Feed Your Head, Part 2
Feed Your Head, Part 2
When Jensen woke, he almost didn’t remember where he was, until Jared stirred next to him. Dim light was creeping across the land around them, the colors of Wonderland coming to life again. It was then that Jensen realized how hungry and thirsty he was, and he could still feel the aches from the Caterpillar’s attack, as well as their long trek from the day before. Before he could fall too deeply into his despair over not finding Danneel, he woke Jared.
“Hey,” he murmured, gently shaking Jared’s shoulder. Seeing Jared asleep and looking so much younger and vulnerable, Jensen was reminded of that feeling of responsibility, and he cursed himself for making Jared be the strong one thus far. “Hey, come on, buddy. It’s morning. We have to get going.”
Jared’s eyes opened slowly, and he yawned, sitting up and looking at Jensen. “Right. On the road again?”
“Yeah.” Jensen stood, helping Jared up as well. “We need to keep an eye out for something to sustain us. Water, at least. I’m not sure what’s safe to eat around here.”
Jared nodded. “Just stay away from the mushrooms. You don’t wanna be any shorter than you already are.”
Jensen smirked, thankful for some sort of normalcy. “Dick.”
They walked quietly together, still groggy, the sky getting brighter as they moved along. Jensen kept an eye on Jared, noting how much slower Jared seemed to be moving today. They both needed sustenance, but Jensen knew how much it took to keep Jared’s body running at a normal speed. He’d made fun of Jared’s eating habits enough over the years to know that Jared wouldn’t last very long if they didn’t find something along the path soon.
The stream was a surprise, something both of them heard but didn’t believe until they gotten over the crest of a hill and saw it there. The tall grass thinned out a little on the bank of a river, the water running alongside it.
“Water,” Jared said, suddenly speeding towards it.
“How do we know it’s safe?” Jensen asked, moving to catch up, though he was pretty sure he was going to try it anyway.
“What choice do we have?” Jared immediately knelt by the stream and splashed water over his face, shivering a little at how cold it was. It was still early, and the temperature was still a bit low. But that didn’t stop him from cupping the water in his hands and drinking it, Jensen doing the same beside him.
“Better?” Jensen asked between mouthfuls, eyeing Jared, who sat back on the grass.
“Much better,” Jared answered, sighing. He rubbed his stomach, which subsequently grumbled and winced. “Still need food, though.” He frowned, looking around. “Think the grass is edible?”
“I don’t know.” Jensen looked at it and shrugged. They hadn’t come across anything else that would pass as safe food. He sat next to Jared and leaned back, stretching to pluck one of the thinner green stems. “When in Wonderland…”
The stem flinched back from Jensen’s fingers when they brushed against it, and a distinct “Oh!” sounded from somewhere among the blades, causing Jensen to jump back away from it, Jared also startling next to him. “What the hell?!”
The Flowers had been hiding themselves, bent in on each other in such a way that Jensen hadn’t noticed them before. They lifted their heads now, turning to Jensen and Jared, vivid colors against a sea of green.
“We are not food!” the purple and yellow Pansy said, its eyes focused on Jensen. It was the one Jensen had tried to grab.
Jensen stared dumbly at the flower, then Jared, then back at the flower. “Sorry?” he tried, lifting his hands in a half-shrug.
“We’re just hungry and a long way from home.” Jared was less shocked at this point, and Jensen appreciated his friend’s knack for kindness and diplomacy, as he always had. “If you could just help us find something around here that we could eat, we’d really appreciate it.”
“You can eat the bread-and-butterflies,” an orange and brown Pansy said, blinking at Jared. “There are a lot of them around here, and they’re good for long journeys.”
A third Pansy, this one red and black, nodded at both of them. “I’m sure there’s a flock of them hiding amongst us.” She turned back towards the other Flowers and nodded again.
The field of grass was suddenly shaking, all of the Flowers disturbing the silence with a loud rustling sound. From somewhere within the tall blades, a swarm of something darted out towards Jensen and Jared, flying around them. Jensen’s alarm quickly abated when he saw that the things flying around them were small, simple wings of bread and butter, with crust for a body. He snatched one out of the air, and it immediately went still, warm in his hand.
“Did I kill it?” he asked, and the Flowers giggled.
“They’re not alive! They only exist to be eaten.” Orange-and-Brown said, and Jensen poked at the thing in his hand, realizing now that it was really just bread and butter.
“Look at that,” Jensen murmured, quietly amazed and extremely grateful. “Thank you,” he said, looking up at the Flowers. “I’m pretty sure you just saved our lives.” They simply giggled in response, and Jensen separated the two “wings” in his hand, holding one out for Jared. The bread-and-butterflies surrounded them now, many of them settled on the ground. They ate hungrily, Jensen holding the last one out for Jared, happy to see some strength coming back to him. “Here, bro.”
Jared took it and then paused, looking at Jensen. “Have you had enough?”
“I’ve had plenty,” Jensen insisted, and it was true. He patted his stomach, completely full. “Go on, you need it.” He turned back to the Flowers, deciding to take a chance. “You’ve already been very kind to us, but I was wondering if maybe you could help us with something else? Have you seen a man and a woman come by here recently?”
The Flowers looked uncomfortable, Purple-and-Yellow the first to speak up. “The Hatter came through here last night. He had a woman with him.”
“Yes,” Jensen said immediately, getting to his feet, Jared right behind him, his heart suddenly racing. “Yes, the Mad Hatter, of course it’s him. Do you know where he was taking her?”
“To the Queen,” Red-and-Black whispered sadly. “The Hatter takes women to the Queen, because she needs their hearts.”
****
Danneel followed along behind the Mad Hatter, who didn’t need to keep hold of her any longer. She was too worn, too tired, which made her worry about the baby, of course. Jefferson had kept them going for quite some time now, only stopping so Danneel could drink from a nearby stream. She was still thirsty, incredibly hungry, and fairly exhausted.
“So, I don’t understand,” she said, trying to keep up conversation to keep her mind off of things. “You mentioned getting your heart back from the Queen. How are you still alive and breathing, if you don’t have a heart?”
