Alice

7. Secrets

7. Secrets

Sunlight woke me the next morning. At first, I didn't remember where I was. Everything looked too tall. Had I shrunk again? I thought with alarm. Then I remembered that I was on the floor. I looked around myself and discovered that I had fallen asleep with my head in Jack's lap. That should've made me uncomfortable, but it didn't. Maybe it would become awkward when we were both awake, but as he was still asleep, I felt oddly peaceful.

Just then, I heard footsteps and voices coming our way. My brain was wide awake now. People were coming.

I sat bolt upright and starred shaking Jack. "Jack! Jack, wake up!" I whispered urgently. "Jack, come on!"

The footsteps kept getting closer. Jack's eyes opened slowly. "Wha-?"

That was when a group of people turned the corner. There was a herald and a few card soldiers.

"There they are!" shouted the herald, pointing to us. I scrambled to my feet, and Jack did the same. "Come with us!" the herald ordered. Two soldiers came forward and grabbed each of us.

As we were marched down the corridors, I started to panic. What would the Queen say? Would she want to execute us? I looked over at Jack, trying to catch his eye, but his head was down.

We were pushed through the throne room doors. The Queen of Hearts sat on her throne, drumming her fingers impatiently on the arm of the chair.

"Well, well, well!" she said when she saw us. "What have we here?"

"We found them in the east corridor. Together."

"So, Alice," the Queen said, turning toward me. "I see you've met Jack."

At the mention of his name, I looked over at him. His head was still down.

I looked back at the Queen, standing a little taller. "Yes, I have," I replied with confidence.

"Since you seem to know so much, why don't you tell us what you were doing last night."

There were some snickers from the guards behind me.

I took a deep breath. "I was walking back to my room, and I saw Jack. We got to talking, and we lost track of time. I guess I fell asleep."

"If that's true, why are you in your nightclothes?" questioned the Queen

I looked down and discovered that, indeed, I was wearing a T-shirt, sweatpants, and no shoes. Oh. I'd forgotten about that. Oops. "I- Um, well-"

"You're lying!" screamed the Queen. "Off with her head!"

That was when Jack's head snapped up. He jumped in between the advancing guards and me. He looked back at the Queen, and said loudly and firmly, "No."

"No?!" the Queen screeched. Her entire face became bright red, her eyes narrowed into slits, and she gripped the arms of the throne, half-rising out of it. Then, everything changed. Her body relaxed, her eyes opened wide, and her face went back to normal. Suddenly, the Queen started to laugh. Her laughter was loud, filling the room. But it wasn't a happy sound. It was a cruel laugh, an evil one. Just the same, everyone had shock all over their faces. Everyone, that is, except Jack. He looked worried. To me, it seemed like the Queen had never laughed before, and if she had, it fore came terrible things.

Still laughing, the Queen choked out, "Look, everyone. Little Jack's trying to play hero."

Hesitantly, people started laughing. Then, when they became sure that the Queen wasn't going to behead them, the laughter grew louder, until it engulfed us both. However, after another thirty seconds, the Queen yelled, "SILENCE!" Not a sound was made.