I was very confused; this was nothing like the story. My family was descendants of the original Alice. I’ve heard my great-grandmothers story every night since I was born. Every time it was a Looking Glass, a mirror, Alice had traipsed through, but that certainly wasn’t what had happened today.
I woke up just like every other day and went to work at the Dojo, just like always. However, that’s where the day went wrong. I was leaving the Dojo, on my way home for dinner with my mom, when the sound of fighting came from ahead. I sped up my walk and looked down the alley as I passed. Down the dimly lit alley I noticed a man with shocking white hair holding a younger gentleman against the brick wall.
“Hey!” I began running towards the duo. Two men materialized from the shadows. They grabbed the man being held against the wall before shoving him into a waiting van. Picking up my pace, but just missing them. Noticing that something had dropped from the abducted man I bent to pick it up. A round jewelry box. Grandmother used to have something very similar. Finding the catch on the side; I twist it open and a ring falls out. Placing the ring on my finger and the box in my pocket I began chasing after the van. I found the van not a block away parked in front of an abandoned warehouse. I cautiously approached the door. As soon as my hand touched the knob I knew something was off. Before I could react, the door swung open and I began falling.
The suddenness of the fall snatched the breath from my lungs. After a few moments I was able to catch my breath and really notice my surroundings. I was quick to notice this was, again, nothing like my ancestors adventures. Instead of furnishings of a home, like the rabbit hole, here, there was nothing but white, like white noise come to life.
“Hello,” is anyone there,” I call out. The only response is the wind continuing to blast past my ear. Several more moments passed. What seemed like hours ago I was on the streets and now I was in a sea of nothingness. As soon as I relaxed into the fall I crashed to the ground; knocking the breath out of my lungs again.
Standing and looking around I found myself in another warehouse; standing atop a patch of grass. I began walking forwards before realizing the rooms were changing. At a dead end, I looked around before bumping into a table with a bottle materializing in front of me. I look at the tag. “Drink me,” had me quickly replacing the bottle. “Nope, after those stories no way am I making Alice’s mistake.” The sound of a door slamming made me whirl around. And then, a nightmare came true; the walls started closing in on me, quite literally.
“Ah shit!” The walls closed so much that I ended up having to lie on my side, knees pulled to my chest, like a baby. As my eyes adjusted I noticed a slip of light around the bottom edge of the walls. Acting quickly I pulled the hair pin from my hair and began running it along the seam. Finally, encountering something I assumed to be a lock, I jiggled the pin until, whoosh, the bottom fell out, me along with it.
Body reacting on its own, my arms shot out, fingers grasping and clinging on to the handle of the box.
“Flying! How are we flying?”
I look up and see some flying contraption carrying more boxes like the one I am in. Looking down I see a body of water with land nearby. I contemplate letting go, but, “No, I can’t do it. I can’t let go!”
“Oh you better let go, that is if you don’t want to end up one of them.” My head jerks up and I see a man crouched on top of my box. He’s wearing a leather jacket and has a porkpie hat tilted jauntily on his head. He raises his eyebrow and points to a nearby box.
“Now them, they’re going to be drained dry. And, so will you if you don’t let go.”
“But, I’ve got a thing about heights! And a fall from her could kill a girl!”
“Nah, it won’t kill you, and look, I’ll jump wi’d you.”
My breath is leaving in huffs and puffs. I’m sure within the next few moments I’ll be hyperventilating. I look around me again, but I know I don’t won’t to be drained; of what I’m not sure, but it sounds terrible. I look back up to the man perched on my box and give a quick nod to his idea.
“Ok pretty lady…”
“Alice. My name is Alice.”
“Ok Alice, my name is Hatter. When I count to three, on three, we’ll jump.” I nod my head again. I listen as he starts counting. When he gets to three I take a deep breath, close my eyes, and let go.
We splash down in the water and I quickly swim up for air. Hatters head pops next to mine.
“Ok, now we swim for shore.”
“Wait,” I pant while treading water, “how can I trust you, how do you know about this place?”
“I am a Tea Shoppe owner. You are an oyster. I know how to get around because I’m from here. You can trust me, because if I meant to hurt you I would have left you on the Scarab.”
“Fine, let’s go.” We began to swim back towards the city. We finally make it back and haul ourselves onto land. Just as we are getting out another Scarab passes by, its light shining on my arm burning a green design into the inner section of my left arm.
“Yeah, that won’t be coming off. That’s how the White Rabbit marks their catch. Let’s get back to my shop and we can clean up. Along the way, you can tell me why you here in Wonderland.
