As the newly acquainted group conversed over tea, a loud trumpet suddenly blared across the clearing, shrill and sharp. The entire tea party froze, and the once lively atmosphere turned cold and still. Alice could feel the tension in the air, thick and palpable, as if Wonderland itself had fallen silent in anticipation.
The White Rabbit's eyes widened in alarm, and he sprang from his position, his paws trembling as his pocket watch slipped from his grasp, clattering onto the table. "Oh no, oh no!" he muttered in a panicked voice. "We're too late! Far too late!"
Alice's pulse quickened. "Too late for what?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, but the rabbit was too distracted to hear her. His gaze was fixed on the edge of the clearing, where the sound of rustling leaves and footsteps grew louder.
From between the twisted trees emerged a line of soldiers—but these weren't ordinary soldiers. Their bodies were flat and rectangular, resembling oversized playing cards that had come to life. Crimson hearts adorned their chest plates, which glistened in the sunlight, and each held a gleaming spear in one hand. The soldiers moved in perfect synchronization, their card-shaped forms rigid as they marched forward with mechanical precision.
At the head of the procession stood a taller figure, carrying a banner emblazoned with the same heart-shaped emblem. His face was stern and unreadable, obscured beneath a heart-shaped helmet. As they stepped into the clearing, the atmosphere shifted from the playful chaos of the tea party to something far more ominous.
Alice's heart thudded in her chest as the soldiers stopped in front of her. The leader, his voice deep and commanding, took a step forward. "By order of the Queen of Hearts, you are hereby under arrest."
The words hit Alice like a gust of cold wind. Under arrest? Her thoughts spun in confusion. What could she possibly have done to warrant arrest? She had barely even arrived in this strange place. "Under arrest?" she echoed, her voice trembling. "But I haven't done anything!"
The Mad Hatter, who had been watching the scene with a lazy grin, leaned toward Alice, whispering in her ear. "Oh dear, you've caught her attention. That's never a good thing—not with the Queen."
Alice turned to him, her eyes wide with panic. "But why would she want me? I haven't even met her!"
The March Hare twitched nervously, his ears quivering. "Doesn't matter!" he said, his voice high-pitched and jittery. "The Queen doesn't need a reason. You just have to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and, well..." He shuddered dramatically. "Heads start rolling!"
Before Alice could process the warning, the lead card soldier raised a hand, signaling for the others to advance. "The Queen has decreed your presence in court immediately," he said coldly. "Resistance will not be tolerated."
Panic welled up inside Alice. She couldn't fathom what offense she might have committed, or why this mysterious Queen of Hearts would want to arrest her. This has to be some sort of mistake, she thought. "But I—" she began to protest, but the soldiers moved forward, their spears lowered slightly, leaving her no room to argue.
The Mad Hatter gave her a pitiful look, his manic energy subdued for once. "Best not to fight it, my dear. You can't reason with her."
The March Hare nodded feverishly. "Oh no, no reasoning at all! Just go along, yes! And maybe, just maybe, you'll keep your head!"
Alice swallowed hard, her fear rising. It was clear that resistance was futile, and though every instinct in her body screamed at her to run, she knew there was no escape. She sighed, her voice barely audible. "All right," she said reluctantly. "I'll go."
The card soldiers closed in around her, their rectangular forms looming over her, creating a wall of red and white. The leader gestured for her to follow, and with a heavy heart, Alice allowed herself to be escorted from the clearing.
As she walked, she cast one last glance back at the tea party. The Mad Hatter was already back to pouring tea, as if nothing had happened, while the March Hare offered her a weak wave, his eyes filled with nervous sympathy.
Just as Alice turned her attention back to the path ahead, the White Rabbit rushed forward, his whiskers twitching in desperation. "Wait! You can't take her—she's not ready! She doesn't even know—"
The lead card soldier cut him off with a cold, unwavering stare. "Silence, Rabbit. The Queen's orders are absolute."
Alice looked at the White Rabbit, confusion mixing with her fear. "Not ready for what?" she asked, but the rabbit only shook his head frantically, his eyes wide with worry.
Before he could answer, the soldiers herded Alice forward, and the clearing behind her vanished into the shadows of the twisted trees. The path ahead was dark and foreboding, the thick branches above casting eerie shadows on the ground. As they marched deeper into Wonderland's mysterious heart, Alice felt an overwhelming sense that she was walking into something far greater and more dangerous than she had imagined.
The journey to the Queen's court was swift and disorienting, a blur of crimson armor and twisting paths. Alice barely had time to gather her thoughts, her mind racing to piece together the events that had led to her arrest. Her surroundings seemed to shift and stretch with every step, the bizarre landscape of Wonderland growing more ominous as they neared the Queen's castle. The looming towers pierced the sky, their sharp spires casting jagged shadows over the land, as if the very structure itself was watching her approach.
The gates of the castle swung open with an eerie creak, revealing a courtyard lined with more card soldiers standing stiffly at attention. Alice was ushered through without a word, her heart thudding in her chest as they led her into the grand throne room. The air inside was heavy, the walls adorned with tapestries of blood-red hearts, and the marble floors reflected the crimson light from towering stained-glass windows. At the far end of the room, seated upon a throne of red velvet, trimmed in gleaming gold, was the Queen of Hearts herself.
"Who dares disturb my court?" The Queen's voice bellowed, deep and commanding, reverberating off the marble walls with a chilling authority.
The lead card soldier stepped forward and bowed deeply, his head nearly touching the floor. "Your Majesty, we have brought the suspect as you commanded. The girl, Alice."
Alice stood frozen, her eyes wide as the Queen's sharp, predatory gaze landed on her, narrowing dangerously. The Queen was an imposing figure, her red silk gown sweeping the floor as she rose from her throne, her crown tilted at an angle that only added to her intimidating presence.
"Ah, yes. The little spy." Her voice was venomous, dripping with suspicion. She descended the steps toward Alice, her movements deliberate and slow, like a predator stalking its prey. "Do you know what you've done, girl?"
Alice's throat tightened. She felt the weight of the Queen's accusation settling heavily on her shoulders. "I—I haven't done anything!" she managed to stammer. "I don't even know what this is about!"
The Queen's lips curled into a sneer, her eyes never leaving Alice's. "You expect me to believe that?" she hissed. "You've been seen wandering Wonderland, asking too many questions. Poking your nose where it doesn't belong. And now, with the Jabberwocky rising in power, I can only conclude that you are one of its spies."
Alice's heart raced. The Jabberwocky? A spy? She could barely keep up with what was happening, let alone defend herself. "I swear I'm not!" she pleaded, her voice trembling. "I don't know anything about the Jabberwocky!"
The Queen tilted her head slightly, regarding Alice with a cold, calculating stare. The room seemed to hold its breath as the Queen's sneer deepened. "Then you will prove it through a trial," she declared, her voice dripping with finality.