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Chapter 31: The Mystery Deepens

"What do you mean 'more important than all of the Oysters'?" Hatter asked confused.

"The Oysters are what the Queen uses to keep her vice grip on the people of Wonderland. I'm just—I was the person who sold their emotions to the people of Wonderland." Hatter continued.

"That's not for me to be answering, Hatter." Alistair replied.

"Like you, I'm just a pawn in all this. But unlike you; in the bigger picture of things that have been set in motion for a long time, and finally picking up its pace, I'm not anything but a passerby."

"Who knows the answer? Who's behind all of this?" Hatter asked angrily.

"Who else? Mad March, of course."

Alice had been standing in the Throne Room for at least an hour.

They were trying to figure out where the ring was.

Where she'd hidden it.

They had even gone through the trouble of searching her and checking her pockets to no avail.

"She's not as impressive as all of you had made her out to be." The Queen interrupted the silence.

"She's just a girl. A girl who's committed thievery."

Alice wanted to protest, but if this was anything like the book from her childhood; there would be trouble if she spoke against the Queen of Hearts.

She was puzzled to seeing Jack on the opposite side of the bars in the dungeon; and dressed so formal.

He had mentioned something about cutting a deal with his mother; but who was his mother and how could she influence the Queen in any way?

He had been very insistent on her meeting his parents after she had accepted his proposal.

"Where is the ring?" The Queen snapped again, for the twelfth time within the hour.

"I told you; I don't know what you're talking about."

"We know you had the ring. Jack told us." The King stated matter-of-factly.

"Jack?" Alice asked in disbelief.

Why would Jack steal a ring from them and then tell them that she had it?

The Queen looked as if she would explode, before her face suddenly went quite calm.

"Tell me, my dear girl, have you met my son?" She asked, smirking.

Alice turned as the doors opened, and watched as Jack entered, looking the same as he did in the dungeon when he'd spoken to her.

It was all starting to make sense now.

"Hello, Alice." Jack nodded with a slight smile.

"I will keep my promised." He whispered to her as he approached the Queen, his mother.

"Take her away." The Queen ordered as Jack approached her.

Two suits came forward and escorted Alice out.

As soon as she was out of the room, the Queen looked to another suit.

"I want her taken to the Truth Room. Drs. Dee and Dum will know what to do." She ordered.

"Yes, Ma'am." The suit nodded before turning to carry out her orders.

"Actually, Mother," Jack interjected as he reached her throne. "I had another idea in mind."

Sarah was leaving Lester's office with yet more paperwork to sign off on for the projects she was working on.

As she entered the corridor outside of the Main Operations Room, she saw Abby and Becker emerging from the adjacent corridor.

She watched how happy they looked and watched as they kissed before Becker turned back down the corridor and Abby continued on down the opposite corridor toward her office.

"Abby," Sarah called.

"Hey, how are you?" Abby asked.

"Good, good. Slightly tired from staring at a screen and signing off on things, but things are coming along." Sarah smiled. "How are you? You look very happy today."

Abby lifted her hand and showed Sarah her engagement ring.

"I told him 'yes.'" Abby beamed.

"Congratulations, Abby." Sarah smiled. "You deserve it; both of you do."

"Thanks." Abby nodded.

Sarah noticed a somewhat sad look briefly cross Abby's face.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm trying to move on, but I'm not giving up hope." Abby spoke determinedly.

"You did say 'yes' because you love Becker and not because you're bent on trying to stop the pain by hiding, right?" Sarah asked concerned.

"Of course." Abby answered assuredly. "I said 'yes' because I love Becker."

Several hours later, it was a little after dark.

Hatter was feeling incredibly better.

Better than he had ever felt in his life.

It was as if he'd been overcome with some new sense of empowerment.

Alistair was leaning against a tree opposite of Hatter throwing twigs and small rocks into their tiny campfire.

"I'll give it a day or two before Marchy comes looking for us." Alistair spoke, staring at the dancing flames. "I'm sure Queeny has him on a tight leash for the time being."

Hatter stood up and stretched.

"I'm going to find Alice." Hatter announced.

"Don't be an idiot." Alistair chided as the Jabberwocky groaned somewhere off in the distance.

"No girl is worth your life, let alone an Oyster. Besides, you've still got that Jabberwocky to contend with; you know, should you run into him on your way to the Hearts Casino." Alistair added.

"D'you know what, Stripey?" Hatter asked tersely, turning to Alistair.

"It's your own fault for the way you are now. You chose to drink those teas and overdose on them. You're the reason no one can see you anymore." Hatter shouted at him.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves here, Hatter. You can still see me, as can Marchy." Alistair countered. "And I'm not the only person who got where I am because of overdosing."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Hatter questioned.

"You'll never remember it."

Hatter raised an eyebrow, waiting for an explanation.

"Mad March will be waiting for you." Alistair stated.

"I'll deal with him when the time comes. I've done it before." Hatter replied coldly.

"Yes, and you were hailed amongst the Resistance for murder!" Alistair chirped, springing to life and his feet.

"Hailed by the very people, who now search for you mercilessly because of your secret." Alistair continued, his voice suddenly low and serious.

"How can it be my secret when I don't even know what it is?"

"I'm appalled that you would ever suggest such a thing, Jack." The Queen shouted incredulously. "Throwing a ball for a thief that you had some fling with on the other side of the mirror when you are betrothed to another?"

"Dee and Dum can still get the information that you want. This ball would be a way of luring her into a false sense of security." Jack reasoned.

The Queen seemed to be turning Jack's proposition over in her mind.

Jack took this opportunity to try and voice his opinions once again.

"I would like to still marry Alice, Mother. I care nothing for Duchess."

"You would pick an Oyster over someone I approved of?"

"We, Dearest." The King chimed in.

"Quiet, Winston."

"Sorry, Dearest." He apologized.

"When I asked Alice to marry me in her world, my intent was for her to follow me here to introduce her to you. I didn't think she hide the ring or lose it."

"You find my ring, I'll give you my answer." The Queen replied, sternly.

"Yes, Mother." Jack nodded with a slight smile before turning and leaving the Throne Room.

"That was very generous of you, my Sweet." The King flattered.

"Don't be a fool, Winston." The Queen silenced him. "Once I have my ring back, I'm going to kill her anyway."

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