HATTER
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99 Hatters down the wall;
the 100th is the one of all.
The 1st, 15th, then 30th day;
Meet, then Mad, then Murder away,
until Wonder's grounds are all blood-stained.
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I. She stood there
on the balcony overlooking her kingdom.
Its name was Wonder.
It was supposed to be a beautiful day. The sky was blue. The birds were singing. The waves of the ocean below lapped against the cliff. All was peaceful.
But supposed being the main word.
If it wasn't for that ever-moving wall of black smoke on the horizon…
"Your majesty…"
The Queen of Hearts need not look around to know who it was. Only one person was known to move so quietly.
"White Rabbit."
The snowy-haired White Rabbit stepped forward until she was standing next to her mistress. Together they looked out at the smoke.
"It's coming," said White Rabbit. "The hundredth month since the arrival."
The Queen said nothing.
"We are the last dimension before Reality," said White Rabbit. "All the dimensions before us have fallen to her existence. If we fall, Reality will be…" She could not finish the sentence.
The Queen said nothing.
The White Rabbit sighed, wrinkling her button nose. "What do you want done?"
The Queen spoke.
"Go and fetch him. It is time to fulfill his destiny."
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2. He first saw her
when he was eight.
The royal court had stood on the highest tower of the Heart Castle and watched as she descended from the sky like a bird. At the time he had smiled at the sight.
No one else did.
But as he stared over the marble railing at the descending beauty, he thought she was the most beautiful sight in the world.
As if hearing his thought, she turned and looked in his direction.
His heart froze.
They stared at each other.
He only stopped when his mother, once the most beautiful person in the world to him, told him to look away. He had learned the hard way her word was law, and he obeyed without question.
So he looked away and did not watch as the sky girl went down to where some of the Playing Card Guards were waiting.
He never saw her after that.
And his mother never called him 'son' after that, either.
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3. Ten years later
he now stood in front of the Queen in her throne. Much has changed.
Like the appearing wrinkles on his mother's face.
Like her disappearing smile whenever he came into her presence.
Like the love she never showed him once his fate was sealed.
After all, who could love a killer?
Nevertheless he bowed before her. "Queen of Hearts."
She sniffed. "Hatter."
He stood and waited as the Cheshire Cat stepped forward out of the crowd of surrounding nobles, bearing a blackened sword.
"Hatter," said the Cheshire Cat. He handed him the sword. "You truly are the Hatter now. You bear its crown and its sword. The sword of the Queen of Heart's assassin."
The court said nothing.
"You are the youngest to be crowned. At the same time you have the greatest burden on your shoulder. For you are the hundredth Hatter."
If his mother's word was law, the Cheshire Cats' words were truth. No one could ever claim him a liar.
He stepped back into the crowd, and the Queen rose from her seat.
"I am proud of you," his mother said emotionlessly. "You deserve the title after all the training you went through. You will be our hero. The hero that will save this world and the next."
She raised her hand and signaled a dismissal.
"You know what needs to be done."
He bowed and left the room. As he reached the door, he heard his mother mutter one last order.
"Do not fail me, Hatter."
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4. She lived in a tower
ironically called the House of Cards in the middle of the ever-moving destruction. She had lived their ever since her arrival.
The tower was a huge patchwork of design. The walls outside and inside were black, red, and white on a pattern of red and white squares. The door was nearly impossible to find. But it was a tower fit for a princess.
Up the spiraling staircase was the single round room where she lived alone. She was not lonely, though. She stopped being alone a long time ago.
She had her soft bed, her shelf of books, her window seat, and most importantly, her grand piano.
That was alright.
The different monthly visitors were nice as well.
"I am not lonely," she told herself whenever her mind told her differently. "I was loved; past and present."
Many had loved her, but since she had lived for a long time, she could not remember their faces, their names, even the worlds they came from that she had 'visited'. But she knew for sure they loved her. They all had loved her…
"And here in this world, I was loved for ninety-nine times by ninety-nine men. What a wonder it is…to be loved," she sighed as she sat at the piano.
She talked to break the silence.
And the sky would cry for her; the imprisoned angel.
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5. Right after his crowning
he travelled over to see her.
