2. Getting A Feel for the Mad Hatter
Alice again woke up, but this time with her head pounding. Memories rushed her, reminding her that she was indeed in the Wonderland, and that she was in the care of a murderer.
Raising up slowly, she gazed about the room, seeing no one around.
Sighing in relief, she stood up and stared down at her feet.
"Those aren't mine." She whispered, starring at the soft shoes that covered her feet.
She spun around until she saw a mirror on the opposite wall and approached it.
She felt her face turn red as she gazed upon the outfit she was wearing. A black corset top flared down into a skirt that stopped half way down her thighs. Black fishnet looking tights covered her legs, and her shoes were soft black leather.
Her hair was in soft black ringlets, making her 'short' hair even shorter.
He had changed her clothes. He had seen her in her underwear. Worse, only her underwear! She was no longer wearing her bra, obviously.
"You're awake." His voice rumbled from behind her.
She spun around, glaring.
"You removed my clothing!" She accused. "You seen me in only my under clothes!"
"Yes, I changed your clothing. But no, I did not see you in your under clothes. I seen you naked. I changed your underwear too." He told her, a smirk coming to his face. "You always let me change your clothes."
"No!" Alice snarled, angrier. "Mirror Alice let you change her clothes! I don't know you! The last thing I remember about you, you were courting the Red Queen, happily in love! I was nothing more than a girl who often visited! I wouldn't even say we were friends! I tended to hang around the Queen's guard!"
The Mad Hatter straightened up and walked toward her, his eyes snapping his anger. "I have told you once before Alice. Her likes were your likes, her dislikes were your dislikes, and her feelings were your feelings. You may not remember anything of the past times you've been here, but know that you and I were in love, engaged to be married, and I will court you all over again if I have too! BUT YOU ARE MINE!"
Alice darted past him and down the first set of stairs she seen.
She busted out the front door with him calling after her, chasing her.
She ran to the left toward a gate she could see in the distance.
"No Alice! Don't go in there! Don't go IN THERE!" He roared after her, closing in.
Alice opened the gate and ran through and stopped, vomiting immediately.
What had seemed to be a gate into some type of rose garden was a portal, it seemed. Around her, everything was dead. And not just the plants. Bodies littered the place, rotting, covered in maggots and other things.
Hands wrapped around her, pulling her out.
"Alice." the Mad Hatter crooned. "I told you not to go in there. You silly girl. You'll have nightmares for weeks again."
Alice felt like a small rabbit in the clutches of a predator. Her entire body shook and her heart raced. This time however, she didn't faint. She almost wished she had.
"Let go of me." She told him, her voice coming out higher pitched than she wanted.
He did release her, but he followed closely as she began walking back toward the tree house. Again, a gate came into her view, but it lead back into the woods that the Cheshire Cat had found her in. She kept walking toward them.
The Mad Hatter wrapped his hand around her upper arm.
"Homes this way." He told her gently, motioning toward the house she had passed.
"I'm not going there." Alice told him, her voice shaking only slightly. "I'm not going home with a killer. I'm not going in there until I know what has happened to my Wonderland."
He released her slowly, his eyes hardening.
"May the people that die know that your are their judge." He told her, turning away to walking away from the house and down a path leading away from all other things.
Alice turned to find the Cheshire Cat standing beside her, frowning.
"That's the first time I've ever seen him try and guilt you into staying. Argument would have worked on me though." He told her, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"I want to go for a walk, away from this place." Alice told him, exiting the gate with him following.
They had walked a good distance when she stopped and stared up at the gorgeous Cheshire Cat.
"What happened?" She whispered. "What happened to my Wonderland?"
"I won't be like some of the people in this world, and believe that everything here is its own little universe. I, like many others, know that we were created when you were born. I remember how I started out. I was a kitten, then some awful purple and pink stripped cat, and then only about four years ago, in your time, I became what I am now." The Cheshire Cat explained, sitting down against a tree trunk. He motioned for her to sit too. "Any one of us could approach a mirror and watch you in the real world, where you lived. We seen what happened in your life, watched your grow up, watched you change."
Alice sat down across from him, her back against another tree. A frown creasing her features.
"How long have you guys watched me?" She asked.
"Since the very beginning." The Cheshire Cat murmured. "We were there when your mother told you of the Wonderland. She thought she was making something amazing up, not knowing that every word she spoke was true. I think our Queen told your mother in a dream. We can do that, you know, visit people in their dreams. Gives us a little power to thrive when most of the other Alice's stop believing and our world rots away. We still die whenever our Alice dies though. I guess since you are here though, and we don't age, nor will you. We will never die here."
