Chapter Thirteen

I yawned and stretched as I woke up early in the morning.

Another bad night…damn.

I had another nightmare about…that night.

I stood up slowly and shuffled to my closet. I pulled out a pair of new jeans that Piper had given me as she'd found these in the Condor's storage room from a little over two or three years ago. I sighed in defeat.

Damn my shortness…

I slipped on the jeans that surprisingly fit me well.

And once again I'm wearing clothes that belong to used to be a twelve-year-old's.

I sighed and put my bra own. As I hooked the back of it, my fingers brushed against a welt. I walked over to the mirror and looked at my back. There lain old scars. They were pale from lack of sun but were well cared for. They were hidden well at least. They rested along the spine, shoulder blades, and the lower ribs.

Ten in total.

In an instant, I recalled the night I watched my parents be killed.

Flashback

THUNK! SPLATTER!

Those sounds resonated into my small room. I looked up from my history book that was shone on by my desk lamp.

Did Dad drop my tea again? That was the only thought I had at the time.

I shrugged it off and continued to read when another thunk rang out.

"Jesus Christ." I said out loud as I stood from my desk chair. "C'mon, Dad. Quit being a klutz." I said as I walked out of my room.

The steps squeaked as I walked down the old stairwell. I sighed and yawned, closing my eyes as I walked into the kitchen.

"How many times are you gonna drop something?" I asked.

I opened my eyes and my tired, irritated expression was replaced by that of horror.

I looked on the ground at a man's feet. There lain two corpses in a pool of blood. I gulped and looked up at the man in the shadows.

"W-Why?" I asked him.

I heard a deep chuckle as he tilted his purple top hat down. He wore a dusty green over coat, black dress pants, a white dress shirt splattered with blood, and in his black gloved hands he held a knife.

"I'm not certain what you are-"

"WHY DID YOU KILL MY PARENTS!" I shouted, grabbing the baseball bat I kept in the umbrella holder.

Another chuckle emerged from him. Before I could blink, I was disarmed and on my stomach.

Shots of pain shot through my back.

"Nah!" I groaned. "You bastard!" Another, final shot streaked down my back as the knife ran down my spine.

"I would like to be addressed as Mad Hatter. Hatter if you will, dearest Ali."

I glared into his dark yellow eyes.

"If you wish to avenge your parents and yourself, come to the world of clouds."

"You… bastard…" I whispered as he left the room. "You coward." I watched him open the back door. "Mark my words: I'm going to get stronger but I will not kill you!"

A snort as those gold eyes turned to me. "We'll see about that, little Ali."

With that, he was gone.

"YOU BASTARD!" I shouted.

I clenched my fist at the harsh memory.

"Alice, you awake?" A voice said as the door opened. I heard a gasp and turned to see a blonde boy.

"Finn…" I said.

He was looking at my body…no. He was looking at my back!

I yanked the sharpshooter in quickly and closed the door, making sure no one else came in. I locked it and I heard him gulp as soon as the sound rang out.

I turned my gaze to him. The blonde flinched as soon as I looked at him. "Tell a soul and your life becomes a living hell." I threatened.

Finn nodded with a serious face. I sighed and grabbed my new tee shirt. "Can I ask how those happened?"

"No." I said firmly. "You can't. Don't ever mention these to anyone at all. Got it?"

"But why not?"

I looked at him. The blonde's confused blue eyes bored into me for a while before that same confusion was replaced with something like horror and realization.

"They happened five years ago…didn't they?"

I looked away from him as I put my boots on.

"Alice, answer me. Those happened the night your parents were killed, right?"

I didn't answer again. I just stood up and left.

"Ali-" He was interrupted by sirens going off.

I looked at him firmly. "No time for this. Move!"

We ran to the main room. As I entered, I was flung to the left wall. Instincts made me quickly grab the nearest pipe so I wouldn't smash into the wall again.

Give me credit. I'm learning.

"What's going on?" I groaned as I stood straight again when the ship leveled out.

"Talons attacking Terra Rex." Aerrow told me. "Finn, Piper, Junko; I need you with me. Let's go, Radarr."

The little cabbit trilled in confirmation.

"What about me?" I asked him.

"Stay and help out Stork."

I nodded and grabbed my energy blade. "Just tell me what I need to do."

There was an explosion outside that made me stumble. "Hold on tight and keep a look out for anything that comes near the ship."

No action? Disappointing. I thought with a smirk as I nodded to the Merb.

I hoped up to pulled down the binoculars and looked around. "Three Talons at six."

I watched as a canon fired at them, blasting them from the sky before I searched for more of the bastards.

"Five Talons at ten and four."

The five were shot instantly.

It continued like that for a while until…

"Hey…Stork." I said, squinting at the sight.

"What is it?" Stork asked frantically. "Vulca bats? Nightcrawlers? Oh, wait. It's day."

"No. It's…I think they're allies."

"Who?"

"Some guy in gold armor is leading a group of snobs."

"Oh." He said in relief. "That's Harrier and the Rex Guardians. They're allies…sort of."

"Let me take a gander at this." I said with a clearly fake British-accent. "The Rex Guardians are a group of pompous pansies who don't know how to put aside their pride and honor. Due to this, they have high…erm…dissatisfaction in our free spirit. Hm?" I finished, looking at him.

Stork stared at me, biting the inside of his lip to stop a laugh; at least, that's what it looked like.

"Yeah." He said, coughing. "You hit the nail dead on."

I smiled proudly at that and looked back out. "Looks like the Talons are retreating." I found Aerrow. He was waving his arm as he watched me. Well, not me directly. Probably the Condor. He pointed to the terra. "He wants us to land, I think."

