Alice stood in the dark room peering out in what seemed like never ending darkness. Everywhere she looked, even the floor around her, seemed as if she would fall forever should she take a step. She jumps slightly startled as a small cat rubs against her leg before starting off ahead of her creating a neon walkway. She thought it strange, of all things, that a cat was here in this place.

Wherever she was.

The cat stopped a few feet away turning back to look at Alice with its eerily malevolent green eyes. Alice thought it best to follow along seeing as how she wasn’t giving anywhere before. As Alice caught up the cat sprang back to walking creating the odd walkway as they went. As they walked the cat would seem to stray away causing the walkways to split creating two as if mirroring the path. Tho she had no idea what was going on she was beginning to think that this was just a waste of time.

"Excuse me Mr. Cat, but where are you taking me?" Alice spoke up as if she expected the cat to answer.

The cat simply stopped in place turning before Alice before leaping up into the darkness. For a moment Alice thought she had maybe offended him. A couple minutes pass before the walkway bursts into several different paths darting out, twisting and turning as they spread out into the darkness. A large tree began to take shape a few feet in front of Alice amidst the tangled walkways. Atop a low branch she spied the small black cat, but it was different...almost as if it were...smiling.

"Alice! It’s time to wake up you’re going to be late for school!!"

Alice’s eyes shot open at the sound of her dad’s voice. The glare of the sun peeking through her curtains forced a groan from her lips as she sat up tossing aside her blanket. She sat still for a moment trying to recall her strange dream as she ran an idle hand through her hair.

"Alice!? Did you hear me?" Her dad was always the impatient one.

"Yeah, yeah. I’m up!" Alice shouted back smiling knowing her dad was downstairs probably proud he was finally able to wake her.

She stood stretching her arms above her head letting out a hefty yawn. She skips across the room to her dresser sticking out her tongue in the mirror. She laughs before moving over to the closet swinging it open, as the door slams against the wall she jumps back startled by the sound. She laughs covering her face in embarrassment before snatching her favorite dress and darting out to the bathroom. She stumbles around the bathroom all the while hearing her father downstairs talking on the phone.

As she pulls up her leggings she drops down next to the vent in an attempt to hear what was going on. She could hear the tone in his voice, it didn’t sound very pleasant. He was on the phone with Ellen, a nice older lady a few houses down, he mentioned Alice’s mother growing aggravated. Alice thought it best to stop listening...she moves back pulling her knees to her chest trying her best not to cry.

She didn’t remember a lot about her mom, tho that wasn’t any more comforting. She springs to her feet turning to the mirror. She leans close breathing against the glass fogging it up, taking her finger and tracing out the words ’MISS YOU.’. As she reaches the stairs she slows putting on a smile and wiping her eyes before heading downstairs. Her dad appears at the bottom backpack and muffin in hand.

"Taking your time are you?" He smiles as she takes her things.

"You know...the school is just a short walk away." She responds taking a bite from the muffin as she moves across the room to the door.

"You know punctuality is an important trait to have Alice. Being to late you could miss out on things, but if you’re to early you’ll ruin the surprise." He answers adjusting his glasses.

"Surprise? What kind of surprise?"

"Get going you! Short walk or not, with your curiosity it would take you all day to go a few feet!"

"Ha ha. Love you too dad!". She moves swiftly out the door taking in the morning air.

She moved across the yard taking another bite of the muffin opening the gate to the yard. As she tosses her packs strap over her shoulder she starts off down the sidewalk. There was a wonderful breeze this morning, Alice thought to herself as she watched the neighborhood going about their morning activities. A sudden noise catches her attention causing her to stop glancing over towards one of her neighbors yards. Along strolled a small black cat meowing for her attention.

"Why, hello there. Fancy seeing you here.".

The cat sits just in front of Alice, its piercing green eyes staring up at her.

"Would you want to escort me to school? I’m afraid I am running late."

"You are late indeed young Alice, for a very important date." The cat spoke without speaking.