He entered the tower, climbed the stairs, and entered her room. He first saw her hair. She had really long hair, the color of gold and fields of wheat. She was playing her piano; the piece she was playing was something of Mozart's.
He made it halfway across the room before she knew he was there. She stopped playing, rose from her bench, and turned to look at him.
He remembered her face. It had grown lovelier, despite her agelessness; she looked the same age as he.
From the blank look in her eyes, she did not remember him.
"Hello," she said with a smile. Her voice was soft and welcoming. The Hatter instantly liked it.
It was better this way, for her not to remember, he thought.
"You must be him."
"Yes." He straightened up to his full height and approached her. Taking her hand, he kissed it.
She had large eyes like the sky, and they filled with light at the gesture. So much lovelier…
"I am the hundredth Hatter."
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6. She simply nodded
at the news.
"I have known of the prediction since my arrival," she said politely. "The Cheshire Cat predicted the hundredth would be the last… and the closest to the Queen."
She turned and stroked her piano's smooth black surface.
"Do not disappoint the Queen of Hearts, O Knave of Hearts."
"My name is not the Knave of Hearts."
She tensed up. He could tell. He felt a momentary flicker of guilt for his brusque retort.
"I have no name." He was gentler this time.
In slow motion she glanced at him over her shoulder. A lock of hair fell over her shoulder as he approached her again.
"It's simply Hatter."
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7. They talked
for the rest of the day.
They learned of each other. And then he left.
He came again the next day, and the same thing happened again.
On the third day, he learned something intriguing; she had never learned the other's names.
"Your name is the first name I've ever learned," she said. "Nobody told me their names, even if they had one. It's sad, really. It makes me feel like I need to name my piano, my bed, and my bookshelf. I love my piano the most, so it needs a good name. I'm trying to think of a good one."
She abruptly stopped from pressing keys.
"I shall call my piano… the Lory!" She resumed playing a made-up melody.
Watching her play, Hatter wondered what it would be like to live in a world without names, with only faceless companions at her side. Had she ever been called her own name?
"Princess."
She was surprised. He could tell. So she never had been called a name.
On the inside, she felt like flying. A princess. She felt special and happy. At last she had a name. It was close to her real name, at least.
"What's your name?"
Her fingers stopped abruptly. Like no one had ever given her a name, no one ever asked her for her true name.
She felt honored.
She rose from the bench and went to Hatter's side. Leaning over she whispered a word in his ear.
His lips curled into a smile.
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8. Days passed
much too quickly.
He visited her every day, and every day they talked. Sometimes she would play the Lory and he would sit and listen.
Strange feelings began to bloom.
On the fifteenth day, she kissed him. Her lips were as delicate as snow.
"Oh, Hatter. You are truly special," she whispered as they sat on the window seat and he held her. "You are different."
He ran a hand over her golden hair. It was softer than he had imagined.
"Do you know why you are special?" she murmured.
He didn't reply. He already knew the answer anyway.
She pulled back from his hold, stood up from her seat, and took his hands.
"I was loved many times before in each world I have visited. Here in Wonder ninety-nine men loved me. One for every month here. Every Hatter before you… every one of them loved me. They loved me because they had to." She stroked his hands with her thumbs. "They loved me because they were cursed to. They had no choice. I did have a choice. And I never felt anything for them."
She let go of his hands and walked backwards until she was ten steps away from him. She was wearing the dress she always wore; white and blue with short, puffed out sleeves, round neckline, a tight bodice, and a flowing foot-length skirt. She looked like an innocent child, except for her chest and tired, old, but smiling blue eyes.
"Because of their feelings for me–all their feelings for me–I continue to live. I continue to travel from world to world. I continue to play my piano. I continue to lie on my bed. And here I continue to live and sing inside this tower. I continue to haunt Wonder." She dropped her gaze and lifted a lock of hair between her fingers. "I don't why I exist. I don't who made me, or why and how I do what I do. But somehow, my existence in this place and all the other worlds is nothing but a contradiction. And soon, just because I'm alive, just because I live…"
She lifted her gaze to lock with his.
"I will destroy your world. Just like I destroyed the others and just like I will destroy Reality if I ever reach it."
