Chapter 3 Part 1

 Game, Set, And Bandersnatch

I set off quickly trekking through the forest to the White Queen's castle. Or at least in its direction. The Hightop Clan or Hatter's main campsite was not far from it.

You could literally throw a rock and hit a Hightopper.

My clothes are getting a bit uncomfortable, the sticky feeling of blood and its smell is not for the faint of heart. There are only two other spare sets in my bag and I hate going in the nude so I'll have to make do.

I can have a little snack though.

I lean against one of the trees, the foliage thicker than the ones I'd passed meaning I'm going in the right direction. Anything in Red's direction usually is very bare of leaves. Not a lot of clean water or animals out there either.

Everything thrives on the Whites' side.

I turn my backpack around. It's simple and black so are my clothes. I unzip, grab a sandwich and my long knife. Then quickly close it, readjusting it so it rests on my chest instead of my back. 

This is Cheshire's territory and I'm not losing another backpack to that asshole.

Everything I could need is in there.

A spile. Which is basically a small metal spout that you can insert in trees to draw water or sap. A heating blanket. If I get too cold I die of frostbite. I'm not completely immune to weather conditions. Two spare sets of clothes. One camouflage style and the other a short black dress. The fairy tales usually have a part of the story that includes a ball or formal gathering. Think Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty. 10 Sandwiches and 3 Chip bags.Binoculars.A Knife.A Lighter.A short jacket.First Aid Kit.Six feet of Rope.Solar-powered charger.

I eat silently making my way across the swamp water that only comes to the middle of my boots.

I would be worried about Alligators but funnily enough they're afraid of blood. Most things here are. And I am covered in it.

Except Piranhas they love blood.

My boots will protect me if anything tries to take a bite of me. They're thigh-high to protect me from the usual snake bites and bugs.

Even swords, claws, or arrow wounds. Speaking of protection.

I can steal some armor from either castle.

I could have stopped the Reds and y'know helped but what was I gonna do to stop almost the entire White army? 

Or even get implicated just because I happened to be there and get killed early.

Just because the White Queen refuses to kill doesn't mean her army shares her 'do no harm' BS.

Also what day is it?

"Horunvendush Day."

I slash out.

"How rude!"

I groan internally.

"What do you want, Cheshire?"

He appears out of thin air smiling first as always.

"My my is this-"

"No, I'm not Alice. No, I'm not muchier. I am the muchiest. And my name is Phoebe." 

He makes a face. As if he was quirking an eyebrow.

"Tsk Tsk Tsk so rude and on our first meeting! My heart, can you hear it? It's breaking." 

I threw him half of my sandwich. Just stop talking. Please.

"Oh, and there's the sound of my stomach! Much appreciated!"

The greedy cat gobbled it up hastily. Still licking his lips and claws as he eyed the piece that I was still working on greedily.

"If you want it. I'm going to need something in return."

I walked past him keeping a tight grip on my knife and sandwich.

"Mmh like what?"

"Like a helmet. A shiny new black one made by a Hightopper."

He looked back at me with a calculating expression in his eyes.

I brought the sandwich closer to my mouth.

"Alright, it can be done but only one."

"I want it in my hands by the time I reach the Hightoppers clan."

I have to be thorough with this scammer if I want things to get done.

"Deal."

"There's more in it for you if I can have a nice large sword as well."

He chuckled, giving me one last smile before disappearing.

I kept the sandwich in my hand, resting my arms on my backpack and continuing my walk. I glanced at my watch. It's been two hours since I started walking.

I'll be there in an hour at most.

Tick tock Cheshire.

I put the Sandwich back in my bag since I'm far away enough.

I broached upon the land once more, my boots making squelching noises as I walked.

That's gonna be annoying if I want anything done quietly.

I keep walking, sometimes striking out randomly to test myself.

Like in a video game, lag is dangerous here. I have to be focused and at top speed at all times.

My boot makes contact with lush bluegrass in no time. 

Almost there.

I follow the smell of smoke instead of just heading to the castle.

The Hatters must be having their party. The party that'll soon be raided by the Reds. 

Or it should've been.

If they're getting raided at the castle they might not even get to the party in time or at all.

So there are three options.

Wait for the Reds to lure the Jabberwocky to decimate the Hatters and take advantage of the chaos.

Straight up, start a killing spree.

Hide in the homes of the Hatters and assassinate them quietly.

Assassination it is. At least for now.

I can't afford to wait and I don't want to scare them into hiding. Their llke rabbits.

Not many will be at home right now because of the party. I can start with those first then quietly lure some away from the siesta for a 'chat'.

I'm gonna have to slip in now there's no time to waste.

I weave my way through trees thankful for the thick foliage.

In a split-second decision, I started to climb the closest tree till I saw a feasible path.

Then start running across the branches.

I'm at great risk of breaking a leg but I don't have a lot of time when the sky's getting brighter.

White is winning.

If she wins she'll have control over Underland for a short period of time and that can complicate matters.

All the red guards will stop fighting for a little and the white guards will return. The party will be over and she'll return to her castle for a while. 

And the game will reset soon after because of the lack of conflict.

I trip and immediately stab my knife into the tree I'm on. Then start swinging my body up so I can rest on a thick branch.

Luckily I'm close to the camp and can hear the music playing.

Tea cups clink together and laughter rings in the air.

This is it. Don't be weak-willed Phoebe. They are not real.

I move carefully and quietly and once I'm close to a hut I call out.

"Cheshire."

"Hello, not Alice. No, I'm not muchier. I am the muchiest. And my name is Phoebe."

His smile appears first as he mists into existence.

"You can call me Phoebe."

"Alright, then Phoebe here's your new black helmet. Compliments of Tarrant Hightopper."

My eyebrows raise as I take the shiny black helmet. It was reminiscent of a Roman helmet; the only exception was the black fur lining the inside. It had gold lines covering the openings for my eyes and mouth. It was warm to the touch probably just out of the furnace.

"Nice job as promised, one sandwich and a little extra for your troubles."

I put the helmet on quickly and opened my backpack taking out a small bag of chips and my unfinished sandwich. And throw the food at the greedy creature.

And he ate the entire bag of chips in one bite. The entire unopened tin foil bag.

Savage.

Burping as he holds onto the sandwich with his claws he asks.

"What do you intend to do with this very fancy helmet if I may ask?"

"Wear it to the celebration of course."

He eats the sandwich whole.

"And then?"

I stop in my tracks at the opening of the hut.

"Cheshire?"

"Yes?"

"Do you really want to find out?"