And now, the Mad Hatter, Jervis Tetch, had appeared in Gotham City once again, searching for people to join his tea party.
Clearly, this time he had set his sights on the girl leaning against a shop window, gazing in wonder at the Christmas tree behind the glass. Her clear, innocent eyes and heartfelt delight instantly carried his memories back to that beautiful day.
"Alice... she's my Alice!"
"Alice" was wary, but kind. Her eyes held none of the contempt those people showed when they looked at him. All the more certain he had chosen the right person this time, the Mad Hatter eagerly took out the exquisite top hat he had made for Alice.
Whether "Alice" accepted it or not made no difference to him.
She, or rather, all those women, all those men, everyone...
They would obey his commands in the end.
The Mad Hatter watched the girl grow quiet and obediently place her little hand, clad in a pale blue fleece glove, into his palm. The smile on his scarred face grew ever more crazed, his fingertips excitedly stroking the brim of the hat.
Hidden inside was the Brainwave Control Device he had poured his heart and soul into creating, capable of perfectly amplifying his hypnotic influence over people. With it, he was the god of a new world.
"Good... what a good girl..."
He bent down, his voice cloyingly sweet yet chilling, like poison steeped in honey:
"Now that's my Alice."
He took the girl's icy hand with a gentleness bordering on reverence and led her, step by step, into the dark corner he had transformed.
Pushing aside a disguised false wall, they passed through a corridor so long it seemed endless, until an ornate metal door appeared before them.
Two towering figures stood in front