‘’ So this is where the Hatter lives?’’ I look at the worn-down mill with a disgusted emotion on my face. Cosy, I believe the sarcastic word is. After a long walk through the Tulgey Swamps we finally get to see the Hatter. I can’t wait to meet him. Never in my daydreams would I believe it is possible to actually meet him!
‘’ Yep. With the March Hare. They don’t really live in there though; they mainly just sit at their table and pretend it’s always tea-time.’’ He raises his purple eyebrows. Obviously he judges the activities of the Mad Hatter. Absurd.
‘’ Well. That sounds sane to me.’’ I start to stroll over the Mill. Where’s the table? Is it round the back of the Mill?
‘’ A Very Happy Unbirthday to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!’’ I hear from over the back of the Mill. I point over by the Mill and glance at Ches. He nods and disappears. Maybe he and the Hatter don’t get along.
I still here the Unbirthday Song being chorused throughout the land. And I finally go inside the Mill. Well (in the kindest words possible), I would describe the Mill as ‘I would be surprised if anyone inhabited the place’. After dodging all the strewn items across the floor, I finally get to the back. And my mouth gapes open. {Author’s note: Venus is sixteen years old. I write the story in a sixteen year old’s perspective}
This is definitely not like the rest of Murderland. It actually reminds me of the old Wonderland. It has emerald, ripe grass, a beautiful collection of Wonderlandian flowers (from talking ones to ones that actually grow cakes!) and even a striking tree. Right in the middle of it all is the table. It has an assortment of untouched cakes and numerous pots of tea on its snowy tablecloth. Sitting on the chairs are Absolem (sapphire and old as ever), the March Hare (perfectly the same which makes me glad) and the Mad Hatter (he’s much more attractive in real life than in the movies and books.) He has very sharp cheekbones and jawline with no makeup on him at all. He looks younger than in the movies and books. Maybe the movies and books were just making the Mad Hatter look more…mad. He still has his eminent inflamed frizzy hair and his top hat. He has the same clothes. He’s just younger. And beautiful.
I cough clumsily into the conversation they were having. They all spun around to me. Absolem looks too old to care. The March Hare slants his head, confused. The Hatter’s expression was the best: he grinned an extremely broad smile.
‘’ Come dear. Is it your Unbirthday too?’’ He asks with a husky, excited voice. It’s quite sexy.
‘’ Indeed it is.’’ I smile. He gasps loudly.
‘’ Wooooooonderful.’’ He turns to the March Hare. ‘’ More tea!’’ He shouts.
‘’ More tea indeed Hatter!’’ Absolem answers. March Hare still looks confused.
‘’ Did we invite her? I don’t recognize her. But yes more tea!’’ He pours an extra cup.
‘’ No we did not. However,’’ He turned back to me. ‘’ We do now! Come I need to ask you a question.’’ He grabs my hand and runs back over the table. I smile politely. He’s got soft hands. I sat next to Hatter in a sofa-like chair. ‘’ Why is a raven like a writing-desk?’’
I purposefully think about it for a few seconds. ‘’ No idea.’’
‘’ Precisely. No one knows.’’ He grins. ‘’ Just like Alice.’’ His smile disappears. He looks down at his tea and sips it quietly.
‘’ Cheer up Hatter. It’s only been-‘’ March Hare looks at his broken watch. ‘’ Actually I don’t know. My watch is covered in tea.’’ He laughs manically.
‘’ 3 years.’’ He puts down his tea. ‘’ 3 years Hare.’’
‘’ That’s not that long.’’ He pours himself another tea even though he’s got three already.
‘’ Never mind me.’’ He reaches up to take my hand. I smile inside me. ‘’ What’s your name dear?’’
‘’ Venus.’’ Hatter grins.
‘’ Venus! I like that name!’’ He shook hands with me and suddenly clapped. ‘’ And what made you come to Wonderland?’’ I don’t correct him to Murderland. It feels wrong to do so.
