembered.
"Who's clockwork?" She asked the Cheshire cat.
"A mad man who is obsessed with time." Came the bored reply.
Alice shuddered. "Is he the one who is keeping the Hatter and Hare captive or something?"
"I suppose." Chessur rumbled.
Silenced ensued.
The cat led her across a bridge that looked so rickety and old, that if anyone stepped upon it, it would break.
"Careful." The cat muttered, floating wistfully beside Alice. "Don't look down." He added.
Alice's eyes teetered to the edge. Below was a long plummet down…
"Tarrant's house is just ahead, if you can make it across alive." Chessur taunted mockingly.
Alice wanted nothing more than to slap the cat, but the wobbly bridge refrained her from doing so.
"Chessur, just curious," Alice managed to speak after crossing the bridge, "What did the caterpillar say about me exactly?"
She trailed after the cat who looked peacefully calm.
"If I am not mistaken, he said, 'She will kill the queen, and restore underland's peace.'" Chessur replied.
"And he didn't say how?" Alice sighed.
"Absolem isn't that specific, and in any case, he died before he could say anything else." was the reply.
"I can't do it alone. You're right though, Chessur, I need an army." Alice tried reassuring herself.
"Up ahead, look." Chessur nudged her lightly, "The Hatter's house."
Alice glanced to the direction he was pointing at.
A large prominent house stood solemnly there, looking none at all inviting. Wooden fencing around it was decaying and rotting.
Alice felt herself gasp softly. Fear creeping up her spine.
"The clockwork guy has them locked up?"
A nod from the cat.
"In the Hatter's house?"
Another nod.
The cat looked terrified, if it was even possible for cats to look terrified. He floated a few paces behind Alice.
"Good luck Alice." He rumbled quietly. With that, he disappeared.
Alice took a deep breath. "Helloo? Hatter? Hare?" She called out.
There was no reply.
She entered through the gate. Glancing about to see withering brown grass and broken garden gnomes.
"Nothing to fear." She told herself quietly, moving forward cautiously towards the towering doors to the entrance of the house.
The wooden door was ajar. She pushed it open slightly, the door creaked rather loudly.
"Mr Hatter?" She called out.
The house was dark and black; the only source of light was from the open door. She couldn't make out anything. Rather intimidated, she entered the house, the floorboards creaking under her weight. Courage, she told herself.
"Mr Hare?" She whispered, hugging herself, fear evident in her eyes.
A loud slam behind her made her jump. The doors behind her had slammed shut, and she was now engulfed in darkness.
"Oh no." She murmured, groping about in the darkness. "I don't like this at all…" She ventured forward slowly, foot by foot. A slow humming of a clock struck fear in Alice's heart.
"Hatter?" She whispered, now tears in her blue eyes. What an idiot I am, coming in here, defenseless and vulnerable.
All of a sudden, there was a bright flash of light and Alice found herself staring into the eyes of a big furry monster. The very same that plagued her dreams every night.
It let out a low warning growl.
Alice felt her legs go soft. The monster growled once more, but it did not move, nor did it claw her.
She moved backwards slowly, eyeing her surroundings. It was bare stone walls covered in clocks.
Alice couldn't stand it anymore. She burst into tears, very much aware of the monster now snarling angrily.
"Oh Chessur," She wept.
A cold hand scraped across her shoulder. Alice let out a scream, and a gloved hand cupped over her mouth.
"Shhh." Came a raspy whisper. "You're going to make it angry."
Alice struggled under the rough grip on her shoulder.
"Back away slowly." Commanded the voice, letting go of Alice. She moved back obediently, eyes still on the monster.
The monster gave a snarl but did not sway from its position. Its eyes were fixed on the person behind Alice.
"That's right, good girl. Just a few more steps." The voice breathed behind her ears.
Alice gulped.
All of a sudden, a door slammed shut in front of her, inches away from her face. She could hear the monster roar and pound the door, the sound of the claws screeching behind the door.
She breathed a sigh of relief.
"Oh thank you, thank you…" She turned to face her savior and at once her jaw dropped.
A pair of bright green eyes glowed brightly back at her.
"Well hello." The man in the top hat smiled at her.
In the dim light, Alice could make out the face of the Mad Hatter. He looked much different than before, his features much more suave and charming.
"H-hatter?" Alice gasped dumb-folded.
The man dipped his head very curtly. "Do I know you?" He inquired coldly.
"Oh my goodness, Hatter!" Alice hugged her friend, her hands suddenly feeling cold metal as she wrapped her arms around the Hatter's waist.
The hatter pushed her away very roughly, eyeing her carefully.
"You know me, but I don't know you." He muttered, grabbing Alice's wrist. "Follow me."
"Wait – where are you taking me? We have to find the Hare!" Alice narrowed her eyes.
The Hatter led her down a flight of stairs and stood restlessly in front of a metal gate.
"Go in." He ordered angrily.
Alice, rather confused at her old friend's behavior, entered the room and heard the door slam shut behind her.
"Hey!" She banged on the door, "Hatter!"
"Its no use little one. He's got you." Came a soft voice from the corner of the room.
Alice peered at the edge and covered her mouth. She couldn't bear to see the sight that was unfolded.
The March Hare was pinned against a metal wall, his limbs made out of mechanical parts, his lower lip nailed to his neck so that his eyes bulged out creepily.
"March Hare!" Alice whispered, half in tears.
"Alice? Is that you?" Came another voice.
Alice turned to her right to see the small figure of the dormouse, who was strapped against a cold metal table, his torso and legs made up of mechanical parts, much like the March hare.
Alice rushed over, tears stinging her eyes.
"Who did this to you?" She sobbed, trying desperately to unbuckle the dormouse.
"Clockwork." The dormouse mumbled.
"Who is he? Is the Hatter working for him?" Alice felt fear turn to anger.
"Oh no, dear Alice. The Hatter is the clockwork. He's gone literally mad. He did this to us and if you don't get out of here, he'll do the same to you." The March Hare whispered mournfully from the other side.
Alice could not comprehend the situation.
"I don't care. I'm helping you out of here!" She pulled on the dormouse's belts fiercely, her tears now gone.
"Run Alice," The dormouse mumbled, shaking his head, "You can't do anything for us…" He fell asleep.
"Oh do wake up you silly thing!" Alice shook her head, "I will get you out of here and I'll kill that stupid hatter!"
"No use, no use." The March Hare let out a sad sigh, "We've all tried." He was a drastic change from the once whimsical and optimistic Hare.
"He'll be here at six sharp to check on us." He warned, "Which will be any minute now."
Alice stood up, her fists clenched and shaking in anger.
"And which I will whack the living daylights out of him." She hissed, anger boiling in the pit of her stomach.
How could he? How could the hatter do such a thing? She knew he was obviously mad, but not this insane.
"Hide Alice!" The March Hare called out, "He's coming!" He struggled on the chains that bounded him.
Alice shook her head. "Bring him on." She hissed, baring her teeth, "Hes going to regret doing this. I learn kung-fu!"
The March Hare let out a suppressed laugh. "No amount of fu or kung will help!" he sounded a little more like his old self.
Alice faced the door boldly. "We'll see."
A clock chimed loudly, six times. The door creaked open, and the Mad Hatter stepped in, a cold smirk on his face. He looked icily at Alice.
"Hello, my newest experiment."