Hey, guys. It's been a bit, hasn't it? I realize the last chapter was a little short. But in all fairness, it was a prologue to the main story here. I hope you enjoy our adventure as we continue. Edit: Sorry about the Format. I had no idea that the format was cramped. Thank you so much guys for telling me.
Jonathan Crane watched as Scream made her way though the obstacle course, weaving her way smoothly through the winding corridors of the maze. He took notes on her progress. For someone who had only joined a week ago, she was making a good effort on her training.
Becky weaved around another corner. This test was designed to push her speed, cognition, and direction skills to the limit as she raced to the center of the maze. She lightly nicked the side with her metal cane as she ran past it. "So, what's the deal with this test, Crane? I didn't think the Henches needed to train."
Crane laughed. "Really, what does the news media feed the public these days? Every person, rogue or hench, has to train at least somewhat before they go out on their first heist."
"Even you?" she retorted, taking a right turn. She could nearly see the middle, although she could be wrong.
Crane smirked as he pressed a button. As Becky round the corner and entered into the spacious middle, a small platform rose out of the ground. On it, perched squarely in the middle on a small, paper plate, was… "Cheese?" Becky gaped, before rolling her eyes. "Really, Crane? Really?"
Crane snickered. "Well, you are quite a plucky little mouse, so I thought you would like a…reward for all your troubles. It's the least I could do," he said sarcastically, nibbling on a piece of chocolate cake from the balcony he was perched upon.
"Ha, ha, very funny, Crane," she said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "Now, where's the real thing?"
Crane smirked, before pressing another switch. The platform went down into the floor. After a few seconds, the platform rose again, this time displaying a single slice of chocolate cake. Scream grinned, grabbing the plate as the panels reset themselves, allowing her to walk across the room, and climb the stairs to join Crane's side.
"So," she said, wiping her brow. "How did I do?"
Crane checked the time on his watch. "15 minutes."
Becky sighed. She had been trying her hardest to beat her time, yet her disabled leg kept slowing her down. It frustrated her a little that her body refused to move to her will. "Not again," she groaned under her breath.
Crane looked up from his notes. From the many years and a few months of observing her actions and mannerisms, he could tell when something was up. "Is something wrong?"
Becky shook her head. "It's nothing."
Crane only grunted. Women. He shrugged mentally. He returned back to his research.
The phone rang, startling both out of their separate thoughts. "I've got it," Crane muttered, before picking up the phone. He barely suppressed a scowl. He hated having his work interrupted, especially when it concerned his newest partner. "Hello?" he asked into the microphone.
"Oh, Jonathan. I was hoping to contact you," the excited voice of Jervis Tetch sounded over the speaker.
"What is it, Tetch? You do know that this is an emergency phone only, correct?" Crane growled, rubbing his temples. It was always a handful to talk to Tetch, whether he was speaking Wonderlandese or not. On one hand, it took a great familiarity with both Tetch and his favorite book to get his point across, but even when he was sane, it took a bit to get his attention, and when you did, it took a great deal of patience to not slap duct-tape over his mouth to shut him up. Thankfully, he wasn't as annoying today.
"Well…I know," Jervis said, slightly downcast at being chastised, before instantly perking back up. "But the reason I called you is an emergency."
"Did Batman find your hideout again?" Crane replied, sighing.
"Well…no."
"Then it's not an emergency," Crane snapped, about to hang up.
"Wait, wait, Jonathan!"
"Yes, Tetch. What is it!" Crane roared.
"I-I was only wanting to invite you to a New Year's feast at my place. I-I baked you pumpkin pie," the Hatter whimpered, sounding almost like he was about to cry.
Crane sighed. A crying Tetch was the worst Tetch of all. "Alright, alright, Tetch. Fine. I'll come to the party."
"Hooray! Calloh Callay!" Tetch shouted into the speaker, causing Crane to lean as far away from the phone as possible. "This'll be great! I'll be preparing the tea. When will you be coming?"
"Um…" Crane looked at his watch. "Around…6:30." He decided that would give them a little bit of a head start on the Bat.
"All right, 6:30 it is," Tetch replied, marking it on his Alice in Wonderland post-it notes. "That'll give me just enough time to prepare the tarts and tea."
"I'll also be bringing along a plus-one," Crane replied, glancing over his shoulder towards Becky, who was slowly eating her slice of chocolate cake.
"A plus-one? Excellent! I'll prepare a seat for her. Does she like cake?"
"Chocolate with chocolate icing."
"Alright, I'll see you at the tea party," Tetch said, before hanging up.
Jonathan put down the phone, before starting to gather his supplies.
"What's going on?" Becky asked, grabbing her mask.
"It seems we've been invited to a party," Crane replied, slipping on his mask and straw hat.
"And where might that be?" Becky replied, depositing her plate into the trashcan as Crane led her to the roof of their warehouse, which was located in the Amusement Mile towards the northeast.
"You'll see," Crane replied, before taking her hand as they began to run along the rooftops, keeping an eye towards the sky to spot the patrolling Bat as they made their way towards Tetch's hideout in the Bowery.
"So, this is it?" Becky remarked, gesturing at the sad, little hat shop at the corner of the Bowery, Chap's Hats, right across from the Gotham museum.
"This is it," Crane stated.
"It's kinda…small," Becky replied.