She dropped her hair. Her facial expression did not change.
"The Queen of Hearts places her hopes on you, Hatter. In fact, everyone of Wonder places his or her hopes on you. For you are special. Because the hundredth Hatter," she smiled without a hint of any negative emotions, "you, Hatter, are not going to fall in love with me."
His face didn't change. He already knew.
"Right?" she asked.
"Yes."
She began to walk closer to him. Again she sat on the window seat and cradled his face between her hands.
"Say it. Please…"
"…I don't love you."
She calmly smiled.
"And on the thirtieth day… I'm going to kill you."
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9. She did not look disturbed
by the news.
She knew it was coming.
"I know," she murmured against his lips. She kissed him softly, and slowly he returned it. She gently broke away. "Promise me something, Hatter."
He held her tightly as if she'd break any minute.
"Please promise me."
Her voice was changing, becoming more desperate.
"Promise what?"
"Promise me… you won't love me. Promise you will kill me."
"Princess…"
"I'll let you be the one to touch me. I'll show you my affection. But promise me."
He put a hand to her hair and curled his fingers through it. Their bodies could hear each other's heartbeat; they clung that close together.
"Promise me you'll kill me."
He sealed his promise with a kiss and a whisper.
"I promise."
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10. She was playing
the piano, and he couldn't identify what it was as he waited outside her door. Was it Chopin? Wagner? He didn't know.
It was two weeks after the Hatter's promise.
The song she played now was simple; he swore he'd heard it many years ago. She suddenly laughed softly, and began humming with the music. He wished she'd giggle again; the piano paled in comparison to the music that was her laugh.
When did everything become so complicated?
The door opened and closed.
The music stopped. She rose from her stool and glanced behind her.
"Hatter?"
She squinted, trying to find him. But she couldn't see him at first, due to the long shadows created from the sunset.
"Princess."
Her smile widened at the name and she ran to him. She threw her arms around his neck. Strong arms caught her and clung to her tightly.
"I missed you…" she whispered.
He sighed.
"How was your meeting?" she murmured against his neck.
Effortlessly he picked her off the floor, bridal style, and sat on the window seat with her in his lap.
"Did the Queen of Hearts ask for me? How was you sister, the Duchess? And March Hare? White Rabbit?"
His hands buried themselves into her thick hair. Gently he tilted her head up and their lips met.
He slanted her head and his mouth moved vehemently; his thumb rubbed the base of her head as he forced her mouth open. A moan escaped as his tongue explored her mouth thoroughly and her eyes closed.
He broke the kiss and lifted her up. Before she knew what was happening his mouth claimed her lips again and her eyes closed. He walked backwards until her back met the piano.
"Hatter," she whispered against his lips.
"What?" he growled into the kiss.
"Not here…"
"Why?"
"Hatter…"
"You love that piano too much."
Black locks surrounded her fingers. Slowly the Hatter's mouth moved down her neck, leaving behind the most velvety of kisses. She gasped as his lips found the spot between her neck and shoulder.
"This piano… is my prized possession," she mumbled, slipping a hand inside his shirt collar and feeling his skin. Her other hand grabbed a chunk of his hair and pulled him lightly away from her neck. He was panting, and his lips damp.
"Just like you."
She felt him stiffen in her arms, and imagined how hard his eyes had become. Without warning, he gave her a hard and deep kiss, sticking his tongue between her teeth. He pulled at her white dress; slowly it started to tear.
She pulled away, noting how his brown eyes seemed to flash red. She smiled at him again, caressing his cheek.
"I don't want to break both of my precious possessions."
His eyes narrowed, but there was a hint of some soft emotion he had never known. It felt like he was…breaking…
"Fine," he muttered.
His hands went to work ripping off her dress, starting with the shoulders and arms. Parts of fabric drifted to the floor.
"Let's go to bed."
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11. After bed
he watched her.
When he spent the night, he always sheltered her in his arms; there was something comforting about having her near. She always cuddled back, but he didn't mention to her the fear of her pulling away. So he always made sure she fell asleep first; it let him hold her closer without her telling him to stop and say let go.