‘’ I fell.’’ I explain. ‘’ And I fell here. On the other side. You know.’’ He nods solemnly.
‘’ Yeah. Just like Alice.’’ His mood changed suddenly. He gasps loudly. ‘’ Would you be my Alice?’’ He asks. I know just what he means. He wants me to be exactly like the Old Alice. And you know, I will. I will be his next Alice. That’s if he consents my proposition…
‘’ Yes!’’ I confirm. He cheers eagerly.
‘’ More tea! And you know what. I’ll have a cake.’’
The March Hare laughs again and lobs a cup of tea at Hatter. I attempt to elucidate my offer. ‘’ If.’’ I bellow.
‘’ Hmm?’’ Hatter asks downing his tea.
‘’ I’ll be your Alice, if you help me bring down the Bloody Big Head.’’ He ponders about it.
‘’ Yes. The Bloody Big Head should go.’’
Absolem opens his mouth. ‘’ Whenever I say this, you completely ignore me. But when she says it, you completely listen to her.’’ He slumps and sips his tea indignantly. Why did he call me she?
‘’ I’ve been singing the Unbirthday Song when you start to say it that’s why.’’ He gasps again. He likes gasping a lot doesn’t he? ‘’ We need to sing it to you.’’ He taps my shoulder.
‘’ And me.’’ Cheshire Cat emerges and sits on a table. I gasp. His teeth and eyes have disappeared.
‘’ Hello Ches.’’ Hatter says with a drone. Well. I need them both on taking the queen down. They have to be friends.
‘’ Give me a tea Hare, I need a tea for this Quest here you know.’’ The March Hare pours one and reluctantly gives it to Ches. He says thanks and sips his tea courteously.
Hatter is actually at a defeat for words. He stares at Ches straining them suspiciously. ‘’ Why are you here?’’
‘’ I took Venus here.’’
His face glows brighter. ‘’ Well I will sing the Unbirthday Song for you, now.’’ I smirk, blushing under the tablecloth. He starts up in tune and suddenly an orchestra of instruments promenade with his voice. He hasn’t got a good voice but it’s still widely entertaining. He finishes the song with cakes in his hands.
‘’ One for you.’’ He puts a slice for Absolem. ‘’ One for you Hare.’’ The March Hare quivers and takes his slice graciously. ‘’ One for myself. Thank you, your welcome.’’ He puts a slice for him. ‘’ One for my former enemy but now he is my friend.’’ He puts one down for Ches. ‘’ And one for my Venus.’’ He puts a big slice on my plate.
I turn to Cheshire Cat. ‘’ Wait where are your teeth and eyes?’’ I point a bit rudely at him. Ches, however, laughs.
‘’ When I’m with the White Queen, I change my transformation. She thinks I’m on her side but really I’m not. I don’t like killing. It scares me a bit.’’ Hatter hoots.
‘’ That was one of the reasons I hated you. You have to stand up for yourself with the Bloody Big Head’s reign.’’ Ches raises his eyebrows and Absolem starts puffing on his cigar. Cobalt flames erupt from the nozzle.
‘’ So who are you?’’ Absolem inquires me. Really this again? I can see why Alice got annoyed now…
‘’ Venus.’’
‘’ I know you’re Venus. I want to know who you are?’’
‘’ I don’t know.’’ Absolem nods a couple of times.
‘’ Good answer. I like her.’’ I nod gratefully. Hatter rises with his tea in his hand
‘’ A toast. For the good will and life of each and every one of us and this area of the only remaining Wonderland.’’ We all raise our teas as Hatter toasts and we all clink!
‘’ So what happened to Wonderland?’’ I ask, daring enough to say it now.
Hatter puckers his lips and leans forward. ‘’ Jabberwocky.’’
‘’ But that’s beheaded. Alice killed him.’’ I say with certainty.