"Well now...quite the talent you have there good sir cat. But we both know cats cannot speak." Alice hardly seemed surprised by the talking cat, she couldn’t figure out why that was. His voice was deep and comforting but held a hint of malice.

"Well...that is where you are wrong Alice. Lots of things may speak if only someone would listen." The cat stood slowly walking away.

"Excuse me! What sort of date? Where are you going!?" Alice asked as she followed behind.

"Where do you think you are Alice?" The cat asked glancing back at her.

Alice stopped, baffled by such a question. As she turned to look around the neighborhood she only seen walls. Every way she looked grimy cracked tile under the hum of the fluorescent light above her. She didn’t understand...could she still be dreaming? A door appears in front of her with the words ’MISS YOU’ carved into its wooden finish.

Alice stood staring at the words remembering just minutes ago she had wrote them in her bathroom mirror. As she took a step towards the door the room around her began to chip and crack. Her mind began to race as the tile fell from the walls as well as the floor falling away into nothing. Alice rushed for the door bursting through it into a dark corridor lit by dim red backup lights. The place smelled of sulfur and death, and was hot as an oven.

"Hello!?" Alice called out, "cat!?"

A loud thud causes her to let out a small whimper as she backs up against a wall. She could hear what sounded like someone crying, or perhaps their speech was muffled. Slowly she moves toward the sound glancing behind her every few steps hoping there would be no more surprises. The closer she got she could hear a scraping sound almost like something was struggling. As she starts to pass an opening a body lunges out towards her stopped suddenly by its barbed wire restraints. Alice screams falling to the ground watching as the thing pulled against the wire causing it to tear at its skin along its torso and arms, its facial features sewn shut causing the muffled screams.

"Alice!?" The voice sounded familiar, yet out of place.

Her eyes shot open immediately recognizing the faces of two of her best friends. Quickly covering her mouth she looks around seeing everyone in her class staring at her, some she heard laughing. Jumping to her feet she runs out the door of her classroom followed by her friends. She could make out them calling her a freak among other things over the laughter.

"Alice! Are you OK?" Maggie spoke up first catching her arm.

"Yeah...you gave us all quite a scare." David added squeezing her shoulder in friendly reassurance.

Alice stood looking around at the lockers, lights, her friends, how did she get here? Running a hand back through her hair she let’s out a nervous laugh before answering.

"Well...I honestly couldn’t tell you. I must have fallen asleep and had a nightmare." Alice knew that was a lie...didn’t she?

"You’re a bit pale...are you sick?" Maggie, ever the worrier, asked feeling her forehead and cheeks.

"I’m fine Mags really!" Alice says batting her hand away forcing a smile. "Guess that ruins my chances of getting a date for the dance tonight." She adds nervously trying to change the subject.

"Sorry Alice but...I’m sure your chances were slim to begin with." David adds playfully smiling as she slaps his chest.

"You could go with David you know he is as much a loser as you are." Maggie laughs.

"Ouch! That’s not very nice!" David adds before turning to Alice, "well...what do ya say weirdo? Would you want to go with me?"

A smile crept across her face as she nervously wrapped a finger with her hair. She was trying to force out her answer, choked up by rushing thoughts. Laughing nervously and blushing her smile widens as she throws her arms around him nodding in agreement.

"Well then its a date!" Maggie adds as the school bell begins to ring releasing the flood of people into the halls.

A group of people from their class move in around the trio snickering. Alice let’s go of David turning to face the swarm of faces.

"What’s wrong Alice? Have a bad dream?" Chad, quarterback and all around prep king, speaks up mockingly.

"Back off Chad." David responds gently moving Alice behind him.

"Uh oh! Looks like we have a tough guy here ladies and gentleman!" Chad exclaims egged on by his posse, "not my fault your little girlfriend is a freak!"

"Always drawing weird stuff in that little notebook of hers!" A girl from the crowd chimes in.

Chad reaches back taking a notebook from another classmate opening it up for everyone to see. "See! What kind of messed up freak draws this stuff!?"