The pleasure–real or pretend, he had trouble differentiating the simplest aspects now–he took comfort in.
While watching her sleep, he toyed with her strands of thick yellow hair and listened to the small noises she made. Then he heard a sound that hadn't been made by her. A sound he had heard before…
His face hardened as he pulled away and got out of bed. Making sure she was still asleep (she was), he covered her with the crimson duvet before heading for the balcony in nothing but his trousers.
In seconds he was standing outside on the balcony. The skinny crescent moon hung in the sky like a scythe ready to swing down. No stars found reason to show themselves tonight.
"What are you doing here?" he asked coldly, even more so then the freezing breeze blowing about. "This complex is off limits to everyone but me. You're trespassing, whoever you are."
"I am a noble," a voice sneered, feminine and firm. "I think that entails I have the freedom to go wherever I wish."
His frown blackened as he gazed into the balcony's shadows.
"I'm a noble too, but that doesn't give us the right to do whatever we want."
"You're defensive tonight, Knave of Hearts."
His eyes narrowed dangerously
"Don't." He found the spot in the shadows where the voice came from. "Don't call me that name," he hissed with quiet anger. No one should ever call him that name.
"Why?" the voice jeered. "Does it hurt, Hatter?"
He chose to ignore the question and asked another. "Why are you here?"
The voice's owner finally stepped out into the open.
"To remind you of your mission." Wide, yellow-purple eyes shined hard like diamonds under trimmed bang of white. Her features were delicate and lady-like, but the hardness in those eyes made her look older than she truly was.
He grunted and looked out over the kingdom, his vision roaming over the emerald grass of the still-existing farmland, to the Victorian buildings of the towns and cities, to the Heart Castle on its cliff. They all were so closer now then twenty-nine days ago...
"I don't need a reminder, White Rabbit. I know what I'm doing."
The woman scoffed. "Of course you do. That's why you haven't done it yet."
He didn't like her tone; he never had. "If you're not going to say anything useful, I suggest you leave," he said in an even tone he found painful to use with the annoyance he felt. "You're wasting my time–"
"What time? The time left to do your duty? Or the time you have left to be her fake friend?"
She was riding on his last nerve. "Dormouse, I'm warning you…"
He rarely called her by that old title.
"Dash it all, Hatter!" she snapped. "It's the twenty-ninth! Do it now!"
"Be quiet."
"Hatter, it's your duty," she reminded him nastily. "This is for the sake of our home, of our future. Of Reality's future. Don't go wasting this chance! We can't afford to lose. And you can't afford to fail. Everything's starting to blacken and vanish!"
"I told you to be quiet." He gave a quick glance back at the tower and the doors leading inside. "She's sleeping."
But the White Rabbit wouldn't stop. Not with everything on the line.
"You're just like the Hatters before you," she said, hoping to goad him.
It worked.
"Don't compare me to those fools."
"Then don't be a fool. We have our objectives, and—"
"And I know mine."
"No you don't!"
He snorted. "Says you. Leave or be quiet. You're noisy."
The White Rabbit scowled as she swelled in anger, "Hatter–"
He had had it. The White Rabbit abruptly quieted as a familiar black sword put its razor-sharp tip to her neck. She didn't know what was more frightening as she nervously took in the scene before her; the sword, or the look on the Hatter's face.
"I said be quiet," he snarled under his breath.
She subtly swallowed as her gaze hardened over again and met his. "I'm not afraid of you. You have the power to only kill her and only her. You can't harm me or the rest, no matter how mad you have become."
He didn't say anything, nor did he lower his sword.
"You're committing the exact mistake as your predecessors, Hatter. They all loved her, adored her, gave up everything for her... they all experienced taking her."
"You're wrong," he spat at her. "She was innocent when I took her."
White Rabbit smirked. "Is that supposed to make you feel special? That out of all the Hatters, she chose only you to touch her?"
"Don't patronize me," he said impassively. "To her I'm only a prized possession." He clenched his jaw as the words squeezed out, wishing they weren't true. "Nothing more, nothing less."
He dropped the blade from her throat, slipped it back in its sheath, and turned away.
The White Rabbit opened her mouth, but he cut her off.
