Chapter Text
Disgustingly Bridget’s beautiful frame contorted, cracked, and twisted once a princess a hideous ghoul took her place. Voice distorted by grinding vocal cords the future Queen of Hearts screamed in pure agony “What have you done!?” That was all that escaped her dislocated jaw; her teeth fell scattering on the ballroom floor. Her loyal Hatter and friend rushed to her side horrified, not by her physique, but by Ella. He knew.
“Bridget, I’m here! Just try to stay calm!” Maddox jumped frantically hoping his monsterized love could recognize him. “Down here!”
Bulging, bloodshot, and blackened eyes nearly popped from their sockets gazing upon him “Mmadoxx?” Was she even herself anymore? Screams of pure terror plagued her ears; Bridget could barely hear over it all.
Maddox wasted no more time as he pulled a deck of cards from his Top Hat. Panicked, yet skillfully, he flung each card, controlling them with purpose. Purple-Metallic wisps flew by the princess’s skewed sight; Circling her the Hatter brought them to boiled covered, vomit-green flesh that writhed and wrinkled under each soft touch of a card “You have to stay calm for me Bridgey” he pleaded with his ‘friend’. The disfigured girl could do nothing but wait, wait for her Hatter to save her. Once bear brown and big, eyes closed; She trusted Maddox dearly.
The magician put every last ounce of burning energy he had into the spell, rage fueling him every step of the way. Voices, disembodied, shrieked inside his skull “Ella, find Ella, fiiinnd Elllaaaa” they drawled, egging Maddox on to seek revenge for his dear Bridgey.
“QUIET!” The teen wailed loud enough to redden the walls of his throat, his own chords striking up disharmony. Wonderlandian magic and an old-fashioned spell, waves of energy rippled off Bridget’s cursed vessel threatening to gift Maddox flight. Heavy platform boots adorned in jewels kept him anchored, but it was more than that wasn’t it? ‘Just the glitter and blood production.’ Riddilish rang in the Hatter’s lovesick mind. He brought the abomination of casting to a close, blinding lights forced the inventor’s gaze away from his monster. “Bridget!?” Maddox wheezed, stumbling, forgetting himself and any sense of safety threw the drained body attached to him, onto the woman of his affections.
“I’m here. They are waiting on the shingle— will you come and join the dance?” Gibberish to most, love to Wonderland, a confession to the Hatter. By his Queen he shall stay, for his Princess did not stir. Maddox’s hands shook as he sat, and gently dragged Bridget into his lap. She was who she was again. “That’s much better darling.” He cooed “Much, much better.” Blackened fingertips left poisonous marks along the unconscious victim's face. He couldn’t stop, ‘pet her, feral dog’ Without warning, Maddox smashed his head against his fist; ‘rice jams the salt shut’. Violent shudders racked both teens’ bodies, the princess began to fit, Hatter, heart of gold he had, fought against her body.
“Turn her on her side Maddox!” Voice, a voice! Ella appeared from seemingly nowhere and led Bridget to her side “Maddox help me!” Blindly obeying, desperate, he listened, doing all Ella instructed. Soon his queen’s body ceased convulsing, his own began to betray him. Shallow quick breaths seizing young lungs, the Hatter soon followed his love’s condition. Vision going black, himself be damned, all he knew was Bridget.
Before his own attack rendered the Hatter useless, he lunged at Ella, mind clouded, “How dare you!?” Maddox knew how it looked, yet paint drying got more attention than his own social status did. “Stay away from her!” The teen collapsed. Head nearly colliding with stone, a savior in robes for both Maddox and Bridget arrived, stopping his fall with the flick of his wrist.
Principal Merlin left questions for far later, dashing both ill, unconscious students to the infirmary.