A man covered in barbed wire from neck to waist as well as his arms tied to pipes on either side of him. The gathered crowd gasps and sets about their whispered rumors and gossip. Alice moves past David attempting to take the notebook only to have Chad toss it to another student. Every time she would get close they would toss it away. David, frustrated, begins to step forward as a laughing Chad interrupts him shoving him into the lockers. David smacks against the lockers before getting hit by another member of the football team.

Maggie screams for them to stop as another boy, Chad, and the first boy that hit David began to attack him to the cheers of their classmates. Alice’s head was starting to spin as she looked around at all the laughing and cheering faces, her anger began to build. It was then, amongst the chaos, that she saw something unnerving. Just above the group of boys attacking David a wisp of coal black smoke swooped in just above the lockers as the piercing green eyes of the cat appeared. Alice looked again at her classmates, no one else seemed to notice.

"Stop them Alice..." the voice echoed in her mind.

"What? How am I going to stop them!?" Alice screamed against the voice.

"Let your anger fuel the fire..."

Alice could barely think with the voice and the people around her. Her heart was racing, her hands clinched to fists, her skin felt like it was on fire. Alice reached out for Chad as a toothy smile appears in the smoke before disappearing. Alice takes ahold of Chad’s arm causing him to let out a scream so loud the other boys as well as the crowd jump back. Chad falls away out of Alice’s hand clutching his arm screaming against the pain.

"Alice!? What did you do?" Maggie exclaimed.

With her anger and adrenaline subsiding Alice shakes her head as if coming out of a daze. She takes another look at the crowd, they were afraid...as her gaze passed over them they took a few steps back. She looks down to Chad cursing and yelling on the floor exposing his burnt and blistering arm. Some in the crowd ran, the boys who had been helping him had backed off and disappeared into the crowd. Alice turned and ran her way through the crowd making her way to the entrance of the school, out the doors and across the lot.

What had she done?

Who or what was the cat?

What was going on!?

She ran and she ran, as far and as fast as her legs would carry her. She couldn’t go home tho...no doubt the school would send someone to look for her there. On the other hand...she couldn’t hide it from her father, one way or another he would find out. She came to a stop in front of Ellen’s house just a few down from her house, she would let her stay there for awhile at least. Alice smooths out her dress before reaching out to knock when she noticed the door was cracked open.

"Hello!? Ellen are you home? It’s me Alice!" She yelled gently opening the door.

As the door creaked open Alice could see paintings along the walls of strange creatures and beautiful landscapes. She almost recognized a few of the pictures from things she had dawn in her notebook. She paused cursing that she had left it behind at the school...David...she hadn’t even checked on him. Some friend she was, she thought to herself, running away and leaving the ones who were trying to help her. That David...she had often wondered if he liked her or if he thought of her at all.

Alice moved further into the house gently closing the door behind her. The house was eerily dark and quite given the sun shinning outside. She walked over to a nearby painting of a lush forest landscape accompanied by mushrooms as tall as the trees themselves. She spotted a rather large blue caterpillar sitting atop one of the mushrooms overlooking the forest with a pipe in one of his hands. She thought it strange as she moved to a picture of twin boys sitting in front of a large hedge arch way, each wearing a ball cap with different color propellers on them.

Alice moved away from the paintings walking further into the house listening for any sign of Ellen. As her eyes took in everything around her she noticed her car keys lying on the kitchen counter. The phone not even arms length away was flashing indicating the unplayed messages with a small stack of bills beside it. She tried to be quiet but every step caused the old worn wooden floor to creak and groan. She noticed a large dry erase calendar in the hallway with the words, ’GONE TO WONDERLAND’ scribbled across the entire board.

"You won’t find her here..." the voice boomed in her head causing her to spin around checking the room.

"What do you mean? Where has she gone? What do you want with me?" Her eyes searched the room as she spoke.

"So many questions...does it matter if you know the answers? Do you think knowing the answers will change what has already come to pass?" The cat’s voice echoed within her mind as she turned to see he had appeared in the hallway with her.

"Where is Wonderland?" Alice asked looking to the calendar.

"It’s all around us Alice...you created it long ago. You gave us all life...but it has been corrupted and tainted." The cat shifted uneasily.

