Unwonderland

"C'mon," Alexias crooned to the Bandersnatch. She had her back turned toward the growth of the Red Forest. Her weight and the Bandersnatch's weight were making the the grass crinkle and fold.

There was a light rustling behind her. She whirled around to find a boy, he was sleeping, "who's there?'

"Wha-" he started awake. Alexias felt sorry for startling him. His hair was light brown and worn just over his ears. His eyes were violet, they were beautiful. There was something about him...

"Who're you?" Alexias asked, just because she felt bad didn't mean she was going to open herself up to Red Queen Territory.

"My name is Abel," he spoke softly. His eyes shifted, as if he were daydreaming. He laughed, a maddened, hysterical chuckle. Alexias was confused, what was so funny?

"My name is Alexias, are you okay?" she asked, her green eyes searched his. She walked toward him. He sucked in a breath.

"No, stop, you can't cross the boarder, you'll get in trouble," he giggled again. Alexias stopped, what was happening.

"Are you okay?" she asked again, a few feet from him.

"No," he laughed, once more, "no I'm not. I'm mad."

Alexias felt her excitement rise. This is the first mad person she's met since her father. She sat in front of him, very aware of the boarder.

"Are you for the Red Queen?" she asked. Curiosity picking at her nerves.

"Yeah," he nodded, "But," he whispered, "I don't want to be," a giant smile spread across his face. This smile was creepy. Looked like her father's smile. Her heart squeezed.

"You could always talk to the White Queen," she said. Her eyes searched his. He crinkled his nose. It was really cute.

"She'd never listen to me. I've been here all my life," he explained. His smile grew, and he started to sing. He sang in some unknown language that Alexias didn't know, "Guardare fuori per la regina rosso sangue,
Guardare fuori per le cose orribili che ha visto.
Rovina,
Morte,
Sofferenza,
E dolore.
Lotta per la sua sarà vano."

"What does that mean?" Alexias asked. She wanted to know what language this was.

"It means," his sentence was interrupted by hysterical laughs, he flopped on his back, he was really skinny.

"Abel?" Alexias asked, she was worried. What was happening. He was breaking out in laughter.

"It means... It means..." he laughed and laughed and laughed. The Bandersnatch came and sat next to her. Even the Bandersnatch was worried about their new friend.

"Miss Alexias!" Ancilla yelled.

"Ancilla! I'm with the Bandersnatch I'm fine, go back to the castle please!" Alexias called back. She prayed with her being that Abel didn't laugh any louder.

"Alright," Ancilla called back. She never yelled after that.

"Abel," Alexias tried to get through to him, "Abel."

His hand was laying right on the boarder. She touched it. His laughter ceased. His breathing grew faster.

"Y-y-y-y-y-you..." he stuttered.

"No," she said softly, "You're in neutral territory. Here's the line," she pointed, "and here's your hand," she pointed again. He sighed, obviously liking their contact.

"I'm glad," he sighed, "I didn't want you to get hurt because of me."

"It's alright," she smiled, "so what did you say, earlier?"

"It was Italian. My mother used to say it to me all of the time. She was Red Queen Territory too, but she hated it. It's an old poem. She made it up herself. It goes something like this. Look out for the bloody Red Queen
Look out for the horrid things she's seen
Downfall,
Demise,
Suffering,
And pain,
Fighting for her will be in vain."

"Wow... Where's you're mother now?" Alexias asked. Pain seared across his face. He sat up.

"She was murdered by the Red Knights. My mother was planning to get away to the White Kingdom and she found out. My mother was taken away and killed. Leaving me alone. The Red Queen took me in.

"Then she found out I was going mad and gave me this medicine," he crinkled is nose, "I hate it. It doesn't last long and it just makes me feel worse when I take it. I don't like the feeling. It's not me," he smiled wide. The madness was back. He giggled again.

Someone was coming. Alexias stiffened. She took her hand away from Abel's and moved away from him.

"Alexias?" he asked.

"Shh, someone's coming," she whispered, "Act yourself."

"Not hard to do," he murmured, sitting back against the tree, closing his eyes. She smiled. Alexias crawled to the riverbank, looking into the water. The Bandersnatch came and sat next to her. Eventually sinking to the ground. Heat radiated from it, keeping Alexias' right side really warm.

"Alexias, I thought I'd find you here," it was Charudatta. Alexias didn't look up. She absently pet the head of the Bandersnatch.

"Hm," she said. She decided to call him out, "I thought you hated the outdoors, Charudatta."

"Well, I'd do anything for you," his voice dripped with emotion.

"Hm," she said. She heard Abel's light chuckle behind them.

"What the-" Charudatta turned, "who are you?"

"The name's Abel," he spoke, not opening his eyes. Without Charudatta's knowledge, Alexias smiled at Abel.

"Why are you here?" Charudatta asked again.

"Because I can be," Abel sighed.

"You're dangerously close to the boarder," snapped Charudatta.

"Charudatta, he's not doing anything," spoke Alexias. Charudatta looked astonished.

"He's Red Queen Territory, he doesn't deserve your sympathy," Charudatta spoke. Alexias glared at him.

"Charudatta," Alexias said it as a warning, "stop."

"Why're you sticking up for him?" demanded Charudatta.

"He hasn't done anything to you. Knock it off. You know what? Just leave," snapped Alexias, turning back to the water. Charudatta looked at Alexias for a long time. But he didn't leave. He stalked over to the boarder.

"What have you done to her?" demanded Charudatta. Alexias' nerves were shot. Charudatta ruined her time with Abel. She stood up, walked over to Charudatta, grabbed him by the collar and left, the Bandersnatch lying there by the river. Not budging.

"What are you doing?!" screamed Charudatta from behind Alexias.

"You are a jerk. We're going to the castle," Alexias threw him in front of her. She turned around, walking away.

"Where are you going?" screamed Charudatta.

"I'm going to get my Bandersnatch," Alexias said in a clipped sentence. She left before Charudatta could say anything else. She walked back into the clearing and there was Abel still perched at his tree.

"Abel," Alexias started.

"He was interesting," spoke Abel his eyes still closed.

"I have to go the the castle. I'll be back though," she informed.

"I should be here," he smirked. She smiled back, turning toward the Bandersnatch.

"Come on," she smiled at the Bandersnatch, talking soothingly to it. It got up, following her out of the clearing.