‘’ The brother is dead. This is the main one.’’ Absolem declares. ‘’ He burned the land down on the Red Queen’s orders with many of us dying. Alice was trying to help us but she got seized by the queen. She was taken into the castle along with McTwisp, Mally, Dee and Dum and Dodo and were all tortured and had adjustments to their bodies. It set a curse onto this land. ’’
‘’ That’s horrible.’’ My eyes widen with fear and anger.
‘’ It was. The White Queen then rebelled against her sister but was also tortured. Alice watched laughing at her.’’ Hatter speaks up. ‘’ I stood watching her from afar, trying to see the Alice I fell in love with.’’ He looks down upon his half-eaten cake. ‘’ I couldn’t find her. She’s gone now.’’
‘’ But can’t they be brought back?’’ I ask dumbly. I know the answer already.
‘’ No.’’ Hatter whispered, head shaking.
‘’ Actually.’’ Absolem interjected. ‘’ We can.’’ Hatter straightens up with a glint in his eye.
‘’ We can?’’ Ches’ mouth agape. Absolem sighed most likely wondering why he was surrounded with a bunch of idiots. With his antennae, he pulls up a dusty, antique sheet of parchment. The March Hare quivers and pours tea on the table. It must be an imperative document.
‘’ The Oraculum will guide us.’’ Hatter face-palms his head.
‘’ Of course. Why didn’t I think of that?’’ He plucks his pocket-watch up and snaps its gold surface open. ‘’ No wonder. It’s Unbirthday time again.’’ He closes it with a loud snap, which stirs the March Hare who grabs two plates and starts banging them together.
‘’ It’s always Unbirthday time.’’ Absolem mutters to me.
‘’ It’s…’’ Hatter begins. ‘’ A very very happy Unbirthday to you!’’ He points to the March Hare.
‘’ To me?’’ Hare points to himself.
‘’ To you!’’
‘’ A very very happy Unbirthday to you too!’’
‘’ To me?’’ Hatter exclaims in shock.
‘’ To you too!’’ Hare shouts dispensing another cup of tea. Hatter gasps again. Does he ever stop gasping? It’s really a turn-off…
‘’ We need a cake!’’ Hare proclaims. I cover my ears slightly. He is really loud.
Hatter echoes blissfully. ‘’ We need a cake!’’
Absolem hisses. ‘’ You’ve had three!’’ He shakes his head dismissively.
‘’ Well we need our strength up for the big fight.’’ Ches decrees fairly. I look at the Oraculum being the interfering person I am. And I see… me! I’m on there, fighting the Jabberwocky #2 and Alice.
‘’ Absolem? Why am I on here?’’ I query. I’m not part of Wonderland. Then again, neither was Alice.
He exhales. ‘’ Because dear one, you are expected to save Wonderland. On Frabjous Day, your picture came on here fighting the Jabberwocky and replacing Alice.’’
‘’ But why me?’’ I have nothing to do with Wonderland.
March Hare reads my mind. ‘’ You must have Wonderland blood.’’ He shrugs his shoulders and yet pours another (yes another) cup of tea. Do they even need to go to the bathroom?
‘’ But my family is pure English.’’ Protesting, I sip my tea proudly.
‘’ Any one of them go mad?’’ Hatter asks. Now that I think about it…
‘’ Great Aunt Greta, if I think about it.’’ I completely forgot about Greta. Mind you, everyone forgets about Greta.
Ches chokes on his cake. ‘’ You don’t mean Greta Thornbrush?’’ How does he know about her? She doesn’t live here on Murderland? Or does she…
‘’ Yeah why?’’ Casually I wait for their reply. But it doesn’t come. There’s just this eerie silence, in which Hatter does nothing to try and break it off. Absolem sits there with a look of pure horror etched onto his face. March Hare starts shivering in fear every few seconds. Ches keeps disappearing and reappearing. Hatter has a genuine look of terror engraved onto his porcelain, defined face.
Absolem at long last, has the audacity to speak up. ‘’ That is the mother of the Red and White Queen. My dear: you’re the daughter of the Red Queen.’’ And that’s when I shut off and just hear the buzzes of voices in my head. 211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6MxZdFdqb
