"Alice?"

The voice was muffled, distant, and drone, so familiar and cruel that she clamped her eyes even tighter. Her hands limply curled into fists at her side, and she heard the detached tone chuckle its sharp cry.

"Ah, you can't hide from me forever Alice. I know you can hear me. Open your eyes dear, and answer my questions."

She wasn't sure if it was out of fear, or of defiance that made her refuse his request. Alice could almost feel his discouraging snarl that overcame his lip as he groaned. She heard him shuffle to the right in uneven steps- he hobbled when he walked, probably due to one of his patience trying to kick in his knees before he silenced them.

"Such a shame, a girl your age so delusional. Tis a pity, but unfortunately a fact of life." She heard him fiddle with the instruments upon the tray that lay only but a step away, and she fought against her confines. Wincing, for her wrists had been rubbed raw from her ill-fated attempts, she tried to calm her manic heart beat as he cooed, "Ah, yes…"

She heard the squeak of the metal frame of the chair as he sat, and knew all too well what was to come.

"Alice, you know the treatment, so I need not remind you. Now, shall we begin?"

Her silence was the only response. The wicked smile exposed too-perfect teeth, glistening as he murmured, "Good."

The machine whirred to life with a flick of the switch, its mechanical fan whizzing at dizzying speeds until the system completely powered on, and the seat creaked as he turned to face her.

"Now, what's your name?"

Silence.

"Alice, I don't wish to use the Machine if you cooperate."

'Of course you don't', she thought with malice. Malice…

"Alice Kingsley… taking back my name after my husband's murder…"

"Very good Alice." She could almost hear the crazed grin seeping into his voice. "Where do you live?"

"In London."

"Be more specific, Alice."

She grit her teeth. "I'm not crazy."

"That's what we're aiming for. But that wasn't an answer."

"The London Institution of the Mentally Insane, B Wing, room fourteen." She said reluctantly, and the Doctor shifted again.

"And what is Underland?"

Here there was silence.

"Come now Alice, speak up."

She refused!

"Alice! Answer me!" The voice was losing its temper, the dark tone raising an octave.

There was a beat... Two... Three... The chair squeaked again.

"Very well."

She felt as though a thousand bullets punctured her being in one moment, her insides burning as the scream caught in her throat. The agony kept on, even after the wave had left, her back arching from the stiff cot. Her eyes tore open, seeing nothing but white as the current of electricity died suddenly, dropping her flailing body back upon the bed limply, her breath ragged and gasping, her thoughts incomprehensible.

The doctor's grin grew manic and wide, his eyes dilating at the sight. He licked his chapped lips, his smile exposing the row of crooked, yellowing teeth. She could no loner flinch as he drew closer, the chair crying out in protest as he leaned in mere inches from her face.

"Now, will you answer my question?"

"My love, why did you send the Champion away?"

"It was for her own good."

Tarrant

They look onto me in fear.

When I walk within the barracks they nearly fall to my feet in genuflection, their bodies trembling in pure terror as I pace. They know not that I no longer withhold the darkness within me, but perhaps that's the only thing keeping me alive.

They all saw, and that's all they needed to know.

'The Masquerade, it all makes sense.'

Iracebeth had not called upon him as of late, and he vaguely wondered why. But then again, he was quite content; the less he saw of that wretched woman, the better.

'Alice… Sent to the Aboveland…'

She won't remember… never… what's the point anymore?

Everything was his fault. Everything because of her. Everything…

And now it all meant nothing.

'You killed her husband… She could have been happy. Happy…'

Perhaps this was his punishment; he caused so much pain and suffering that now he was condemned to live a life upon the wrong side of the chess board, without friendship or love.

Somewhere, deep inside, he knew the game was over.

Aboveland

"My name is Alice Kingsley, and I reside in the London Institution of the Mentally Insane. My husband's death caused me to create a fantasy world in which I may escape my pain. There I am free, yet there is my prison. I am no champion. There is no White Rabbit. There is no White or Red Queen. There is no rabbit hole."

"And...?"

Alice whimpered, a lone tear trekking down her cheek as she whispered, her voice hoarse and raw from her cries and screams.

"And... There is no war. There is no Hatter... There is no such place as Wonderland..."

Ugh, life sucks you know? I hated how long this hiatus was. Love you all!
Fairfaren,

~MTMC~