The Adventures of Alice and Max
Chapter 37: Alice and Max Discover the Truth

“Da- Dad,” Alice whispered. But the butler didn’t move or say a word, he simply stared at her, a cry for help, she assumed.
The Queen, in her flowing and sparkling blue dress, perked up and frowned, but said nothing as she chomped away on her meal.
“Dad? Is that you?” Alice whimpered, horrified.
Max looked stricken. Horribly confused, he looked from Alice to the butler, unsure of what was happening before his eyes.
But the butler didn’t seem to notice her and continued to smile like an evil clown and asked with a strange accent, foreign from what she remembered, “Anything else I can get for you, dear?”
“Dad,” Alice said, tugging his shirt. “Stop. Is that you?” she asked louder.
“Not at all, dear. The special tonight is duck fried in-”
“Enough! Dad, please, wake up!” she screamed standing on the chair, defiantly. Finally, Alice had had quite enough tricks for one day.
Then for a second, illumination came into his eyes and the smile started to fade and he trembled frantically, staring into her big blue eyes. He spoke slowly, trying to get out what he truly wanted to say, “A…A…Alice?” His mouth was dry. It was like an old clock that grinded its rusty gears.
“Butler!” The Queen’s voice commanded. Abruptly, being snapped into a trance by the Queen’s voice, he turned to her, grinned big, and listened intently to her next demand. “You forgot to treat our guests to some music. Gather the minstrels,” the Queen quickly spat, annoyed.
“You…” Alice began. “You’re not fooling anyone! I know who you are!”
“And who am I, dear,” the Queen asked softly with a sweet smile.
“You’re a witch,” she said, frowning and drawing her sword. “And now you have my Dad kidnapped. And now I’m gonna stop you.” She stood tall over the table, glaring at the large woman again.
“Hmmm, are you now? With what army?” Queen Jewel asked as her smile faded into a furious stare.
“The army that’s outside,” Max said, standing up. “Alice, was that really your dad,” he asked quietly.
“Yes. Ssshhh. Now shut up.”
“But are you sure?” Max asked again.
“SShhh!”
“That army won’t stand a chance against my forces,” the Queen said, interrupting. “They know they will die. Sending children of all things to stop me. Ha! What fools. I told you they were up to no good.”
“You’re the one who’s up to no good, witch! Stop lying!”
“Well, if it’s the truth you want, it’s pretty ugly!” She stood tall and proud. “Please, I would prefer Your HIGHNESS!” Raging at the children, she forced chains as they wrapped around them and seized them into their chairs. They tightened around the kids as they squirmed and writhed futilely.
“Now, you’ve been very naughty children. And now I must punish you.”
“You’re sick!” Alice exclaimed. “Where’s my Dad?” She tried breaking free as she wriggled angrily.
“Oh, honey,” the Queen said, waving her hand out of annoyance and amusement. “He’s bringing the singing minstrels.”
Just then the butler, Alice’s father, opened the door and brought out four singing minstrels with a guitar and tambourine, a flute, and a mandolin. Singing a sweet children’s sing-along, they began like zombie robots who had no souls.
The children tried to break free but it was no use, the chains weren’t moving for anyone. After the set, the Queen ordered them all out including Alice’s father.
“No! Dad! Come back!” But he obeyed like a good little servant who had no backbone and who did everything his Queen commanded.
“Silence, child!” The Queen came and faced her viscously. Pointing a long and yellow fingernail in her pale face, she spat, “Enough with you and your boyfriend! You two have done quite enough!”
“Where’s my Dad? Bring him out here! I just want to know if he’s alive,” Alice began to cry as tears streamed down her face.
“Oh, poor thing,” she pouted exaggeratedly. “Your father is dead! Forget him, child! You’re an orphan and you’ll always be an orphan! Orphaned children will never find a home. No one will ever love them. That’s why they’re perfect for what I have planned for them. Especially you two.”
“What - what’re you gonna do to us?” Max asked.
“Max, don’t let her get into your head!” Alice shrieked.
“Oh, child,” she said caressing his face with her bony and old finger with a large and black fingernail. “What won’t I do to you?”,
“You’re a terrible thing! Just let me see my Dad!”
Infuriated, the Queen bent down and said to Alice, “You know why your father doesn’t want to see you? You know why? Do you? Because you’re a little brat, Alice! Just a little brat, who only wants what’s best for herself. A selfish little girl who thinks of no one but her miserable self! Is that right? Am I banging on the right drum?”
“Tell me,” Alice begged. “You owe me that much.”
“Oh, I don’t owe you a single thing! But if it will make your whining cease then I shall tell you. I never knew that idiot butler was the bastard father of the most illegal child of all, Alice, and her pathetic friend, Max!”
“Watch it, Witch!” Max screamed.
The Queen slapped him cruelly across the face. “And I know you’re little story, my dear Max. For my devious friend, that bloody bastard Chance, gave you a run for your money, didn’t he? How you are just as lost as all the orphans of the City and this old miserable world! But I will lead you all to the glory I have in store for you. A special purpose I have for all little orphans.”
“And what purpose is that? Death?” Alice asked, gravely.
“Ah, you think so small mindedly, dear little Alice. Just like your stature. No! I have something even better…” She began pacing and brought out her long oak wand. “I’m glad I have your father in servitude to me, Alice. I am so very glad!
“You probably aren’t aware, but my men go out in search of lost strangers, weary travelers on the outskirts of the world. They round them up and bring them straight to me. The Guard does all things, they do my bidding, anything that is hidden from my eyes. Oh, yes, the Guard is aggressive and ravenous as I have taught them. Hungry for any sign of life as they scrounge for the leftovers, seeking for the lost and vulnerable as I give all a new way of life, a new purpose in the Dark Age.
“As I did for your father Richard, I think is his name. A fine man, strong and well-built. My men round them up and then bring them back here as I file them through and pick what I most find desirable for my use.
“Alice…” she said remembering, or trying to as her filthy mind could not hold sweet and tender memories but only devious and cunning plots for her own selfish ways. “You must have been very young when he was taken.” She spoke softly, enjoying her control over the poor blond girl.
Alice glared at her and was disturbed by her sadistic behavior. “Yes, extremely. Left as an orphan.”
“Well, come with me and I will show you what your true purposes will be then.” And she flicked her knotted tree bark wand as the children’s seats rose and floated in the air, following the Queen through a darkened and unknown corridor. Down the black halls of woe, the Queen guffawed like a turkey being slaughtered as the kid’s ears rattled and their bones shook in their small bodies, knowing nothing of what would terribly come next.
To Be Continued…