Hey, guys! I'm a new writer on fanfiction... well, not really new more like I haven't really attended to my account at all since I first submitted it so... yeah I'm gonna stop babbling now. You're all welcome to call me Void.

This is my first submitted story ever... so please go easy on me. ^^;

Disclaimer: I do not own 'Joker/Clover/Heart no Kuni no Alice' that's owned by QR. If I did own it, I would've put way more villians in it...anyways,

I hope you enjoy the story!

Chapter I: The Day the World Ended

It all started the day she died; and it was also the day when the world ended. It didn't rain that day. Only a thin mist hovered over the graves where the funeral took place. The priest's prayer echoed through the family graveyard bouncing from grave to grave of each ancestor of the Liddell family. The morning was eerily silent except for the lone chirp of a sparrow far off.

I waited by the carriage with my hands crossed and my head slightly bowed in respect. It was not my place to attend the funeral. My only job was to serve the Liddell family. My eyes trailed over to the small form of Alice standing apart from the rest. This was the third time Miss Alice has attended a funeral; the first her mother's, the second her grandfather's, and now her older sister's, Lorina. Unlike the rest of the attendees who were wracked with sobs, no sound or movement came from Alice. I frowned.

Alice was very close to Lorina growing up as her mother died when she was young; Lorina took it upon herself to raise Alice and her younger sister, Edith. Lorina was kind and patient with everyone even the servants, even me. It was a shame that Lorina died so young, she barely just started living her life. Her recently wedded husband was wracked with sorrow next to her coffin. I could tell that he loved her so much, as she did him. They would have been wonderful parents. The cause of Lorina's death was unknown; everything about it was kept hush-hush and was hidden from the servants.

The priest finished the prayer; and the service was concluded. As the crowd dispersed I noticed Miss Edith approached me with a fast pace.

She scrubbed her eyes furiously and glowered at Alice who was still standing, un-moving by her sister's grave. "I hate her. She never cries at any funerals. It's like she doesn't even-" she choked, "care."

I softened my voice. "She probably cares; she just has a hard time showing it." I gently placed my hands on her shoulders. "Miss Alice is one of those people who probably keep their problems to themselves."

She shook my hands off her shoulders. "No, she doesn't! 'Cause she's the one who killed Lorina! I know it!"

I felt myself freeze at this revelation. Alice killed Lorina? No, that can't be possible. Alice would never do that.

Edith glared up at me with her bloodshot eyes from crying so much. "Alice was always jealous of Lorina, especially since her boyfriend fell for Lorina."

Alice had a boyfriend…? My eyebrows scrunched up at this disturbing news, and to be honest, I felt a little sick to the stomach. I had to defend Alice. There was no way she could've done… "Miss Edith…" I reached my hand out to her and she slapped it away.

"Don't Miss Edith me! I know what I saw!" with that said she stormed off, "I'm going to go ride with my real family!" I watched her board onto her father's carriage, and slam the door shut.

A stone lodged itself deep into my stomach. The only ones who haven't left yet were Alice and I. Alice was still standing next to the newly dug grave and watched as they lowered the coffin into the ground.

I approached Alice carefully. "Miss Alice?" I called out to her, "It's time we should leave." I wanted to say more. Are you okay? I'm sorry for your loss. Those were pointless questions and comments, nothing I could say would bring Lorina back. I placed my gloved hand on her shoulder. The best I could do was comfort her.

Her eyes were empty, staring at nothing. It was as if her Soul left an empty husk behind. I almost jolted, when her head tilted towards me, her eyes gazing right through me.

I wrapped my arm over her shoulders, held her hand in mine, and led her towards the carriage. If anyone saw the intimate way I held Alice, I would have been severely reprimanded and maybe even beaten. I helped her into the carriage. I hesitated before closing the door. "Miss Alice… if you need anything, I'm here for you."

She didn't reply and just continued to stare off into space.

I closed the carriage door with a click.

) OoO0oOo0OoO (

I tried to comfort Alice in the best way a servant could, which involved watching over her from a distance. Which, might I add, was absolute torture.

