Clocks [Alice in the Country of Hearts Fan fiction]

Chapter 6: May we dance?

"Elliot-" I said surprised.

"Hey, beautiful, no more bandages I see" he smiled at me.

I looked at my shoulder, it wasn't bandaged anymore just had a cloth taped to it so it didn't look disgusting. "Uh yeah Vivaldi made me take off the bandages, didn't look good with the dress. Of course in her mind it would have been best if I hadn't gotten. shot between the invitation and ball but things happen" I laughed.

He smiled and added, "Well you look stunning." pausing for a second and offering me his hand, "May we dance" he asked.

Flustered I replied, "Oh um I've been recovering so much I never practiced dancing...the only time I ever danced was with my dad as a kid and I don't remember that" I blushed and shyly looked at the floor.

"No worries, you can't be entirely horrible" he laughed and took my hand joining the crowd of people dancing, of course they all were faceless. Elliot guided me with the music and his feet, my hand in his and other hand on his shoulder. His hand in mine yet the other was around my waist,  I was so caught in the moment I miss stepped and my foot landed right on his foot. I froze, embarrassed and left the dance floor and Elliot standing there. I was a fool to dance with him, I kept beating myself up after that moment. Escaping the crowd I took refuge on the balcony that overlooked the garden, you could see the Amusement Park all lit up from here and the Hatter Mansion with its lights lining the coridors. I stood there for a long while till i couldn't take my feet anymore, I sat in a small chair and removed the bloody shoes. The small glass vial fell out of my dress, it was 3/4 full. A sigh came across myself, what was I doing as I sat here alone in a world where everyone was supposed to love me. I assumed everyone hated me but no, this isn't true here, the glass door opened and out came the man I really didn't want to see. Elliot looked worried, and leaned on the railing looking out over towards the Mansion.

"Sky, can I ask you something" he said quietly.  I hesitated I hate that question. "You know what nevermind. What are those scars from, I think I want to hear the battle that went with those" he pointed at my right arm.

Surprised by his question I sighed and looked down at the faded scars, perfectly lined up my arm. "Elliot, you wouldn't understand, but I know you're not going to take a no for an answer. You see back at my home I hit a hard time in my life, I started to get bad. These marks are from a battle with myself." I sighed and exclaimed.

He knelt down beside me looking me straight in the eyes and he grabbed my arm, "Sky, stay here, where everyone loves you" he begged. "Promise me never to fight in this battle again"

I nodded, stunned, "Elliot, you know I can't stay. My brother and parents back home. I have to return to them"

After our little talk Elliot asked me to another dance, we walked back into the ballroom and we waltzed till everyone had left and the ball was over. Soon after the ball had ended Elliot went home with Blood and the twins, i went to bed and Vivaldo and Peter were on clean up duty (well not them exactly they just made sure the maids cleaned up the ballroom). It was the perfect night to end a nightmare of a life, too bad life was just on pause and when I took off that dress it resumed again. As I dreamed Nightmare appeared again, this time with good news.

"Your vial is almost full Sky, then you can go home" he sighed, "but there is also the option to stay in the Country of Hearts" he added with a grin.

I sat down on what seemed to be the floor but was just endless space where my feet staid, "Nightmare,  I have a family at home and friends that will miss me"

"As do you here. Vivaldi, Ace, Gowland, the twins they are all family to you. Sky, every role in this world is something to you in your home. I'll give you a hint, Ace he reminds you of your role model the one you love the most back home." Nightmare exclaimed.