I found some clothes I could use as pajamas and quickly changed into them. I sat down on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. I was tired but my mind was racing. Everything that had just happened started to run through my mind. My heart started to beat quickly, as a panic attack began to form. What if I couldn’t leave this place? What if I got stuck here? My family and my friends wouldn’t know what happened, they would be worried sick. How much time had passed since I had left the real world? Would they know I was gone? Supposedly no time had passed for the real Alice, in the stories at least, but that was just a story. It could have been wrong, lots of time could have passed. Everyone would be so worried.
I sat up and rubbed my eyes. What was I doing? Why did I willingly go with these guys? Why were they so interested in me? What was I supposed to do?
There was so much going through my mind, all of it racing through my mind due to the fact it was my first moment alone since coming to Wonderland. I no longer could rely on any of them to keep me sane; I would have to find some means to preoccupy my mind from unleashing all these anxious thoughts.
But now they weren’t, now they wanted answers, answers that probably wouldn’t be given until it was all over. Meanwhile, I had to deal with it all. It wasn’t fair, I had to be honest with myself—I was scared.
As I laid there in the dark silence, I realized I was really thirsty. I should have gotten some water before I went to sleep. I sighed, realizing if I did want some water, I should change back into the dress instead of the nightgown I found myself in.
Well, it couldn’t be helped.
I got back up and quickly changed. It was dark out but the windows let in some of the light of the moon. I opened the door a crack and glanced in the hallway. There was no one around. I hoped I wasn’t disobeying any rules by going out into the castle by myself, but I knew I would be quick so it would be fine.
Heading down the stairs where I figured the kitchen would be, I moved past the room where I had met Howard. The door was ajar and I could hear voices. Curiosity got the better of me, as I heard my name. Were they talking about me? And if they were, what were they saying?
“She doesn’t understand what’s going on, Howard, Morpheus is going to kill her,” Melvin said.
“Give her time, she will come to understand how to beat Morpheus,” Howard explained.
“Melvin is right, a lot is at stake. Are you sure she is the right girl?” Malcolm said. It kind of hurt, as he was the one that seemed to have faith in me. Did he really not think I was the right Alice?
“Have faith, she is the correct Alice. Do you remember when the original Alice came? She was a little girl and she took down the Kingdom of Hearts. This girl can do it, I have faith in her,” Howard tried calming them down. I took a deep breath. They were putting a lot of weight on my shoulders and I wasn’t sure if I could handle it. I wasn’t the original Alice, I was just a girl from a small city that honestly had nothing going for her except always having a smile on her face. A smile that hid away the pain and worry of the future.
“We almost got caught in the forest on our way here. Bill followed us,” Malcolm explained.
“They knew she was in Wonderland. The White Rabbit was in the real world and tried to kill her. They know about her and are going to retaliate,” Chase added.
The room became silent and I held my breath as I listened closely.
“Then we will have to act fast. I would like you boys to go out to the Cirque de Rêves tomorrow. I want you to see if anything has changed there,” Howard ordered.
“Yes sir,” the boys said.
I heard them start to move and I hurried towards the doors to the balcony outside. I didn’t want them to know I was listening in and it was the closest place to hide.
The balcony stood above the once grand Red and White Kingdom. It was beautiful to behold, the ruins that were left glittered in the moonlight. Trees that appeared to be maples, if maples existed in this place, danced in the wind, adding to the scenery. I couldn’t help but standing there in awe.
I heard the door to the balcony open and I cringed. Did they notice me listening? Or did they just see me outside?
“What are you still doing up? I thought you went to bed.”
I turned to find Chase behind me. I smiled innocently. “I got thirsty and came down for some water.”
“Ah, I see.” Chase stepped up next to me at the railing. “You weren’t just coming downstairs to listen to our conversation?”
I froze. I didn’t know what to say, I didn’t make a habit of listening to other people’s conversation yet I kept finding myself listening in to theirs.
“Don’t worry, the others don’t know. Only I could hear you.” He pointed at his ears. “These always come in handy. Though Melvin should have heard too, but I swear he is as deaf as an old granny.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to...” I began.
He
