"Thrown Away"

Chapter Two - Alice

Chapter Two

I struggle to keep up with the 'Mad Hatter'. Why is he so... Dark? I cough as smoke from his cigarette puffs into my direction again and I kind of gently push him farther away.

"Stop trying to kill me with that thing." I say and he laughs.

"If I wanted you dead, I would have let that Regret kill you." He mutters and I turn to him curiously.

"Why did you call that girl a 'regret'?" I question.

"Because Alice, that's what you become if you are a failed Alice... Or if you are suicidal." He says and I look sharply at him.

"You call suicidal people regrets?!" I ask rudely and he smiles.

"If you want to get all weepy I can show you how to join them. I guarantee they don't feel the compassion you do. They'd kill you for your name." He says and I take a sharp intake of breath.

"They'd kill me and take my name?" I ask, spooked, "How many of them are there?"

"Well if you're ninety? Eight nine... And that last one was a real disappointment to society." He says and I gasp.

"You'd speak that way about a dead girl?" I accuse hurt and he stops walking abruptly and turns to me.

"Listen up Alice-" He begins but I don't let him finish.

"My name's not Alice! And how dare you have such little compassion for the people no longer with us! I'm sure some of them loved you!" I snap at him and he looks surprised. I cross my arms and start walking without him.

"I'm not going to your stupid destination anyway. You heartless jerk." I spit and I hear him take a deep breath from behind me.

"Don't walk away from me or else another regret will kill you." He says and I laugh cold and bitter.

"Then I'll become the part of the people you treat with ruthlessness." I growl and he walks quicker than I would've thought; cigarette and gun gone. I stop walking, and cross my arms.

"You're right. There was one girl there that I had loved deeply, but now she's gone and she the first Alice... And you are just like her." He says and I accept the small victory by turning away from him so he can't see my smile.

"Then you shouldn't be so cold towards the... Regrets." I mutter and suddenly I'm lifted off the ground and turned around and over.

"Hey!" I yelp in panic and I realize he's thrown me over his shoulder!

"Jeez Alice, calm down." He says and I start hitting his back with closed fists.

"Put me down!" I yell at him and he brings his free arm back and swats me on my head.

"Would you quiet down?" He asks me and I growl.

"I would if you'd put me down." I snarl and he sighs and releases me, and I put my hands on my skirts to keep them from flying up. I side glance the Mad Hatter to see him smirking... Jerk.

"You're something Mr. Mad Hatter." I say and he gives me a confused look.

"Leave that Mister thing out. I'm your protector Alice... I'm going to keep out of danger... It's my role." He says and I cross my arms, walking beside him.

"So you pick up all the girls like that?" I taunt and he smirks.

"Only you, Alice." He murmurs and something about his statement makes me shudder.

"Any Alice or just me?" I whisper, almost to myself and he glances at me and looks forward.

"Only you." He whispers and an edge is in the undertow of his voice... Mad Hatter...

I'll be keeping my eye on you.