It was a week since the funeral, but I couldn't stop thinking about what Edith said. A rain of guilt pelted down upon me. I'm such a horrible person. How could I even think of Miss Alice doing such a thing! Miss Alice is one of the kindest people I know. A wave of doubt came over me. But then again Edith said she saw it with her own eyes…then again Edith always hated Alice so maybe her anger clouded her judgment? Why would Lorina's death be covered up if it wasn't serious…? Unless a member of the family… like Miss Alice…no! NO! There is no way.

I smoothed down my vest before knocking thrice on Alice's bedroom door. "Miss Alice? Breakfast is ready." There was no answer. "Miss Alice?" Still no answer. "I'm coming in Miss Alice." I opened the door and took a few hesitant steps in, scanning the room. "It appears that she has already left," I murmured to myself.

I spotted myself in Alice's body length mirror at the end of the room. I was wearing the traditional servant uniform, consisting of dark-grey cotton pinstripe trousers and vest, a white undershirt with a slight amount of ruffles in the chest area and black sleeve garters on each arm. Black leather shoes adorned my feet with silver buckles and silver buttons complimented the cuffs of my undershirt and front of my vest. In the front left pocket of my vest, my silver pocket-watch is securely tucked away, its chain the only thing that peeked out, and a blue ribbon was neatly tied to the yolk of my undershirt. My white dress gloves were to never be taken off unless I was alone as ordered by the Head Butler.

I winced when I saw my face. It seems the death of Fair Lady Lorina may have affected me more then I let myself believe. There were dark shadows underneath my eyes. I sighed and ran my fingers through my platinum-blonde hair, so pale it was almost white, only for my fingers to get snagged. I smiled sadly to myself. If Lady Lorina was here, she would be scolding me right now. Her exact words would be, "We can't have our servants looking like rabid animals, now could we?" And then she would proceed to help me fix my hair just as her late mother would've done. My heart squeezed into itself. Now it was my duty to take care of Alice and Edith in Lorina's stead. "Lady Lorina, I will take care of Alice for you. I promise."

I knew exactly where Alice was. It's where she's always been since the day of her sister's death.

I moved straight to Alice's window and brushed the curtain to the side. In the garden below I could see Alice sitting in same spot she and her older sister would sit together after church. I could tell from her shaking shoulders that she was crying. Alice…

I moved away from the window. Alice needs me now, there's no time for me to grieve.

I briskly walked down the stairs abandoning the breakfast trolley cart by Alice's bedroom door. The servants I passed ignored me as I ignored them. I turned into the west foyer and stepped beyond the boundaries of the double glass doors open to the morning breeze. Normally I wasn't allowed to step foot outside of the manor, except for a few exceptions. And finding Miss Alice is the perfect exception.

I heard laughter coming from a small clearing—particularly Alice's laughter. I felt the corner of my lip twitch. That's strange… I spotted Alice sitting on a blanket on the soft grass floor with a teacup in her hand.

"Sister, that's just too funny!" Alice tried stifling her laughter into her hand.

Sister? Is Edith with her? I frowned. That couldn't be. Edith went back to boarding school just few days ago. I looked around trying to find someone—perhaps maybe even a letter?—but I couldn't spot anyone anywhere near Alice. I frowned.

"Alright, I'll settle down," she spoke to the air.

I softly approached her. "Miss Alice, is everything alright?" Alice looked up at me, her blue eyes bright and clear. She was looking at me—not through me. I felt a chill go through my veins.

A big smile spread across her face. "Oh, Blake! Would you like to join Lorina and me for tea? It's Darjeeling."

My throat tightened up as I froze in shock. Alice was… talking to herself!? She actually believed her sister was here.

"Blake?"

I snapped out of it and looked in her confused eyes. "Ah, um," I cleared my throat, "not now, I have some… things I need to attend to."

She looked disappointed. "Oh, alright then… but when you're done hurry back, please!"

