Chapter 3, A Trip in a Broken Teacup
Alice woke in a cold sweat. She was breathing heavily, and she had no idea where she was. Shadows danced on the walls like professional dancers. She knew she was dead, but had to find out where she was.
Suddenly, someone emerged from the shadows, a man or a teenager to be exact. He wore a purple hat with patches sewn into the hat. He had four cards from a deck sticking out from the blue plaid belt wrapped around. A red ribbon was tied around it and put in a messy bow. Lip rings were attached to the rim of the hat and a chain hanging from one. The man's hair was long and straight. The ends were sharp making it look dagger like. His purple eyes saw through Alice like a looking glass. His neck was very long, a black choker surrounding it. His red button up shirt was loose and his black skinny jeans had rips that looked wild.
He approached her taking long strides.
"Finally you're up. I've been waiting forever to get a move on. Seriously, I know you were almost killed by snakes, but it's nothing compared to the horrors ahead."
"Excuse me?" Alice asked puzzled at the words spoken by this mysterious man.
"Let's start with something more approachable. Shall we? What is your name?" The man asked.
"My name, well um….. Alice." She said.
The man's eyes grew big. He turned to face the other direction.
"So it's true."
Alice was dumfounded. She couldn't quite put her finger on whether or not he was good or bad. She wanted to ask him so many questions, but she was afraid that might cause turmoil so she kept quiet until he turned back around to face her.
"You are the one." The man said.
"Who are you?" Alice asked
"I'm the hatter. Most people call me insane, but well I'm the sane one." He responded.
"And what do you mean I'm the one."
The Hatter sat down next to Alice staring at the fire glowing hot in the center of the cave.
"Well it's a bit of a story, but I'll tell you."
"A long time ago, a place known as Wonderland was born. It was ruled by Queen Alice. She was very generous and kind to the people of her kingdom, but many people were jealous of her wealth and fame. Some conspired against her, to kick her off her throne. A woman named Adrianna was one of them who conspired. She was the leader of the bandits. She wore red for the color of blood and made her followers wear card uniforms but only red aces. She attacked Alice and banished her to a world unknown and for centuries, and she has never been seen since. She separated Wonderland from its people by creating Horrorland. She made the people servants and turned the land gastly, filled with only things that belong in nightmares. She has trapped us here suffering until someone could help us."
He stood back up and Alice stood too.
"Hatter I'm very sorry for your land, but I'm just a girl named Alice, and nothing more."
He stared her down hard.
"Would you at least follow me and help me try and defeat the Queen?" He asked.
She pondered it for a second before saying, "Of course I will."
He grabbed her hand and led her somewhere deep inside the cave to where a waterfall trickled down the onyx stone into a crystal pool.
"Here is my teacup that I built; it will take us as far as we can go." Hatter said.
He stepped inside and extended his hand for her to take.
She said, "It's broken."
He rolled his eyes and responded, "No darling, it's chipped. Get it right."
With that Alice took his hand and stepped inside holding on to the intact side. He pulled a lever and they sailed deep inside the treacherous cave.