A Song Named Alice

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Later that day, Alice sneaks out to take Raven's place and monitor around town. As she makes her way, she spots the Mad Hatter, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. She tries to turn around and leave before they see her, but the Mad Hatter catches up to her. 

Oh no, her mind panics. Raven's out of the game, I can't be as well. Please let the Mad Hatter not know about my betrayal yet, I beg of the world.

"What do you want with me, Mad Hatter? Are you here to get ugly or is it about Edwin?" She coldly says to him as he approaches her. 

"What are you talking about?" He questions. "Why would I try to hurt you? Of course it has to do with Edwin. I have a job I need you to do. You're bound to be the only one who could do it." 

She breathes out a relief. "Sorry about that Mad Hatter. A lot has been going on and I think it's starting to get to me. Everything is bunching up in these final days. But besides that, what is it that you want me to do?" 

Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum catch up with the Mad Hatter, noticing Alice with him. 

"Alice!" Tweedle Dee yells while Tweedle Dum giggles. They reach for her hands while they hold her close. 

She bends down and smiles. "How have you two been? Are you treating Mad Hatter well?" 

"Yeah, we've been fine, but when you left a few days ago, leaving Raven with us, Hatter got really hurt. He had to go to the hospital." Tweedle Dum whimpers. 

"Mm-hmm." Tweedle Dee agrees. "He's better now, but why did you leave us, Alice? If you had been there, Hatter might not have gotten hurt." He starts to tear up. 

She pulls them closer. "I'm sorry you two, but I had to leave. Edwin is a very precious person to me, and I don't want him to get hurt." 

"But if he just gave us his pocket watch, then we wouldn't have to hurt him." Tweedle Dum sniffles. 

"You know why Edwin won't do that." Alice says, letting them loose to see their faces. "That pocket watch is important to him. It's a gift from the woman he loves." 

Tweedle Dee is about to comment on it, but the Mad Hatter stops him before he can say anything. "Are you going to just hug Alice? I was in the hospital recently, shouldn't I be the one who's hugged?" 

"Wouldn't that hurt though? We don't want to hurt you, Hatter, otherwise we would hug you." Tweedle Dum whines. 

The Mad Hatter snatches them away from Alice and pulls them into a big and strong hug. "Hatter," they giggle. 

"Mm." He holds them tightly. "You two are mine, my precious little boys." 

"Hatter," Tweedle Dee says after a few minutes pass. "You need to let us go. Don't you have something that you want to tell Alice?" 

He shakes his head. "That can wait. I want to hug you two a little longer." 

"Hatter," Tweedle Dum repeats. "We can snuggle later under the blankets, where it's warm. It's so cold out today, I want to go home." 

"I'm warm with you two next to me, I have no problem waiting. Besides, my Tweedles are so cute, why would I ever want to let you go?" 

Tweedle Dee giggles. "Hatter, I want to go home, snuggle in blankets with you and eats lots of ice cream!" 

"But ice cream is cold. I thought you don't like the cold." 

"That's different. Ice cream is yummy, so I don't mind if it's cold." Tweedle Dee says as he cuddles against the Mad Hatter's arm. "Now hurry up and tell Alice whatever it is that you want to."