"How? What has happened?" Alice inquired moving closer to the cat on the floor.

"The queen went mad...sent out her soldiers to slaughter and enslave everyone."

"What!? Why? I don’t understand..."

"She is looking for you...the daughter that was taken from her."

Alice stood in silent awe at what she had just heard. She wanted to ask what he meant, but knew it would just upset him. It was upsetting her with just the thought of it. Her mother had died when she was just a baby. She quit moving towards the cat that was no longer there, she found herself in the strange place again. It was much louder this time...distant shouting mixed with screams of pain and anguish.

"This is the safest place in Wonderland now...tho we are not there, this place is between then and now. Of course you should know that already your majesty." The voice sarcastically mocking as Alice notices him sitting on the ceiling.

"How are you doing that?"

"Why are you not?" The cat fades away before her eyes.

Alive looks around the hallway noticing the windows in front of her were blacked out. The hall was dimly lit and smelled of rust and sulfur...similar to before. She started off down the hall listening as the screams seemed to fade as she walked. A part of her really wished to see what was going on, tho she assumed it wasn’t pleasant. Finally coming to a door she pauses hearing the eerie scraping and muffled scream she encountered before.

"Alice!!" A voice called to her from the darkness she had come from startling her.

Alice screamed at the sudden bang coming from the darkness. She tugged on the door only for it not to open or so much as budge. The voice screamed her name again and again as she fought against the door hearing the approaching footsteps getting closer and closer. She screamed out for help finally planting her back to the door breathing heavily. The darkness followed behind the approaching figure as it stumbled down the hall laughing and calling her name.

Alice couldn’t help but play the words in her head about creating this, "Wonderland" and that her mother was the apparent queen? As the figure came closer she could see cuts along his body as well as what appeared to be shards of glass embedded in his face. Why would she create such a violent and hostile world? No, the cat had said the world was being corrupted...by her mother...the queen. This wasn’t right, nothing was right, why would her own mother destroy...she could have just reached out to her.

"Alice are you even paying attention?" Her fathers voice brought her back to attention.

"What?" She responded taking in her father as well as Chad’s parents sitting across from her.

"Chad claims you burned him at school today. Now his parents stopped over to hear the story from you."

Alice baffled and confused at how she ended up back home started explaining what had happened only claiming another student had burned him defending David. She sat idly listening to her father and Chad’s parents talking taking everything to memory. How was she going from this, "Wonderland" to the real world...nothing made sense. She wondered if David was OK...she felt horrible about leaving him like she did. She stood apologizing to everyone before running upstairs to her room dropping onto her bed. Sighing shed picks up the phone dialing Davids number.

"Hello?" His voice was beyond comforting.

"So let me just start by saying I am really...REALLY sorry."

"Alice?"

"Yeah...please tell me you are OK."

"Of course I am." David laughs, "you sure let Chad have it worse than I could have tho!"

"I don’t know what happened. I reached out to try and stop him and it was like...I could feel my anger on my skin. You know when you get really upset and it just feels like you’re on fire?"

David is quiet for a minute, "Yeah I can’t say I know."

"Well...that’s not comforting..." Alice let’s out a quiet nervous laugh.

"So about the dance..."

"I’d understand if you didn’t want to go..."

"What? No! I mean I was wondering if YOU still wanted to go with me?"

"Of course I would!!" Alice exclaims excitedly.

They both laugh and continue to talk for a little while about school and life in general. Alice forgot about "Wonderland" listening to him talk. She had liked him for some time now, more then a friend, but was always afraid he didn’t feel the same way. They made their plans for meeting at the school and decided they would start getting ready. As she hung up the phone she couldn’t hold back her smile.

She starts getting ready for the dance turning on her radio as she moved about her room. She pulls a red dress from her closet tossing it onto the bed as well as a pair of black stockings and a small red ribbon. As she worked at getting ready her mind swayed from David to Wonderland and back. She thought about her mother...her father...everything just seemed like a crazy mess. After getting dressed she drops on the bed tying the ribbon in her hair as a small rabbit hops out from under her bed in a plaid vest.

