Hello lovely people! Chapter 11 is here~. I know I said I'd update soon, but then I decided that I should just stick to a week. And I had 2 different ways I wanted this chapter to go, so it took me some time and a ton of editing before I made the final decision on which path to take. lol!

And this was supposed to be posted yesterday, but then I fell asleep… boo. boo.

Ahh well thank you so much for the lovely reviews! They make me very happy!

austriantatious: lol Things will become more clear as Alex remembers more. ^^~

Reaper . death: What Aswal tried to do to Alex will be revealed soon! *evil laughter*

Rafanan: LOL I actually didn't even think about their names all beginning with A until after posting the first chapter. I was like why on earth did I do that? But still works. XD And yes, why can't Wonderland be real? That'd be so amazing if it was. x3 Thank you very much!

Disclaimer: I do not, have not, and will not ever own Joker/Clover/Heart no Kuni no Alice.

Now on with the chapter. *hearts*

- CHAPTER ELEVEN -

- QUESTIONS -

"NIGHTMARE!" I shouted in anger. "Show yourself now!"

"Calm down, Alex," Nightmare said gently as he appeared before me.

"Don't tell me to calm down. You tell me what's going on this instant," I demanded.

"And what am I supposed to tell you? Your mind's a mess."

"What's with these memories? I have a feeling you know."

"Oh? And what makes you think that?" the incubus asked with a smile.

I crossed my arms in frustration.

"When we last spoke, you said some things that make me believe you know something about my past. Something I apparently don't know. I want to know what that is."

The incubus stayed silent, floating above while recollecting his thoughts. He then smiled and looked at me, causing me to feel a little insecure.

"Alex. There are things that we all want to know about, but some are best left forgotten."

"What do you mean?" I asked, not understanding what this darn incubus meant.

Nightmare floated closer towards me.

"What I mean is that sometimes forgetting is the only way to keep you safe and alive," he said as he caressed my cheek.

Nightmare was being… strange. What exactly happened to his crybaby attitude?

"Do you mind showing some respect?" Nightmare asked while twitching his brow.

"How about you just stay out of my head?" I asked, glaring at him.

The incubus sighed then chuckled.

"Alex dear. Do you really want to remember that badly?"

"Of course I do!"

"Even if it means you'll lose everything in the end?"

I paused for a moment, not exactly sure how to respond to that. Was there really anything for me to lose besides Aura?

"You wouldn't exactly be the one who loses her," Nightmare said while reading my thoughts.

"Then yes, I want to remember," I said with a determined look.

Nightmare looked displeased with my response.

"Then I have no choice but to make you play the game," he said, a gentle smile suddenly appearing on his face.

"A game? Why a game?" I asked while calming down.

"Because participating in this game will hopefully lead you in the right direction," Nightmare answered as he pulled a vial out from his pocket.

"You have a vial?" I asked in surprise.

I thought that only outsiders were supposed to need them.

"Well this vial does belong to you."

"What? It's mine?"

Nightmare nodded in response.

"Then I can go home."

"Wait. Don't you want your memories back?"

"Huh?" I asked, still confused.

"Drink the vial and play the game. If you do that, then you will get what you desire most."

"Is that so?" I asked while looking at the purple vial in the incubus' hand.

"Here," Nightmare said while tossing it at me.

I caught and examined the item with interest.

"Playing the game is easy. All you have to do is interact with people. Once the vial becomes full again, you decide on whether or not you want to return home. The decision is all yours in the end."

"And if I do this, you promise me that I'll remember everything?"

"Yes. But that's only if you choose to go back."

I could easily go home now, but I wasn't sure if my memories would return with this decision. So the best course of action would probably be to play the game.

I opened the vial and took a sip.

"…"

"EWW! Oh wow! This tastes horrible," I said in disgust.

"Quit complaining and drink it."

"Says the crybaby who refuses to go to a doctor!"

"I'm not a crybaby!"

"Ugh, no you're worse."

You're a crybaby and a stinking rapist.

"DON'T CALL ME A RACIST!"

"Stop reading my mind!"

*Spits out blood*

"You have to stop doing that," I said while taking a few steps back in disgust.

"It's not like I choose to be this way…" Nightmare said weakly.

Says the idiot who refuses to see a doctor.

*Coughs up more blood*

*Sweatdrops*

"S-so… c…cruel…" Nightmare spoke as he fell.

I stared at the possibly dying incubus, not sure of what to do at this point. It would be natural to help a person in this situation, but for some reason I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

I decided to finish drinking the horrible tasting contents, forcing it down with all my might.

"Happy?" I asked, hoping this stuff wouldn't make me puke later on.

"Y…yes," Nightmare answered with a tear in his eye.

