Page 100 of Madness Becomes Her

“Yeah, but things have shifted again.”

“Have they?”

“I killed the queen instead of her dragon. I spared the creature beneath her rule to cut off the tyrant’s head. I think he’s angry with me.”

“I don’t think he could ever get angry with you.”

“He’s been… strange.”

Lewis scoffs, sighing. “He’s the Mad Hatter, it’s his thing.”

I would agree with him if Finlo weren’t so… himself with me. He hasn’t seemed like the Mad Hatter to me for quite some time, if I’m honest.

“Things will settle. You saved Wonderland.”

“I hope I did the right thing.”

“You did.”

“But the scrolls,” I argue.

“Prospero brought them this morning. They altered after you slew the Red Queen.”

That’s news to me. “I altered my destiny?”

“We control our own fate. Even in Wonderland.”

My eyes run over the room, catching on the quilt made from patches of hatting fabric Finlo made for me soon after I arrived in Wonderland for the first time. “I don’t know if things will ever be the same again, Lewis.”

“They won’t.”

My heart races and my stomach sinks.

“They’ll be better.”

“If you say so.”

“I do. Now, get ready or we’ll be late!”

I roll my eyes. “Late for what now?”

“For Frabjous Day, of course. You looked at the scrolls, did you not?”

“I did, but I don’t think I looked past fighting a dragon.”

“Well, you’re in for a treat, then. The White Queen has come home; there’ll be a celebration, and you’re the reason we’re celebrating. So,—”

“I can’t be late. Got it,” I finish for him, smiling.

“Meet me out front in an hour. We’ll go together.”

Once he’s gone, I slowly make my way out of my room and down the hall, hovering near the closed door to Hatter’s workshop.

My hand hovers over the door he’s been holed up behind since we got back from the mass funeral service two days ago.

Dropping it, I press my forehead to the wood, wishing like hell he’d talk to me.

Shit, screaming would be better than this.