The Red Queen - (Alice In Wonderland)

Chapter 15 - Cracks in the Facade

Alice paused outside the study, her hand hovering near the door as the murmurs of voices within caught her attention. She hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but the tone of the conversation drew her in. Leaning closer, she recognized the voices—Hatter's and Harrison's. Her heart gave an involuntary flutter at the sound of Hatter's voice, and she found herself listening.

"She's not just anyone, Hatter," Harrison's voice was firm, tinged with a hint of accusation. "You're starting to feel something for her, aren't you? It's clear."

Curiosity piqued, Alice edged closer to the crack in the door. Inside, she saw Hatter standing over a large chessboard, its pieces intricately carved and meticulously arranged. Her breath caught as she noticed a new piece on the board—a red queen that bore an uncanny resemblance to herself.

Hatter's fingers moved the red queen with deliberate precision. "Alice is now the most important piece on the board, Harrison," he said coolly. "Every move I make is to ensure she's strong enough to fulfill her role. We need her to help us win— and she needs to be ready for what she is about to face, nothing else matters."

Alice held her breath, her pulse racing. The words hit her with a brutal force, the cold detachment in Hatter's voice like a physical blow. The warmth she had felt between them—the connection she had dared to believe in—now felt like a cruel illusion. She had hoped for something more, something real. But hearing him dismiss her as nothing more than a pawn shattered that fragile hope, leaving her with the stark realization that it had been nothing but wishful thinking.

She glanced back at the chessboard, where Hatter's movements were methodical and unemotional. He was treating her as a mere component in his strategy, her personal value overshadowed by his duties.

Harrison watched Hatter with a skeptical frown. "She's the missing piece," Hatter continued, his voice devoid of warmth. "Every move I now make is to ensure her survival until she's fulfilled her purpose. We can't afford to lose her before the final act... she's just a duty. A responsibility I have to Wonderland. Nothing more."

The words hit Alice like a physical blow. She staggered back, her face pale, the weight of her misguided hope pressing heavily on her chest. The ache of realization deepened with every step she took away from the study. She had let herself believe in something that was never real, and the hurt was raw and undeniable.

Back in the study, the conversation continued, oblivious to her departure.

Harrison crossed his arms, his frown deepening as he spoke. "Since the day I met you, you've kept everyone at arm's length. You've never explained why, and I've respected your boundaries. If it hadn't been for Alice's parents, who knows how long it would have taken for us to become friends. And after everything with Jack... All I'm saying is, what if you're wrong? What if Alice is more than just a piece in your game? What if she's capable of more than you're giving her credit for?"

Hatter paused, his eyes lingering on the chessboard as if searching for answers within its intricacies. He finally looked up, meeting Harrison's gaze with a mixture of frustration and resignation.

"I've learned the hard way that emotions can cloud judgment," Hatter said quietly. "I've kept people at arm's length because it's safer that way—both for me and for them. It's not about whether Alice is more than a pawn. It's about the consequences of letting her become something more.

I'm responsible for ensuring her survival, and that's my primary concern. But the truth is, the closer I let someone get, the more dangerous it becomes if things go wrong. I'm protecting her, and myself, by keeping my feelings in check. Maybe you're right—maybe there's something more there. But I can't afford to lose sight of the bigger picture, no matter how much I might want to."