Seeing Ghosts

Alice Parker was walking down the lamp-lit streets of Gotham City. She had just got off her shift at the local diner, and was now headed for her small apartment down the street from it. Little did Alice know a figure was slowly following her up the street, watching, and waiting for it's chance. As Alice was looking for her key to the building, the figure stepped into one of the lamp's lights. An insane grin cracked across the face of the man, his unruly blonde hair obscuring his eyes from view. As he approached the stairs, he recited in a sinister voice.

"How doth the little crocodile improve it's shining tail..."

"Oh god, you scared me!"

"And pour the waters of the Nile on every golden scale.."


He started climbing up the stairs of the building, slowly lifting his head, grinning toothily at the girl. Alice began to get a little frightened. Who the hell was this maniac and why was he talking like that? She looked in her purse for her pepper spray just in case this psycho decided to try something.

"How cheerfully he seems to grin.."

The Hatter reached into his coat pocket. He pulled out a capsule, and spread his hand out so she could see it.

"How neatfully he spreads his claws..."

He threw the capsule to the ground at her feet. Alice screamed and automatically flinched, but was surprised as a blue mist rose from her feet. She became lightheaded and swayed on her feet as the gas filled her lungs.

She coughed violently, "S-someone...help...m-me..."

And then she passed out and would have fallen onto the stairs if it were not for Hatter's outstreched arms that caught her readily. He lifted her legs onto his arm and carried her to the alley way of the building, grinning at the beautiful woman in his possession.

"And welcomes little fishes in with gently smiling jaws..."

The two disappeared into the darkness of the alley. The Hatter has found himself a new Alice at last. This one would not get away.