I opened the door. A young faceless boy of about 10 years old with short strait blond hair was standing there, smiling. Joy invaded my body. I jumped and hugged him.

"You came!" I said happily.

"Of course! I wouldn't miss your birthday! Come on! You should trust me more!" responded the boy. I stepped back and we smiled at each other. He handed me a gift, all wrapped up, with a blue ribbon.

"What is it?" I asked, turning the gift in my hands.

"You will see later, dear," interrupted a faceless blond woman who appeared behind me. She took the gift away from me and walked back in the house, making a sign of the hand to make us follow.

"Come on, don't let your best friend outside," she added, "You don't want to miss the cake, don't you?"

"We're coming, Mom!" We sprinted behind her to arrive before her. As we were running, I looked at myself in one of the mirrors hanging in the hall. An image of a young faceless girl with brown hair in a ponytail, all dressed in green, reflected in the mirror.

We arrived at the dining room and we sat beside each other, while the woman put the gift on the table and went to get the cake in the kitchen. A tall faceless man with brown hair streaked with gray came beside me and kissed me on the forehead.

"Happy birthday again, my sweetheart," he wished me gently. He went beside the boy and brushed his hair.

"And how are you doing, boy?"

"Good!" He said enthusiastically with another big smile. The man sat at the other side of the table.

"Why didn't you invite more friends?" he asked me.

"Oh, I don't need more friends. I have him!" I answered, pointing the boy. The boy smiled. The woman from before came in with a chocolate cake. They sang happy birthday to me and we ate the cake. After, the couple handed me a gift, which was a simple blue dress with green leaves embroidered on it. I was opening the little box the boy had given me when...

I woke up. My chest hurt like crazy. I was gasping for air. The pain was so intense I didn't dare to move, afraid of making it worse. I tried to take deep breaths, but it was hard to breath. After another moment of intense pain, it slowly went away. I inspired and expired for a couple of minutes. I sat up on my bed. That pain again? Was I getting sick? I should see a doctor if it gets worst. And I couldn't make sense of the strange dream. I took my head in my hands.

The events of before were slowly coming back into my mind. I had cried for a long time after reading Jack's letter, before falling asleep of exhaustion. I had been psychologically tired after all these emotions. I was still holding tight in my hands Jack's letter and the small vial.

I felt so sad for what Jack had experienced... It was just so terrible.

Every one of his reactions now made sense. And the ones of the others too.

I frowned. It was so unfair! He was always in danger of death by Blood and the twins, even if he is innocent... And everyone rejected him, even sweet Alice...

I had to find Jack. I had to tell him something, anything. I had not forgiven him for the Heart's medicine, but I would if he helped me get it full again. I would stay more with him here the time to get the vial full again, and he would have what he wanted. And then I could go back, after making sure that Nightmare will get me back to Wonderland.

The only thing that made me feel uncomfortable was that Jack wrote that he had fallen for me. That means he fell in love with me, right...? I thought I was so boring and normal, but... Here I wasn't ordinary. I was the extraordinary one. I still did not get used to that.

I really have no experience in relationships. None. I really don't know how to respond to his declaration. The one thing that I knew was that I did not share his feelings. Sure, I liked him as a good friend, but I did not love him as a lover. But I didn't want to tell him that I don't love him and then ruin our friendship... I guess I'll just try to not talk about it.

I decided to start to fill the vial today, with the help of Jack or not. Nightmare hadn't been clear on how to do that exactly or how it would transport me to my world, but he said that it involved all role-holders.

So I got out of bed, changed my outfit, into new clothes that had been washed by I do not know who but I seriously needed to thank them, and headed out of the dormitory.

I met a faceless man who offered me some food, telling me that it was from Gowland. I ate some fruits, thanked the faceless and continued to find Gowland after asking for directions the nice man.

I met the Amusement Park's director where the faceless had indicated me, near some roller coasters. Damn, Gowland really loved these horrible attractions.

"Hey!" I greeted.

"Hello, Zoe! I see that you are feeling better. Do you need something?" He asked nicely.

"Yes actually." I showed him my glass vial. "Do you know what to do with this? Nightmare wasn't really precise..."

"I'm afraid that you'll have to figure it out by yourself, dear. It's the Game. But I do know that the more you meet role-holders, the more it fills. I can't say more, sorry," He said, shrugging.

"Thanks anyway." He was way more helpful than the dream demon. "By the way, do you know where Jack is? I need to talk to him." And make him help me. It was his fault I was stuck with this vial.

"Hum... If I remember correctly, he went to Town not long ago. Maybe he came back, I don't know."

"Great. I'll be going then," I finished. I needed to get out of here before he proposed me to try one of the roller coasters.

"Good luck with your vial, kid."

I smiled and left. He went to Town, huh... Well then. To Town I go.

I looked at the vial while walking. It had filled a little. Probably because I had talked to Gowland. I had hoped it would fill more, but it was still better than nothing.

I arrived to Town a couple of minutes later. If I was a sad cat, where would I go...? I thought about it but nothing came to my mind. Well then, I guess I'll just walk around and try to find him.

And that's what I did for about an hour, I would say. It was hard to calculate the time that had passed. The Town was a lot bigger than I had thought. I searched in small parks, streets full of shops, the main squares... without success. No Cheshire Cat here. I chose to look at a last corner before going back to the Park.

A small grocery store, a jewelry shop and a nice bakery. No Jack here. I stopped a moment in front of the jewelry store. Shiny necklaces, bracelets and rings with gems of different sizes and colors were presented in the showcases. I looked at my ring, present from Elliot. Yeah, mine was definitely the prettiest. 