"You're an outsider to all of this," he growled, leaning on the balcony's banister. "This tale, this… destiny, only revolves around myself and her." He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Only me and her."
"Hatter–"
"Leave. Now. And this time I mean it."
There was silence, and then the sound of pattering feet as the White Rabbit disappeared.
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12. After speaking to
the White Rabbit, he returned to the room, locking the doors behind him. Despite all the noise, she was still asleep, her hair spread out like fine silk. For a moment he leaned against the wall and watched how she breathed, the peace on her face...
Approaching the bed, the Hatter ran a hand over her cheek. She shivered and moved slightly, her eyes fluttering. He waited for them to open.
They did.
"Hatter?"
He moved his hand lower; over her shoulder, down her arm. She grinned gently and slowly, she rolled on her back. His hand found hers, and their finger intertwined as they held each other. Her quiet smile grew. She lifted her free hand to his naked chest.
"Again?" she whispered softly.
He stared deeply into her eyes; there was a deep need in his own, she noted. His free hand stroked her hair as the corners of his lips drew up.
"Yes."
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13. When he returned home
the Queen called him into the throne room for a meeting. It was empty except for him, her, and the White Rabbit at her side.
He glared at the queen's messenger. She glared back.
"Hatter."
Looking away, he bowed his head. "Queen of Hearts."
"Tomorrow is the last day. Your last day. Your purpose must be fulfilled."
She spoke softly, maybe even kindly, but her face was hard as ever.
"I am waiting. What's left of Wonder is waiting. Reality is at stake. We need her head on a silver platter. We can't wait anymore."
He kept his gaze on the floor, face neutral, wishing she would excuse him.
"Are you going Mad, Hatter? Like you are supposed to?"
He wished she hadn't asked that question. He lifted his brown eyes, knowing well what the answer was.
"Yes…"
"Then do it." The Queen stood up, finality in her tone. "Off with her head."
Without another word, the Queen of Hearts and the White Rabbit left the room, leaving the Hatter in his thoughts.
He wasn't lying when he said he was going mad.
She was the first person to make him smile after all these year…
He knew he was lying to himself if he said he was going crazy.
She was the first person to show him such affection, even if she felt nothing for him…
He was indeed going mad… madly in love with her.
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14. She was struggling with
her music the next day.
The last day.
She tried playing one of Bach's classics. It was difficult, and in the end it didn't work. Later she tried Beethoven. It wasn't any easier.
She was about to try a different piece when she heard the door open. She stopped, lifted her hands off the keys, and raised her head, not looking back behind her.
It could only be one person visiting for one reason.
"It's time, isn't it Hatter?" she said.
Footsteps echoed across the floor. A hand slid over her should, causing her to tilt her head to the side. His callused palm was warm against her bare neck.
"Your time's up," she added, eyes closed. "I know it is. I can still remember the Cheshire Cat's prediction from the one time I heard it. It was said by him: ninety-nine Hatters down the wall; the hundredth is the one of all. The first, fifteenth, then thirtieth day; Meet, then Mad, then Murder away, until Wonder's grounds are all blood stained."
His hand moved down her collarbone to the end of her shoulder, raising a little path of delicious fire as it went.
"Do you still remember your promise?" she asked.
Unknown by her, he nodded.
"Do you know today's the thirtieth day?" he asked.
Known by him, she nodded
"I do." Pushing the stool back, she stood up and faced him. There was no fear in her eyes. "But I ask of you; can we say goodbye?"
He looked at her questioningly. "Is that your final request?"
"Yes," she whispered, barely audible but so sweet.
The Hatter closed his eyes, sighed…and nodded. "Very well."
"Thank you."
With that seemingly ever-present smile, she started to undress. His eyes followed her movements, taking in her soft skin and tired eyes. He wanted to remember them forever.
He started to unbutton his coat.
"Let's say goodbye."
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15. He felt more alive
that night then all the other days in his life.
He was infinitely gentle. He prolonged the contact, the pleasure, and the touch as much as he could, to feel as much as he could before the feeling left forever.
He didn't want to stop. He wished it wouldn't stop.
"Again," he kept saying. She never refused him his wish.
