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ALICE
“Apologies, Alice," Winston said, glancing yet again at his pocket watch. “I must inform the White Queen of your arrival. Chess and Callister will take care of you.”
"Wait!" I called out, my breath still heavy from the lingering effects of the gimlets I’d been drinking earlier. "What about the Vorpal Sword? You promised to help me find it."
"Callister and Chess will help you,” Winston’s words tumbled out as he backed away. "Tick-tock, Alice," the White Rabbit taunted, his voice somehow both playful and menacing. "Time waits for no one, you know."
He shot his friends a look that suggested they’d better follow through, then gave me a polite nod and disappeared into the dense woods.
“Okay...” I muttered under my breath, still unsure if this was all just a twisted dream or some bizarre reality. My head was swimming with equal parts excitement and fear. Was this dream, this strange Wonderland, really relying on me to save it?
I steadied myself against a nearby tree trunk, feeling the rough bark against my fingertips. As the booze began to wear off, my senses felt heightened, more alive than they’d ever been in Los Angeles.
One of those heightened senses was my nose, and I could smell the slime and sheer grossness coving my body.
"Can I, um, take a shower?" I asked, feeling suddenly self-conscious after my tumble into Wonderland. "I need to clean up before we go anywhere.”
"Of course," Chess purred, his voice as smooth as velvet. He gestured to a knotted tree nearby. "Just step into the hollow of the tree, and it’ll take you directly to our house.”
I raised an eyebrow.
"You want me to walk into a tree?”
"Trust me." Chess's emerald eyes sparkled with mischief. "We may be miles from our home, but magic works wonders in these woods."
“Oh, I’m not surprised that you walk through trees to get to your house,” I told him, glancing between him and Callister. “I’m surprised that you two actually live together.”
“Well, Callister is an incredible cook,” grinned Chess. “And he’s very tidy. And he’s been my friend as long as I can remember. I didn’t exactly give him much of a choice in the matter.”
“Unfortunately,” Callister grumbled, taking a drag from his cigarette. "C'mon, let's get moving."
With my curiosity getting the better of me, I followed him into the hollow of the gnarled tree. My stomach lurched as I stepped through space, and a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes whirled around me.
Suddenly, I was standing in front of a breathtakingly bizarre house. It looked like an architect's fever dream–a mix of Gothic and Victorian with hints of Art Nouveau thrown in for shits and giggles. The windows were made of stained glass, depicting scenes of debauchery and delight, while the walls seemed to undulate and pulse as if they were alive.
My jaw fell as I took a few steps into Callister and Chess's front yard. I was immediately surrounded by vibrant colors and scents that I’d never experienced before. The lawn was a lush, vibrant green, speckled with wildflowers in all shades of the rainbow, and the trees were full of strange-looking fruits that glimmered in the sunlight. I could hear birds chirping happily from their nearby nests, adding to the symphony of life that surrounded me.
"Welcome to our humble abode," Chess announced, grinning mischievously as he led me to the front door and invited me inside.
The interior was just as breathtaking as the exterior. Every surface gleamed with an otherworldly glow. The furniture appeared to be made from living vines and branches, curling and twisting around one another like lovers entwined in an eternal embrace.
“The bathroom is this way," Chess said, guiding me down a hallway adorned with bizarre paintings of people and creatures I couldn't identify. He opened the door to reveal a surreal bathroom, complete with a purple bar of soap sitting on a stack of fluffy pink towels. There was even a new toothbrush waiting for me.
“Take your time,” Chess whispered in my ear, his breath warm against my skin. “I’ll have Callister make something to eat when you’re ready.”
"Thanks," I murmured, unable to take my eyes off the spectacular space. The walls were covered in shimmering tiles that seemed to shift colors with every blink, while the sink and claw foot bathtub resembled delicate seashells carved from marble.
As Chess closed the door behind him, I couldn't help but shudder at the thought of what might happen next. Wonderland was completely foreign territory to me, but I couldn't deny the pull it already had on me.
I stepped into the shower, sighing in pleasure and relief as the hot water cascaded over my body. Steam filled the room, enveloping me in a soothing embrace. I began to wash away the filth and grime that clung to my skin and my hair, watching as the muddy water swirled down the drain.
Grabbing a handful of silky shampoo, I massaged it into my scalp, allowing the suds to trickle down my neck and shoulders. I lathered up a soft sponge with the purple soap, inhaling the scent of lavender and something darker, more mysterious, and more intoxicating.
I stood under the torrential downpour of water, lost in the sensation of being made anew. It was as if I were shedding my past self, my old life with all its superficialities and regrets, and emerging as a stronger, more determined version of myself. The water rinsed away not only the dirt, but also my fear and uncertainty, leaving behind a fiery resolve.
I stepped out of the shower feeling reborn, the lingering remnants of my previous drunken haze now replaced with newfound clarity. Somehow, the fluffy pink towels weren’t just soft...they were warm and cozy when I wrapped them around my naked body.
When I reached for my ruined dress, I found it had been magically repaired. The once-tattered blue fabric was now whole and pristine. A matching jacket had been set nearby, probably to help protect my arms from getting scratched up by the thorny vines. There was even a pair of gorgeous boots, their supple leather promising both comfort and protection.