Jefferson looked over his shoulder at her and smiled. “Magic,” he said simply, still walking in his same easy stride, no sign of fatigue. “The Queen uses magic to pull your heart from your chest, and as long as she leaves it intact, you can still live, though you’re under her control.” His tone soured on those last few words, and Danneel reminded herself to not feel for this man who was leading her to her death. “It isn’t until she destroys it that you die.”
Danneel sighed and almost stopped walking. She looked around, desperately wanting to escape, but knowing that it was no use. She could only hope that Jensen was looking for her, though even that seemed far-fetched.
“We’ll stop just around this bend,” the Hatter said, gesturing to a curve on the path. “You’ll need some fuel to get you to the end of your journey.”
Danneel didn’t answer, just trudged along until they rounded the corner and came upon a quaint little cottage. It stunned her, to see it here, in the middle of nowhere. It was made of brick, with a chimney and a rounded door, and it didn’t seem to have any windows. The path continued on past it, seemingly endless. Danneel followed the Hatter in a daze as he rapped upon the door with his knuckles, then gasped in shock as a Hare about the Hatter’s size answered the door.
“Hatter,” the hare said, disapprovingly, and Jefferson winced at the name. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ve brought a guest,” Jefferson answered, and the Hare peered over Jefferson’s shoulder at Danneel.
“Oh,” was all the Hare said at first, and Danneel did feel sympathy for him as his face fell into pure sorrow. Then his eyes narrowed, and he glared at Jefferson. “I wish you wouldn’t bring them here. Of course I’ll tend to her, but I don’t like being responsible for the poor girl’s last meal. Please, come in.” The Hare stepped past Jefferson and extended a paw to Danneel. He wore tweed pants and a long wool coat over a white linen shirt, paws bare.
“Thank you,” Danneel whispered, though a lump had begun to grow in her throat. She was afraid that she might never find a way out of this. But the Hare seemed very kind, and his paw gently closed around her hand to lead her into his home.
“Now, now, don’t thank me,” the Hare begged. “You shouldn’t thank anyone in this world. None of us can truly help you.”
The Hare’s home was dimly lit with clusters of candles in the corners, but it was cozy and warm, with large, plush furniture of dark, rich colors. The first room was oval in shape, with a series of chairs in a semicircle around an unused fireplace, an oak table in front of them. The next was shaped similarly, and a long wooden table and chairs sat in the middle of it. A tea kettle and cups were placed carefully on top of it. What looked to be the kitchen seemed to tunnel to the right of this room, though it was too dark to really see from where Danneel was standing. A third room could be seen behind the table, and all Danneel could see in there were fresh stacks of hay.
“Are you the March Hare?” Danneel asked, blinking as she looked at the teacups on the table.
“My name is Haigha,” he responded, raising a brow, and she hoped she hadn’t offended him. After all, Jefferson didn’t seem to like his nickname.
Haigha pulled a chair out for Danneel and she sat, watching him pour tea for her. “I’m afraid I don’t have much prepared in the way of food, though there is plenty of leftover cake in the kitchen.”
“Cake will be fine,” Jefferson answered for them, slouching comfortably in his chair. “Be sure to give her double the serving. She’s eating for two.”
Danneel closed her eyes, feeling her heart ache. She moved a hand over her stomach, her eyes snapping open at the sound of a teacup shattering against the wall.
“And you brought her here?!” Haigha shouted, visibly shaking. “Her Majesty may be controlling you, Jefferson, but she lets you take your pick of women. You chose one who’s pregnant?”
Jefferson shrugged and gave a lazy smile, though it faded quickly. “I didn’t know it at the time. But she’s here now. And the Queen will be in my debt when I bring her more than she asked for, won’t she?”
“Monster,” Haigha spat, storming off into the kitchen. He reentered with a large cake and some plates and forks, all of it shaking with his hands as he brought it to the table for them. The things didn’t settle easily, as he’d almost dropped them, and he fought to keep his hands steady as he cut Danneel a large piece and set it before her. “I’m sorry,” he sputtered, briefly settling a hand on her shoulder, and she felt his tears wet the sleeve of her shirt. He disappeared into the kitchen without another word.
****
Jared didn’t try to calm Jensen or slow him down when the Flowers revealed the Hatter’s plan to them. He took off with Jensen, both of them hurrying further along the path. His heart was pounding, and not only from the exertion. Jared feared for Danneel himself. She and Jensen were both like family to him. He couldn’t imagine how Jensen was feeling, and he wouldn’t even try to comprehend it. He would only do as much as he could to help save her and get all of them back home safely.
The cottage came as a shock, but neither of them stopped running, Jensen simply making a beeline for the door and pounding his fist upon it, calling out for someone to answer. When no one did, Jared watched as Jensen frantically tried the knob, angrily trying to force it when it wouldn’t budge. Jensen was just about to break the door down when Jared stopped him.
“Jensen, wait!” Jared gripped Jensen’s shoulder and listened carefully. “Do you hear that?” Jensen looked back at Jared in confusion, and then his eyes brightened when he heard it, too.
What they heard was a voice, and they followed it around to the side of the cottage, seeing only a garden at first, vegetables growing over a weak little wooden fence. Then Jared saw it, the figure slumped in the far corner of the garden, mostly obscured by the weeds that were also growing. Jared crept closer, Jensen just behind him, and it became clear the sound of the voice was actually the sound of sobbing. Moving in further, they could see that the figure was a large Hare in human clothing, paws covering his eyes as he cried into them.
Jared looked back at Jensen, who shrugged, then turned towards the Hare. “Excuse me?” he asked softly, not wanting to startle him. “I’m very sorry to bother you, especially when you’re upset, but we’re in a bit of a hurry, and we would appreciate any help you might be able to give us.”
The Hare sniffled and took a deep breath, lowering his paws and looking up at them. His dark eyes widened when he took them in, and his voice quivered when he spoke. “You’re looking for her, aren’t you?”