"Yes, as you wish, Miss Alice." I bowed and quickly left the garden. Sweat gathered at my brow. Lorina's death seems to have affected Alice a little more than I originally thought.

I took one look back towards Alice to see a white rabbit in my peripheral vision. It was hiding behind a tree wearing clothing and spectacles. Wha? My eyes widened. It was watching Alice, then me. I closed my eyes and shook my head. When I opened them, the rabbit was gone.

) OoO0oOo0OoO (

Where in the world could she have gone?! I turned the entire manor upside down trying to search for Alice. Maids and other servants alike were trying their best to aid me in their search. Every single light in the manor was turned on and shouts of Alice's name could be heard here and there.

My lungs strained from the effort of calling out Alice's name so much, and worry lodged itself deep into the back of my throat. Alice has been missing for twelve hours now, and her father was growing anxious by the minute. Usually he wouldn't involve himself with the life of his daughters ever since his wife's death, but he's already lost a wife and a daughter, and he wasn't about to lose another. I saw him pacing down the hall, his tall frame completely rigid.

This is my fault. I should've kept a better eye on Alice. Guilt rained down upon me. I made a promise on Lorina's grave to protect Alice, and I've already failed.

I heard one of the maids wail not too far off. "Miss Alice is nowhere to be found!"

At the moment, a decision snapped in my brain. Look in the garden. She must be in the garden.

I found myself outside in the garden within seconds looking under and behind every bush and tree. "Miss Alice!" I cried out. Could she have run away? Oh, dear, was it because I was too late to check up on her? I kept to my promise and came to spend time with Alice and 'Lorina', but when I arrived Alice was nowhere to be seen. Her blanket and tea abandoned. By the time I finished searching the branches of every tree and turning over every stone in the garden, the orange hue in the clear sky became a blood-red.

I found myself wandering into Alice's room, a wave of defeat washing over me. Miss Alice… I felt the corners of my eyes prick with tears. Just as I was about to allow myself to give in, I accidently knocked over something a bit heavy off her nightstand.

I looked down and saw that it was a book and landed on a particular page of girl falling down a hole, chasing a white rabbit. A wistful smile crossed my face. It was the story, Alice in Wonderland. It was a bit ironic that the main protagonist shared the same name with Alice. Too bad Alice isn't the type to follow strange rabbits down dark holes. Suddenly the memory of the strange white rabbit that was clothed from this morning popped up into my head. Could it be—the door to Alice's room suddenly burst open and the sloped form of the Head Butler, Eldwin Roswell, appeared. His dark eyes immediately zeroed in on me.

"There you are." Next thing I knew his cold boney hand was tightly wrapped around my wrist and I was being dragged out of the room.

I winced. "I'm sorry. I wasn't aware that you were looking for me. Is there something you need me to do?"

He didn't give me an answer just kept dragging me down the corridor.

I'm doomed. He's really angry. And I don't even know what I did wrong! Actually this wasn't the first time something like this happened there were many occasions on which I was blamed for an accident that wasn't even my fault.

I spotted a few other servants out of the corner of my eye hidden behind the corner of a wall watching the Head Butler dragging me to my doom, while they whispered to one another. Great, now there's going to be even more weird rumors spread around about me.

Finally Eldwin pulled open a door and closed it behind us with a click that rang 'welcome to hell'. He released my hand quickly as if he held on any longer bad luck would rain upon him for eternity.

Just as I was rubbing my wrist in a poor attempt to revive the blood cells that had been so mercilessly crushed, I noticed that Eldwin wasn't the only one in the dark room with me. I could barely see their faces illuminated by the weak candlelight, but that's all I needed—a glimpse—to know that sitting before me was the Head Maid, Margaret Holstein, and Alice's father, Lord Liddell. My face paled as I realized that I wasn't doomed, I was fucked.

"If you would so kindly, sit, Blake." The Head Maid gestured to the chair across from where she and Lord Liddell sat.

I immediately plopped into the chair, knowing that it wasn't a request. My whole body was stiff from head to toe; I could feel sweat dribbling down the back of my neck. I kept my eyes to the table, unable to meet Lord Liddell's face.

