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Turned out, I wanted every single second.
The snow crunched under my feet, echoing in the stillness. I marveled at the delicate icicles hanging from each branch from the tree beside the bench. I caught sight of the half-frozen waterfall before I heard the gentle trickle of water and the occasional chirping of birds that had made the garden their home.
I suddenly realized Amari was already sitting on the bench below the shimmering tree loaded with sparkling icicles. Taking in the crisp, fresh scent of winter berries and frost-covered trees, I stepped over the bench and sank down beside her.
“This place is incredible...” I let out a puff of warm breath, watching it disappear in front of my eyes. “How does anything grow here when it’s so cold?”
“Easy. It adapts. Just like we do.” Amari’s presence exuded an air of serenity that put me at ease, despite the chaos that had recently become my life. Her eyes met mine, soft and welcoming. “I meant it when I said I’m grateful to finally have you here, Alice. Wonderland is suffering.”
“I know.” I hung my head, staring at the decadent cupcake in my hands. “It doesn’t seem fair that I’m sitting here in a gorgeous garden, eating amazing food, and staying in a room that’s nicer than most luxury hotels, when people are getting decapitated right and left.”
Amari’s expression became less dreamy and more pragmatic.
“Yes, well, it won’t do us much good if our champion is malnourished and sleep-deprived.”
“I get what you’re saying, but here’s the thing –” I swallowed hard, my voice wavering as I revealed my doubts. “Even with Jack’s sword-fighting lessons, I don’t know if I can defeat the Jabberwocky. Or the Red Queen. Like, I’ve never even been in a fight before, let alone one with magical monsters and psycho queens. What if I freeze up, or panic? What if I’m just not strong enough?”
Amari listened attentively, her expression never betraying judgment or disappointment. She seemed to understand my skepticism, which only made me appreciate her more.
“Your concerns are valid.” She placed a warm hand on my shoulder. “You were brought to Wonderland for a reason, Alice. There is strength and power within you that even you don’t fully comprehend yet.”
Her words were meant to be reassuring, but they only intensified the knot of anxiety twisting in my gut.
The thought of fighting for my life, wielding the Vorpal Sword against nightmarish creatures and vengeful queens, sent shivers down my spine – and not from the cold. Could I really do this? Was there any chance that I, reality TV star from LA, could become the badass warrior Wonderland so desperately needed?
“How can you be so sure I can do this? You don’t even know me.”
“I know enough.” Amari’s lips curved into a mysterious smile. “You are the first Alice to arrive in Wonderland already grown. You have skills that the other Alices did not, and that will serve you well in the battle to come.”
I frowned, recalling Callister’s accusation that I was too old to be of any use. True, he’d found other uses for me, but being able to take the full length of his giant, freakish, insect cock wasn’t going to save Wonderland.
“I thought being older wasn’t exactly an advantage here. The other Alices were kids. They were a lot more imaginative than me.”
“Nonsense.” Amari gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze. I found her touch to be warm and comforting. “You underestimate yourself, Alice. While my previous Alices had youth and naiveté on their side, you have wisdom, instinct, and a strength of will that comes only with age and experience. You will prevail. I have no doubt.”
Her unwavering faith in me was almost too much to handle. I didn’t want to disappoint her, but the ugly truth was, I might fail. Wonderland might fall into darkness, and it would be all my fault.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I looked directly at Amari. “You really think I can defeat the Jabberwocky?”
“Absolutely.” Her eyes shone with such conviction that it was inspiring. “It’s important to remember that you’re not alone. You have allies here who will help prepare you for the challenges ahead.”
“Even with your help, I still don’t know why you chose me for this mission,” I said before biting into my cupcake.
I was instantly grateful I’d only taken one.
I might’ve inhaled an entire plate of them otherwise.
The burst of dreamed drop flavor was a brief distraction from my swirling thoughts. The berry’s flavor exploded in my mouth, a vibrant fusion of sweet, tangy, and creamy notes that danced across my palate. As I chewed and swallowed, it released a blend of vanilla and exotic spices, giving a new meaning to the phrase ‘comfort food.’
“I didn’t choose you, Alice. Destiny did,” Amari replied gently. “You possess a rare combination of strength, intelligence, and tenacity, which is precisely what Wonderland needs right now.”
I snorted, feeling anything but strong or intelligent at that moment. “I guess I should be flattered, but I can’t shake the feeling that I’m just stumbling through this place, making one mistake after another.”
“Nobody expects perfection from you, Alice,” Amari reassured me. “Not even Jacques. All that matters is that you keep pushing yourself to learn and grow. If you do that, everything else will fall into place.”
“Well, as long as you’re not expecting perfection...I’ll do what I can.”
“Sometimes,” Amari said gently, her words pulling me back from the edge of anxiety, “it’s not about being the strongest or the most skilled. It’s about having the courage to face your fears and stand up for what’s right.”
