Hatter

THE END

Sebastian awoke to muffled voices and blurred faces yelling out his name and telling him to 'keep breathing.'
The room was an array of panic and terror, from voices yelling at him to stay awake to machines beeping loudly and the screeching of tiny wheels. He realized that he was on a hospital bed, which was rushing to a room labeled in large illuminating blood red letters, 'Emergency ward.'
He noticed to his left were Cath and Doctor Lilith; to his right were the people Cath mentioned as Ace and Oscar. He then noticed something Cath was holding something- no, it was a person. Then he realized: Alice!
"Daddy, stay awake," cried little Alice, her sparkly blue eyes flooded with tears.
"Catherine this is no place for  children, take Alice and the twins back to the waiting room," demanded Lilith hurriedly, her red hair a tangled mess and eyes grave.
Cath nodded, ushering Alice out of the waiting room.
Sebastian felt a slight pull as someone let go of his hand.
Catherine.
Everything became blurred after that, like the dew that clouds the car window. All the noise around him increased to a loud shriek and then there was nothing; no sound, no color.
Was this the end? Had he lost to the Jabberwocky? Had he succumbed to fear?
"CODE BLUE!" yelled Lilith, rushing the patient into the ER room.
"Get the ventilator; he isn't breathing." she said, directing Henry to help her move him to the other bed.
"You two, go sit with Cath and her children," she said pointing to Oscar and Ace who helped Henry haul Sebastian to the bed.They nodded and rushed out as Lilith yelled at her subordinates to come assist her.
They watched the ER door close behind them.
"Do you think he will be okay?" asked Oscar, looking meekly at Ace then back at the ward.
"That Hatter's a fighter. Death better be prepared to face him."
"Ace, you okay?" said Oscar, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm fine," he said calmly, looking at Oscar's hand.
That was the first time Oscar touched someone, and the first time Ace didn't break into a fit under severe pressure. Even fear had a hidden hope.

They entered the waiting room. Cath was curled up on the cold waiting room's metal chair, her sons Jamie and Oliver by her side and Alice seemingly hidden within her arms.
"Don't worry mommy; Daddy will be okay," comforted her two round-eyed sons, tugging at her long mauve skirt.
"Right, mister?" said one of the boys, looking up at Ace.
"All we can do is hope," he said, grabbing the little boy and cuddling him in his arms.The other one looked at Oscar, holding up his arm. Oscar was hesitant at first, but then scooped him up.
They all sat together in silence.
"Is Daddy really going to be okay?" A little head popped from under Cath's arm. It was Alice. Her big blue eyes were dilated from crying and her dirty-yellow locks were flowing over her cheeks.
"He'll be alright," answered Ace, smiling.
Cath then looked up at him and mouthed the words 'thank you' while wiping her own tears.
"Family doesn't need to thank us for being there for each other," answered Ace.
"Yes, us loonies need to to stick together," Oscar joked.
They all laughed.
Hope and happiness lay even in the most haunting of adversity, even if that happiness was fleeting.

"Don't leave me,' it whispered to Hatter.