Alice let out a shaky breath. "The Mad Hatter said the same thing."
The Cheshire Cats twisted into an ironic smile. "Not calling him the 'Hatter' anymore, I see. I knew you wouldn't."
"When did everything change? What happened between him and the Queen?"
The grin disappeared from the Cheshire Cat's face and he said, "Our world continues with or without you Alice. While you weren't thinking about us, years passed. Time travels differently here. It has a mind of its own. We can travel in the time that you are used too, which is what normally happens when you were actually visiting our world, or it would move faster when you weren't paying attention or dreaming of us. Years passed in the two weeks that you weren't with us."
"So when I wasn't thinking about this place, Mirror Alice would act in my place, right?" Alice asked.
The Cheshire Cat nodded. "You guys were very much the same, and yet, we knew when it was you in her body, or when it was her in her own body. She knew when you were there of course, and would learn new things from you every time you would. . .possess, I guess that's the word to use, her body."
Alice frowned.
"You were one in the same, don't get me wrong. But a body was needed for when you visited, thus, Mirror Alice. It would be simply idiotic to leave a unused body lying around, and that's why Mirror Alice could function without you." The Cheshire Cat told her, "But back to our story. The Mad Hatter and the Queen were in love. He would throw parties in her honor that people from all over Wonderland would come attend. Then, one day, she asked if she could throw a party in his tea courtyard for an important announcement."
The Cheshire Cat took a shaky breath and looked toward the sky.
"I helped the Mad Hatter set up for this party. He told me he planned on proposing to her. I was so happy for him and knew that he was doing so out of love. He had no interest in being the King. The guests began to arrive and then a strange man arrived with the Queen."
The Cheshire Cat looked her in the eyes and said, "I don't know who this man was, but he wasn't from Wonderland. I believe he was an Incubus that invaded your dreams since you were now an of age woman. Instead, he found a kingdom to take."
Alice sucked in a breath, fearing the worst, suddenly.
"At that Tea Party, the Queen announced her engagement to the strange man, breaking the Mad Hatter's heart. The Queen then said, 'My dear friend, Hatter, why don't you propose a toast in our honor?' The Mad Hatter did, congratulating them on their soon to be union. He seemed fine, but I knew, inside, he was breaking. Just before the party ended though, he said, 'My Queen! As your friend, I must insist we throw a party in one week's time, that will be a true celebration of this engagement! This part was for the announcement only, was it not? Let my wedding gift to you be a Tea Party that will never be forgotten as long as the Wonderland lives!' The Queen agreed, delighted in the prospects of an unforgettable Tea Party in her honor."
The Cheshire Cat returned his gaze to hers.
"Mirror Alice and I stayed to help clean up, and keeping a close eye on the Hatter. 'My friends,' He told us, waving his hand about to banish the dishes, 'This party I am throwing is going to be something truly amazing. But I ask you two not attend. It is a party where the shame she dealt with will be answered in just form.' We agreed to stay away, not knowing what he was planning. I confess though, I watched from the tree limbs that Tea Party."
"What happened?" Alice asked, leaning forward.
The Cheshire Cat shivered, as if he were cold and said, "It was a most unforgettable tea party Alice. It's called, 'The Mad Tea Party.' As soon as all the guests were seated about the table, the Mad Hatter stood up, dressed in all black, a color he had never really worn so heavily before that moment. The Queen teased him and said, 'Why, Hatter, you look like you're dressed for a funeral. You are not hurting from my decision, are you?'"
"She mocked him?" Alice asked, surprised.
The Cheshire Cat nodded. " 'A funeral indeed my Queen.' The Mad Hatter replied. Suddenly, all of these iron grips appeared around all the guests, trapping them to their seats. They couldn't get away, nor would they ever have a chance. I watched as the Mad Hatter removed his top hat, his coat, vest, and undershirt. He was left standing in a pair of black leather pants and boots. He pulled a knife from the inside of his boot and jumped up onto the table, walking the distance and standing before the Queen."
The Cheshire Cat jumped up and began to pace. His eyes were wide as he finished the terrifying tale he had witnessed.
"He stood before the Queen and then knelt down on the table top leaning forward, and kissing her on the mouth. 'I loved you as no other would love you.' He whispered to the Queen, 'And you spat in my face and shamed me in front of your court. They knew of our love, but in the middle of our romance, you chose another. That wound cut me so deep, I feel nothing anymore. But the more I thought about it, the more a rage sat in. From this rage, a hunger began to claw in my belly. I want blood.' He stood up again, and walked down to the opposite end of the table. One by one, he carved them up. He killed them all until the Queen and her lover was left. He released the Queen and said to her, while covered in blood and gore, 'Run Red Queen! Run back to your castle and know that the entire court died because of your cold heart.'"
