I joined Gowland and Jack at the entrance. My little glass vial was in my dress pocket, ready to be filled. Gowland waved at me, while Jack looked down. The Cheshire Cat was wearing a dark blue suit with a white tie, and my other friend was in yellow, eccentric as always, even if he was a little more classic today.

"Kid, you look gorgeous!" exclaimed Gowland after looking at my outfit. I thanked him. He pocked Jack in the ribs with his elbow. "Come on, cheer up!" Jack sighed, but did not add anything.

"Thanks," I replied with a smile. I wasn't going to let Jack's bad attitude detain on me. "Let's go."

We walked to the Castle in silence, Gowland trying to start a conversation without any success...

Then the pain came back. Again. I fell on my knees. Images that didn't make any sense were spinning in my mind. Clocks. Bread. Carrots. Mirrors. I felt dizzy. I somehow knew that Jack was supporting me. The pain continued then ended suddenly. I looked up to the worried faces of Gowland and Jack.

"I'm... fine," I slowly said. I got up and took a deep breath. I had to see a doctor soon. They didn't look very convinced, but they didn't question me.We continued to walk and soon arrived at the huuuge castle.

We walked in. It was beautiful. It was all build in white marble, which was very pretty, and there were hundreds of decorations of in shape of hearts everywhere. We were in a gigantic room, tables at the corners full of deserts and drinks, but the center was empty for us to dance. The guests were rapidly arriving in the main door of the hall. I did not see anyone else I recognized, except for a few nice employees of Gowland.

Something caught my eye. Some very delicious-looking chocolate brownies were standing on a table beside us, ready to be eaten. I glanced around us casually. Yes! The guests were already eating and drinking the food and drinks proposed. That meant I could eat too. ^.^ I looked back at those brownies. I approached the table. Omg, they looked soooo good!

I was about to pick up one when Jack talked to me:

"So... do you... hate me now..?" he asked shyly. God damn it Jack! I can't eat a brownie AND talk to you! I glanced at the delicacies. Then at the Cheshire Cat. I sighed. Did we really have to have this conversation right now? He doesn't talk all the time we walk, and now he opens up?

I hated him now for keeping me away from these awesome brownies! But that's not what I responded.

"No, I don't. I'll forgive you if you help me fill the vial," I answered, while checking on the brownies. No one was stealing them from me!

Jack sighed of relief.

"Great," he said. "I'm really sorry about all that, you know..."

"Yes I know, I've read your letter." Maybe I could take one subtlety when he was talking. But then I would have to respond mouth full. Hm. No, definitely not lady-like, but... He added something I didn't hear, because I was too concentrated on the little debate in my head: to take now or after a brownie? I nodded distantly and he left to go talk to someone else, probably Gowland.

Finally! I looked at the other guests; to be sure I could eat. The hall was almost full of people. I saw Ace in the distance, talking to a long dark blue-haired guy. I shivered. I was not going to go near them. I didn't see the Hatters, but their workers were there. They were probably drinking tea somewhere.

Then the moment that I wanted so badly to happen happened. I took a big brownie and was about to take a bite, when someone screamed my name. "You have to be kidding me!" I thought.

"Zoe!" It was Elliot, coming my way. He looked completely panicked. "Zoe! You have to get out of here! Now!"

What? I had all the right in the world to be there-and eat deserts-! What was he talking about?

He was about to reach me when the Queen appeared on a higher stage. She was all in red, with black curly hair. She was very beautiful, but I wanted to cry. All I desired right now was my stupid brownie, not a speech!

"Dear guests, I will be short," she started. "Enjoy this Ball and have fun!" Then she left the stage. That was all? Well, I liked the Queen already.

Someone suddenly pushed me. I managed not to fall, but my desert did not have my luck. It splattered on the floor. "NOOOOOOO!" I screamed on my head. A maid dressed in the Heart uniform came beside me and quickly cleaned the mess. I looked at the table: NO MORE FREAKING BROWNIES! I WAS CURSED! NEVER WAS I TO EAT A BROWNIE LIKE THAT AGAIN! I took deep breaths and managed to calm myself. I tried to think about something else. I put my attention on the other guests. Elliot finally managed to get to me, out of breath.

