Alice and the Looking Glass (Clockwork Wonderland Book 1)

In Which Ailce Realizes Where She Is

"Maria?"

The two men had wandered off to huddle over cups of coffee in a corner booth. They leaned towards each other and spoke in hushed tones, wearing serious expressions. Meanwhile, Alice sat at the bar, sipping her drink while Maria made the various orders brought to her by a young woman in a black dress and red apron. Later, the waitress would return and carry the finished orders off into the restaurant on a gold tray.

"Yes?" She turned away from polishing her machine, a smile on her face.

"Maria, do you think Chester seems...I don't know...cat-like?"

"Hmm, yes. We've often teased him about it. He finds it quite irritating."

"And Jack can't seem to sit still; he's always moving or rushed or speaking like a...well, a hyper rabbit."

"I'm not sure what rabbits you've known in your life. The ones I grew up with were always very calm." Maria turned towards her fully, damp rag in hand. "Is something wrong?"

Alice didn't want to explain that the rabbit she was thinking of wasn't a pet, but a talking animal from a work of fiction. And yet, she couldn't ignore the nagging thought any longer. "It's just...this place reminds me of a series of books from my world. And it's freaking me out."

"Oh, that's all?" she chuckled as if Alice had made a droll joke. "I know this place seems strange, but don't worry about it too much. Wonderland isn't as bad as those texts imply."

At that, Alice paled. "You know about the books? This place is called Wonderland?"

Her panicked questions made Maria hurry closer to her, leaning towards Alice in concern. "The books are a part of our history. And yes, we call our nation Wonderland."

Had her stool not been bolted to the floor, Alice would have knocked it over in her haste.

"Jack! Chester!" She shouted as she stumbled towards them. Maria's eyes widened, then she flipped up part of the bar and rushed after Alice.

"What the hell is going on? Maria says the books are some kind of historical text. This place is Wonderland?"

When he didn't respond, she kept going. "I've got to be in some kind of lucid coma. Which, if I am, you are a figment of my imagination. And figments of imaginations do what the dreamer wants. So answer me!"

"Alice, you need to relax. Would you like-"

Every ounce of calm, all the effort it had taken to keep her head so far, evaporated. She was either hooked up to a machine somewhere, having a mental breakdown of epic proportions, or this was real. She wasn't sure which was worse.

"No, I would not like another fucking scone or tart or whatever other 'calming treat' you've cooked up today." Jack tried to say something but Alice steamrolled right over him. "You need to tell me, right now, where I am and why you abducted me. Leave the drugs out of it."

Alice realized the entire cafe had quieted. Maria twisted her hands, Chester stirred his coffee with wild abandon, some slopping over the sides, and Jack's face turned to stone.

"Alice, out of respect for Maria, we shall take this discussion elsewhere? Will you listen then?"

The look on Maria's face, concern and fear, told Alice that the other woman didn't understand the full extent of her friend's transgressions, if she knew anything at all.

"Fine. Lead the way."

So, the quartet made their way towards the back of the building, into the kitchen. Past sinks filled with steaming water, a massive brick oven flanked by many smaller ones, and dozens of cabinets, they came to an office. Maria ushered them into the cramped space and shut the door. Mae, who'd been kneading bread dough as they passed, never looked up from her task.