Jared moved back as Jensen stepped in front of him and squatted down in front of the Hare. “You’ve seen her? A woman, about 5’7, long auburn hair?” The Hare nodded and sniffled again, more tears wetting the fur on his cheeks. “She’s my wife,” Jensen said, and his desperate tone tugged at Jared’s heart. “And I have to find her and save her. I have to take her back home.”
“The Hatter brought her here,” the Hare said, shakily getting to his feet. Jensen helped to steady him. “He’s brought all of the women here on his way to the Queen. By the time they get here, they need food and drink to sustain them for the rest of the journey. The Queen has no use for dead hearts.” The Hare lowered his head, despairing and ashamed. “I’ve done nothing to help them. I tried to sneak one away once, and Jefferson caught me.”
“Jefferson?” Jensen asked, brow furrowed.
“The Hatter,” the Hare clarified, looking back at Jensen. “Though he hates being called that. He not-so-gently reminded me that he could summon the Queen here within a moment to crush my own heart. I never tried to help them again. I was a coward. I am a coward.” The Hare sobbed once more and wiped at his eyes. “I feed them their last meals and send them on their way, knowing what she’ll do to them.”
Jared watched as the Hare lowered his head again, and he could sense the expectation in the Hare that Jensen would hold him responsible for this; that Jensen would give him the punishment he deserved and put him out of his misery. Jared knew that Jensen could never do such a thing, but given the current situation and harried emotions, he still gave Jensen credit for not at least being angry with the Hare. He watched with admiration as Jensen gently took the Hare by the shoulders and waited for their eyes to meet.
“You can help us now,” Jensen said quietly. “You can tell me where the Queen is, what the quickest way to get to her is, anything. Please.”
The Hare blinked at Jensen, then stepped back and looked at both of them, seemingly with a new appreciation of them. “She’s too strong for all of us,” he said simply, knowing the information wouldn’t change anything. Jared and Jensen would still try to fight her. “With her magic, she probably already knows you’re coming. She could kill you all.”
“We’ll take our chances,” Jared answered, even if he was terrified of dying and leaving his family behind forever.
The Hare nodded. “The Queen’s quarters are at the center of the hedge maze. Her palace is there, along with her crypt, where she keeps all of the hearts she’s collected. The quickest way is actually through the forest, though no one ever goes there. The Hatter never even takes that way. They say it’s what drove him mad in the first place. It’s far too dangerous for a shortcut.” He sighed and shrugged. “That’s all I can tell you. That’s all I know. I’ve never gone in myself, and I would fear for you, if you did.”
“Thank you,” Jared and Jensen said in unison, and Jared stepped forward, hand extended. “What’s your name?”
“Haigha,” the Hare answered, shaking Jared’s hand, then Jensen’s. They introduced themselves, and the Hare looked at them with something like disbelief in the silence that followed. “Thank you for your mercy. I…I can’t remember the last time anything like it existed in Wonderland.”
****
Danneel kept walking, trying not to lose hope, if not for herself, than for her baby. There had to be a way out of this. This whole world was right out of a fairytale, so why couldn’t she have a happy, fairytale ending?
“We’ll stop here for the night,” the Hatter said suddenly, and Danneel stopped and looked around, realizing it was getting dark. It would be another night spent in the tall grass of Wonderland. Danneel wondered where the rest of the inhabitants even were, if they even existed, because this expanse of middle-of-nowhere seemed almost infinite, aside from Haigha’s home. “Get some rest. The Queen needs a strong heart.”
As she lied down in the grass, Danneel stared off into the blades and thought about home. She thought about Jensen, Jared even, and what the two of them must have thought when she disappeared into a hat. She sighed and thumbed at her engagement and wedding rings, thinking of how worried Jensen must be, how worried her parents must be. She thought it over and over, all manner of scenarios floating through her mind until her eyes began to close.
But they didn’t. Her eyes snapped open when she thought she caught a flicker of something in the grass, something too bright for the night that had now descended upon them. The Hatter snored behind her, and Danneel focused on where she thought the glimmer had been, waiting, almost breathless. And when she saw it again, her heart began to beat faster as the glimmer grew wider and wider, into a sort of…grin.
“Don’t worry,” the disembodied grin spoke, and Danneel gasped, sitting up. “You’re not going mad.” The body of a Cat appeared around the grin, more unearthly brightness making it stand out in the night, fur grey with stripes of a color fading from one to the next as they pleased, eyes a bright green studying Danneel without blinking. “Yet.”
“Cheshire Cat,” Danneel whispered, glancing behind her to see that the Hatter hadn’t woken. The Cat tilted its head at her, much like a house cat would, but with a deeper understanding, and its eyes flashed before its whole being went dark.
“Curiouser and curiouser,” the Cat purred, suddenly appearing again off to Danneel’s right, eyes and grin once again bleeding into its full body. “I don’t know you, but you know me?”
“From stories,” Danneel clarified, limbs pulled in tight to her body. She wasn’t sure what to make of the Cheshire Cat, now that she’d actually met it. “Fairytales, in my world.”
“Fairytales?” The Cat moved closer, rubbing against her with its tail in the air, as if it were a pet. “Interesting. But not as interesting as you, I’m sure.” It sat in front of her, legs straight, ears erect, tail wrapped around itself, grin never ceasing. “You’re the last piece of the Queen’s puzzle; a rare treat.”
Danneel grimaced, her stomach turning a bit. “So I’ve heard.”
“And have you heard,” the Cat asked, tilting its head at her again, “that two men followed you in through the entrance the Hatter made?”
Danneel froze, stunned, staring at the unblinking, ever-smiling Cheshire Cat in front of her. Then she started, letting out a half-gasp-half-laugh, her hopes rising without nearly as much effort as she’d been using before. “They followed me?!” The Hatter stirred, and Danneel clapped a hand to her mouth and reminded herself to keep quiet. “Do you know how close they are?”
“Hot on your heels,” the Cat replied, moving to rub against her again, and in her lightened mood, she ran her fingers along its back, eliciting a soft purr from the animal. “I dare say they mean to save you. But…”
“But?” Danneel whispered harshly, not wanting anything to get in the way of her being rescued. “But what?”
