The Story of Time

Gowland and the Amusement Park

...And...well...we arrived at the Amusement Park.

Alice and I had the exact same facial expressions when we saw the Park.

"Uh...wow." We said in unison.

"This place...is right out of a fairy tale again..." Alice looked around.

"Again?" I asked.

"You should have seen Heart Castle!" Alice stood there in awe.

"I did, from the Clock Tower." I did see this place too but still...It's even more cool up close. Even though I don't like the rides...

I heard Boris mutter: "Really? I thought all Amusement Parks were like this."

...maybe when Alice and the rest of them are riding the rides, I can sit and think. Maybe I'll successfully be able to arrange my thoughts...like the clocks...this world in general...

I looked up at the sky...I wonder how everyone is doing back home...

Or...is this really just a dream? Maybe I'm with Alice, still under that tree. And her sister just refused to wake us up...

I shook my head. If this was just some stupid dream of mine, then...WHY AM I AT AN AMUSEMENT PARK!!!? Maybe this isn't a dream at all...

"Priya! Snap out of it! Come on, we gotta go meet the owner!"

Alice's voice made me snap back to attention.

"Y-yeah! I'm coming!" I rushed over to her and the boys.

Nope...this ain't gonna be a dream...

It's gonna be a nightmare!

~♡~☆~

"Oh! There he is, there he is!" One of the Amusement Park guides shouted out.

I looked at her and almost went completely insane. She...didn't have a face...oh my God! This is just weird! Okay, it's okay, just calm down!

"Owner, we brought you our honored guests!" The man shouted. And when I looked at him...he didn't have a face either! WAAAHHHH! BREATHE! BREATHE! WAAAHHHH!!!
I tried my best to keep it in, but I was told by Boris that my face was slowly turning blue.

"Well now! Look who's here!"

I'm guessing that man was Gowland.

He went right up to Alice. "So you're the outsider they've been talking about, eh?" He vigorously shook her hand. "I heard your name's Alice."

I guess I'm now invisible.

"Yeah." She replied.

Gowland smiled and caught my gaze when he was done. "And who are you?" He asked walking over to me.

"Oh, uh...I'm Priya. Just Alice's tag-along buddy. I'm not that interesting...just an eyesore." Please, please, please...don't make me go on a ride. If I said that out loud, which I was tempted to do so, I probably would have hurt his feelings...so I decided to just say it to myself.

"You're far from an eyesore! In fact, you look like your enjoying yourself!"

Noooooooo! I'm not really!

"Oh! Now that we're done with the meet and greet..." Gowland readied the violin he was holding. "I've got a present for ya. I'll play a song just for Alice!...and Priya of course."

Before he started playing, the twins and Boris started acting up.

"BARF!" The twins screamed.

"Don't old man! Spare us! Please!" Boris held out a hand to stop him but it was too late...

SCREECH!!! SQUEAL!!! SCREECH!!! SCREECH!!! SQUEL!!!

My ears were filled with one of the most painful, most dreadful...MOST TERRIBLE SOUND I'VE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE!!!

And what's worse...

He was singing to it!

I cracked open one of my tightly squeezed shut eyes to see if Alice was still alive.

She was, but I could tell she was going through torture as well!

!!!!!!!!! Was I just going to have to wait for death. It would be a blessing right now. I was already sick from just being in the Amusement Park! And now, you're adding THIS!!? Oh Lord above, what have I ever done to you!!! What did I do to deserve this pain and agony!!!

"I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! CUT IT OUT, MARY GOWLAND!!!" Alice screamed.

The racket stopped instantly.

I looked up to see the Amusement Park owner's face in pure shock.

"Oops." Alice stuffed a hand over her mouth.
The twins and Boris looked utterly amazed. Like she just did a jaw dropping stunt.

"BORIS." Gowland turned on the gangsta cat. "YOU DIRTY STRAY! YOU BLABBED, DIDN'T YOU!?"

"Heh-heh. Not on purpose...it just slipped out.♡" Boris mumbled. "Besides, everyone in the Country knows. She would've found out sooner or later!"

Gowland took a little while to answer. "...you're right. That and everything are his fault."

His? Who is he talking about?

But, I got my answer soon enough.

"BLOOD DUPRE! HE TOLD THE WHOLE COUNTRY...!" Gowland literally looked like he was on fire right then. "I'M GONNA STUFF MY FIST DOWN HIS THROAT THE NEXT TIME I SEE HIM!"

The cat sighed. "I guess he still hasn't let it go..."
I looked at Gowland who was still screaming: "YOU JUST WAIT, HATTER!"

Boris quickly grabbed Alice and I and started walking away. "We should probably scram until he calms down. Let us help you check out the Park."

~♡~☆~

God, that was scary. And to bad he couldn't even play violin...I mean...I can do some myself but...Gowland carries one around with him at all times...Sheesh, you would think he would know how to play it.

"Huh?"

I looked over at the twins who had spoken up so suddenly.

I looked over and saw the yellow rabbit....Elliot...yeah, that was his name! And he looked to be accompanying the Hatter. Blood Dupre.

"This is why you shouldn't talk behind someone's back." Boris exclaimed.

No kidding! "We were just talking about you Hatter!" I called right after the twins yelled "Boss!" and ran over to the duo.

Blood gave me a slight nod of acknowledgement as I just stood there next to Alice. Things were actually turning around. Another distraction from the rides and the like.

I looked over at Alice. Her face looked a bit shocked to be honest...

That's when it finally clicked for me. The Hatter resembled Alice's teacher! No way! That is just...creepy!

I looked from Alice to Blood simultaneously. No. Way. Is. This. Happening. Right. Now!
But...I remembered Alice's bad crush experience. It was so heartbreaking for her...but, friends gotta stick together!

I linked my arm through Alice's. She looked at me and I gave her one of my biggest smiles. "It's not him, okay. It's a different person entirely. Just think of him as none other than the Hatter, Blood Dupre! I'm here to keep reminding you of that, and I'm not about to let up now!" I began walking over to the group. Dragging Alice along with me. "Let's go say hi."