Falling.
They were falling so fast that the Hatter couldn't open her eyes for longer than a second, the sound little more that howling in her ears. Her hair shot staight up, the bustle of her jacket beating against her skin. The wind felt as though it would strip the flesh off their bones if they continued this way.
Glancing down, through painful tears, Madeline saw no end to this hell in sight.
"Jack!" She screamed, barely able to hear her own voice. She just prayed it had actually left her lips, instead of the silence she felt. After a moment, she heard a shout, something akin to her name, and held out her hand in that direction.
A strong hand clamped around her own, and she pulled him close enough that she could feel the warmth of another human being, something she knew didn't happen to many who were banished to this place.
"I think-" She screamed again, feeling the crack as her voice threatened to fail her, "-that I can get us out of here!"
"Why should I trust you? Why would anyone trust you?" She faintly heard his voice, despite how close they were.
"Because if this works, then you can go back to your dear little Alice!" Her voice did crack this time on the name, pain surging through her chest. She had lost. It was finally settling in, the lows of defeat. She would be nothing more than a reflection, even if this did work.
But a reflection was better than a memory.
Digging into the pocket of her coat, she blindly pulled out the piece of glass she'd earlier tucked away. The edges were sharp in her hand, and she opened her eyes just long enough to see Jack's disbelieving stare.
"A piece of glass? That's how you're getting us out of here?"
"A piece of the Looking Glass that you and your little friends shattered! It's a gateway! If I can get us through it, we can get out of here."
Of course, there was no predicting where they'd end up, but that was another worry all together.
"I need you to trust me! For two bloody seconds, trust me!"
The two met gazes for only a moment before Jack gave a nod. "I trust that you want to get back just as badly as I do."
"...Good enough." The Hatter exhaled, certain Jack hadn't heard her. Had she really wanted him to?
Taking his hand firmly in hers, she threw the mirror down below them, shut her eyes, and simply hoped-