"Hey. Do yourself a favor, and go see a doctor," I said then sighed.

"Never... And I want you to remember that there are things best left forgotten. You will always be forgiven. Now it's time to wake up."

-3RD POV-

"What do you mean there's nothing wrong with her?" Alice asked the doctor in frustration.

"I'm sorry, but I can't find anything wrong. We've put her through tests, and she seems perfectly fine," said the faceless doctor.

"But she's not fine. She was pale. And- and was barely breathing."

"Are you sure she didn't just faint?"

"There's no way. She was coughing up blood."

"I see," the doctor said with a frown.

"I can assure you that the young lady is ill with something," said Blood as he stood beside Alice.

"W-well we could draw blood and run some diagnostics. Though it will take some time to see what we come up with."

"Then be on your way. If I were you, I would be wise enough to find the problem quickly," the mad hatter said with a dangerous smile.

"Y-yes… Of course," the doctor responded nervously then took off.

"Are you alright, Alice?" Blood asked as he looked at the worried girl.

"Yeah. I just wish I knew what was wrong with Alex. And I hope we can save her…"

"Don't worry your pretty little head. Alex will be alright," the hatter said with a reassuring smile.

"I hope so."

-1ST POV-

After waking up, I couldn't help but notice two boys sleeping with their heads rested at the foot of the bed. I looked at the empty vial in my right hand. I wasn't even going to try to figure out how it transferred from a dream to here…

So the only way to finish the game was to talk to people, huh? That didn't sound so hard.

A thought suddenly came to me.

Exactly why did Nightmare have my vial?

"…"

THAT JERK! Always leaving me with questions! I would remember to torture him the next time we meet.

My attention then reverted back to the boys.

They looked so cute when sleeping.

But why were they here?

They really should have spent their time comforting Alice. It would have been a good opportunity for them.

"…"

"Dee? Dum?" I asked quietly.

Still asleep.

I sighed as I moved my hand towards Dee's head and bonked it with all my might. This would be just a little bit of revenge for throwing knives at me.

"Ouch!"

"Wake up."

The boys opened their eyes and sat up. Dum yawned and rubbed his eyes while poor Dee rubbed the back of his head, glaring at me.

"Sister!" Dum shouted as he tackled and embraced me. Dee decided he'd get revenge later and hugged me as well.

"Could you boys please let me breathe?" I asked, not liking the closeness between us.

"No way. We're sticking to you," said Dum.

"Honestly, what are you two doing?" I asked while feeling irritated.

"What do you mean?" asked a confused Dee.

"Alice should be in a weak state right about now. You know how caring that girl is. You should have used this as an opportunity to grow closer to her."

The boys looked at each other then back at me.

"Hm~."

"Hm~."

"W-what?"

"She's right, brother. We missed our chance."

"An' it was a good chance too."

"Sheesh, I can't believe you boys didn't think of this."

"Well it was 'cause sister's in so much pain," said Dum.

I raised a brow.

"You didn't do anything because of me?" I asked in disbelief.

"Duh. We can't abandon you when you're suffering," Dee said with an isn't that obvious look on his face.

"So that means… That… That means…"

The boys gave me questioning looks.

"I ruined everything," I said as I paled.

"Sister is an idiot," Dee said, feeling irritated.

"Agreed, brother."

*Twitch*

"INSTEAD OF CALLING ME AN IDIOT, WHY DON'T YOU BOYS JUST GO AND GIVE YOUR BIG SIS SOME LOVING ATTENTION? !"

Calling me an idiot for a simple mistake… These brats! They have no right to call me that for all the help I've been trying to give them!

"We want to give Big Sis a lot of attention, but we also don't want sister to die while we're at it," said Dee with a deadly smile that sent chills down my spine.

"I won't die! I'm healthy. Now go."

The boys sighed as they sat back.

"So sister's healthy now?"

"Y-yeah."

"An' you won't die if we leave?"

"I highly doubt it."

"Then we're off to woo Big Sis."

The twins suddenly did something very unexpected. They both kissed me on the cheeks, causing my eyes to widen as a slight blush crept onto my face.

"Thank you, sister."

"We'll tell you our results."

I watched as the two happily rushed away to find their dear Alice.

For a second there, I actually felt like my heart skipped a beat. It could have just been my imagination though. I was feeling a little nauseous after all. Some more sleep just might be the cure.

As I laid down, I couldn't help but feel a tiny bit of guilt build up inside of me.

Was I forgetting something?

If so, then what?

What? What? What is it- oh…

"I better prepare an explanation for Boris. I wonder if he'll-"

I was stopped short as someone came crashing through the window.

And that's the end of chapter 11. So now we know who had Alex's vial. And it looks like she's finally in the game. x3

Next chapter to come next week~~~.