The Scarecrow smirked, guiding her towards the door.
Opening the door, she was greeted by a huge array of hats. Sun hats, bowler hats, baseball caps, fedoras, cowboy hats. It seemed like every hat of every kind was here in that little store, along with several that appeared to be masks as well.
Becky couldn't help but gape at all the different headgear in the store. She had never seen so many hats in her life. Everywhere she looked, she saw hats. She had no idea someone could own so many hats.
"Impressive, isn't it?"
Becky nearly jumped ten feet in the air as Jervis Tetch's voice squeaked from the counter. Tetch unlatched the door of the counter and made his way towards her. "These are all my hats I've collected over the years. The top hats are a favorite, but I like to collect a few others in my travels," he grinned, giving a short, little bow. "Oh, but where are my manner? Jervis Tetch, the Mad Hatter, at your service," he said, as he took off his hat in respect.
"Um…Becky," she replied, unsure of whether to reciprocate his bow or whether to just offer a simple handshake.
Tetch's eyes lit up at the mention of her name. "You wouldn't happen to be THE Becky, would you? Oh, of course you are! Why else would you be accompanying dear Jonathan on such a lovely evening?" He took them by the wrists and raced for the doors, throwing them open in a frenzy as they raced down the numerous stairs of the Hatter's domain. There were several rooms that were much bigger than they originally appeared, and some appeared to be almost too small to get through.
Becky looked over at Crane. "Is he usually like this?" she whispered to him.
Crane murmured back. "Sometimes. You've caught him on a special occasion."
When Tetch finally halted his search, he slowly opened the door. "Welcome…to Wonderland."
The room he had brought them to was very bright and colorful. Trees were painted on the walls, which was bordered by lovely red roses, half of them painted red and half of them painted white. In the center sat a long table, whose seats could have seated at least a good ten people. And at the head of the table, tied up with a thick rope, was Alice Pleasance herself.
"Alice?" Becky exclaimed, shocked.
"Becky?" Alice exclaimed, also shocked.
Becky then noticed that her friend was tied up, and turned to Tetch. "Why is she tied up?"
Tetch just smiled. "Well, I didn't want her to run off before the party started. What's a party without the guest of honor?"
Becky flinched at his sinister smile. It was even worse then Crane's, by far. She also noticed a flaw in his plan. "But if she's all tied up, how is she going to eat?"
Tetch frowned. "Hmm, good question. Hold on a second," he told them, before loosening Alice's bonds. "There, now she can eat."
Becky was about to open her mouth to protest, but a short glance from Crane silenced her. She needed to play it safe if she wanted to make sure Alice was safe. And against someone as unpredictable as the Hatter, she needed to keep her guard up and do what he asks, at least, within reason. And if something should happen, she had her fear gas. But she didn't want to use it, not while Alice was here. She didn't want her friend to think of her as a monster now that she sided with Crane.
Alice immediately slid her hands out of her bonds, rubbing her tender muscles.
Tetch sniffed the air. "Oh, the pastries are ready," he said, dashing towards the kitchen. He came back with his arms loaded with cake, petit fours, tarts, pies, and saucers loaded with tea. The cake he carried was a tall, chocolate monstrosity that was nearly taller than the man who baked it. Heaving with all his strength, he placed the cake onto the center of the table, distributing the smaller pastries to his guests. "
Tetch, what on earth have you been up to?" Crane said, nearly balking at the quantity of food before him. He had no idea how he and Becky could eat that humongous cake.
The Hatter grinned sheepishly. "Well, I heard that you were bringing a plus-one, and I guess I got… a little…carried away."
"A little?" Crane remarked sarcastically, his eyebrows rose.
Even Becky was stunned. She had never seen so many sweets in her life. But as she looked over at Alice, she knew that the young woman was very confused. She wandered over to her side. "Hey, are you okay?" she whispered.
Alice nodded. "I'm fine, Becky," she whispered back, occasionally glancing over at the Scarecrow and the Hatter. "You're with the Scarecrow, aren't you?"
"I…" Becky started to reply, but then hung her head in shame. "Yes."
Alice looked down, "Oh, I see. I understand," she said softly. "Alice-"
"We'll talk about this later," she replied, suddenly sounding cold.
Becky nodded, slightly sad, as she went back to Crane's side.
"Um…Jervis?" Alice spoke up, getting the Hatter's immediate and undivided attention. "Can I please be untied?"
Jervis blinked, before his eyes started to fill with anger. Becky gulped, suddenly very afraid for her friend. "Why should I? You'll certainly run away again, especially since I was the one to kidnap you again! Why should I let you have a chance to escape, when I know you'll never come back?!" he screamed, his voice getting shriller and shriller as he stomped towards her until he was looking her in the eye.
Alice recoiled, shocked. She hadn't known how much her presence meant to him, or the fact that he was so afraid of her leaving him. "Jervis, I promise not to leave until the party's over, okay?"
The Hatter blinked, surprised. His eyes filled with hope. "You will?"
She nodded. "I will." She smiled. "Besides, it would be rude of me to leave when you went to all this trouble to make these pastries."
Jervis beamed. "Well, thank you, Alice." He quickly released her from her bonds. Then he turned to address the whole group. "Now, let's eat!"
The trio of villains and one civilian happily gorged themselves on sweets.