"Did she run back to the castle?" Alice asked.
The Cheshire Cat nodded. "She ran away, leaving her frightened lover screaming after her. The Queen never paused in her race back to the castle either. Two days after she got home, a box arrived with her name on it. She opened it to find her lovers head inside. The note simple said, Compliments of the Mad Hatter."
"How many people died exactly?" Alice asked.
"At the Mad Tea Party? Forty-five." the Cheshire Cat whispered. "He's killed more than that though. For a while, the Queen tried sending guards to kill him. The Mad Hatter would send pieces of them back. Finally, she called for you. You went there, having no idea what had happened, no one told you, even though you had sensed something very wrong. When you arrived, you found him, seemingly normal. No blood, dressed in all black, which had become normal now, and just sitting in front of his house, drinking a cup of tea."
"Why did I live when the other guards have died?" Alice asked.
The Cheshire Cat shrugged his shoulder and said, "You said, 'Why, Hatter, what have you done to upset the Queen?' He smiled at you and motioned you to sit, handing you your own cup of tea and said, 'She didn't like my gifts.' You asked, 'What kind of gifts did you send her?' He smiled at you and said, 'My friend, I'd rather not say.' You drank tea with him for a while and then said, 'I hope you didn't send her flowers. Wonderland knows she has enough roses and such surrounding her castle.' The Mad Hatter laughed and said, 'What sort of gifts would a girl like you want Alice?'"
"I didn't know what he had done?" Alice gaped. "Was Mirror Alice that gullible? Am I that gullible?"
The Cheshire Cat laughed long and loud before saying, "No Alice, you are not the gullible. You found out later, but by then, I guess the seeds of love had been sewn, and you were able to keep him in his right mind. He seemed to know it too. You were always together, you lived together, and he did everything for you. Made your clothes, shoes, dressed you, did your make-up and hair."
"So, I was his personal little doll. Something he could dress up and control, since he couldn't have what he wanted with the Queen?" Alice snarled.
The Cheshire Cat blinked at her and said, "You said it to him. Not me. 'I don't know Hatter. I've never owned pretty or fancy things, nor have I ever been beautiful. I suppose I would want a guy who just wanted to take care of me. A guy who would do things I would like.' Those were your words. In kind, he responded with, 'Would you want a man who would make you clothes, dress you up, and make you feel beautiful?' You nodded at his question."
"I have a feeling that if Mirror Alice and I ever met face to face, we wouldn't like each other." Alice said dryly.
The Cheshire Cat grinned.
"When you came back alive from your visit with the Mad Hatter, speaking of the fun time you had with him, the Red Queen was in shock. She pulled you aside and wanted to know every detail of what had happened. I attended in audience, so that's how I knew everything that was said with your meeting of the Mad Hatter."
"The Queen was shocked then, I guess?"
The Cheshire Cat nodded. "Alice, she named you her heir. When she steps down from the throne, you will be the new Red Queen."
Alice gaped at him. "I know nothing on being the Queen! And how did she decide this!?"
"Because the Mad Hatter listens to you. You tell him no and he knows that he can't do whatever you have denied him. The Red Queen doesn't rule the Wonderland anymore Alice. The Mad Hatter does. He's the bogeyman that all of us fear. The Queen's threats of, 'Off with your head', just doesn't scare people as much as the possibility of being in the Mad Hatter's mercy."
Alice frowned and looked back toward the directions of what was her apparent new home.
"I stumbled into what I thought was a rose garden." She told him.
The Cheshire Cat's ear flattened against his striped hair. "Ah, so you've seen the bodies."
"Some of those people looked normal." She commented. "I mean, they weren't guards, they weren't noblemen of the court, or noble women for that matter. So, who were they?"
"Dreamers. Dreamers that will never wake up. They either fall comatose or actually die in their sleep without an explanation to what happened. The ones who die always have something that points toward their death, sometimes. Spider bite, asphyxiation, old age, etcetera."
Alice shivered. "He really is probably killing someone right now, huh?"
"Undoubtedly." the Cheshire Cat told her. "But hey, there's a bright side! We can pull dreamers into our world! Maybe you should just ask him to kill a few people you hate! It would put you on a level playing field! Or, you know, you can pull your dad into this world, and then you can visit him while he sleeps. Just keep you psycho-hubby-to-be away from him."
"I don't think I could ever order anyone to be killed, I mean, maybe my step-mother, but I don't think I could live with myself knowing I told him to kill someone. I might as well kill them myself."
