Everything seemed to slow down once the sound of the bullet exploding from the chamber filled the room. Hatter held his breath and couldn't take his eyes off it and March tried to keep a confident mask on but it was easy to see his heart was racing.
Alice couldn't keep her eyes open. Watching the bullet speed into March's skull wasn't something she wanted to do.
Squeezing her eyes shut she held her breath and her heart skipped a beat as she heard the sound of March's limp body hitting the floor. Even after that she refused to open her eyes afraid that Madelyn would shoot Hatter next. When she heard the sound of metal hitting the ceramic tiles on the floor she finally opened her eyes.
The gun was lying on the ground between the siblings. Hatter didn't move he stood there staring at his younger sister with a confused expression on his face. Jack grabbed his arm then took Alice's trying to lead them out of the small room.
Madelyn didn't make eye contact with any of them as they pushed past her into the hall. Hatter stopped abruptly and turned around to face her back.
"Why?" He had so many questions that started with that one word but he settled on not elaborating.
"Blood and water." She didn't even look at him when she responded. Hatter seemed to believe it was an acceptable answer and turned to leave with Alice and Jack.
Alice slipped her arm around his waist and leaned into him as they walked. In return he wrapped his arm loosely around her shoulders. She knew it was best to stay quiet and let him think things through in his head.
Jack led them through the twisting corridors. There seemed to be no rush to get out of the mansion for once because of the lack of conversation and the leisureliness of their walking Alice decided to take in her surroundings.
The walls had paintings of pat royals and the more Alice looked the more she began to realize that March's mansion had belonged to the Hearts at some point. That's how Jack knows his way so well.
"My mother gave March this mansion as a payment. It was one of my favorites when I was younger." Jack confirmed her beliefs without her even asking.
By the time they reached the door the grounds were filled with suits. None of them however seemed threatening, they all bowed to their king. When they finally got to the royal palace the fields outside the gates were crowded with wonderlanders.
The scarab left them on the palace grounds and with the people of Wonderland present Jack decided it was time to make an announcement.
"I am glad to inform the people that I humbly rule that the threat of Mad March is no longer present. This is all thanks to two people who have already done great deeds for Wonderland." He motioned for Alice and Hatter to step forward. "Alice of New Legend and Hatter have once again helped rid Wonderland of danger."
The crowd surrounding the palace erupted into cheers of delight. The suits ushered the King and his two guests towards the palace to discuss what to be done with the surviving traitors.
In a small boardroom they sat around a table with some suits.
"Thank you for your services. Tomorrow we will have you brought to the Looking Glass and send you back to around an hour or so after you left your world." Jack smiled at his guests then continued on with the other business he had to attend to.
"The suits who were in command at the time of the suits transfer are already in the dungeons. The Duchess has been apprehended and is being brought by scarab to one of out highest security prisons. The only person of real threat to Wonderland who is still on the loose is the Mad Hatter."
Hatter's eyes flicked up to look at Jack at the mention of Madelyn.
"She is the one who stopped March." He spat at the King. "How is she a danger to Wonderland?"
"She helped us then. Do you have any idea how many people she has killed? Even if she didn't side with March she would be a threat." Jack kept his demeanor calm but Alice could tell that he was getting a bit too much joy at seeing Hatter in his current state.
"What you gonna do to her?" With his anger evaporating quickly worry filled Hatter's voice.
"I already have suits looking for her. I'll make a decision when I see her."
With that Jack adorned the meeting and everyone rose to go their separate ways. A suit was assigned to lead Hatter and Alice to their room.
They sat in silence in their room sometimes talking about small non-consequential things. Neither wanted to talk about what was discussed at the meeting. It was a quiet few hours until they heard a commotion outside their window.
Looking out they saw Madelyn being dragged out of a scarab. She was in handcuffs but there were still two suits holding her arms ready to take her down if she made any sudden movements.
Hatter drew the curtains blocking their view of what was happening on the grounds. It surprised Alice how Hatter's feelings towards his sister changed so swiftly and completely. It was only the day before that he was telling her that Madelyn couldn't be trusted and now it pained him to watch her get what she apparently deserved.
About an hour later an announcement was made over the loudspeaker system that went throughout the palace and the city.
"People of Wonderland. A decision has been made of how to deal with the biggest threat to our people. At noon tomorrow Madelyn, the Mad Hatter, will be executed." The suit that read the message seemed completely unaffected by the fact he was announcing the death of a fellow wonderlander.
Hatter's already dark mood grew darker after the announcement was made. He lay on the bed holding Alice tighter than necessary. She didn't complain however because she knew he needed to find comfort in something.
Together they fell asleep wrapped in each other's arms.
They were awoken to a commotion outside their door. Hatter begrudgingly got out of bed and walked over to the door ready to yell at whoever woke him. That plan was stopped when he opened the door to see a group of frantic suits.
"The King wants Miss Alice and you taken to the Looking Glass and sent home immediately." The urgency of the suits words gat Alice to roll out of the bed and join Hatter at the door.
"Why do we have to leave?" Hatter questioned the suit.
"The Mad Hatter has escaped and the King wants to send you two home so he can close the Looking Glass before she can slip into the other world."
Before anyone could say anything more Alice and Hatter were rushed out of their room and lead to a scarab. It didn't take long to reach the city and before Alice had time to think she was in the Great Hall staring at the Looking Glass.
Two technicians pulled them in front of the mirror. After a quick reminder to force themselves to breath they were pushed through to the other world.
Alice stumbled as she landed in the old abandoned building but Hatter grabbed her waist and steadied her. She looked at him and saw the sorrow in his eyes. It broke her heart not to be able to do anything to ease his pain.
He turned around and placed his hand on the mirror but it had become solid.
"They're gonna kill her." He was holding back tears; Alice could tell he felt responsible for Madelyn's demise.
Grabbing his hand she led him out of the building. Once they were on the street he shifted himself to drape his arm lazily around her shoulders and she wrapped her arm around his waist.
They walked the two blocks to his new apartment. Neither one was up for cleaning up the mess that had been left behind by March, there where also still boxes that needed to be unpacked.
When Hatter opened the door his mouth dropped open. Alice didn't understand until she looked over his shoulder seeing the apartment sparkling clean and everything was unpacked.
Slowly they entered the small living area. Hatter investigated every surface of the apartment until he found a note on the fridge. It was written in small, elegant script.
Hatter,In return to all you have ever done for me I helped clean up your apartment. Don't worry about me I am going to stay low for a while. You might hear from me in the future.
MH
Dropping the note Hatter turned and pulled Alice into his arms.
"She's gonna be okay!" His excitement radiated off him and engulfed Alice. Relief and joy coursed through both of them. Wonderland was safe and they could finally enjoy their lives together on the Earth side of the Looking Glass.
Though as they embraced in the middle of Hatter's newly cleaned apartment they couldn't shake the feeling that they hadn't heard the last of that trustworthy wonderlander, Madelyn.