They didn't stop. If they stopped, they knew what would catch up with them; it would break the dream, ruin everything.
"Again."
Once they stopped, time will move.
"Again."
And the time for death would arrive.
"Again."
Again.
Again.
And again.
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16. He begged
for the first time in his life. He begged to her.
"Say it. Just once will do."
"I need to hear it. Even if it's a lie."
"Tell me anything that'll make me feel this forever."
"Please... don't leave me wondering."
Silence fell.
"Yo-you are mo-more then just…a poss-possesion," she stuttered and moaned. "I-I truly l-ove…I lo-love..."
She couldn't stop crying as she tried to tell him the truth; she had finally found love.
But he understood.
Time wasn't stopping for them.
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17. It was time
for it to be done. Both could deny it no longer.
Everything was quiet.
He stood over her on the floor as she lay on the bed, holding that hateful black sword of his with one hand. The other was tangled with her hair in a gentle hold. The blade was touching her neck.
"Hatter."
Their eyes met.
"Please, don't…"
Warm drops of water began to fall on her beautiful face. They weren't her own.
"…cry."
More drops fell in a torrent onto her pale cheeks. She smiled that smile of hers and stroked his wet, trembling face with soft tenderness.
"I…"
Her cheeks were soaked, shining in the moonlight from the tears falling down like a waterfall.
He could do this. He couldn't do this. His arm was shaking…
"I love you, Hat–"
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18. She never finished
what she was saying.
It was done in one swipe.
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19. For a minute
he couldn't believe it was done. He couldn't believe he did it.
Control of his breathing left him. It got louder, heavier, faster.
The moon kept glowing on the crimson-splattered walls as if nothing had happened.
Her blood was spreading. Thickening, moving, it soaked the already red bed sheets and pillows, turning them almost black. He could feel it also on his skin; it was steeping onto his abdomen, his thighs, his face...
The face she had so lovingly touched just second before.
Quivering fingers clutched at the thick, still golden strands of her hair. Quaking hands and arms held the priceless, bloody head tightly to his chest.
His legs gave out and he collapsed to the floor, rocking back and forth, back and forth, wishing it would all go away.
All that could be heard was his sobbing.
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20. He opened
his mouth…
and the tower echoed with a broken scream.
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21. The kingdom
heard the scream.
And Wonder rejoiced.
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22. The Queen heard the news
and her heart sang with joy.
In the late afternoon of the next day, she called all the court to the throne room. They waited patiently.
For some reason the Cheshire Cat was missing.
Finally the White Rabbit, who had been sent to greet him, entered the room. In her hands was a covered tray.
"Queen of Hearts, I present to you the gift from the Hatter," said White Rabbit, holding the tray out in front of her. She proceeded to walk up to the throne, but stopped when the Queen raised a hand.
"White Rabbit."
The royal messenger bowed. "Yes, your Highness?"
"Where is the Hatter? I want the Hatter to present it."
"He is…"
"There he is," said the March Hare.
The White Rabbit turned.
Hatter had entered the room and was standing right behind her. Without a word he took the tray and walked up to the throne where the Queen sat, the White Rabbit at his heels. The Queen raised an skeptic eyebrow; he looked like a walking corpse. The Hatter's face was blank, partly hidden in shadows, and streaked with blood, like parts of his uniform were. He stopped in front of her Majesty and took off the white cloth covering the platter.
No one blinked at the sight of a head with yellow hair. The long golden locks fell around the severed neck in waves. Despite the pain it had gone through, the face was serene; a deep calmness had taken control of its features.
It was smiling in its sleep.
The Hatter dropped the cloth, placed the tray on the floor, and gently picked the head up by its hair. An anxious air surrounded everyone as he stood at the base of the throne.
He lifted the head up to the Queen's eye level.
"The head. Her head. As you have wished," said the Hatter emotionlessly.
"Excellent." The Queen smiled coldly. "You have saved us and Reality, Hatter. And the prize brought back is a beautiful one."
No one saw the Hatter's jaw clench.
"It shall be put it on display for all to see," the Queen declared. She waved her hand to dismiss the Hatter. "Put it outside for the executioner to deal with."
