SENSELESS

V - Fur Against Flesh

                  ♥ Wild Card III ♥

To fall down from the palace walls to the mysterious, sinister forest below us is relatively close to anyone who has been dragged down to Hell.

But I’ve never felt or knew that sometimes Heaven is located below.

Hatter’s strong yet gentle arms were wrapped around me were warm, comforting but I worry about his welfare: his face was bruised, his shoulder bleeding. But despite his state and the fact that we are still falling, he still held me, his strength and concern never wavering. And I must say I had enough trouble for one day though I’ve just collected myself a few minutes--which seemed like hours-- ago. I had kicked my shoes off the run, fainted, received a gash on my forehead, plunged into chasms of darkness, hit by objects, nearly stabbed, shot and killed, and intimidated by the Queen.

And I am yet to add that I’ve been dragged down from a window. 

Hatter’s skills, strengths and capabilities, though I knew he was strong, caught me off-guard. Unlike myself who has been trying to find a way to keep myself balanced in air as if I am trying to fly or turn myself into a bird, he remained calm—or appeared to be calm for I could sense worry and fear in his touch. I gripped him tighter, almost tearing the material of his shirt. My sight caught only flashes as if my eyes were the lenses of a broken camera. Over his shoulder, I could see the top of his cane, branches of trees and I could inhale the scent of him: blood, flesh, and…lavender? In mid-air, he spun to position me over himself, his arms still around me. Trees scratched at us, recent injuries started to bloom, leaves fell…

And we hit the ground rolling.

I didn’t know how we did so. I had thought we would lay flat against the forest floor as I panicked. When Hatter’s back slammed against the ground, I heard a crack and his cry of pain but immediately, he rolled, his hand slipping behind my head to protect it from the impact. I grit my teeth; when Hatter hit the ground, my hand was loose and I felt my wrist snap. The cut on my arm was throbbing as well as my side and forehead. Blood pooled down from Hatter’s shoulder and he cursed, wincing as the pain envelops his body. 

We just lay there, groaning and wincing in pain. I felt Hatter’s gloved hand behind my head shaking before he withdrew it and tried to support himself. I bit my lip which did no good. I tasted blood on my mouth as I tried to sit up. Hatter rolled to his side and was already kneeling, his eyes showing pain and concern. 

“Alice.” His voice was faint yet strong, begging me to rise and at the same time, asking if I was alright though it was quite clear that he didn’t use my name as a question.

Part of me wanted to rise despite my condition but every ache in my body compelled me to lie back on the ground, surrender and faint. Exhaustion spread through the bones of my body like a flame and I shut my eyes, tired of seeing things I should not see: blood, gore, death-

But at the deep corners of my mind, a voice kept whispering. Telling me that I had already seen these things before….and I would see them again.

“Alice,” Hatterwhispered, his tone pleading, his hand against my cheek. He had crawled closer to me, his left hand on my shoulder. Desperately, he tried to help me sit up and I could see—no, feel—that he was fighting pain. I was shocked to see none of him is broken. Or maybe I am too daft to not see any signs of fracture and the like.

“I know you are not in such condition to move but we have to run. Mistress---” 

“Alice.” I spoke, interrupting him.