Chapter 8

"Found it!" I shout, picking up the Vorpol Sword. I walk to the entrance of the chamber, wielding the great Sword. "Can some one with something sharp please make the hole bigger? It is an awfully tight fit." I hear them mumble amongst themselves. I hear Chess say something and then silence. Except for the scratching sounds that must be one of them making the hole bigger. I feel a gentle breeze. I look at the hole and see that Chess is using his claws to make the hole bigger. Not sure how that works, but he manages quite well. "Thank you, Chess." I nod to the cat. "March Hare, will you please take the Sword so that I may climb out?" March Hare takes it from me without a word. I crawl out of the chamber, considerably less cramped than going in.

The air up here is so fresh. I am glad to be out of that hole now. Oh, wow. It's dark. Getting very dark. That's not good. "Chess, how far away is Hatter's house, would you say?" I ask.
   "Not far. Just a short walk," he says.
   "I say we go and lodge there for the night."
   "Alyssa, are you sure there is time for that?" March Hare asks. I fall silent momentarily.
   "You're right," I say, "There is no time for dilly-dallying. We should go there and sleep for a couple of hours. grab something to eat and leave before day-break. We can't stay the whole night. Time is too--" I stop short. "Where is old man Time? I have to speak to him."
   "I thought you said that we DON'T have time!" March Hare panics.
   "She did-" Dum says.
   "We don't she said," Dee jumps in.
   "No time, no how!"
   "Listen to me," I say. "Hatter thinks that Time has been trying to tell me something. That Time transcends all. I have to go. I think Time has very important things to say to me!"
   "If time is listening-" dum starts.
   "Then we got time."
   "and if time wants us-"
   "Then we have to."
   "No other way, no how."
   "Alright, we go to Hatter's house get some shut-eye, then we go to Old Man Time," March Hare relents.
   "That is right."
   "I just hope you know what you are doing," he says in doubt.
   "Sir, I can assure you, no one here is more adamant about getting Hatter back than me. I wouldn't do this if I weren't absolutely sure it was needed. Trust me," I tell him in a low voice. There isn't much else we can do but walk. My dreams. Happy and frolicky. Then in comes the Jabberwalk... Jabberwalky. Never in a million years would I imagine that a dream would actually come true. And of all dreams, it had to be the awful, reoccurring nightmare. I shake my head. It came true, but it still makes little or to no sense. Thankfully, Chess was right. Trea's house wasn't far from where we were at the wall.

"I am going to assume that you have all been here at least once. I'm taking the guest bedroom. You'll have to fight over what's left." I get some strange looks. "Goodnight. We are up in three hours. Chess, I believe that you don't sleep. Am I correct?"
   "Yes, Your Majesty," he says in a sarcastic tone.
   "Then you will stay up and wake us." I go to my room. The first thing I do is search through the things I've brought from Earth into Dimmerland. I change from pajama's to the change of clothes. I neglected to bring a hairbrush. Ugh. I go into Trea's living room to see if he had one. The room is full of hats and fabrics and mannequins. In a tiny corner of the room, I see one place that is actually kept neat. I go over to it. I cock my head. He has a little notebook and pen on a little tea table. The corner of my mouth turns up in a half grin. My finger traces the edges of the notebook... what did he write in it...? He also has his necessities, including the hairbrush. I pick up the hairbrush delicately and begin to fix my hair. Its almost as if this is sacred. That using or looking into any of these things in this little corner on this little tea table would destroy something. It is the only organized and clean part of Trea I know of... I put the brush down. I can't. I go back to my room. I need to sleep. How can I sleep? Is it even  possible?

"Are you having troubles sleeping?" a gruff voice from behind me says.
   "Oh, Chess, hush. Of course I can't sleep. How could I? Trea is gone and might get killed. For all I know, he could be dead already! I'm here in his house, and yet he isn't. How can I possibly go to sleep? Even if for a short time?" A tear falls down my cheek.
   "Do not fret. I'm sure that he is perfectly alive. I'm sure the he will be safe."
   "I know you are trying to comfort me," I say with a sniff. "But I won't know for sure until I see him. Until I slay the Jabberwalk. I don't have the slightest clue as to how I would do that!"
   "Tomorrow will come soon enough. Right now, all you have to worry about is going to sleep." I shake my head, silent tears running down my face.
   "I can't... this is one of those times when you have to plan today by tomorrow!" I do my best to choke back a sob.
   "Come, now Lyssie-" I look sharply up at him. I give a glare.
   "Don't you EVER call me that!" I bark.
   "Shh, you'll wake the others!" Chess hisses. They are already asleep?
   "Ok, my mistake," I whisper. "However, under NO circumstances are you to call me that name! Do you understand me?"
   "Yes, your majesty," he says sarcastically.
   "Will you abide by my wishes?" I say, because that sarcasm is not promising.
   "Yes, your highness." My eyes go wide and I do a sharp intake of breath.
   "Why do you keep saying that?!" I ask in frustration.
   "You do not know?" he asks, amused.
   "If I had, I wouldn't be asking it, now would I?!" This cat. I almost can't stand him! And he is supposed to help me... how? "Goodnight," I say, since Chess was silent longer than I should like him to be. I close my eyes, and let the blackness of night over take me.

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 The clouds have rolled in,
the day is dark,
The Jabberwalk has flown in.
I am no longer Queen.
I cannot wake,
This isn't a dream.
The thing hast taken
The one who is crowned
besides me-

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"Alyssa!" I jump straight up.
   "This isn't a dream!" I shout, hyperventilating, sweating, and shaking.
   "You were dreaming. This here is not a dream." Realizing that March Hare is the one talking to me calms me down. He has a fatherly voice.
   "We need to get to Old Man Time right now. No more delays. Under any circumstances," I say earnestly. I don't care that my eyes are tired. It has to be done. Time is trying to tell me something, but I just don't get it. I grab my compass and key and shove them into my pocket. "Let's go."