I hadn't even opened my eyes when I heard a familiar clear voice:

"Zoe! Wake up Zoe!" said the kitty-eared Jack, softly shaking my right shoulder.

"What is it, Jack?" I asked as I sat on the bed. Jack lay down beside me, smiling, his ears twitching. I was still sleepy and it took me a few seconds to fully understand the situation.

"Wait... WHAT!" I screamed. I got up of bed and went away from the intruder. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE!"

"I obviously came to see you." His smile grew wider. "You look really cute in a nightgown."

His comment was so unexpected that I didn't know how to react and I blushed. I only received very few compliments from boys -family doesn't count-.

"You stay here," I told Jack. "I'm not done with you, but I need to change before." I took my daily clothes in my arms and walked to the bathroom.

"Oh, did I embarrass you?" asked Jack. He sat in the bad and continued: "I'm sorry, don't mind what I said." He looked down and his ears went down too. Did he feel bad? Because I'm embarrassed? But why?

I didn't respond and locked myself in the bathroom. I quickly changed to my usual outfit: Blue shirt, black vest, dark pants running shoes and a blue band in my brown hair. I drank a glass of water and went out.

Jack was testing what seemed to be a sword. He was very concentrated, but when he saw me, Jack replaced his sword at his belt and said:

"I'm sorry for last time," he started. "It was kind of mean." He put a hand behind his neck, his ears and face down. "I didn't really want to play a game, I just wanted to let you roam freely wherever you liked. I hoped you would have followed me, but you came here instead. I decided to let you meet whoever you wanted, while I was at the Amusement Park."

So he left me alone on purpose? So that I could meet other people? I guess I did meet more people than I would have if I had stayed with Jack... But his way of thinking was kinda weird. Hm.

"I've come to see if you wanted to go to the Amusement Park with me," added shyly Jack. "If you don't want to, you can stay here, I don't mind. I'll leave as soon as you say it."

I could see that he did mind. He was obviously full of hope at the idea. His ears were dressed excitedly.

Jack did ask nicely and he was kind of sweet. And I had nothing else to do today. I decided to agree to his proposition. I could always meet new people on the way and understand more about this strange world. We were about to leave when I remembered something. I had locked the door when I got to sleep. How did Jack get in?? And how did he know where I was? He hadn't been stalking me, hadn't he?

"Jack..." I started, hesitant.

"Uh? What?"

We were walking in the corridors to get outside.

"How did you get in my room?"

"Oh...Well..." he hesitated, then stopped me in front of a door. "Just watch, okay?"

I nodded. Jack opened the door. It was an empty room very similar to mine. He closed it, and then opened it again.

"What?..! I stuttered.

It wasn't the same room as before! It lead somehow outside, and I could see a gigantic amusement park not very far way.

"How..." I muttered, stunned by the craziness of the situation.

"You know," started Jack, "Role-holders have all kinds of different power along with their role. Mine, because I'm the Cheshire Cat, is to, hm, let's say, cut up pockets of space and stick them back together, using doors. It's like a portal."

"So...that's...the Amusement Park?" I asked, still surprised by his power, pointing at the place after the door.

"Yep."

"Then you just wish to go somewhere and it takes you there?"

Jack nodded. "I wanted to find you, and it brought me to your room."

"Then locks don't work?"

"Well..." He winced. "I did pick your lock to get in."

"What!" I exclaimed. "Locks are there for a reason, you know?!"

"I-" wanted to say Jack, before being interrupted by a cold voice.

"What are you doing in my domain, Cat?" It was Blood Dupré. We had been so busy talking and arguing that we hadn't seen him approach. He was holding some kind of small scepter with a hat on the top. "Is this a declaration of war?"

"No, of course not," defended Jack. He gently pushed me behind him, as if to protect me form the mad Hatter. "I just wanted to-"

"Wanted to do what?" Blood grasped tightly his scepter. He was getting angrier as the seconds passed. "Hurting the heart of my fiancée isn't enough for you?"

"I, I...It wasn't my fault!!" Jack was completely panicked and he was about to draw his sword. I was afraid of what Blood would do. If his eyes could shoot arrows, we would have been transpierced by hundreds of them.

"Are you sure about that?" asked calmly the mafia leader. His scepter suddenly transformed into a gun. I gasped and Jack pushed me behind, near the door. His jaw was tight.

"And you..." softly said Blood with an evil grin, now looking at me. "Your death will arrange me greatly."

Blood pointed his gun on us, still smiling evilly. Jack drew his blade. We didn't have a chance against Blood! A gun was much faster than a sword, and we were so close Jack might end up injuring me or himself!

"Any last words?" lastly added Blood.

"Yes," answered Jack. He turned, embraced me tightly and jumped into the portal, which was still open. Jack was holding me close and I was momentary blinded by his chest. I heard gunshots and the slamming of a door. We fell roughly on the ground, and I felt something wet on my clothes. I could hear the Amusement Park's music near. Jack was on me, eyes closed. He wasn't moving and he was grimacing.

I slowly pushed Jack off me and turned him on his back. There was blood everywhere on him. I could tell he had been shot at least three times, two in the right shoulder and one near the left.

My new friend was faintly breathing. I screamed for help as loud as I could, hoping someone in the Amusement park would hear me and come help me. I didn't want to leave Jack alone.

Jack slowly opened his eyes and saw me, panicked and worried to death, not knowing was to do. It was my fault he was injured! He was trying to protect me! If he hadn't come searching for me at the mansion, he would be alright! I felt tears rolling down my cheeks. I wasn't a doctor! What could I do? I didn't know how to treat such an injury! Maybe he'll even die before from blood loss! I took off my vest, put it on Jack's chest and tried to stop the bleeding.

"Don't....worry..." Jack whispered. "It's not...that...bad..."

He got up and sat, a hang clung to his chest.

"You're...okay..."Jack continued. "Great..."

He tried to smile but it turned into a groan of pain, and he fell back on his back.

I screamed again for help.

A couple of terribly stressful minutes later, I saw two faceless coming to us. They seemed to be working at the Park and heard me. By the time they had come, Jack had lost consciousness. Still crying, I explained more or less the situation to our saviors. I was too in shock to say anything clear. The faceless carried Jack to the Amusement Park's infirmary and I followed. I hadn't time to look around because I was too worried about Jack. At the infirmary, the doctor gave me medicine to sleep. I didn't want to, but since I couldn't do anything to help Jack, I drank it and slept on a bed beside Jack's. I didn't have any dreams and Nightmare did not visit.