Chapter 1: Down the Rabbit Hole

Kurt sighed as he twisted his finger around one of the ribbons in little Anna's hair. It was so boring here. He stared blankly into space as eight year olds ran around his legs. The park around him was beautiful, but filled with little children. He was at his cousin, Lilly's, birthday party, which would be fun except that Lilly was eight. He was the only seventeen year old there. Or so he thought, for across the small park a figure had caught his attention. A boy, tall, with brown hair, green eyes and a face with a slight semblance to a meerkat. He was smiling mischievously and raised a finger to beckon Kurt forward. Kurt made his was across the party, and wove through the trees towards the mysterious figure.

"Hey!" Kurt called, The other boy turned.

"Hello." He replied, walking backwards.

"Who are you?"

"You can call me the Knave." He replied, smirking. "I want to show you something, Alice."

"I'm Kurt." Kurt clarified. "And what is it?"

"You'll just have to come see." With that the Knave took off. Kurt ran behind him, calling for him to slow down, but all of a sudden he wasn't there. Kurt stood at the base of a massive oak tree, looking for this mysterious Knave. He heard the Knave's voice call out, "In here Alice!" He sounded close; almost like he was on top of Kurt. Looking around at the tree Kurt had an idea. There was a rabbit hole in the base of the tree, just wide enough for him to fit through. He poked his head in, and saw the knave kneeling a way away. Kurt scrambled through the hole and started to crawl towards the Knave.

"What are you doing in here?" Kurt asked. "It's dangerous!"

"I'm sorry Alice." Was all he said.

"For what? And why do you keep calling me Ali-" Kurt broke off into a shrill scream and the floor beneath him gave way.

Kurt tumbled down the rabbit hole, tossing and turning, seeing things that weren't possible. "I'm insane." He thought as he saw a rabbit sleeping in a bed. He bumped into a wall, scratching franticly for a handhold, but the only stable thing he grabbed onto was a parasol. In that moment a flood of relief washed over him. He would not fall to his doom; he could climb up the sides of the rabbit hole and go home. But that was too simple. The parasol dislodged from the wall, snapping open. Kurt was ready to scream but he didn't need to. The parasol slowed his fall, to the point where he just landed softly of the ground. Far away near a door, the Knave stood silently. Kurt took a moment to study the room. It was grand. It had a tiled floor and a painted roof, with a pattern of hearts on it. Slowly Kurt realised that hearts were everywhere around the room, save for the walls, which had portraits of the oddest looking people. Kings and queens, dressed in old clothes, bedecked with hearts. Kurt's eyes settled in the Knave again. He couldn't be older than Kurt, and he was dressed in a plane white shirt with long sleeves, rolled up to the elbows, and black pants. Kurt noticed that on the collar of is shirt there was a small embroidered heart. Confusion, panic and intrigue all flooded into Kurt's mind at the same time. Where was he? How would he get back home? What was going to happen to his dad and Carole?

"Alice. Welcome to the Palace of Hearts." Said the Knave, a hint of loathing in his voice. "You will follow me." The Knave led Kurt down a narrow hallway, adorned with faux columns on the walls. They came to a halt in front of a pair of doors, decked in jewels a gold paint. The knave knocked twice and the doors opened. Sitting on the two thrones at the back of the room was a boy of about nineteen, and a girl who looked to be Kurt's age. "The King and Queen of Hearts." The Knave announced.

The King of Hearts was a well -built man, with a strong jawline and blue-green eyes. He had a commanding presence, and an evil smirk spread across his face when he saw Kurt, looking dishevelled, and dirty. The Queen was the opposite. She was small and petite, looking at her shoes, like she was hoping not to be noticed. Her brown hair hung straight, half way down her back. When she lifted her head her eyes never left her kings face. They were filled with love, but there was a shadow of something else; fear?

"I am Hunter Clarington." The King said haughtily. "King of Hearts. This is Rachel; my Queen." At this point Rachel stood, nodded towards Kurt and the Knave, and left the room. "She's a good Queen, Rachel. Does as she's told." He smiled with malice as he continued, "Kurt Hummel. You're an interesting one. I've had the Knave watch you for a while now, and I think you will make some great entertainment. Bring out the White Rabbit." As he said the last two sentences he smiled manically, his face twisting and contorting. Two playing cards matched out of the door Kurt had come through, a boy in between them. He had dark, curly hair with two white rabbit ears poking out the top and wore a slightly rumpled waistcoat. His eyes were so sad; he looked like a lost puppy. The ace kicked him towards Kurt and he stumbled and fell. Kurt leaned down to help him up but the shorter boy hissed, "Stop. You'll get both of us in trouble." Puzzled at this statement Kurt stood back up.

"Rabbit, introduce yourself. You are a part of a bet I would like to make." Said Hunter, coldly

"I am Blaine Anderson, better known as the White Rabbit. I'm sixteen and currently work for the King of Hearts." His speech sounded rehearsed, as if he had said it many times before. There was a newfound fear in his eyes at the mention of a bet though.

"Yes, now Alice, I would like to play a game with you. I'm sure you would like to go home, and I don't think you would like the Rabbit's pretty little head to roll." Kurt took a step back. Had he just spoke of killing the Rabbit if he didn't play his game? Kurt didn't even know him!

"I will set a challenge and when you complete it you will get the next one. If you complete all of the challenges before the next blue moon, you win. Sound easy enough? If you win I will give you the ability to travel to and from this place as you desire, and I will free the White Rabbit. However, if you lose... You become my servant and the White Rabbit gets axed" said Hunter maniacally.

"Why should I even care about him?" Kurt asked, on a whim. His heart was pumping furiously, as he thought of the chance that something he did could endanger a life, no matter if it was a stranger or friend.

"I told you I had been watching you. You have been hurt by people all your life, for something you can't control. I doubt you would let somebody else be subjected to that." Said the King cruelly.

"What if I don't play?" Kurt asked warily.

"Same as if you lose." replied the King, sounding bored.

"Then I'll play" He said. "I've got nothing to lose."

"Excellent." Smiled the King. "Now listen closely, for I'll not repeat;

This game you have agreed to play

You must listen closely, so I may,

Tell you the first task I give,

Listen closely and the Rabbit my live;

At my feet many lay,

Servants who serve to today,

But only one is dear to me,

She has not the will to flee,

Her heart and soul are bound to me,

To fly away would be mutiny,

But fly away one day she must,

I am beginning to lose her trust,

Over a gamble I made long ago,

This only one person does know,

Seek him out and you will find,

The thing that may save your Rabbit's hind."

Kurt looked to the curly haired boy and he sighed. He knew he would remember the riddle; this boy's life depended on it.

"I give you one day to get far away. Then the sabotage begins." Said Hunter, exiting the room. The moment he left the White Rabbit turned to Kurt. "You have one day to get out of the castle, which is a feat in itself." He said. "Then you must find somewhere safe to sleep. To get out of the castle follow all the paintings with a heart in the bottom right-hand corner of the frame." He got nudged by one of the playing cards. He had to go. "They used to speak." He sighed. "Under the Queens rule that would say the most beautiful poems and riddles, but the King said it was nonsense and made the Hatter sew their mouths shut. I have to go now. Goodbye... Alice?"

"Kurt." He said. "Goodbye Blaine." Kurt cast one last sad look at the boy whose life was now in his hands and ran. The castle, which had looked grand as he entered, now looked horrifying. It was dark, oppressive, and it chocked the air from his lungs. He ran out of the wrought iron gates panting and all he could hear was a voice in his head. "Alice... Alice..." it said. The world was closing in on him but he just kept running.