The Power that Lies Within the Dormant

Rated T for language

Here I am, running again.

This time from two girls: pretty Alice and her new friend.

And though she be short, the bruneette runs damn fast.

I dodged past a few trees, trying to get rid of my pursuer in vain. This isn't good. The brunette swiped at me with a glowing purple hand, which I avoid by a sharp swerve. Those hands...I don't know what's with them, but I've got a bad feeling.

"...never, I repeat, never let her get her hands on you." Duchess' warning came to mind.

"If she does, you might never wake up again."

Oh hell yeah, I'm running.

My side hurts like a MF... I dodged again. The girl laughed at me. I grinned back out of fear. I definitely need a stroke of luck to get away this time. Just as I thought that, the girl slowed down and skidded to a stop. I ran on even faster.

With a last glance thrown over my shoulder, I saw nothing but trees. What...? She had just disappeared! I was ready to freak out. Maybe she had Cheshire-like abilities, maybe she had a trick up her sleeve, maybe she fell down a hole, maybe she'd just suddenly show up in front of me, my wild mind fretted with paranoia. But I made it unhindered to Madam Hatteress' House. Hatteress wasn't at home. I opened the fake locked-window and slipped inside, still huffing from my close escape. Funny thing about Wonderland is that, even if you've ran at full speed for five minutes, and you huff and puff like the Big Bad Wolf, you don't sweat one drop. The house was silent and serene. I helped myself to a cup of water. Fianlly when I caught my breath again, I strode over the the shelf crammed with crazy teapots. The Dormouse's Teapot was here somewhere... I found it hiding behind two stern-looking spiky teapots. "There you are," I whispered as I set it carefully down on the table. Three taps against its handle.

The Teapot slurped me in.

Everything was the same in this sleepy-atmosphered room. I picked my way through the blankets. Dormouse definitely loved collecting them: the entire floor was buried by blankets of every colour and texture and there was still more to pile up in small hills. The boy hadn't budged even after two days. I knelt down beside him worriedly and poked his hand. Dead cold after two days of staying under warm blankets.

"Hey, boy, can you hear me?"

No response, of course, but I wasn't expecting one in the least.

"My name's Aceli."

In the warm afternoon sunlight streaming in from round holes dotting one side of the Teapot's lid, I began to feel drowsy. Perhaps the reason why Dormouse loved sleeping was because of the air in here. There was something about yellowed sunlight like pages of secrets and sad songs faded by time to lull your concious.

"What's your name, mm?"

I stretched out on the blankets beside him. Sleeping in my sleep could make me wake up in real life. Sometimes.

"Why were you in the Forest?" I asked meaninglessly.

My eyes stared at the domed ceiling without really seeing.

"I wonder who you are..."

The dust motes swirled in the sunlight.

"I..."

"Aceliii..." something crooned eeriely.

I snapped into a sitting position and squeaked.

"Oh shiiii- Chesh, you jerk!"

The Cheshire was in the form of a flame red tiger today. He grinned with pleasure when he saw I had gotten a fright. I punched him on his shoulder half-angrily, which only made him chuckle.

"What were you doing, Aceli?"

"Just rambling to someone who can't hear me." I struggled up to my feet, glaring.

Cheshire turned the the boy.

"I'll wake him up if that's what you want," he offered and reached out a large paw with claws unsheathed.

"NO!" I yelled.

The feline took his paw back lazily.

"You sure are getting possessive over this boy," he remarked.

"You got it wrong, stupid cat," I seethed," It's protective, not possessive."

"Sounds the same to me."

"Blugh!" I groaned. "Your ignorance!"

We continued to quarrel with each other as we headed out.

The boy's hand flexed once, then stayed still.