Paint The Roses-Ch.5

His crumpled body rested by a corner in the sealed off room. Curling up his limbs like a puppy with its legs broken. Sound was not able to reach his ears due to the walls. Yet whenever he thought he heard something he crumpled more with a whimper. A noise kept reaching his ear drum. Perhaps a ringing brought to him from the electricity. Still made him have an uncontrollable twitch every other minute. Dero sat himself up quickly, eyes looking wide into the darkness. Moments passed til a voice passed his teeth.

"Liiiiitle brother....." He spoke softly making his voice sound like a woman's. The best he could anyway. "Liiiitle brother..why do you cry?" His voice became normal again,

"I...I don't know.....my head hurts.." His palms rested against his temples. "It won't stop hurting!" Another whimper left his throat while he hugged his knees to his chest. He bit down on his lower lip to keep himself from speaking. Weeping til heavy tears fell from his face, landing on his stomach.

Must've been hours, perhaps just minutes. Bringing his body back down to his side. He'd try to shut his mind out from reality but whenever he tried, another jolt shook his body. Making him cause more whimper like noises to leave his exhausted lungs.

"Twaaas.." This noise perked him up, giving a grin quickly. "Bri...." He clawed at the floor struggling to make the words come out. "liiig...n th-" His body tensed from another long aftershock. Panting heavily enough to bring him another panic attack. Dero growled in frustration and began to punch the walls. Crying out when pain rebounded from his wounded fingertips that he had forgotten. Tightening his hand until he realized what the wet sensation was...He smiled...

"Twas brilliiiig..." He began to chuckle to himself. "And the slithy toves.." Singing softly in the darkness. The skin of his hands breaking from the bandages, letting his own red slip down his arms. "Did....gyre and gimble in the waabe..." He leaned against the door, holding himself up while facing it. "All mimsyyyyyy." The volume raised a little in his voice. "Were the borogroves...." A familiar spark went off in his head. This made him sing at the top of his lungs. "AND THE MOME RATHS OUTGRAAAAABE!"

This went on through the whole poem, he read Jabberwocky religiously as a child so he knew it all. Quiet as can be at first only to bring the volume up. Singing of the vorpal sword and all other gibberish. Repeating it all as much as his lungs would let him. Slipping back into what the shock therapy was trying to prevent...

And the mome raths....outgrabe.....outgrabe....

The Mad Hatter couldn't see anything at first. He wondered if perhaps he was stricken blind. Just to realize his eyes were closed. Heavy as they were one of them managed to open a slip.

Where am I? He thought....Well...I am where I am so that answers my question.... He kept thinking to himself, deciding not to try and speak. Madman's body was resting in another doctors chair, somewhere in the Labyrinth. Its coloring resembled the library, light flicker and all. Hatter groaned to himself as he was slowly coming to. Stumbling when he stood up from the chair. Fixing his hat, dusting off his clothes. He pulled out his tiny watch to see somehow if it could give him a message.

Why am I here? It wasn't where I was before...Is it? I don't remember where I was last. Is this where I am supposed to be?

He looked around at the dismal display of old medical tools.

Doesn't seem to be, why would I be here in the first place?

A quick shake to his head to try and come to whatever sense he had in his mind. Walking out into one of the other hallways outside the room. Humming to himself the random tune he'd always sing to himself. His Other Body had a song, he recalled he had one too. Foot taps made him alert his body. A brief flash of light and something struck his body down. Mad Hatter almost struck back at the force til he felt soft fur.

"White Rabbit!" He spoke in relief and hugged back while he was on the floor. Victim of his pets tackle. His two legged companion made no noise in response, but a quick nuzzle were words enough. The servant helped his master up to his feet. The bondage chain on its neck dangling. Madman held the little end of it, yanking it so the Rabbit leaned quickly. Just to give the fur ball a pet, letting him go afterward. "You know..." He stopped himself in thought. "It's weird...and you know how I hate that word Rabbit. But...something is different...I think its.." Again he stopped himself realizing what it was. "Think? I 'think' ? I've never had a thought before in my life. Least I don't think so...Ha! There it is again!" He laughed at the occasion. Rabbit just tilted his head listening. "I think therefore I speak!" Mad Hatter calmed down his laughter to just little giggles. "This is quite strange.....or normal....strange is always negative to people. This could be a positive so would that make it normal?" He spoke to the Rabbit yet to anybody else this would be utter nonsense coming out of his mouth. Maybe truth to some. "A Strange Normality I shall call it then." He tapped his cane on the floor as if it were a period in a sentence. His lap began to ring. "Hm?" He reached into his coat and pulled out his chained watch. Checking the time since it was shaking with alarm.

Half past quarter two after!? He yelled at himself mentally. Giving the Rabbits leash another yank for no real reason. His little nap cost him whatever time he had saved. He started off in a random direction down the hallway.

Time for tea!