“If I know they’re here,” the Cat hissed, stalking off into the grass as it grinned at her over its shoulder, body slowly disappearing, “You’d better believe that the Queen does, too.”
****
“So, what are the chances that we’re getting in way over our heads?” Jared asked casually, walking towards the forest with Jensen.
Jensen laughed and looked back at Jared as he was walking. “I think we’ve been in way over our heads, Jay. What’s the harm in going a little deeper?”
“No homo.”
Jensen laughed again, happy to have Jared there with him to lighten the mood a bit as they walked towards the forest past Haigha’s house. It looked dark and impenetrable, an imposing, leafy fortress suddenly looming over the landscape. But they’d decided to take their chances. If this worked, they could possibly head the Hatter off and rescue Danneel sooner. If it didn’t…Well, Jensen didn’t want to think about what might happen if it didn’t. He paused when they reached the edge of the forest, Jared stopping next to him.
“It couldn’t be that bad, right?” Jared asked, though his tone wasn’t very convincing. “We’ll just keep straight, walk right through it, and do it as fast as we possibly can.”
“That’s the plan,” Jensen agreed. He hesitated and looked over at Jared, knowing how Jared would react to what he was thinking, but saying it anyway. “You know, we could split up. You don’t have to follow me through here. You could stay on the path, and we’ll meet in the middle, trap the Hatter, and save Danneel.”
Jared looked offended, his mouth opening wide for a rebuttal. But then he relaxed, and Jensen was relieved that Jared at least understood his sentiment. “I appreciate it, man,” Jared said. “I really do. But we’ve come this far already, and I am not leaving you now to let you go in there alone.”
Jensen smiled and reached out to squeeze Jared’s shoulder. “This place drove the Hatter mad, you know,” he warned.
“Well, the Hatter,” Jared said, starting forward, “didn’t have me lookin’ out for him, now, did he?”
“Hold on a minute.” Jensen pulled a face and bent over, hands on his knees. “I’m gonna barf.”
“Very funny,” Jared chuckled. “Now, come on. We’ve got a couple lives to save.”
They walked past the first row of trees, though they were more of a tangle than a row, and Jensen could already see how this forest would be difficult to navigate. He reached out to grab Jared’s shirt and pull him back when he thought that Jared had started walking too far ahead. They couldn’t afford to lose each other. It was getting dark, the dense canopy blocking out the light. Jensen was already sweating after just a few minutes of climbing over gnarled roots and trunks and weaving through branches.
“I’ll tell you one thing,” Jensen said, boots crunching down on dead leaves, “I will be so happy to have a shower when we get back home.”
They kept moving, doing their best to walk a straight line, correcting each other when they thought they’d veered off. And then, suddenly, the forest seemed to thin, and Jensen’s shoes touched down on something much smoother.
“Dude.” He looked down, squinting in the dim light, and saw a brightly colored path beneath his feet. He looked back up at Jared and laughed. “We can just follow the path!”
“It can’t be that easy,” Jared said, looking down at his feet and then further ahead to the straight path. “Could it?”
“I guess we’ll find out.”
Jensen wasn’t sure how long they’d walked the path for, losing track with its twists and turns. All he could really think about was the fact that it was a shortcut, and that they had to keep moving. He didn’t want to think about delays or distractions. But then his ears caught a rough sound. It sounded a bit like scratching or scraping, and Jensen put a finger to his lips when Jared halted and looked up at him. They both tensed as the sound grew closer, and then Jensen saw it, the…thing coming towards them on the path.
It was a Dog, Jensen though, or at least similar to one. But the face was all wrong, the bottom half made up of broom-like bristles that it moved back and forth along the ground, somehow wiping the color of the path away and leaving only the grassy forest floor beneath it. The Dog’s body followed, and then the tail swept the ground in the same fashion as the face, smaller bristles ensuring that the path ahead of Jared and Jensen no longer existed.
“No,” Jensen said, anger taking hold of him as he watched it happen, the dog merely sniffing at them when it reached them and walking around them to continue erasing the part of the path now behind them. “NO!”
“Jensen,” Jared said, and his tone made Jensen’s stomach twist, because it was the sound of something else going wrong. Jensen looked at Jared and followed his gaze to where a second Dog walked by in front of them, the bristles of its face and tail leaving a different colored path there, heading in a completely different direction. “This is what drives people mad,” Jared said, and Jensen could hear the panic rising in his voice. “This is why nobody comes through here, because they can’t find their way out. We’re lost now.”
“We’re not lost,” Jensen answered, though he couldn’t help but feel the same way. Still, they couldn’t panic, not now. Maybe others hadn’t found the way out, but they had to, had to find Danneel and take her home. He stepped forward, resting both hands on Jared’s shoulders and trying to keep his voice steady. “You just gotta stay calm, bro.” He squeezed gently with his hands, then let go. “Okay?”
Jared nodded, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. “Yeah. Yeah, you’re right.” But when Jared’s eyes opened again, Jensen watched them widen in fear, darting around to look at the trees surrounding them.
And then Jensen saw it himself, the trees twisting and transforming before them, faces opening up in the gnarled trunks, black and hollow, some pained and sorrowful, others sinister and murderous. Fear made Jensen’s body flash cold, and he reached for Jared, hand twisting in Jared’s shirt and pushing Jared behind him. Not that it would do much good. Jensen couldn’t really protect Jared when they were encircled by the menacing trees, branches lowering towards them as the trees moved closer. To his credit, Jared forced Jensen’s hand away and stood next to him, both of them facing this - whatever this was - together.
“It’s all in your heads.” Both Jared and Jensen jumped at the voice that suddenly permeated the forest, a disembodied grin appearing in front of them. “Enough to drive someone mad, isn’t it?” Eyes appeared next, then the soft glow of a Cat’s furred, striped body. The Cat was resting on a branch…a branch that was not moving towards them, the tree it was attached to faceless and still some distance away from them.