"Well now I have just seen everything haven’t I?" Alice asked the rabbit.

"Oh dear...oh my!" The rabbit startled takes a few steps away.

"I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to startle you. My name is Alice...what is your name?"

"Excuse me madame but I am well aware of who you are...that’s what scares me." The rabbit looks around the room, "oh dear...this isn’t right. Not right at all! I shouldn’t be here...YOU shouldn’t be here!"

"Beg your pardon but this is my room in my home."

"You should be in Wonderland...how did you get out?"

Alice stared in wonder before answering, "Well...how did you get out?"

The rabbit stood puzzled by the question looking around the room again. Reaching inside his vest pocket he produces a small pocket watch. Clicking it open he puts it to an ear, slightly frustrated he closes and puts it away moving slightly closer to Alice. She could tell his mind was going a mile a minute as he examined her and the room. He moves back under the bed just a moment before darting back out to the middle of the room frightened.

"You’ve seen it haven’t you..?" The rabbit asks adjusting his vest nervously starring at her.

"Seen what.." Alice asks dropping to her knees on the floor in an attempt to calm him.

"The demon...the nightmare of Wonderland..the Jabberwocky..." the rabbit glanced around the room as if just saying the name would make it appear.

As Alice began to ask what he was talking about the house shook against a thunderous boom. Alice jumped to her feet as the rabbit darted back under the bed. She could hear the familiar screams from Wonderland as the house groaned and creaked against an unknown force. Slowly she starts to the window of her room to catch a glimpse of what was happening when the familiar smoke appeared above. Through the dense black smoke a wide toothy smile appeared followed by the rest of the cat.

"I wouldn’t do that if I were you..."

"When have I ever listened to talking cats who can disappear and reappear at will, and most importantly," Alice stops just before the window looking up at the floating cat head, "every time you show up something bad happens."

"Oh Alice...I’m offended...fine, look all you want but don’t say I didn’t warn you girl!" In an instant he was gone.

Alice looked out upon the world bathed in a sinister red glow, the glow was not from the sky, but the neighborhood was engulfed in flames. In the distance as far as she can see, everything, was on fire. People were running around in the streets being attacked by various horrid beasts or being dragged off by giant playing cards. What was going on...how was this happening here? So much death and disaster...her mind went to Ellen’s home and the paintings of some of the creatures she had seen were now out her window.

She stood mesmerized watching the chaos from her window. She could feel the fire against her skin, even from a distance, it felt like she was surrounded. It bothered her how comfortable it felt...she remembered how her anger at Chad and her classmates felt the same way. She noticed two of the cards had pulled her father out onto the lawn. Alice turns to run for the door only to be confronted by a taller woman in an extravagant and large black dress. Adorned with small red hearts here and there hanging from small golden links, gold lace lined the edges of her dress in various spots.

On both sides of her stood equally tall card knights each holding a leash of barbed wire attached to a person. The people eyes were sewn shut as were their mouths, various cuts and wounds covered their bound bodies. Her eyes finally met with the woman. Tho her expression was that of a smile Alice could tell it wasn’t good news for her. She backed away until her back was pressed against the wall, never taking her eyes from the woman.

"It’s been such a long time since I’ve seen that precious face.." the woman’s voice came as a surprise to Alice.

"Who are you?" Alice asked almost in a whisper.

"Do you not recognize me? I suppose you wouldn’t after all that time away. I am the Queen of Hearts...and this is my kingdom."

"Why would I recognize you?"

"Well you created this place...my baby girl is all grown up."

The queens words hit Alice like a train. She stood taking in the woman claiming to be her mother as well as her card knights. Her father told her it was a car accident that had killed her all those long years ago. The Queen didn’t move, she stood smiling that odd smile as Alice tried to comprehend how it would be possible. Of course nothing seemed possible anymore.

"You’re not my mother..." She said in a hushed tone.

"Of course I am! I have been searching far and wide for you."

"You would destroy your own kingdom just to find me!?" She screamed at the queen.

