Painting the Roses Black

Purple Haired Charity

Helena walked through the strange forest. There was tiny people with wings, mushrooms and flowers taller than her, and some of the strangest looking people ever. They all whispered the same things as she walked pass.

"Alice?"

"The, Alice?"

Helena just smiled shyly and waved. She was so used to everyone hating her. She listened carefully to everything going on around her. She was used to scoping out her surroundings with her ears. She listened for the distinct light, cautious, size five footsteps she loved hearing every morning. She felt her heavy backpack on her back and wondered how she still had it. She had been walking for hours. Occasionally she'd ask a nice tree if she was going the right way. The trees could talk here! She was beyond the point of shaking in fear though, because she was beginning to like it in Wonderland.

She had been walking for hours when she noticed someone was following her. Its sounded feminine, larger than her, and wasn't careful at all. Helena took a few turns and circled around. she was being followed. She whipped around.

"Are you following me?" She asked. She saw a woman with very white skin and flowing purple hair. She had huge crystalline eyes with very pronounced lashes.

"Alice! I have to make you a dress. I have your measurements from last time you were here, but they may have changed a bit, so come along dear!" The woman had a very vain tone. Helena was freaking out, almost hyperventilating. The woman pulled her by the arm to a door in the side of a grassy hill. She pulled Helena inside and sat her on a sofa.

"Do you want a cup of tea, maybe a fruit?" The woman asked. Helena was tempted, but shook her head. The woman clapped. "Lets get right to work then! Stand on this pedestal and try not to move hun," The woman said.

"Ma'am, may I ask you name?" She asked.

"I'm Charity," She said. She asked Helena to step out of her garments so she was only in her underwear and bra. She felt exposed, but let the dress maker get to work.

A few hours passed and she was wearing a full outfit, with leggings bots and everything. She liked the dress, and Charity seemed pleased. She'd begun to like the dressmaker.

"Do you want something to eat?" Charity asked. Helena thought for a moment.

"Do you have coffee and peaches?" She asked hopefully. Charity nodded and got her a peach and made some coffee. Helena was really liking wonderland. She wondered how Marion was doing. She looked out the window and noticed the sky getting dark.

"Oh dear, its getting dark, and you don't want to be out at night, that's when the paraders invade our land, I have a guest room, your more than welcome to stay in it," Charity said.

"Thank you so much Charity, you are too kind. I'd love to," She said./ Her feed ached from walking all day. Charity showed her to the guest room and retired to her own. Helena layed down on the soft bed. In the above world, she was treated like a punching bag. In Wonderland, she was a well regarded celebrity hero. She really liked it here.

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Helena woke at the break of dawn. She watched outside grow lighter. She walked out to the room her dress was made in and was surprised to find Charity making coffee and slicing peaches.

"Good morning, did you sleep well?" Charity asked.

"I did thank you. How abut you?" She asked. Charity shook her head.

"Afraid not, but its like that every night though, so no worries. Would you like some breakfast?" She asked. Alice nodded. Charity handed her a bowl of sliced peaches with a biscuit, and a cup of coffee with cream.

"Thank you," She said. Charity nodded and sat to her own breakfast. When her breakfast was gone, she thanked Charity again and set off. She put her old clothes in her backpack.

She walked for a few more hours and finally came to the edge. The trees were blackened, and the ground was burned. Ashes fell from the sky. She wondered. Did she dare enter the land of the Black Parade?