Hatter's Point of View Part12

"Where exactly are we going?" Alice questioned him.

Hatter pointed ahead of him. "The shore." He said.

Within moments, they reached the shore of the lake. It was thickly wooded and it would be impossible for the Suits to find them. That psycho with the ceramic head? Well, if he was indeed who Hatter thought he was, it could be possible.

When they were under the shade and cover of the trees, Hatter drove the boat a little further down shore. They won't find it immediately, at least. He reasoned.

He turned the boat off, and climbed out. He held out his hand and helped Alice out as well. Then he looked around. There were some branches laying around, and he had an idea.

"Wait a moment, Alice." Hatter said. "I'm gonna hide the boat." He covered the boat with the fallen branches, trying to conceal the dark wood as much as possible. When he was satisfied, he turned back to Alice.

She was frozen in one spot, listening intently to the forest. What is it now? Don't tell me that she's afraid of trees too...

"I don't who that weirdo is, leading the posse." He walked up to join Alice. "But, he's got one helluva nose for blood." He said. He stopped just behind her shoulder. "And this is the place to find it." A roar sounded through the forest, reinforcing his claim. Jabberwocky.

"What was that?" Alice asked, her voice somewhat frightened.

Hatter was silent for a moment. "There are things in these woods," he turned to look at her, "that defy imagination." Their eyes, met, and Hatter turned away. He started forward. "Come on. We haven't got much time."

There was a slight incline, and Hatter was already at the top of it before he realized that Alice wasn't following him. He stopped and turned back to face her. She was looking up at him with a slight look of distrust in her eyes. "Look, we can't shake the posse. We can't fight 'em either. There's only one thing left to try." He paused.

"What's that?" Alice prompted him, her voice wary.

"Lead 'em into a trap." He said, his voice sober and serious. He turned away from her, and continued through the forest. After a moment, he heard her familiar footsteps fall in behind his own.

They walked on in silence. Hatter had to stop every few minutes for Alice to catch up. He scanned the ground and the trees around where they were walking, looking for the appropriate signs of habitation. Where are you? He wondered. I know that you're around here somewhere... Then he spotted them. Large, taloned tracks., about five feet apart from each other.

"Keep your breathing shallow." Hatter said. Another roar. Good, she's close. Hatter thought.

Alice gasped, and Hatter felt her latch onto his arm. Keep breathing shallow. He commanded himself, trying hard to ignore her touch.

"Yep." He said. "You should find a tree that you could climb." He suggested.

"What? Why?"

So many questions. He looked around again. "That trap we talked about?"
Hatter said, turning to look at her. Her hands let go of his arm. "This is it." He motioned to where he was standing. He looked away, his eyes sweeping the area again. "I'm the bait." He swallowed. He gave Alice a slight shove. "Go." Then he started forward again.

"Wait, What is it?" She shouted after him. "Tell me!" He paused and she latched onto his left arm. He looked down at her hand, then into her face again.

"It's a Jabberwocky." He told her. He felt her hands drop.

"A what?" She asked, a look of complete disbelief on her face.

"Alice, less of the questions, just get going!" He commanded. He turned her around and pushed her away again.

"You're gonna lead this thing back to the posse?" She asked.

Woman! Hatter thought, sagging in frustration. "Yes!" He snapped. "After he gets a good look at me! Now could you just please go!"

"That's your plan?" Alice asked, sarcasm and disbelief saturating her voice.

Stupid girl. Hatter thought. If she doesn't leave... "If you don't-"

A roar reverberated through the forest, and Hatter could hear heavy, uneven footsteps. Another roar, this time, from behind. Alice and Hatter looked at each other.

I'm sorry, Alice. Hatter thought. They turned to look behind. Hatter heard Alice gasp slightly as their eyes fell upon the single ugliest creature in Wonderland, Next to the Queen of course.

The Jabberwocky.