"What!? I think you misunderstand Alice...you are the one tearing this world apart..."

"Alice?" A voice only she could hear.

She began feeling dizzy as her vision blurred, the sound around her began to drone faintly making out screaming coming from the room. She could feel the hand of one of the knights grab her arm before she fell. Alice yelled out for it to leave her alone reaching out taking hold of the knight immediately catching it on fire. As she tumbled out of its grip she could hear other voices around her, laughing, joking, urging her to wake up. Slowly opening her eyes noticing multicolored stars hanging from the ceiling as well as David and Maggie.

"Are you alright? You took a nasty fall." David asked.

"We have to stop meeting like this.." Alice responded groggily, "where am I?"

"Wow...you must have hit hard miss two left feet. We are at the dance!" David adds trying to lighten the mood.

She sits up to look around seeing people dancing with an occasional face looking her way. Her head was pounding on top of feeling like she was running a fever. David helps her to her feet wrapping his arms around her to comfort her. Her mind was still wrapped around everything from her mom, Wonderland, to this. Why was this all happening to her? Why now?

A scream cuts the music off, followed by more screams. Alice spins around trying to push through the panicking crowd. Just as she reaches the edge of the crowd she watches as one of the card knights cuts down a nearby student. The blood sprays against Alice causing her to stop in shock. Just beyond the cards she seen two of the barbed wire people standing guard at the exit.

"Bring me Alice!!" The Queen’s voice echoed into the speakers mixed with some feedback.

The panicked crowd turns to the Queen on stage with a dozen of her card knights. The cards in the crowd had begun moving everyone into the center of the gymnasium. The loud chatter and random screams were making it difficult to organize, Alice remained away from everyone else. Covered in the blood of a fallen classmate she stood starring blankly at the girl lying on the floor...it was Maggie. She is finally moved to the front of the crowd, arm in arm with two of the knights.

"Enough running Alice! This ends tonight..."

The knights on stage begin to march off an onto the floor surrounding the crowd. Alice stood staring at the Queen as the rabbit from her room hops out from behind her. That wasn’t everyone...she could feel an all to familiar presence, yet she could not find him. That’s when the voice came...a thunderstorm in her brain.

"You’re late Alice..." the voice quiet, yet everywhere, in her head.

"What do you mean?" Alice asked out loud.

"It means you will either come with me back to Wonderland to answer for your crimes...or I’ll have your head here and now!" The Queen growing frustrated yells into the microphone.

"I’m not talking to you!!" Alice screams back struggling against the knights grasps.

"That’s it girl...use your anger and stop the Blood Queens tyranny!" The voice commanding echoed louder in her head.

"Shut up and explain yourself!!" Alice yelled out to the unseen force speaking to her. The crowd watched, calling her crazy and mad.

"Alice you must not listen to him..." the rabbit spoke from the stage.

"Why should I listen to you over him? No one has explained anything to me since this all started!"

"He wants Wonderland to be destroyed so that he may walk in your world. He has been using you to weaken the boundary." The rabbit spoke softy, almost nervously.

"Don’t listen to the slave my dear...once you’re dead the Queen will reign over your world. You are the only one who can stop her!"

"All of you shut up!!!" Alice screams igniting the card knights that held her.

The crowd moves back away from Alice yelling out in fear. The knights stop them from moving further than the barrier unmoved by the display. Alice’s eyes moved from the Queen and back to the cowering crowd behind her...even David. Out from the crowd the black cat strolled up to Alice causing the knights to shift at the sight. The rabbit covered himself behind the Queen’s dress.

"How dare you show your face to me beast!" The Queen exclaims.

The cat moves up between Alice and the stage. Sitting in a spot to stare up at the queen. One of the knights begins to move towards the cat only to face Alice looking his way causing him to burst into flames.

"You are not taking Alice...". The voice echoed out through the gymnasium causing a small uproar from the crowd.

"I want to know the truth..." Alice asks.

"There will be no more talking!! Time to take action! You are stalling until you can escape once more! Off with their heads!!"

