Chapter Four

Hello my lovely reviewers! Shoot me, I haven't updated for a while! Life's been busy ya know? Anyway, I proudly present chapter Four!

Chapter Four

Golden beams arose from behind the purple mountains; the dark green grass glistened with morning dew. It had just turned 6 o'clock in the morning and Alice was skulking around the castle, wide awake. It was unusual for her to be up this early, nearly insane but then she was just too excited to sleep.

Tip toeing through the many halls, Alice tried to make as little sound as possible. Reaching the round table, she reached over for a napkin and swiftly took out a pen.

'Gone out for a walk, don't glare at this but I've decided to go on a bit of a wander. Alice.'

Sticking it to the table where she normally sat, Alice jumped up and headed for the door. Reaching it, she pulled on the large knockers with full strength. Pulling as hard as she could, Alice fell back on her behind with a bump.

"Ow...stupid door." She muttered, pulling the doors once more and this time succeeding.

Stepping outside and closing the doors behind her, she breathed in the fresh clean air and smiled. "Glorious afternoon!"

A fair bit away from Marmoreal, Alice retrieved the small glass vial with a purple liquid.

Opening the lid, Alice swirled it round once then looked back at the far away Marmoreal.

"I just have to see my family once more, and then I will come back." Alice smiled confidently but wavered as a second though barged into her head.

What if she was seen?

Alice shook her head and tipped a few beads of the bitter tasting stuff down her throat; leaving just enough her for return.

Grimacing at the horrible taste, Alice's eyes rested on a pretty white flower. Her vision fogged over, leaving the middle of the flower to go last. Everything around her fogged over and, eventually, she found herself climbing out of the rabbit hole that started it all.

"I'll be back before you know it." She whispered down before running off back down the hill.

Holding her dress up, Alice hid behind a bush to see if anyone was in the gardens.

Seeing nobody, she carefully made her way through the bushes and finally onto the stone stairs...making a dash for it inside, a soft voice stops her.

"Why the rush, Alice?"

Margret.

She was seen and she was doomed.

"I uh... lost a penny. It was... the one Father gave me when I was younger." Alice lied, turning to face her.

Margret smiled then looked down to the ground, seeing a purple vial. "Whatever is that?"

Alice followed her movements, and when she did, her eyes widened. The Jabberwocky blood! It must have fallen out when she was running!

Margret picked it up with slender fingers. She gasped as a thick slimly liquid touched her fingers then dropped it onto the stone floor.

Alice gasped, and as if in slow motion, she ran towards it. Her small fingers missed my inches, then, in horror Alice watched the vial shatter into a million pieces, then the liquid sink into the ground.

"-Is that ok Alice?"

She has missed what Margret had just said in the fog of numbness.

"Yes..." Alice whispered, putting her hand over the broken vial. Seeing Margret go inside from the corner of her eye, Alice bit back a sob.

Jumping up then sprinting towards the rabbit hole, she didn't care that the plants whipped back on her face.

Reaching the Rabbit hole, she wasted no time in jumping down.

Instead of going down, she just stayed, waist down in soil.

Scrambling to all four, she looked down the rabbit hole and yelled down.

"Nivens!" She yelled down, hoping against all hope she would see a bundle of white fur come her way.

Nothing.

"Hatter? Tarrant!"

Not giving up, she kept calling his name until her voice went hoarse... but she still yelled.

Back in Under land:

It was getting late.

Really, really late.

Hatter had gone around the entire Marmoreal in search of Alice but none knew where she was. He saw the note that she had gone for a walk but she was taking too long. It was almost midnight!

"It looks as if someone has lost their tea." A voice purred. Chess appeared in front of him with a grin.

"Chess! Have you Alice?" Hatter asked hopefully, spinning around to face the flouting cat.

"Why no, the last I saw her was walking down the path from Marmoreal."

"Much appreciated!"

Speeding off, he ran down the path and looked around.

"Alice? Aaallliice?" He called, looking under a green mushroom.

"Hatter..." A voice distantly called. He jumped then looked up. "Alice?"

"Hatter?"

Hearing a splash, he looked down to see his foot stuck in a large puddle. Stepping over it he looked back down to see the ripples disappearing and Alice's face come into view.

"Alice?" He yelped, going down fours. Looking at her confused face, her eyes finally set on him and she nearly toppled over.

"Hatter! I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry..." She cried, letting a tear drop. He felt something wet fall on his face, then, realising it was her tear, his brow creased in confusion.

"For what, Alice?" He asked, quite confused on why she was apologizing.

"I...I wanted to see my family so I drank and tiny bit more of the Jabberwocky blood. Once I was home I went straight to my house. But, my sister, Margret saw me then...by my own stupidity...I dropped the vial by accident! My sister then picked it up and dropped it, all by accident again! And...And now I can't come back...Under Land's not letting me in." She explained, wiping her wet eyes while gazing at his face in the hole.

Hatter racked his brain for any ideas. She couldn't leave again and never be able to come back. Reaching his hand out towards the puddle, he dunked his hand in.

Alice gasped and slowly reached out. "Alice, I've had an idea, grab on to my hand and I'll pull you in!"

Nodding, she latched onto his hand. Pulling with all his strength, he finally pulled hard enough and Alice came flying through and landed on top of him.

"Hatter? Tarrant, where are you? Oh no, you haven't been pulled into Upper land have you?" She cried, looking franticly around her.

"Alice..." He groaned from underneath her, trying to wriggle free. "I'm glad you're ok but could you possibly, maybe, get off of me?" He asked, fighting a grin.

Alice, looking down, leapt off and blushed immensely. "Hatter! I'm sorry! Did I hurt you?"

"Dignity yes, that's injured badly. But physically no."

Alice slapped his arm and laughed. Hatter held his hand out to her with a smile. "Come on, everyone's wondering where you had got to."

Taking his hand, they strolled back to Marmoreal...not noticing the black figure behind them...

Oooh! I'm sorry my munchkins! I will never take this long to upload again! Cookie promise?

Virtual hands shake. –

I've been busy with my other story, but, I will try to update this frequently : )