I grunted under the pressure. Beads of sweat ran down my forehead and mixed with the tears that I was releasing. They ran into my mouth and all I could taste was a sweaty, salty spew. My hands were getting sweaty, and Queenie was slowly slipping from my grasp. I hadn't noticed, that in my efforts not to drop her, I had slowly been dragged closer and closer to the edge. Too close, for that matter. I attempted to heave her up, and suddenly the world was spinning, the wind rushing past my face, the ground tumbling towards me. I was falling. My final attempt had saved my friend, but had sealed my fate. I saw their screaming faces as I tumbled through the air. I tried to reach out for them but I was already too far away. In a matter of seconds I would be as flat as a pancake. Then, something came over me, like instinct. I spread my arms out wide and stiffened my legs. My breathing slowed. I thought I saw something, like a ripple in the air. Suddenly, I stopped falling, and I was gently floating to the ground. I felt like I was flying. My feet pressed against the ground and I felt the grass swaying under me. I had never appreciated the ground so much in all my life. But I was bewildered. What had come over me? Why wasn't I squashed to oblivion? I stared up at Chess and Queenie, who were now merely specks above me. Then I had an idea. Surely if I could float DOWN, maybe I could float up? I decided it was better than nothing. I spread my arms, stiffened my legs, and slowed my breathing. I looked up at the castle and focused myself on floating. Gradually my feet began to lift off the ground. I was so enormously happy I lost concentration and tumbled to the ground again. But I focused, and slowly I began to rise, higher and higher. Eventually I came level with the hole, and waved at Chess and Queenie. They gasped in shock and delight. They hauled me in and we hugged. Chess had swollen eyes, and Queenie was still crying. I nearly cried myself. I explained all that had happened to me, and they were nearly as shocked as I was. Then I explained my idea.
"Are you sure it will work?" Chess asked warily.
"No, but would you like to sit in a stone tunnel for the rest of your life?" That stopped her.
"Well, here goes" Queenie breathed. They took my hands, and we jumped.
For a moment, we were falling, the ground getting closer every minute. I had to time it right, if not, well, lets just say that wouldn't be good. I stiffened up and slowed my breathing. The air rippled and I began to slow. For a moment I was dragged down by Chess and Queenie, but then we all began to float down. Chess laughed and Queenie gasped.
"I've always wondered what it felt like to fly" she said.
"Well its not really flying. More kind of - floating" I replied. We floated down in awe for a few moments. This was crazy. But since being in Underland, I was starting to believe crazy things more and more. Finally we grounded.
"That was -" Queenie began.
"-So cool!" Chess finished. I just smiled. Then I remembered what the Hatter had said.
"So who's this Nevins MsTwisp then?"
"I-I am" stammered a voice in the shadows. The white rabbit hopped out of the shadows.
"Tarrant sent for me. He said to take you to Absolem."
"But why?" Chess asked. The Rabbit shrugged and wriggled.
"Just f-follow me" he began hopping away, and we followed close behind.
He hopped on and on, through constant wilderness. Every now and then he stopped for breath.
"Remind me where we're going again?" panted Chess.
"Absolem" the rabbit repeated. We ran for what seemed like hours. Finally we came to a forest of bushes. We pushed our way through them and I nearly lost my hat. Eventually we came to a clearing. In the centre of the clearing was an enormous mushroom. And sat on the enormous mushroom was a blue cattapillar, smoking a pipe.
"Good evening, Absolem" The Rabbit whispered. He turned to look at us, and tutted.
"I see you have found the others" he said. His voice was as flat as the chewing gum on my shoe from only weeks before, and had even less emotion.
"Others?" I asked. He turned to me and frowned.
"Yes. The others arrived a few minutes earilier."
"But how-" I began. The rabbit dragged us a bit further into the bushes. In yet another clearing was the rest of our friends. The Cheshire cat grinned, the March Hare jumped and the Dormouse scowled. I grinned at them all, but I frowned when I noticed something.
"If I may enquire," I asked the rabbit. "Where is Tarrant?"
"He didn't make it," said the Dormouse. "Gave himself up so we'd have a shot at escaping." I felt something inside me droop, like a balloon deflating. Like a deflating balloon, all the air left me.
"Bad circumstances have a way of ruining things that would otherwise be pleasant" I sighed.
"That isn't Snicket again, is it?" Chess asked. I nodded.
"He seemed to like those quotes of yours," remarked the cat.
"What are we going to do?" whispered Queenie.
"I'm gonna save him, that's what!" cried the Dormouse.
"But you can't do it on your own!" Chess laughed.
"Just you watch me!"
"At least let us come with you!" I pleaded. "We could help somehow, or-"
"No! I'm doing it! I'm more capable than you silly girls will ever be!" That was it. I don't know what happened, but something in my head exploded. I felt myself burning up. I marched up to the Dormouse and exploded.
"Why won't you LISTEN?" I yelled. "All we're trying to do is hep the Hatter, but NO! All you care about is your pride! If you go out there they're gonna squish you! You'll be pummeled! And how, I ask you HOW is that going to help him? You revolting vermin! You-"
"HATTER!" Chess yelled. I blinked twice and looked around. The Cheshire cat had disappeared completely, The March Hare was cuddling his ears, Chess' ears drooped and Queenie stood wide eyed. The Dormouse looked about three times smaller.
"What happened?" I whispered.
"Y-your eyes" Queenie stammered. "They were orange."
"You have his temper," the Dormouse whispered. "I respect that. Alright. You may help." I smiled.
"But what do we do?" Chess asked.
"I know" Queenie muttered. I turned to her in suprise.
"What? How?"
"I can see him" she said. "In my head."
"Well well well," purred the cat, reappearing. "We have a clairvoyant among us, ladies and gentlemen."
"I see her" Queenie whispered. "Carlotta."
"Carlotta" Absolem murmured. "The Queen of Broken Hearts."
"What's she doing?" I asked, putting a hand on Queenie's shoulder. Queenie had her eyes shut.
"Plotting," she answered. "They want to find the Red Queen."
"But why?" Chess asked.
"I don't know," Queenie said.
"I can't see it. I think they want to use her against the Hatter."
"And Tarrant? Is he okay?"
"Let me see, oh-" Suddenly Queenie began to scream. She fell to the ground and began sobbing.
"What is it Queenie?" I cried. "Queenie? QUEENIE! Open your eyes!" She opened her eyes and stopped screaming. Chess and I hugged her, and she wept in our arms.
"It was so horrible!" she cried. "They have him tied to a chair, they're breaking his fingers and making him puke and ripping at his skin! I think I'm going to puke!" I felt the tears streaming down my face. Imagining the slow agony he was going through made me sick to my stomach.
"We have to help him," I whispered.
"But first," announced Absolem. "You must find the Red Queen."
...........................................................
Oooh suspense! Hope you like it so far! Thanks to Chess for her comments! I still haven't told you about my spoon!
