Alice

25. A Duel with the Queen

25. A Duel with the Queen

The flight of stairs seemed endless. Still, I didn't tire. I kept climbing, because I knew that if I stopped, I would just turn around and go right back down. I couldn't face the Queen. I knew I couldn't. I didn't have the courage. No matter how hard I tried to hide it, I couldn't deny that I was afraid of her. All the times that I'd stood up to her, it had been an impulsive, spur of the moment thing. And most of times, it had had something to do with Jack. Whether it had involved him directly, or whether he was just by my side, I couldn't do anything if it wasn't for him, or if he wasn't there to help me, to reassure me.

Now, when I needed him most, he wasn't there. But that was because it was for his own good. So, I actually didn't want him there. But at the same time, I did, but.... At that point, I had to stop. My head was spinning.

Finally, I stopped on the second stair to the top. I couldn't do it. I couldn't take that last step up. One step stood between me and the Queen of Hearts. This was the deciding moment. Of course, I'd already had several deciding moments. There was when I jumped over the table and started on my mad dash toward the stairs. Then there was when I said good-bye to Jack. And when he grabbed my hand, and we stood there looking at each other. I didn't have to do any of those things. I could've turned around and not bothered. This was my last chance. Taking that last step would seal my fate.

I turned around and looked down at the stairs below me. And I heard Jack's voice calling me. "Alice...."

Was it real? Had he really called me? Or was I imagining it? Either way, I wanted nothing more in the world then to follow his voice, down the stairs and into his arms. And I almost did.

Almost.

Instead, I did the craziest, stupidest, most unexpected thing. I took a deep breath, and I took a step up.

I stepped onto the top of the arena. It was made entirely of stone, with bleachers built into the ground. The torches up here burned brightly, streaking orange and gold against the black sky.

I looked over the short stone wall down into the arena below. The battle raged on. I could hear the sounds of swords clanging, shouts of defiance and cries of pain. I tried to find Jack, but it was nearly possible to pick out faces from up here. Although, I think I could recognize Martha kicking butt with a broom.

I turned away from the wall, reminding myself of my duty. I drew my sword from my belt, and snuck ever so quietly behind the bleachers.

I had a plan. I was going to sneak up behind her throne and surprise attack her. It was genius, and absolutely sure-fire. It was completely crazy, and I'd most likely be killed in two seconds, but still, it was going to work.

Quieter than a mouse, I stole toward the raised platform on which her throne sat. You got this, Alice, I told myself. You can do this. I tried to believe it, but the fact that my hands were shaking uncontrollably was not very comforting.

I was almost there. No one had spotted me yet, since the only people up here were the Queen, the Queen's personal guards, and her ladies-in-waiting, and they were all too engrossed in the battle to notice me. I padded forward slowly, walking ball, heel, ball, heel.

I was closing in. First fifteen feet. Then ten. Five, four, three, two.... Eight inches. I was right behind her.

I raised my sword and swiftly brought the point up right next to the Queen's neck. I poked my head around the edge of the back of the throne.

"Freeze," I whispered in the Queen of Hearts' ear. I heard the ladies-in-waiting screaming. They ran in different directions, all of which were away from their misstates. The guards all around the Queen draw their swords. "Come any closer to me, and I'll kill your queen," I threatened them. In that instance, I felt powerful. So insanely, extremely powerful. I almost smiled.