Part 3
When Jensen woke, he almost didn’t remember where he was, until Jared stirred next to him. Dim light was creeping across the land around them, the colors of Wonderland coming to life again. It was then that Jensen realized how hungry and thirsty he was, and he could still feel the aches from the Caterpillar’s attack, as well as their long trek from the day before. Before he could fall too deeply into his despair over not finding Danneel, he woke Jared.
“Hey,” he murmured, gently shaking Jared’s shoulder. Seeing Jared asleep and looking so much younger and vulnerable, Jensen was reminded of that feeling of responsibility, and he cursed himself for making Jared be the strong one thus far. “Hey, come on, buddy. It’s morning. We have to get going.”
Jared’s eyes opened slowly, and he yawned, sitting up and looking at Jensen. “Right. On the road again?”
“Yeah.” Jensen stood, helping Jared up as well. “We need to keep an eye out for something to sustain us. Water, at least. I’m not sure what’s safe to eat around here.”
Jared nodded. “Just stay away from the mushrooms. You don’t wanna be any shorter than you already are.”
Jensen smirked, thankful for some sort of normalcy. “Dick.”
They walked quietly together, still groggy, the sky getting brighter as they moved along. Jensen kept an eye on Jared, noting how much slower Jared seemed to be moving today. They both needed sustenance, but Jensen knew how much it took to keep Jared’s body running at a normal speed. He’d made fun of Jared’s eating habits enough over the years to know that Jared wouldn’t last very long if they didn’t find something along the path soon.
The stream was a surprise, something both of them heard but didn’t believe until they gotten over the crest of a hill and saw it there. The tall grass thinned out a little on the bank of a river, the water running alongside it.
“Water,” Jared said, suddenly speeding towards it.
“How do we know it’s safe?” Jensen asked, moving to catch up, though he was pretty sure he was going to try it anyway.
“What choice do we have?” Jared immediately knelt by the stream and splashed water over his face, shivering a little at how cold it was. It was still early, and the temperature was still a bit low. But that didn’t stop him from cupping the water in his hands and drinking it, Jensen doing the same beside him.
“Better?” Jensen asked between mouthfuls, eyeing Jared, who sat back on the grass.
“Much better,” Jared answered, sighing. He rubbed his stomach, which subsequently grumbled and winced. “Still need food, though.” He frowned, looking around. “Think the grass is edible?”
“I don’t know.” Jensen looked at it and shrugged. They hadn’t come across anything else that would pass as safe food. He sat next to Jared and leaned back, stretching to pluck one of the thinner green stems. “When in Wonderland…”
The stem flinched back from Jensen’s fingers when they brushed against it, and a distinct “Oh!” sounded from somewhere among the blades, causing Jensen to jump back away from it, Jared also startling next to him. “What the hell?!”
The Flowers had been hiding themselves, bent in on each other in such a way that Jensen hadn’t noticed them before. They lifted their heads now, turning to Jensen and Jared, vivid colors against a sea of green.
“We are not food!” the purple and yellow Pansy said, its eyes focused on Jensen. It was the one Jensen had tried to grab.
Jensen stared dumbly at the flower, then Jared, then back at the flower. “Sorry?” he tried, lifting his hands in a half-shrug.
“We’re just hungry and a long way from home.” Jared was less shocked at this point, and Jensen appreciated his friend’s knack for kindness and diplomacy, as he always had. “If you could just help us find something around here that we could eat, we’d really appreciate it.”
“You can eat the bread-and-butterflies,” an orange and brown Pansy said, blinking at Jared. “There are a lot of them around here, and they’re good for long journeys.”
A third Pansy, this one red and black, nodded at both of them. “I’m sure there’s a flock of them hiding amongst us.” She turned back towards the other Flowers and nodded again.
The field of grass was suddenly shaking, all of the Flowers disturbing the silence with a loud rustling sound. From somewhere within the tall blades, a swarm of something darted out towards Jensen and Jared, flying around them. Jensen’s alarm quickly abated when he saw that the things flying around them were small, simple wings of bread and butter, with crust for a body. He snatched one out of the air, and it immediately went still, warm in his hand.
“Did I kill it?” he asked, and the Flowers giggled.
“They’re not alive! They only exist to be eaten.” Orange-and-Brown said, and Jensen poked at the thing in his hand, realizing now that it was really just bread and butter.
“Look at that,” Jensen murmured, quietly amazed and extremely grateful. “Thank you,” he said, looking up at the Flowers. “I’m pretty sure you just saved our lives.” They simply giggled in response, and Jensen separated the two “wings” in his hand, holding one out for Jared. The bread-and-butterflies surrounded them now, many of them settled on the ground. They ate hungrily, Jensen holding the last one out for Jared, happy to see some strength coming back to him. “Here, bro.”
Jared took it and then paused, looking at Jensen. “Have you had enough?”
“I’ve had plenty,” Jensen insisted, and it was true. He patted his stomach, completely full. “Go on, you need it.” He turned back to the Flowers, deciding to take a chance. “You’ve already been very kind to us, but I was wondering if maybe you could help us with something else? Have you seen a man and a woman come by here recently?”
The Flowers looked uncomfortable, Purple-and-Yellow the first to speak up. “The Hatter came through here last night. He had a woman with him.”
“Yes,” Jensen said immediately, getting to his feet, Jared right behind him, his heart suddenly racing. “Yes, the Mad Hatter, of course it’s him. Do you know where he was taking her?”
“To the Queen,” Red-and-Black whispered sadly. “The Hatter takes women to the Queen, because she needs their hearts.”
****
Danneel followed along behind the Mad Hatter, who didn’t need to keep hold of her any longer. She was too worn, too tired, which made her worry about the baby, of course. Jefferson had kept them going for quite some time now, only stopping so Danneel could drink from a nearby stream. She was still thirsty, incredibly hungry, and fairly exhausted.
“So, I don’t understand,” she said, trying to keep up conversation to keep her mind off of things. “You mentioned getting your heart back from the Queen. How are you still alive and breathing, if you don’t have a heart?”