"Zoe, you have to go now! They'll kill you!" he exclaimed.

"What? What's going on?" I asked.

"I don't have time to explain," he answered. Elliot took my hand and pulled me towards the exit. I tried to get him to explain himself, but stayed silent and walked faster. But suddenly Blood appeared in front of us, smiling. Beside him was the Queen of Hearts, Vivaldi, who stared at me in horror.

"You..." she whispered.

"I had told you she had survived. Ace can confirm it," said Blood to Vivaldi. Elliot pulled me back and we started walking in the other direction. I heard the Queen yell: "GUARDS! STOP HER!" Guards of the Castle stopped us and immobilized me and Elliot. I couldn't move and neither could my friend. Jack tried to come help me, but the Bloody Twins stopped him, menacing him with their axes. I couldn't see Gowland anywhere.

I saw the Queen come near me, Blood smiling evilly behind her. I had a reaalllly bad feeling about this. And I was right. Vivaldi went in front of me and examined me.

"We seriously thought we had killed you," she started. "I guess we will have to do it again. We must admit that hiding yourself as an outsider was smart. But we know a role-holder when we see one."

"A...role...holder...? What are you talking about! I'm an outsider! I've only came here a little while ago!"

"You will not escape us this time."

"LET HER GO!" screamed Elliot, trying to escape the guards' grip. "BLOOD! DO SOMETHING!" The Very Mad Hatter shook his head and smiled. The guards were holding me tight by the arms and I could not move. What was I supposed to do!

"Ace," called the Queen. The Knight of Hearts emerged from the crowd and bowed.

"Yes, your Majesty?"

"Do your work," she ordered. "Kill that sneaky role-holder." Ace nodded and took his sword out.

"WOAH!" I screamed. "WAIT! YOU ARE MISTAKEN! I'M NOT WHO YOU THINK I AM! I HAVE A HEART! I AM AN OUTSIDER!" I panicked. WHAT THE HELL WAS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE!

I HAD CHANGED MY OPINION: I DID NOT LIKE THE QUEEN AT ALL.

"My Queen, we can't kill an innocent girl," said Ace. OMG FINALLY A SENSED PERSON IN THIS CRAZY WORLD! –Wow, did I really say that about Ace?-

"Can I check if she really has a heart? It would be... nonsense, to kill an outsider," continued the knight.

"Fine," accepted the fierce Queen of Hearts. "Then kill her if it's a clock. We can't let the Amusement Park get more powerful."

Ace nodded, came close to me and put his head on my chest. I blushed, even if I knew he was only listening to my heart beat. I tried to listen to the familiar sound of my heart. But it wasn't beating. If I concentrated, I could hear it...

Ticking.

Tick, tock, tick, tock, made my heart.

I froze.

WHAT?

WHAAT?

WHAAAAAT?

"Definitely a clock," Ace announced, taking a grip on his sword. Vivaldi and Blood smiled at the same time. They looked the same, with an evil grin. Were they siblings or what?!

"I seriously thought you would get away... But coming here was a very bad move. Well, maybe I'll see you in another life," sadly continued Ace.

"NO! DON'T! I CANT LOOSE HER AGAIN!" yelled Elliot in despair. "BLOOD! PLEASE!" Jack was also screaming for someone to help me.

Tears started coming down from my eyes. I could not convince them I was innocent. Nothing could make them change their minds. It was so unfair! I had no idea by what magic someone had changed my heart into a clock. I could not break the illusion.

No.

No!

I wasn't dying here.

Not after all what happened to me.

I had survived a murderous Ace, a crazy Blood, and lived into this mad world for a while. I could survive a killer Queen.

And I was going to find out what happened to my heart.

And survive.

Ace lifted his sword. Jack and Elliot screamed.

Then-

I wasn't there anymore.

And I remembered.

Everything.

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Hey readers!

The next updates may be slow, because I am writing a Just Write It story for the Wattys. It will be published around September 1st. If your interested to see more of my work, then you can check it out when it will post it. ^^

The conclusion of this story is near! I want so bad to click on the button "completed"! 

If you got some theories about the end, I would love to hear them. :)

Thanks for reading, voting, following and commenting. :)

See you soon!

-Elleira_Siren