Tallie Hightwist

The girl in front of Ellyse-a hatter named Tallie Hightwist- is brave for her age and predicament. Her home burns around her, yet she holds herself with an adamancy that refuses to admit she has lost. Despite the eerie smoke and silence, the loss of her family and friends, not once does her gaze waver.

"I do not know what you are, but I do know you are not of this world and I refuse to stand by as you annihilate the very life our world has fought to protect." Determination flames in the young hatter's eyes, only for the shiver in her voice to betray her. "You are not as powerful as you pretend to be; you are not invincible."

A shriek echoes and Ellyse's eyes wander toward the sound with mild interest; she and Tallie watch as a roof collapses and the Hightwists burn in their beds. She catches the young hatter by the throat as she lunges toward the flames, and she smiles as tears spill from quickly emptying eyes.

"Come, now, Tallie. I have only released you from a burden that your King of Hearts had placed on your shoulders. It has been a long time since I have fed on your town and its magic; since I filled the air with smoke and ash."

The young hatter struggles at the mention of the past; of fires and flames, once thought to be encouraged by the King's own soldiers. But now, Ellyse simply tightens her grip as her truth penetrates the invisible fog that envelops the town; it had never been the King of Hearts that had betrayed them. It had never been soldiers that had burned people in their homes. It is only a young girl in a blue and white dress, with fiery curls and bright green eyes. A girl that now holds Tallie Hightwist's life in her hands.

Ellyse drops her to the ground as the flames draw closer and higher. She doesn't even flinch as they lick at her feet, but the young hatter does. She scrambles away, tripping over rocks and rubble. Ellyse doesn't follow; instead, she watches the flames tear at Tallie's legs as she flees from the monster standing in the smoke and bones of a once-magical town.