I was still admiring the jewelry when pain caught my chest again. I fell to my knees and tried to breath. I was suffering from the same thing from before. I tried to cry out for help but my breath was cut by the pain tightening my chest.

I blacked out.

I looked down at the blond haired boy around 12 years old climbing the ladder under me. I backed away and he went on the platform of the house with me.

"Isn't it awesome? We have our own tree house in the forest!" I said excitedly.

"You said that last year too," the boy responded with a smile.

"I know, but it's so cool! And we had so much fun last year!"

"Yeah, I hope we won't be disturbed by the owls. We never, ever hear them, but when we decide to sleep over here, that's when they screech." We laughed as we remembered our night that ended without any sleep at all. We had had so much fun, though.

We led down on the irregular wooden floor and looked up at the sky by our little windows.

"How's your mom doing?" I asked.

"Okay, I think. She's slowly regaining health. She was lucky. The lost bullet passed just beside her heart."

"Great. I just hope the role-holders could be more careful when they fight."

"Yeah. But I think they don't really have a choice. It's their role after all."

I nodded and sat up.

"So, where do you wanna work when you grow up?" I demanded.

"Hum... Difficult question..." He paused. "I guess I would like to stay wherever you go."

"Me too. I don't want to be alone or hurt. I'm counting on you."

"Don't worry, I'll protect you. I promise." He smiled to me and I smiled back.

"ZOE! Zoe! Wake up!"

I blinked a couple of times. My vision became less blurry as I blinked and slowly woke up. It was Elliot, on his knees, shaking me gently, a concerned look on his face. I slowly sat up with his help.

"What... what happened...?" I asked. My mind was all mixed up.

"You tell me what happened! I was just enjoying a nice carrot cake in a wonderful bakery on one of my rare free time, then you freaking pop up outta nowhere and faint!" He said with his usual energy. "Are you sick or something?"

"I think, yeah. I keep having pain attacks and weird dreams."

"I hope you get cured, cause soon is the Ball! You can't miss it because you're sick!"

"What? A ball? For what occasion?"

"The leader of this world, in this case the Queen of Hearts, Vivaldi, has to organize events who gather all role-holders. Here, it's a ball. Of course, all the faceless employees and outsiders like you are invited." He added. "You'll love it! There are tables full of tea, fancy deserts full of carrots, and more! And after, there's dances."

I slowly began panicking. A ball... Like in fairy tales... But that meant I'll have to dance! I don't know anything about dancing! And I don't have any clothes adapted for a Ball! And Blood would be there!

I think Elliot noticed my panic because he rapidly continued:

"All the role-holders are forbidden to fight during the Ball. So don't worry about Blood."

I sighed of relief. But I still didn't want to go. I wasn't ready for this kind of event.

"You don't have a dress, do you?" he asked as he got up. I shook my head. He held out his hand. "Come on, I'll buy you one. I believe turquoise, or green, will be beautiful on you." He smiled. I hesitantly took his hand and got up. He let me go.

"No, really, I'm fine-

"Aw, come on. I still have some free time left. You can't go to the Ball without a proper dress! And don't even think about not going! You'll miss the carrot delicacies!" Which was probably the worst thing that could happen in his life. I sighed, then realized that ALL the role-holders were going to be there. So that meant that the vial could fill up super fast! I looked at the vial that I had put in my pocket: the liquid was now at the quarter of the vial. Great! I put it pack in my pocket and agreed to Elliot's proposition:

"Okay, I'll come."

We shopped dresses for quite some time, before choosing a seaweed green dress with little pearls circling the waist. It was very pretty and looked nice on me. We had a good time. Elliot had great taste, and he was really nice.

I did not have any other attacks, but I was preoccupied with the strange dreams I kept having. I never had that kind of dream. I never remembered them, or they were absurd. But these... What did they mean? I could have sworn I heard the dream boy's voice while we were walking. But no little boy. I tried to think about something else.

Elliot gallantly walked me back to the Amusement Park.

"Oh, Elliot, I wanted to thank you for that ring!" I showed him my ringed finger. "It's beautiful! But how did you know it would fit?"

"Glad that you like it. For the size, I just... had a feeling." He smiled. We arrived at the entrance. "Well, here we are. See you at the Ball, Zoe."

"Thanks for the dress! See you there!" I responded.

He left, waving with his hand. I entered the Park and went in my room to put the dress in the cupboard. The Ball was soon... Did it mean after a night period? Or like a day of 24 hours? I had no idea. But I guessed Gowland would tell me.

Someone suddenly knocked on the door. I opened it, and it revealed a young faceless man with short black hair.

"Greetings, Miss," he started. "Mr. Gowland wanted me to inform you that the Castle will be holding a Ball, and you are invited. If you wish to go there with Mr. Gowland and the Cheshire Cat, please join them at the entrance of the Park when all the sand in this hourglass will have fallen." He gave me a little hourglass, the sand slowly but surely falling down. "Miss." He bowed and went away. I closed the door.

Well, now I knew when the Ball was. I took a book: Tales of the Fallen Kingdom that was in the cupboards after putting the little hourglass on my small table beside my bed. It was a fantasy novel. I had time to lose so I started to read the book, while checking on the hourglass. When it was almost at its end, I put on my new dress, combed my hair the best I could and stepped out of my room.

Ready to face the role-holders.

Ready for the Ball.

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Sorry for that long wait! 

Anyway, thanks for reading :) You guys are awesome.

-Elleira_Siren