I followed Cheshire down the empty hall. I felt bad tracking mud and blood across the beautiful red velvet carpet trimmed with gold. Cheshire didn't mind as I could tell. He was prancing across the carpet in a zig-zag pattern leaving his tiny foot prints behind. What a silly cat...
Cheshire stopped at a large, carve, wooden door at the hallway. He was frowning.
"Cheshire? Are you OK? What's behind this door?"
I'm not allowed in here anymore. Not after last time. This is where I take my leave, Alice.
"What? But you can't leave! You have to take me to the Queen!"
I have. She in behind this door... She knows you're here, but I've bought you some time already. Don't worry, I'll come and visit you when you're in the army.
I swallowed my sadness. Cheshire was a good cat. Sarcastic, mean, and tricky, but he helped me. That's what counts, right?
"Bye then, Cheshire"
Bye bye, Silly Mortal.
"My real name is Cary."
Then goodbye, Cary.
Cheshire disappeared in a explosion of blue flower petals, as normal. Whatever normal was.
I turned to the door. Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door. I was met with a royal court. I was in a throne room. The Queen was sitting straight down the middle in a carved, golden throne on a raised platform. Her attendants were surrounding the platform, eyeing me with a wary look. The Mad Hatter was off to the side sipping on a cup of tea, sitting cross-legged on a coffin.
A coffin? Who was it for? I thought I was just going to be send to the army?
The Queen piped up. "Hello! My name is Queen Asya the III! Not really! I am and was the only Queen! That was funny.." Her attendants started to laugh, some genuine, some nervous. "Good! You are the Alice, aren't you?"
"My name is not Alice," I replied in a strong voice.
"Isn't she just a bundle of sunshine?" The Mad Hatter commented while snickering.
"Now I want no lip from you, Hatter! Why are you sitting on my husband anyways? He'll be sore when he wakes up now," The Queen retorted.
"Husband?" I whispered, confused.
"Yes... I guess Cheshire forgot to mention that during the Alice war... King Brendis was killed," The Mad Hatter took a calm sip of tea after delivering the news.
The Queen let out a earsplitting shriek. "He's not dead! Not dead! He's only sleeping! He'll wake up soon, Hatter! I thought I banished you from my court! Hatter!" Her voice kept rising every word she screamed.
"Oops..."
"Oops! Oops! That's all you have to say, every time! Leave Hatter!"
"But I wanted to watch the Alice... I like her spunk."
The Queen's attention snapped back to me.
"Right... our little Alice."
"My name... is not Alice. It's-" The Queen cuts me off.
"You are an Alice! You must die!"
"I am not Alice. It's Cary."
The Queen tilted her head at this comment. "Cary? Cary? You are not Cary!"
"You are... ALICE! All off her attendants shouted with her.
