Page 10 of Escaping Wonderland

Alice started and lifted her gaze. There was a man seated in the chair at the far end of the table; she wasn’t sure how she hadn’t noticed him when she first entered the room. He wore a black and purple suit, and an old-fashioned black top hat was perched upon his head. Though the angle of his hat and shadowscast by the inconsistent lighting obscured his eyes, his wide smile was clearly visible.

This was the Hatter. This was…his tea party?

“Indulge yourself, little dolly,” he continued. “Show me you are willing to join the celebrations.”

Alice glanced at the cakes again. Her hand twitched; her urge to take a treat rose again, but she willed herself to remain in place. “I…I don’t want one.”

The Hatter’s smile wavered. “They’re here for you. Eat one.”

His command compelled her a step closer to the table. She gathered the fabric of her skirt in her hands and stopped, squeezing until her knuckles were white. “No.”

The Hatter’s smile fell completely, warping into an angry grimace. He lifted an elegant hand, swept his hat off his head, and lowered it into his lap, fingers toying with the black silk ribbon wrapped around its base. His gaze, gleaming with menacing intensity, shifted up to her.

He was a human, with dark hair and what would’ve been a handsome face were it not for the unmasked malice in his expression and the furious light in his brown eyes.

“You arrived late,” he said, voice darkening, “late for the party—myparty. I only have so much time with you beforehecomes to take you. And now, when I’ve chosen to forgive your tardiness and grant you a chance to join the festivities, you refuse to partake in any of the refreshments I’ve offered you?”

The ceaseless movement of his fingers along the hat’s band called Alice’s attention down to it. Despite the room’s dimness, she could see that the top of the hat was lighter than the rest, rust-colored instead of black—as though it had been stained.

Alice retreated a few steps, the unsteadiness of her legs heightened by the high heels she was wearing. Her unease spread, finally beginning to beat back the unnaturally euphoric sensation the drugging drink had caused. “I’m sorry. There’sbeen a mistake. I…” She shook her head, trying to clear it, desperate to find the words. “I don’t belong here.”

“Come sit down,” the Hatter said firmly, flicking his eyes toward the nearby couch.

She felt the pull of his command again, felt herself step forward; just as it had with the thin woman in the dressing room, her body seemed to move of its own accord, going toward the Hatter despite the warning signals blaring in her mind.

“That’s it. Come, my pretty. Come,” he beckoned, holding out a hand. “Even if you’re meant for the king, you’re my dolly for tonight. Have some sweets, and then we’llplay.”

Alice stopped at the table and looked down at the cakes and pastries again. She reached forward and picked up a small pink cake that was decorated with white-icing writing.

Eat Me.

“Yes. Eat it,” the Hatter coaxed. “Enjoy it, and then I will enjoy you.”

Alice raised the cake to her lips, opened her mouth, and hesitated.

Eat Me.

Idon’tbelong here.

Calling upon every ounce of her willpower, Alice swung her arm and flung the cake across the room. “No! I don’t want it!”

The cake struck one of the doors with a littlesplatmade loud by the relative silence and stuck in place. Bits of icing oozed down around it.

The Hatter scowled, and his eyebrows slanted down sharply. He rose, shoving his chair back in the process. The hat tumbled from his lap, and his overcoat shifted, revealing a knife on his belt—the biggest knife Alice had ever seen.

“If you refuse to play nicely then so do I,” he shouted.

Alice recoiled and spun around, stumbling in her heels as she ran for the door. Her frantic flight carried her directly intothe door; she slammed into it hard, but she barely registered the pain against the immensity of her fear. She grabbed at the doorknob.

It was locked.

There was a huge crash behind her, and the sound of china shattering. She turned to see the table overturned with all the sweets scattered across the floor. The Hatter advanced through the space the table had occupied a moment before.

Heart pounding, breath ragged, Alice banged on the door. “Someone help! Let me out, please!”

The Hatter grabbed a fistful of Alice’s hair and tugged her away from the door.

Alice screamed and reached up to grasp his hand, desperate to alleviate some of the pressure on her scalp.

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