"You take it."
Her prudent eyes lifted to gaze at him. Never had he defied her until now.
"Put it –"
"You take it."
The Playing Card Guards tensed, hands on their spears.
"There's no need for violence," said the Queen of Hearts. She stood up from her crimson throne and walked down the steps. "Of course, Hatter. Thank you."
She lifted her hands to take the gift.
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23. But then
he smiled creepily.
The Queen's eyes swelled; she knew that look. She opened her mouth to scream, but her head flew off her neck before she could utter anything.
Chaos and shouting immediately erupted.
"Queen!"
"Mother!"
"Hatter!" the White Rabbit shrieked. The Queen of Hearts body and head fell to the floor at his feet. Blood gushed from the severed neck.
"Hatter!" The White Rabbit yelled again. "What the – Oh my…"
Hatter turned around to face his audience. Standing in front of the empty throne, with fresh blood staining his feet and clothes, his matted hair did nothing to hide the blood-soaked face, the insane sneer, or the psychotic eyes.
The court couldn't move; their hearts had stopped.
"It's the…"
"Mad Hatter?"
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24. He raised his sword
and murdered away until Wonder's grounds were all blood-stained.
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25. In his room
the Cheshire Cat sighed as he heard the wails.
The prophecy–his prophecy–had come true. If only they had understood it correctly…
"It was said by him:
Ninety-nine Hatters down the wall;
the hundredth is the one of all.
The first, fifteenth, then thirtieth day;
Meet, then Mad, then Murder away,
until Wonder's grounds are all blood-stained."
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26. In the back of his mind
someone familiar called his name.
"Hatter…"
"Hatter…"
"Hatter!"
Jerking to a stop, the black blade froze a millimeter away from the Duchess's neck. He looked up, straining his ears to listen.
"Hatter…"
He knew that voice.
"Princess…" he dryly croaked. He dropped the sword with a clatter, turned around, and immediately saw her. "Prince… princess…"
She was smiling at him. Beautiful as ever, she wore his favorite dress and had her hands in front of her, palms up.
"Hatter… remember when I told you I'd like to be the ocean?"
Slowly he nodded. He remembered that conversation; he had asked her why.
"I wanted to be free; to be unstoppable, forever moving," she said with a smile. "And you have set me free. Thank you…"
He reached out to her, but her smile grew and she playfully took a step backwards. With a giggle, she turned and ran out of the Heart Castle throne room. Without question, he followed her, leaving behind a wounded soul.
"Bro-brother…" the Duchess whimpered as she weakly stood up. She stared at the bloody carcasses of family and friends, tears falling rapidly down her cheeks.
Why did her spare her? And what unseen force had he run after?
Avoiding torn and broken corpses, she stumbled away from the bodies; the March Hare, who had protected her, her father, her mother, the White Rabbit…
Leaving the room, she regained her footing and ran after her brother. "B-brother…!"
Hearing his pounding footsteps, she followed him up the highest tower. Reaching the top, she stepped outside and found him.
Her eyes widened.
.
.
.
27. Her voice was music
to his ears.
"Hatter…" she said, floating in midair over the tower's edge. He stood on one of the short, flat platforms that connected the banister.
"Princess… Alice."
"That's the first time you've called me by name. My real name. I like the way you say it."
"Alice…"
She held out a hand. "Do you want to be with me, Hatter?"
"I…I…"
"Come with me, Hatter."
She smiled. His heart burst.
"Come be free with me."
.
.
.
28. Time slowed
at that moment.
The Duchess gasped as he stepped closer to the platform's edge. Below him, the ocean raged around the jagged, pointed rocks scattered at the base of the cliff Heart Castle sat on.
He was reaching out to the heavens, grabbing the air as if it was someone's hand.
"Big… brother… stop –"
Her heart stopped as his eyes closed and he smiled at the wind.
He stepped onto the sky.
The Duchess shrieked.
.
.
.
29. The Hatter
was falling.
The Hatter was diving.
The Hatter was swimming.
The Hatter was sinking.
The Hatter was dying.
The Hatter…was free.
.
.
.
30. And the Duchess
screamed.
"…BROTHER!"