Jefferson looked over his shoulder at her and smiled. “Magic,” he said simply, still walking in his same easy stride, no sign of fatigue. “The Queen uses magic to pull your heart from your chest, and as long as she leaves it intact, you can still live, though you’re under her control.” His tone soured on those last few words, and Danneel reminded herself to not feel for this man who was leading her to her death. “It isn’t until she destroys it that you die.”
Danneel sighed and almost stopped walking. She looked around, desperately wanting to escape, but knowing that it was no use. She could only hope that Jensen was looking for her, though even that seemed far-fetched.
“We’ll stop just around this bend,” the Hatter said, gesturing to a curve on the path. “You’ll need some fuel to get you to the end of your journey.”
Danneel didn’t answer, just trudged along until they rounded the corner and came upon a quaint little cottage. It stunned her, to see it here, in the middle of nowhere. It was made of brick, with a chimney and a rounded door, and it didn’t seem to have any windows. The path continued on past it, seemingly endless. Danneel followed the Hatter in a daze as he rapped upon the door with his knuckles, then gasped in shock as a Hare about the Hatter’s size answered the door.
“Hatter,” the hare said, disapprovingly, and Jefferson winced at the name. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ve brought a guest,” Jefferson answered, and the Hare peered over Jefferson’s shoulder at Danneel.
“Oh,” was all the Hare said at first, and Danneel did feel sympathy for him as his face fell into pure sorrow. Then his eyes narrowed, and he glared at Jefferson. “I wish you wouldn’t bring them here. Of course I’ll tend to her, but I don’t like being responsible for the poor girl’s last meal. Please, come in.” The Hare stepped past Jefferson and extended a paw to Danneel. He wore tweed pants and a long wool coat over a white linen shirt, paws bare.
“Thank you,” Danneel whispered, though a lump had begun to grow in her throat. She was afraid that she might never find a way out of this. But the Hare seemed very kind, and his paw gently closed around her hand to lead her into his home.
“Now, now, don’t thank me,” the Hare begged. “You shouldn’t thank anyone in this world. None of us can truly help you.”
The Hare’s home was dimly lit with clusters of candles in the corners, but it was cozy and warm, with large, plush furniture of dark, rich colors. The first room was oval in shape, with a series of chairs in a semicircle around an unused fireplace, an oak table in front of them. The next was shaped similarly, and a long wooden table and chairs sat in the middle of it. A tea kettle and cups were placed carefully on top of it. What looked to be the kitchen seemed to tunnel to the right of this room, though it was too dark to really see from where Danneel was standing. A third room could be seen behind the table, and all Danneel could see in there were fresh stacks of hay.
“Are you the March Hare?” Danneel asked, blinking as she looked at the teacups on the table.
“My name is Haigha,” he responded, raising a brow, and she hoped she hadn’t offended him. After all, Jefferson didn’t seem to like his nickname.
Haigha pulled a chair out for Danneel and she sat, watching him pour tea for her. “I’m afraid I don’t have much prepared in the way of food, though there is plenty of leftover cake in the kitchen.”
“Cake will be fine,” Jefferson answered for them, slouching comfortably in his chair. “Be sure to give her double the serving. She’s eating for two.”
Danneel closed her eyes, feeling her heart ache. She moved a hand over her stomach, her eyes snapping open at the sound of a teacup shattering against the wall.
“And you brought her here?!” Haigha shouted, visibly shaking. “Her Majesty may be controlling you, Jefferson, but she lets you take your pick of women. You chose one who’s pregnant?”
Jefferson shrugged and gave a lazy smile, though it faded quickly. “I didn’t know it at the time. But she’s here now. And the Queen will be in my debt when I bring her more than she asked for, won’t she?”
“Monster,” Haigha spat, storming off into the kitchen. He reentered with a large cake and some plates and forks, all of it shaking with his hands as he brought it to the table for them. The things didn’t settle easily, as he’d almost dropped them, and he fought to keep his hands steady as he cut Danneel a large piece and set it before her. “I’m sorry,” he sputtered, briefly settling a hand on her shoulder, and she felt his tears wet the sleeve of her shirt. He disappeared into the kitchen without another word.
****
Jared didn’t try to calm Jensen or slow him down when the Flowers revealed the Hatter’s plan to them. He took off with Jensen, both of them hurrying further along the path. His heart was pounding, and not only from the exertion. Jared feared for Danneel himself. She and Jensen were both like family to him. He couldn’t imagine how Jensen was feeling, and he wouldn’t even try to comprehend it. He would only do as much as he could to help save her and get all of them back home safely.
The cottage came as a shock, but neither of them stopped running, Jensen simply making a beeline for the door and pounding his fist upon it, calling out for someone to answer. When no one did, Jared watched as Jensen frantically tried the knob, angrily trying to force it when it wouldn’t budge. Jensen was just about to break the door down when Jared stopped him.
“Jensen, wait!” Jared gripped Jensen’s shoulder and listened carefully. “Do you hear that?” Jensen looked back at Jared in confusion, and then his eyes brightened when he heard it, too.
What they heard was a voice, and they followed it around to the side of the cottage, seeing only a garden at first, vegetables growing over a weak little wooden fence. Then Jared saw it, the figure slumped in the far corner of the garden, mostly obscured by the weeds that were also growing. Jared crept closer, Jensen just behind him, and it became clear the sound of the voice was actually the sound of sobbing. Moving in further, they could see that the figure was a large Hare in human clothing, paws covering his eyes as he cried into them.
Jared looked back at Jensen, who shrugged, then turned towards the Hare. “Excuse me?” he asked softly, not wanting to startle him. “I’m very sorry to bother you, especially when you’re upset, but we’re in a bit of a hurry, and we would appreciate any help you might be able to give us.”
The Hare sniffled and took a deep breath, lowering his paws and looking up at them. His dark eyes widened when he took them in, and his voice quivered when he spoke. “You’re looking for her, aren’t you?”
