#heartsofclocks

Miranda paused, blinking rapidly at the blindsiding statement. She didn't expect that from her role holder friend. Especially since she was a faceless. Someone whose face was destined to remain obscure. After the fact registered, she couldn't help but feel slightly embarrassed. Or maybe it was just shyness. She felt her cheeks warm slightly as she replied with, "Thanks, Nightmare. That means a lot."

Alayna tugged on her father’s jacket, her blue eyes downcast, blanket clutched in her other hand. She wanted attention, while trying not to cry. She knew her father was busy, but the need for him to hold her in his lap and coo at her was overwhelming. She was supposed to be sleeping, but that had proven difficult that night period. Bad dreams had plagued her, chasing and morphing into each other until nothing made sense. She could feel her eyes stinging. It wouldn’t be long until she was bawling.

Miranda pondered for a moment, trying to let her anger simmer down first. Realizing that was a very generous offer, she heaved the heaviest sigh she could manage. Smiling wryly, she said, “Thank you. I’ll take you up on that offer.”

Miranda then hedged a few steps, indicating which direction they were going to go.

His work had piled up again; Ace brought in the latest bag, and people had come in with more only one time period after Ace left. Alice had also just left. Why the Prime Minister of Heart Castle was even here when he usually would be chasing after Alice was a mystery to him. One he didn't care to solve.

Alayna’s stuffed animal plethora and picture books could only entertain her so long. Eventually, she drifted off towards her family. Her “Uncle” Gray was bringing over a heavy load of documents, and Alayna, fascinated by how he could carry so much paper at once, froze, staring up at him. She heard her Uncle Gray talking, and couldn’t quite understand what he was saying. He was using big words she hadn’t heard before. Determined to understand them, she turned towards her father and asked, “Daddy, what does xxxxxxxxxx and xxxxxxx mean?” The room instantly froze over. Alayna’s mom nearly dropped all the paperwork in her arms.

All she saw was black walls, nothing else. She couldn't see anything. It was as if she were blind. She felt strong hands on her arms, and it terrified her, but the familiarity of the voice kept her from brushing them off. Her breathing was shallow and on the verge of hyperventilating, all she wanted was out of here.

Alayna wobbled on her cute, purple skates, clinging to her father for support. It was April Season, and it was winter in Clover Tower territory, therefore, lots of wintery activities had opened up. In the less densely populated area of the Tower, somewhere near the border of the Forest of Doors, was a lake that had frozen over. Alayna had heard about ice skating from some of the workers in the Tower talk about it, and she begged her parents to let her go. Begging successful, here they were, about to go out on the ice. Alayna's exuberance marred slightly by intense concentration as she tried not to topple over.