Short Stories

Mad as a Hatter

(Warning! horror) 

The room was dark, except for a single light hanging from the ceiling. It illuminates a single table, stacked high with plates and tea cups. A variety of cakes and broken china lay around it. In the seats at various stuffed toys, all dressed up in their Sunday best, and all decapitated. At the head of the table sat a girl in a poofy blue dress. She sat rigid and tense, her face looking down at the sweets and a cup of tea in front of her. A door open, filling the room with unexpected light. The girl didn't react. The Hatter entered, carrying a tray of cakes. He quickly shut the door, and the room once again swelled in darkness. Upon seeing the girl, a large grin crept up on his face.

"Alice, dear! So glad you decided to come. I made these just for you!" He cried. The Hatter pushed discarded tea cups, to the floor, smashing them, and placed the tray in their place. He urgently grabbed a handful of cakes and placed in on her plate, before taking his place at the other end of the table. Upon seeing Alice, still unmoved, he let out a sigh.

"Alice love, you really need to eat. You haven't eaten since you've come to Wonderland!" The Hatter's smile returned.

"I remember when you first wandered into my tea party. Those people in London changed you so much! Why, you didn't remember Wonderland. You didn't remember me. You didn't even know your name! You thought it was Megan! Naturally I had to help you remember."He gave a dreamy smile.

"We used to have so much fun playing tag in the garden. Of course, I always had to be it." He said making his way back to Alice and pushing some of her long blonde hair behind her ear.

"But I never minded, as long as my little Alice was happy, I was happy. And you still are happy. I can see you smiling." Alice's smile was stiff. The Hatter's smile snapped down to a frown as memories came back to him.

"But then that man came. What was his name? Ah, I don't care. He was probably one of the Red Queen's knights anyway. He barged into our little party, most rudely if I made add, and claimed he was your lover! The nerve! I quickly got rid of him, along with the March Hare of coarse." he continued, gazing lovingly at a headless brown rabbit toy, whose vest had been stained a crimson red.

"And then you got so upset with me! I was only trying to protect you from the Red Queen! But oh..." Anger burned in the Hatter's eyes.

"You attacked me! Trying to punch and kick me. I will admit that I lost my temper with you, dear. I do apologize for those stitches on your neck." Alice never reacted to him. The Hatter's anger began to slowly creep up on him.

"Alice, you are being most rude to your lover. You refuse to eat any of my food, you don't talk. You won't even look at me!" The Hatter's voice rose with each word. Alice didn't even flinch. The Hatter slammed his hand on the table. Alice slumped forward, her eye rolling out of her socket and landing in her teacup. The hatter stopped his rave, and starred in surprise.

"Oh dear. I did it again. Terribly sorry Alice." He walked over and plucked her eye out of the teacup. Cleaning it on his vest, he casually mentions,

"I must admit, I like you much better like this Alice. I don't have to tie you up anymore or force you to eat. Although I do miss your voice. And the way the way you used to run and play." He slipped the sapphire orb back into its socket, and moved it to match its other. He stared into them for a moment, her blue into his brown and green. In an instant Alice was swept into the Hatter's arms.

"But don't worry, dear. I'll get you back to walking and talking in no time! Then it can just be you and me. Here in Wonderland...forever" The Hatter whispered as he carried his Alice into the darkness.