"That is true, but the un-birthdays just aren't the same without Alice." Lance said as he sat on the floor of his room. There was no one there and he sat with his legs crossed holding a plastic teacup in one hand and an open book in the other. "She brought a certain... fun to these things that you can't replace." Even no one else in the room with him, Lance turned his head and cocked it to one side as if someone had something he thought was ridiculous. "Why would you say that, Cheshire, she was- " He was interrupted by his door opening and two men walking in.
"He must have had another nightmare." One stated.
"A real doozy, too." The other added.
"Tea Time is over then?" Lance asked sipping from his cup, set it on the ground beside him with the book still open to the page with a portrait of Alice and stood. "I guess so, best not invoke the riders..." Lance stared blankly as he remembered the last time he tried to poke fun with the guards. "again..." 

The guards lead Lance along the halls and to a large room where many people had been gathered. [i]Odd, they normally don't like me playing with the others."[/i] Lance milled about looking at others, and seeing the group of similar looking girls in the corner he rubbed his throat and stated quietly. "The Queen... Best be avoiding her." Lance continued walking about still trying to calm down from his dream. "Where could Alice be?" He asked, whispered.