"Where were you from in between the time 3 pm to 4 pm?" she was the only one speaking. Lord Liddell remained completely silent.

Where was I at?! I tilted my eyebrows downward in confusion. "I was in the garden."

"And what were you doing?"

"Well," I started, "I made a promise to Miss Alice that I would have a cup of tea with her when I had the time." I purposefully left out the part about her delusion of her sister. "But I noticed that Alice was missing so I—"

"And you didn't inform us?!"

I jumped a bit at her angry tone. "Uh, no, I-I thought that I would look for Miss Alice on my own. I didn't want to inconvenience any of the staff members for nothing. As we both know Miss Alice does become… a little absent minded from time to time and may have wandered off."

"Oh, reeeaaaalllly?"

"Uh, yes. Really."

Her old eyes sharpened. "Then explain to me why one of my maids reported hearing Alice's screams around that time."

I felt a shock go through me. "Wh-what?"

"Yes, it's quite strange; she specifically mentioned hearing Alice screaming 'Put me down!' and spotting you just through the bushes not too far away from the screaming, in fact very close to the source of screams." She paused gouging my reaction, which I couldn't really react much at that point considering all the muscles in my face were completely frozen. "She also reported that about forty-five minutes later she saw you returning completely covered from head to toe in fresh dirt like you just finished digging a grave, and a big splotch of blood on your shirt."

I didn't know what to think anymore. They think I've killed Alice?!

The room was silent for a good five minutes, before Margaret spoke again. "How do you plan to defend yourself?" Her eyes flitted over my form reminding me that the shoulder of my shirt was still soaked in blood.

I remembered how I got this way. While I was searching everywhere I possible could, I accidently tripped over a rock—yes, a rock—and fell into a patch of recently turned dirt in the vegetable garden and also at the same time slashing my shoulder on a spade that just happened to be there. I then by that point gave up my search to go clean up, and inform the other servants that Alice was missing.

I repeated this story slowly and carefully to the Head Maid, hoping to God, that she would take my word for it.

She closed her eyes and inhaled. "Your story… seems reasonable enough."

I let my shoulders sag in relief.

"Your proof will be your shoulder. If there's a wound, we'll let you go, if not…" She didn't need to finish her sentence to get the message through. If there's no wound, I'm as good as dead.

Panic ripped through me. My wound already healed hours ago! Even when I was little, for some strange reason, whenever I got hurt my wounds would heal quickly.

"Eldwin, would you be so kind?"

The Head Butler went over to me and gave a cruel smile. He was one of the few people who knew my true identity and secret. In fact, only two other people were still alive who know my identity.

He mercilessly shoved up my sleeve to reveal the recent scar on my shoulder. With normal people, a scar would've taken days to achieve. Unfortunately, I'm anything but normal.

The Head Maid let out a gasp, and the whole room went silent.

I lowered my head to look down at the floor.

*BAM!* Suddenly Lord Liddell slammed both his hands down onto the table, standing causing me to flinch. Before I knew it, Lord Liddell had the front of my vest clenched tightly in his fingers as he dragged me halfway across the table. His red face glared into my terror-stricken eyes.

"YOU BASTARD! HOW DARE YOU TOUCH MY DAUGHTER! WERE YOU ALSO THE ONE WHO KILLED MY DEAR LORINA LAST WEEK!?"

For a moment I thought, how did he know? Then, wait, Lorina was murdered?! My thought process was interrupted by a punch landing on my right cheek causing my vision to go fuzzy. Abruptly he sent me flying across the room and crashing against the stone wall. I landed on the floor with a loud thump. I could taste copper in my mouth. I saw his Italian leather shoes click in front of my vision, before I was lifted high into the air above his head.

"Where the HELL is my daughter?!" he gritted through his teeth.

It was hard to speak because he was choking me by my own shirt, but I managed to get out a, "I-I don't kn-know." I felt tears leaking out of the corners of my eyes. "I'm sorry."

