Seeing Ghosts

Author Notes: Finally decided to update. I've written two new chapters and such. Thanks for support.
Disclaimer: Alice Parker = Mine. Batman Characters = Not.

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A soft groan emitted from her as she swam in and out of consciousness. Her eyes struggled to open and focus on her surroundings. Alice thought she heard the distance clinking of china but when she opened her eyes it was pitch black. Then it all came flooding back to her. That lunatic had kidnapped her! She tried to stand up but found she couldn’t. She felt the rough fibers of rope around her wrists, ankles, and neck.

‘Oh god, where am I?’ She thought frantically.

“Awake, already? You’ve missed the party.” His voice was kind but it had a sharp edge to it. “But fortunately for you, our guests are still here.”

The lights flickered on, a harsh light that nearly blinded her. When she dared to open them again, Alice let out a shrill scream and launched herself back against the chair as hard as she could. Her efforts only caused her to topple over painfully, tears streaming down her face.

“W-why…?”

Hatter made his lopsided grin, and walked over to the table, running a pristine white glove through the blood on it. He had mutilated several people to the point of not being able to tell if they were human. Body parts sewn to different places, organs, bones and skin all missing but every hand was clutching a full cup of tea.

“It’s simple, my dear Alice. They wouldn’t drink their tea.” He cackled loudly.

“Y-you’re…insane! Let me go!”

“Tsk tsk. It’s time to drink your tea.”

Hatter gripped the high backed chair and righted it, scooting her closer to the table. He picked up a light blue cup. It had a dark blue cursive ‘A’ on it. He poured liquid from the pot, and then peered into the cup.

“Oops, blood. Clean cup.” He tossed the cup over his shoulder, and kicked a dead ‘guest’ out of a chair. He then “borrowed “ the china cup, and refilled it with hot tea. He sat it down in front of Alice and stood back, waiting.

After a while of her glaring at him and the cup, he inquired. “What’s wrong? You’re being rude. Drink your tea.”

Alice sent a nasty look at him but refused to humor him. He knew damn full well that she was tied to this chair and couldn’t move any part of her body to drink the tea. Hatter seemed to get this and he though it was hilarious. He laughed and laughed until tears came to his eyes.

“My poor, poor Alice. You’ve spent so much time away from Wonderland that you don’t even know what’s proper at a Tea Party. You must drink the tea, and…you must dress appropriately.”

His eyes roamed lustfully over her tattered, and bloodied (he got a little enthusiastic earlier) business suit. “Well we’ll just have to fix that won’t we?”

Alice’s eyes grew large in fear, and she struggled against her bonds as he came closer and closer to her. She was breathing too hard, too fast. Alice knew if she kept panicking this way, she would pass out. Her vision black around the edges, turning her whole world into a tunnel.

“You’ve finally come home and no one, not even Batman, will take you away.”

Hatter touched her cheek softly, and that seemed to be the final straw for Alice’s brain. She slumped as much as the ropes would allow her. She was unconscious.

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TBC