Jared moved back as Jensen stepped in front of him and squatted down in front of the Hare. “You’ve seen her? A woman, about 5’7, long auburn hair?” The Hare nodded and sniffled again, more tears wetting the fur on his cheeks. “She’s my wife,” Jensen said, and his desperate tone tugged at Jared’s heart. “And I have to find her and save her. I have to take her back home.”
“The Hatter brought her here,” the Hare said, shakily getting to his feet. Jensen helped to steady him. “He’s brought all of the women here on his way to the Queen. By the time they get here, they need food and drink to sustain them for the rest of the journey. The Queen has no use for dead hearts.” The Hare lowered his head, despairing and ashamed. “I’ve done nothing to help them. I tried to sneak one away once, and Jefferson caught me.”
“Jefferson?” Jensen asked, brow furrowed.
“The Hatter,” the Hare clarified, looking back at Jensen. “Though he hates being called that. He not-so-gently reminded me that he could summon the Queen here within a moment to crush my own heart. I never tried to help them again. I was a coward. I am a coward.” The Hare sobbed once more and wiped at his eyes. “I feed them their last meals and send them on their way, knowing what she’ll do to them.”
Jared watched as the Hare lowered his head again, and he could sense the expectation in the Hare that Jensen would hold him responsible for this; that Jensen would give him the punishment he deserved and put him out of his misery. Jared knew that Jensen could never do such a thing, but given the current situation and harried emotions, he still gave Jensen credit for not at least being angry with the Hare. He watched with admiration as Jensen gently took the Hare by the shoulders and waited for their eyes to meet.
“You can help us now,” Jensen said quietly. “You can tell me where the Queen is, what the quickest way to get to her is, anything. Please.”
The Hare blinked at Jensen, then stepped back and looked at both of them, seemingly with a new appreciation of them. “She’s too strong for all of us,” he said simply, knowing the information wouldn’t change anything. Jared and Jensen would still try to fight her. “With her magic, she probably already knows you’re coming. She could kill you all.”
“We’ll take our chances,” Jared answered, even if he was terrified of dying and leaving his family behind forever.
The Hare nodded. “The Queen’s quarters are at the center of the hedge maze. Her palace is there, along with her crypt, where she keeps all of the hearts she’s collected. The quickest way is actually through the forest, though no one ever goes there. The Hatter never even takes that way. They say it’s what drove him mad in the first place. It’s far too dangerous for a shortcut.” He sighed and shrugged. “That’s all I can tell you. That’s all I know. I’ve never gone in myself, and I would fear for you, if you did.”
“Thank you,” Jared and Jensen said in unison, and Jared stepped forward, hand extended. “What’s your name?”
“Haigha,” the Hare answered, shaking Jared’s hand, then Jensen’s. They introduced themselves, and the Hare looked at them with something like disbelief in the silence that followed. “Thank you for your mercy. I…I can’t remember the last time anything like it existed in Wonderland.”
****
Danneel kept walking, trying not to lose hope, if not for herself, than for her baby. There had to be a way out of this. This whole world was right out of a fairytale, so why couldn’t she have a happy, fairytale ending?
“We’ll stop here for the night,” the Hatter said suddenly, and Danneel stopped and looked around, realizing it was getting dark. It would be another night spent in the tall grass of Wonderland. Danneel wondered where the rest of the inhabitants even were, if they even existed, because this expanse of middle-of-nowhere seemed almost infinite, aside from Haigha’s home. “Get some rest. The Queen needs a strong heart.”
As she lied down in the grass, Danneel stared off into the blades and thought about home. She thought about Jensen, Jared even, and what the two of them must have thought when she disappeared into a hat. She sighed and thumbed at her engagement and wedding rings, thinking of how worried Jensen must be, how worried her parents must be. She thought it over and over, all manner of scenarios floating through her mind until her eyes began to close.
But they didn’t. Her eyes snapped open when she thought she caught a flicker of something in the grass, something too bright for the night that had now descended upon them. The Hatter snored behind her, and Danneel focused on where she thought the glimmer had been, waiting, almost breathless. And when she saw it again, her heart began to beat faster as the glimmer grew wider and wider, into a sort of…grin.
“Don’t worry,” the disembodied grin spoke, and Danneel gasped, sitting up. “You’re not going mad.” The body of a Cat appeared around the grin, more unearthly brightness making it stand out in the night, fur grey with stripes of a color fading from one to the next as they pleased, eyes a bright green studying Danneel without blinking. “Yet.”
“Cheshire Cat,” Danneel whispered, glancing behind her to see that the Hatter hadn’t woken. The Cat tilted its head at her, much like a house cat would, but with a deeper understanding, and its eyes flashed before its whole being went dark.
“Curiouser and curiouser,” the Cat purred, suddenly appearing again off to Danneel’s right, eyes and grin once again bleeding into its full body. “I don’t know you, but you know me?”
“From stories,” Danneel clarified, limbs pulled in tight to her body. She wasn’t sure what to make of the Cheshire Cat, now that she’d actually met it. “Fairytales, in my world.”
“Fairytales?” The Cat moved closer, rubbing against her with its tail in the air, as if it were a pet. “Interesting. But not as interesting as you, I’m sure.” It sat in front of her, legs straight, ears erect, tail wrapped around itself, grin never ceasing. “You’re the last piece of the Queen’s puzzle; a rare treat.”
Danneel grimaced, her stomach turning a bit. “So I’ve heard.”
“And have you heard,” the Cat asked, tilting its head at her again, “that two men followed you in through the entrance the Hatter made?”
Danneel froze, stunned, staring at the unblinking, ever-smiling Cheshire Cat in front of her. Then she started, letting out a half-gasp-half-laugh, her hopes rising without nearly as much effort as she’d been using before. “They followed me?!” The Hatter stirred, and Danneel clapped a hand to her mouth and reminded herself to keep quiet. “Do you know how close they are?”
“Hot on your heels,” the Cat replied, moving to rub against her again, and in her lightened mood, she ran her fingers along its back, eliciting a soft purr from the animal. “I dare say they mean to save you. But…”
“But?” Danneel whispered harshly, not wanting anything to get in the way of her being rescued. “But what?”