His blue eyes darkened. "Sorry? You're sorry? YOU'RE GOING TO BE BEGGING FOR DEATH BY THE TIME I'M DONE WITH YOU!" He slammed me against the wall again, and my head gave a loud crack against the wall. Black dots began entering my vision and felt my body go limp in his arms.

"Sir, if I may be so bold," Eldwin finally thought it was about time to step in, "if we're to find Miss Alice's body, we need to keep the boy alive."

I was dropped on the ground and Lord Liddell then had his gripped around his butler's throat. Eldwin's eyes were wide with shock.

"Don't assume that my daughter is dead!"

I could hear Eldwin's loud wheezing through Lord Liddell's chokehold. Never has Lord Liddell ever landed a hand on his servants (besides me) let alone his Head Butler.

"O-of course, sir. I apologize." Lord Liddell released his grip, and Eldwin took in deep gasps. "I will find a way to make the boy talk."

"You do that." With that said Lord Liddell vacated the room, the door giving a bang as it closed.

The Head Maid's face was pale as she continued sitting at the table staring at the door that was just closed.

Eldwin gave me a grave look as he gripped my upper arm. "It's time you've received your punishment."

) OoO0oOo0OoO (

*Thump* my body was thrown unceremoniously onto the rough stone floor of the cell, and the clinking and jingle of keys locked the barred cell door behind me. The guard's heavy footsteps stomped away leaving me alone.

My entire body was in complete agony, I couldn't even move my muscles were so frozen. The beating lasted for hours upon hours, or at least that's what it felt like. They kept repeating the question, "Where is Miss Alice?" And each time I told them I didn't know. The beatings escalated to lashings. Eventually the 'cell guard's hand grew tired so he threw me into the cell I was in now.

This wasn't the first beating I've had either. Usually if I messed up in one of my duties I would at the most get ten to fifteen lashings, but never was I whipped so hard as the last few hours. I couldn't even count the amount of lashings I received there was no beat this time just pure pain.

I could feel my vest and undershirt completely soaked in my blood. And the cold from the cell's floor was beginning to take ahold over the little body heat I had left.

I closed my eyes and I could feel the inside of my head aching. Alice… Lorina….Edith…. am I really a danger to them? Was I really the one who killed Alice? The one who killed Lorina? I could barely remember the details of the day. Maybe I really was the one who did it… I remembered Alice's delusion from the morning and then the strange rabbit. Maybe I was the one who was hallucinating… I probably killed her in the middle of one of my fantasies without even realizing it…. I am a monster. They were right like they always were. I had the face of an angel, but the heart of the Devil. It would be best if I was just killed.

The flame from the candle, just a few feet away from my cell, became taller and taller turning violet for a split second before it suddenly went out, leaving me in total darkness.

All I could hear was the quick thudding of my heart. Where did the guard go?

It sounded like my cell became a living being as the bars of cell started creaking and squealing as if they were being bent, and the stone walls were shaking as if something was approaching.

"Now, now, it's not like you to give up that easily Blake." An ethereal voice boomed into my cell. Fear ripped through my body, pure irrational terror.

My voice quivered a bit from the effort to speak, "Wh-who's there?" I was so quiet I don't think it even hear me.

A deep reptilian-like hiss wrapped around the room. "You already know who I am. But who are you? Is the true question now, isn't it?"

"I-I don't understand."

"You've noticed haven't you? You're different from the others."

"…"

"You've never belonged in this world to begin with."

The wall in the front of cell broke away and was sucked into nothingness. A powerful wind whipped around me. The bars of the cell bent outward before snapping and being sucked into the gaping hole. The ground beneath me tilted downwards towards the void, and I felt myself being pulled down towards it. I let out a scream as I desperately tried to hold onto anything I could get my hands onto.

"It's time for you to join the game."

The ground beneath me gave way and I fell into the darkness.

If there are any grammatical or spelling errors, please notify me as soon as possible. ^/^ It took a lot of courage for me to submit this story, so I would greatly appreciate your help! :D Let me know how you like it so far! Please comment.