Page 79 of Madness Becomes Her
“What’s it matter? Time is relative and doesn’t factor into your character whatsoever.”
I narrow my gaze at him. “You’re right.”
He rolls his eyes, flipping onto his back and wiggling left and right to scratch an itch he can’t reach. “I know I am.”
Hours later, when I’m in bed, staring at the ceiling and missing Hatter more in the emptiness and silence of the bedroom, I realize that I’ll soon need to make a solid choice.
The White Queen acted as if the battle looming is stalking nearer, and once it’s over, I’ll need to choose one world or the other.
Which feels daunting.
Snuggling into bed, however, all I can focus on is that Hatter returns tomorrow, decisions be damned.
“You can’t do this,”I argue with Hatter.
The portal’s magic is tugging at my back, pleading with me to step inside the swirling purple ripples and return to where I belong.
“You have to. It’s not time for you to fulfill the scrolls. You know it as well as I do. It’s not time.” Tears cascade down Hatter’s cheeks, breaking my heart with each of them that carves sadness into his features.
“The scrolls could be wrong! They could change!” I argue, my hands clutched onto Hatter’s wool coat to remain in Wonderland.
If he shoves me into the portal behind me, he goes with me.
“Tiger Lily, I adore you. You know that. For that reason alone, I need you to heed my warning and go home.”
“When can I return? How will I know when it’s safe to come back? How will I know when it’s time? Let me take the scrolls with me.”
“The scrolls are safely hidden.”
“But she’s already seen them,” I argue. “Hiding me is moot. Fate will come for me, eventually.”
“Let’s hope it’s later.”
My chest tightens at his words. Thinking of never seeing Hatter again, never hearing his laugh, never feeling safe again in the bedroom he built me, is shattering my heart to bits. Shards that might never fit back together once I’m back home.
“Time will heal your wounds, Tiger Lily. It’s the way of Wonderland.”
He speaks of the security wards; Winston has told me all about them. Once back in my world, as I age, the memories of Wonderland and everything I’ve come to know and love will fade away like they never were.
I’ll never find my way back here if I don’t recall the portal locations.
“Don’t do this to me, Hatter. Let me hide here.”
He hangs his head, his body convulsing with emotion, before tugging me into him. “I have to do what’s best for you. No matter what. That was always what I promised myself. It’s always been about you and your safety, and you’re old enough to survive there now. You’re tough enough to fight back.”
I don’t know what muddled bullshit he’s spouting about. I only know he’s walked me three paces closer to the portal, and my chest is tightening, anxiety spiking through me like lightning through a calm sky.
“Hatter! No!”
“I’m going to close the portals, Tiger Lily. Don’t look for me there. Don’t come back here.”
“You need me! I’m the one who saves Wonderland!” I scream as he cups my face, his massive hand enveloping where I have a firm grip on his jacket.
“It’s not the right time. I have to keep you safe.”
I can’t see through my tears as Hatter rips my hand from his jacket and shoves me through the portal.
Wonderland falls away, and I’m ripped through time and space, my screams of agony blending into the magic surrounding me.