The Cheshire Cat flopped down beside her and grinned, "At least you have a level head on your shoulders, unlike the rest of us. . .or more importantly, him. Hey, I see that he's already dressed you up! You look hawt!"
Alice glanced down at her clothes and shrugged. "He did it while I was unconscious. I was really angry with him and fought him on it. He fought back, I ran out the door, found a rose garden, was pulled out by him, then left with you after another little fight."
The Cheshire Cat nodded and said, "Which leads us to our story up to present. Should I repeat everything and keep us in an endless cycle to stall so you don't have to return just yet. Because, sadly, if you try to stay with anyone else, or just not return, he'll go psycho and probably start kidnapping and killing people."
Alice sighed and stood up, dusting off herself and looked back toward the house.
"He, uh, won't force himself on me, do you think?"
The Cheshire Cat look mortified and said, "Absolutely not! That's one think that he will never ever do to you! That I can promise!"
Alice nodded and said, "I guess that's one relief. Can you lead me back?"
"It would be my honor to walk you home, my Lady." he said, bowing low.
They walked back in silence and found the Mad Hatter sitting outside the tree house, fully dressed.
"I didn't want you to return to find me covered in blood again." He told her, standing. "You deserve to see better than that."
Alice stood awkwardly between the two men. Part of her wanted to go with the Cheshire Cat and say, 'Screw you all!'. The other part of her knew that leaving the Mad Hatter would mean death to whoever she sought refuge in.
"This is where we part ways, my friend." The Cheshire Cat said, patting Alice on the head, smiling. "If you ever need to go for a walk or just want to go sight seeing, just have your lover call on me. I'll be here to pick you up. I don't scare people when I walk about Wonderland."
With a wink, the Cheshire Cat disappeared.
Alice turned back to the Mad Hatter, unsure of what to do.
Running away and screaming seemed like a great option.
The Mad Hatter smoothed a hand down his hair and lifted his hat from the ground and placed it on his head.
"I remember that you used to always wear your hair pulled back. Why do you keep it lose now?" Alice asked, unable to help herself.
The Mad Hatter cocked his head to the side to look at her before he said, "Because you said you liked it when I wore my hair down. I only pull it back to work."
Alice shivered, not wanting to think about what she had seen, and now knew.
"Perhaps we should walk about the property so we can talk?" The Mad Hatter suggested. "I am aware that you are and are not of the same mind that Mirror Alice had. We must relearn each other."
"Okay." Alice said, hesitant to take the arm he offered her.
As they walked, she took the time to study him in the full light of the afternoon.
His eyes were a pale blue, almost grey looking, and his hair was such a dark brown, it nearly looked black. He wore the same low slung leather pants tucked down into a different pair of boots that were a soft black leather that encased his calves and emphasized the muscles he had in his legs. He wore a white ruffled poetic shirt, a black leather vest, and a black leather floor length jacket. His top hat was silk and sat on his head, angled slightly to the left. Still, it held a card the read, In this style: 10/6.
She smiled at that, but froze as he grinned down at her.
"You always thought the price tag was. . .cute, I believe was the word that you used. I keep it in just for you, no matter what hat I wear." He told her softly.
Alice looked forward again and noticed a long table coming into view. Her feet froze and he stopped beside her, following her gaze.
"Ah, so that's what took you so long with the Cheshire Cat. He was explaining everything." The Mad Hatter murmured. "I would have preferred he not have said a thing."
"Please don't take me there." Alice whimpered.
"I'm not." He said, bringing his other hand up to pat her arm. "We are going to my garden, the real garden, that lies just beyond that. You used to love it there. I'm hoping that you still do."
"Me too." Alice murmured, trying to calm down.
The Mad Hatter began to lead her again, letting go of her arm and slipping his own arm around her shoulders. He kept his strides shorter so she could keep up with his long legged strides.
She knew she liked tall men, and apparently that likes had shaped a lot of the men in wonderland. The Cheshire Cat was over a head taller than her, and she only came up to the Mad Hatter's chest.
"How tall are you exactly?" She asked him, never good with small talk.
"Six foot eight. Want me shoe size?" He teased, grinning down at her.
Heat flooded her face, and she forced herself to look ahead, seeing the garden he spoke of. Flowers of every kind seemed to go on forever.
"Oh!" She breathed, breaking from his grip and running forward a few steps. "It's beautiful!"
"I'm relieved that some things haven't changed all that much, then." The Mad Hatter said, standing directly behind her, and wrapping his arms around her. "As I have told you before Alice, this is my gift to you. For all the ugly things that I am, and I have done, I made this beautiful place just for you. My beautiful bride-to-be."