“If I know they’re here,” the Cat hissed, stalking off into the grass as it grinned at her over its shoulder, body slowly disappearing, “You’d better believe that the Queen does, too.”
****
“So, what are the chances that we’re getting in way over our heads?” Jared asked casually, walking towards the forest with Jensen.
Jensen laughed and looked back at Jared as he was walking. “I think we’ve been in way over our heads, Jay. What’s the harm in going a little deeper?”
“No homo.”
Jensen laughed again, happy to have Jared there with him to lighten the mood a bit as they walked towards the forest past Haigha’s house. It looked dark and impenetrable, an imposing, leafy fortress suddenly looming over the landscape. But they’d decided to take their chances. If this worked, they could possibly head the Hatter off and rescue Danneel sooner. If it didn’t…Well, Jensen didn’t want to think about what might happen if it didn’t. He paused when they reached the edge of the forest, Jared stopping next to him.
“It couldn’t be that bad, right?” Jared asked, though his tone wasn’t very convincing. “We’ll just keep straight, walk right through it, and do it as fast as we possibly can.”
“That’s the plan,” Jensen agreed. He hesitated and looked over at Jared, knowing how Jared would react to what he was thinking, but saying it anyway. “You know, we could split up. You don’t have to follow me through here. You could stay on the path, and we’ll meet in the middle, trap the Hatter, and save Danneel.”
Jared looked offended, his mouth opening wide for a rebuttal. But then he relaxed, and Jensen was relieved that Jared at least understood his sentiment. “I appreciate it, man,” Jared said. “I really do. But we’ve come this far already, and I am not leaving you now to let you go in there alone.”
Jensen smiled and reached out to squeeze Jared’s shoulder. “This place drove the Hatter mad, you know,” he warned.
“Well, the Hatter,” Jared said, starting forward, “didn’t have me lookin’ out for him, now, did he?”
“Hold on a minute.” Jensen pulled a face and bent over, hands on his knees. “I’m gonna barf.”
“Very funny,” Jared chuckled. “Now, come on. We’ve got a couple lives to save.”
They walked past the first row of trees, though they were more of a tangle than a row, and Jensen could already see how this forest would be difficult to navigate. He reached out to grab Jared’s shirt and pull him back when he thought that Jared had started walking too far ahead. They couldn’t afford to lose each other. It was getting dark, the dense canopy blocking out the light. Jensen was already sweating after just a few minutes of climbing over gnarled roots and trunks and weaving through branches.
“I’ll tell you one thing,” Jensen said, boots crunching down on dead leaves, “I will be so happy to have a shower when we get back home.”
They kept moving, doing their best to walk a straight line, correcting each other when they thought they’d veered off. And then, suddenly, the forest seemed to thin, and Jensen’s shoes touched down on something much smoother.
“Dude.” He looked down, squinting in the dim light, and saw a brightly colored path beneath his feet. He looked back up at Jared and laughed. “We can just follow the path!”
“It can’t be that easy,” Jared said, looking down at his feet and then further ahead to the straight path. “Could it?”
“I guess we’ll find out.”
Jensen wasn’t sure how long they’d walked the path for, losing track with its twists and turns. All he could really think about was the fact that it was a shortcut, and that they had to keep moving. He didn’t want to think about delays or distractions. But then his ears caught a rough sound. It sounded a bit like scratching or scraping, and Jensen put a finger to his lips when Jared halted and looked up at him. They both tensed as the sound grew closer, and then Jensen saw it, the…thing coming towards them on the path.
It was a Dog, Jensen though, or at least similar to one. But the face was all wrong, the bottom half made up of broom-like bristles that it moved back and forth along the ground, somehow wiping the color of the path away and leaving only the grassy forest floor beneath it. The Dog’s body followed, and then the tail swept the ground in the same fashion as the face, smaller bristles ensuring that the path ahead of Jared and Jensen no longer existed.
“No,” Jensen said, anger taking hold of him as he watched it happen, the dog merely sniffing at them when it reached them and walking around them to continue erasing the part of the path now behind them. “NO!”
“Jensen,” Jared said, and his tone made Jensen’s stomach twist, because it was the sound of something else going wrong. Jensen looked at Jared and followed his gaze to where a second Dog walked by in front of them, the bristles of its face and tail leaving a different colored path there, heading in a completely different direction. “This is what drives people mad,” Jared said, and Jensen could hear the panic rising in his voice. “This is why nobody comes through here, because they can’t find their way out. We’re lost now.”
“We’re not lost,” Jensen answered, though he couldn’t help but feel the same way. Still, they couldn’t panic, not now. Maybe others hadn’t found the way out, but they had to, had to find Danneel and take her home. He stepped forward, resting both hands on Jared’s shoulders and trying to keep his voice steady. “You just gotta stay calm, bro.” He squeezed gently with his hands, then let go. “Okay?”
Jared nodded, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. “Yeah. Yeah, you’re right.” But when Jared’s eyes opened again, Jensen watched them widen in fear, darting around to look at the trees surrounding them.
And then Jensen saw it himself, the trees twisting and transforming before them, faces opening up in the gnarled trunks, black and hollow, some pained and sorrowful, others sinister and murderous. Fear made Jensen’s body flash cold, and he reached for Jared, hand twisting in Jared’s shirt and pushing Jared behind him. Not that it would do much good. Jensen couldn’t really protect Jared when they were encircled by the menacing trees, branches lowering towards them as the trees moved closer. To his credit, Jared forced Jensen’s hand away and stood next to him, both of them facing this - whatever this was - together.
“It’s all in your heads.” Both Jared and Jensen jumped at the voice that suddenly permeated the forest, a disembodied grin appearing in front of them. “Enough to drive someone mad, isn’t it?” Eyes appeared next, then the soft glow of a Cat’s furred, striped body. The Cat was resting on a branch…a branch that was not moving towards them, the tree it was attached to faceless and still some distance away from them.
Part 3