"Stork," Aerrow's voice rang over the intercom of the Condor. "Take the ship into Rex for the night."

"And I was right." I mumbled.

We landed on Terra Rex's port. I stepped out with the Merb as Aerrow and Junko came to pick us up via skimmer.

I sat with Aerrow while Stork rode with Junko.

As we flew over head, I watched the citizens below. They were all either helping with the clean up or cheering for the victory over the Talons. I looked down when I saw one particular person. It was that blonde sky knight in the gold armor.

He just kept staring at me.

I pursed my lips then stuck my tongue out at him. The guy had the funniest expression on his face and I just cracked up laughing.

"What did you do?" Aerrow asked upon looking at the guy's face.

"S-Stuck my tongue out at him."

Aerrow just shook his head in disbelief. He probably has gotten used to my act by now.

"Who is this…er…charming young lady, Aerrow?" The blonde asked as I got off Aerrow's skimmer.

Huh. He's got a British-Accent…sweet.

"Her name's Alice. She's our newest member."

"I see." He said. He then approached me carefully. "I am Harrier, Sky Knight of Terra Rex, Miss Alice." He said, holding his hand out.

I smiled and nodded. "Nice to meet ya, mate." I said as I took his hand.

Harrier smiled and tugged my hand up higher.

"Eh…" I groaned. I blinked when his breath fell on my knuckles.

"It's an honor to meet you, Miss Alice." He said before his lips touched my knuckles.

I just stood there like an idiot whose knuckles were being kissed by a Brit. I was suddenly yanked away. I looked up to see Stork looking at him.

"What diseases do you intend to give Alice?" He said angrily.

Harrier blinked. "I mean only the highest respects for Miss Alice. Although, I could've lived without her sticking her tongue out at me." He said the latter softer but everyone caught it either way.

A growl emanated from Stork. "Hey, Stork-buddy." I said, getting his attention. "Are you…okay?"

"Fine." He then pulled out a random can of Atmos-Knows-What and sprayed it on the hand Harrier kissed. "Gotta disinfect it or you could contract some kind of disease." He told me.

I shrunk away from the Merb. "Right." I said doubtfully. I then snapped my fingers. "Oh right! Piper!" I said, getting the girl's attention. "You said you were wanting to show me some crystal?"

Piper blinked but caught on. "Oh, yeah! I forgot about it because of the attack."

I grabbed the girl's arm and we began to walk away. "Catch you guys later. Pipes and I are gonna look at some crystals!"

We then ran off.

Aerrow

I watched as the two girls ran away. Alice seemed…

"Odd little one, isn't she?" Harrier said.

"Yeah but that's Alice for ya." Finn said. "Always bouncing around doing one thing or another. She can't keep still for too long. She's lying though."

I looked at Finn curiously as he kept talking.

"She wasn't talking to Piper at all. She was talking to me because I was trying to get some information about her scars. What's wrong with-"

"Scars?" Junko asked, voicing all our thoughts.

Finn paled completely. "Wait…did I just…say something I shouldn't have?"

"Quite loudly." Harrier informed. "For your life, I would stop. I doubt Miss Alice would appreciate that."

Stork grumbled under his breath. "Hey, Stork?" Junko asked. "Are you okay?"

He looked at me with confusion. "I feel fine. Why? Is there something on me?" He then frantically searched his body for anything foreign.

"No, no. It's just…every time Harrier mentions Alice, you seem upset."

I smirked at that, realizing what was going on with Stork.

"Isn't it obvious?" Finn said, laughing.

"What's obvious?" Junko said.

"Stork's got a crush on Alice." I said.

"Do not." Stork said, glaring at me.

Harrier cleared his throat, grabbing our attention. "If you would like, I want to invite you all for dinner. It's the least we can do for your helping us."

I nodded. "We appreciate that, Harrier. Thank you. We'll accept the invitation."

The only ones who groaned were Finn and Stork.

Hey, guys. What up? By now, I'm pretty sure you've noticed my new name. If you haven't, it's time to get off the computer 'cause your eyes are waay too stressed from staring at the screen for too long. I changed it to that because my friends have dubbed me Lupin on account of my...animal instincts. Lupin is an adaptation from the correct word for "wolf." No. I didn't adapt it from Harry Potter's Professor Lupin.

Finn: Good to be back in action.

Aerrow: So, how'd you manage to regain stability?

Me: Well, turned out that I got pretty badly sick. Just a little flu. *rubs nose* I'm still sniffly but I'm fine. Due to it, I've forced myself to become healthier. I've been drinking lots of tea and water, having grapes (Green ones = Yay-e), and been getting more active. My sleeping schedule is slightly off but it's not crazy like it was now.

Piper: *Patting my shoulder* Well, that's good. We don't need you dying and leaving everyone to wonder what happened.

*I nod in agreement as I dance lightly to "Pretty Handsome Awkward" by The Used; Junko looks at FF*

Junko: What language is that?

Me: Oh. It's Espanol. Spanish.

Dark Ace: What's it say?

Me: Lupin the Sadistic One.

*everyone dead pans. Cyclonis approaches me and hugs me lightly*

Cyclonis: I've found my long-lost twin.

Me: *Toothy Grin*

Harrier: Why am I here again?

Finn: Read this. *Shows him Ch. 11*

*Harrier reads it*

Harrier: What the? Hayley, what is this?

Me: Humor, asshole. Now do the disclaimer.

Harrier: How could you right it?

Me: Because I am sadistic; read my name.

Harrier: *sigh* Hayley-

Me: LUPIN!

Harrier: Lupin does not own Storm Hawks, just Alice and Wonderland adaption.

Me: So, pretty please review!

*Hearts float about*