Before Alice knew it the knights converged on her and the cat quicker than before. She could feel the anger building inside her under the grasps of the knights. She watched as the cat was quickly overwhelmed collapsing to the floor under the attack. Alice screamed out for them to stop as one of the knights remove the fallen cats head. Alice wrestled free only to catch a backhand from one of the knights.

"ALICE!" A familiar voice rings out as she falls to the floor. Through her blurred vision she watches as David is attacked by the knights trying to get to her.

"David..." she whimpers as the Queen yells over her.

The knights begin spreading out snatching students from the crowd. Everyone begins to scatter and run for the doors only to be met by the bound barbed wire people. Her world was moving in slow motion...her friends...classmates..being attacked and killed before her eyes by large playing cards. There was one...through sobbing agony she cried out to David as they remove his head with a mighty swing.

"David...I’ll stop this..."

The school begins to shake. Chaos was erupting around her as she sobbed and slammed a fist to the floor. Pushing herself to her feet Alice released all the pent up anger...like water on her skin it flowed about her. It came natural as she raises her arms out, everywhere she imagined fire it burst to life consuming knight and building alike. The gymnasium was engulfed in flames burning knights and students alike. Alice no longer cared...all she could feel was hate...towards Chad, the Queen, every moment she had been bullied or pushed around...tonight it stopped.

She watched with no remorse as the room burned before her. She heard the screams telling her to stop, telling her they were sorry. None of that mattered anymore...she turns to face the Queen standing defiant on stage. Her friends deaths, claiming to be her mother, every moment kept flashing in her mind as she moved toward her. A white flash blinds her forcing her to reach up to block the light.

"She’s waking up!!"

Alice felt her hands being restrained, she fought against them still blinded by the white light. As she begins to regain her vision she could see she was struggling against normal people. Her anger turned to worry her eyes began to browse the small white room. Looking to her restrainers she could make out she could only make out the word ’hospital’ before feeling a needle puncture her arm. Alice fell silently into the darkness, tumbling down passing the paintings from Ellie’s house. Images of David, Maggie, and her father as well as various other creatures watching her fall past.

"Alice...how are you feeling?"

She heard the voice raising her head from the table placed in the center of a much larger room. The man sitting across from her was an older man, suit and tie with a white scruffy beard and small reading glasses much like her fathers. She went to move her hands to realize she had been handcuffed to a wheelchair. Her hands...they were older...what was happening?

"Where am I?" She asked noticing the change in her voice.

"You are at the Kemper Mental Health facility...you’ve been here for some time. Tell me what you remember Catherine."

"I remember the fire..." the images flashed in her mind, "David was killed...the Queen and the barbed wire people, the death." As Alice spoke, her eyes studied her hands as well as the man taking notes across from her.

"There was no fire Catherine..."

"Why do you keep calling me that?"

"That is your name...I want you to think back to the accident and tell me again what happened."

"My name is Alice! My school burned down when I tried to stop the Queen from taking over our world!!" She screamed fighting against her restraints.

"Your name is Catherine Alexander. You were involved in a car accident. You’ve been in a coma for a few months now. Your husband died in the crash...I’m sorry."

"No...I was just at the dance with David! How did I get here!?"

The man pressed a button on the table unlocking the door to the room. She screamed for the man to listen to her as an attendant enters taking her out of the room. Her eyes searched every wall, every door and passing face hoping someone would help her. She wasn’t crazy...she knew she wasn’t...she could hear the screams, feel the heat on her skin from the fire. She began to cry as she was moved into her room and released from her restraints. The attendant leaves locking the door behind him.

She sat alone for what seemed like hours reflecting on everything she was told, everything she had experienced when an object caught her eye. She turns jumping up further on her bed pulling her knees to her chest in fear. The small black cat sat in the corner of her room with the biggest bloody toothy grin he had ever had. His eyes chilled her to the bone in a way they never had before causing her to cry out for someone to help her. A thick smoke gathered at his feet...his eyes shifted colors...his voice seeped into her mind as she covered her ears screaming for help.

"Don’t worry Alice...we’re all mad here..."