Be My Alice

Samuel Finds an Injured Turtle

I stretched my stiff limbs. I finished packing my fifth hat. Before I was able to create ten, probably twenty hats a day, but lately I was losing focus; losing ambition. My passion for hats dwindled. I felt like Father after he realized his passion died and decided to invest in experiments.

I sighed. No, I won't become like him. I decided to be a tailor to get away from everything madness related. Perhaps a bit of fresh air would do me good.

I grabbed a gray tailored coat and top hat and left my strange house. It was the shape of a hat. A fitting home for a Hatter.

My name is Samuel Hatter, son of the famous entrepreneur and engineer, the Mad Hatter. My father was known for his stupendous parties and festivities throughout Wonderland... that was until he switched occupations. Now he makes teas of various flavors and crafts weapons as a side business. Experimentation as a hobby. It sickened me just being related to that monstrosity.

I, too, recently changed occupation and chose to live as a humble hat maker in solitude. Do I ever get lonely? Absolutely. Did I speak to my friends? Not frequent. Did I wish for excitement like the good ol' days? Sometimes. But I prefer to keep to myself for my sake. There's nothing wrong with having peace and quiet.

I walked on the forest path with a small pipe in hand. I lit a match and was about to light it when my eyes stumbled upon a creature. A familiar creature: a white rabbit.

"Christopher Rabbit. It's been a while. What brings you away from the Red Queen's side?" The rabbit twitched his nose. His red eyes stared into my green irises. I was certain Christopher could communicate via in any form. How long has it been since we last spoke, since we saw each other? "What do you want?" The rabbit didn't respond yet and hopped away.

I knew what he was up to. The White Rabbits are predators luring their prey to their habitat. They see it as a game of survival of the fittest. Will an outsider make it out of Wonderland alive or be swayed and stay here for the rest of their lives? Innocent creatures appear to be manipulative rodents on the insides.

Which begs the question, why come to me?

I shook my head. What was I thinking? For a moment, I was considering following that rodent! I'll be playing right into his paws! I turned away with gritted teeth. No, I won't succumb to his games! I want peace! I want tranquility!

My foot paused mid-step. My curiosity peaked. Not again! Questions swarmed in my mind like a raging wasp nest. I always hate this trait about myself. I guess I got it from my mother, whoever she was. Well, not today!

...then again... it couldn't hurt to check for a few measly seconds, would it? I turned a complete 180 and followed the trail Christopher insisted on. I was getting deeper into the woods. I was reconsidering my choices when I stumbled upon an opening. The moonlight was a magnificent sight above a large lake.

I didn't realize I was inside my home the entire time. Maybe I should've been more aware of the time. I must admit. The moon was a site to behold. Maybe I should consider building a small hut for this spot. Yes, I could see it now.

Nothing too big. A small hut with a little smoke stove for brewing tea and cooking a meat stew. What a splendid idea! A place far off to ease the stress of work. Not to mention, a person sleeping beyond the lake.

...wait...

.........what?

I narrowed my eyes, sharpening my gaze. It did appear someone was sleeping on a flower bed. The bed was completely made of bright red roses. My body moved on its own. I was getting closer to the sleeping figure. Hundreds of questions whispered in my ears like a catchy melody but there was one question that was set in repeat.

Who are you?

I was standing before the sleeping person. I was fascinated by their appearance. A Mocked Turtle but not at the same time. A slender turtle with muscles and strange markings and wearing black shorts. A blue bandana over their eyes.

There was something else... bruises and cuts were all over their body. I sat on the rose bed and leaned in close to their hard plastron. I placed my ear over their chest. I waited patiently until I heard a soft fluttering of heartbeats. Good, they're still alive. They must have gone through a battle.

Even as a shut-in, I should have been aware of the battles in Wonderland. There hasn't been a battle in decades let alone a full-out war. The atmosphere has been quiet. Too quiet. Agonizing silence. It may be peaceful, but every Wonderlandian is anticipating the next big game. Who will be the players? Who will be the pieces? Who are the pawns?

And who will reign supreme?

One thing was certain.

This turtle came here was no coincidence.

This could mean the start of a new game!

Or maybe they are game...

What are the rules?

What's at stake?

What do we gain from this?

The one who holds the answers is resting. I should take them with me. The flowers could smell blood within meters. I draped my coat over them and carried their injured body with care. They groaned softly. They opened their eyes. Their dark eyes were glazed with exhaustion.

"Go back to sleep. I'll take care of you", I told them.

They closed their eyes and deeply leaned into my chest.

Right. They won't survive without proper care. They're a sitting meal for any creature, especially with an unidentified specimen in their home.

I turned around and lo and behold the albino rabbit stared at me.

"What are you planning, Christopher? Are you bored of the quiet life in Wonderland? Or is there something at work here? Is that why you don't want to answer me? Is there someone listening in as we speak? Is this turtle the new game? Why won't you answer me?" I couldn't stop the questions from spewing out of my mouth.

Christopher twitched an ear and a nose. He hopped away from me. Just as I expected. I won't be getting any answers that easily. My chance of getting any would be to wait until the turtle is awake. I don't know how long that would take. Weeks. Months. Years. Do I have the patience to get my answers?

I blocked out the whispers. My focus was to care for the turtle and keep them safe until they woke. I was about to leave when I spotted an item on the rose bed. With precision, I picked up the object.

It was a small clear crystal vial with a silver plug. I had never seen this object before. How peculiar. What bothered me was how it lay next to the sleeping turtle as if someone wanted it to see it. You might as well tie a tag that said "Clue". I looked at the turtle in my arms.

Who are you?

I flicked the vial watching it spin in the moonlight. I caught it with ease. Christopher... I don't know what you're scheming or how this turtle is involved... but it's obvious what your message is...

The game is afoot.

The madness will brew into a raging storm.

And this turtle is in the eye.

No one knows the rules.

No one knows what the game is.

But anyone who knows about the new outsider will want them on their side or take them by force.

You wanted me to be the first to find them. Right, Christopher? You know me too well that my curiosity will be the death of me. I guess it couldn't be helped.

I walked the path back to my little hat house.

I couldn't help but feel the giddiness bubbling in my chest.

Curiouser and curiouser. 

~Lady Ai~

Thank you, ray-84.