Without a Trace

Prologue

Prologue:

    They say that when you're young, you cannot feel love. But not in Alice's case.

    It was a warm April day when they met. A young Alice was skipping and twirling in the playground, imitating her favorite princess, Aurora. She stopped in front of the bushes and picked a white flower, unaware of the little boy watching her while he sat in the sandbox all by himself.

    Then, the 'evil witch' came out and pushed Alice to the ground, interrupting her daydream.

    "You can't be a princess! I already am one!" Darlene pointed to the tiara on her head. "You should just be Alice in Wonderland," She suggested, crushing her dreams

  Then, the little boy decided to be Alice's knight in shining armor. He stood up and walked to Darlene.

    "If you're going to be mean to this girl then you should just leave!" Aeson shouted at Darlene. All she did was let out a 'Hmph' and pushed him lightly out of her way before walking. The two children just stared at her until she was out of sight.

    "Thank you," Alice shot him a toothy grin.

    "It's okay." Aeson sat on the patch of grass beside Alice. "I'm Aeson."

    "I'm Alice," She said, holding out her hand. He just stared at it as if it was foreign. "Here," She grabbed his hand and put it in hers. "You shake it whenever two people meet. I saw it in a movie," She explained. Then, she leaned back and examined the sky. So, Aeson did the same.

    They lay down on the grass for a long time, enjoying their solitude. Then, Alice broke the silence by humming and then it turned to singing. Aeson turned his head to her, listening to her. Although she may lack beauty, her voice made up for it.

    "What song are you singing?" Aeson asked.

    "I'm not sure," She admitted. "But I heard it in Sleeping Beauty. It's really pretty." She resumed her singing.

    "I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream."

    She hummed on parts where she didn't know the words but he still stared at her in awe.

    "You love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream."

    When she finished the song, she realized that she was still holding the flower. "Wanna have it?" She sat upright.

    "Sure," He took the flower and admired the delicate thing.

    "Do you want to go now?" She asked, making his gaze snap back to her.

    "Where?" Aeson sat up.

    "To my house. It's really near," She pointed at the left side of the park.

     "I'll ask my Mom first," He said. They walked over to Mrs. Jones.

    "There you are, Aeson!" She said. Then, she looked at the girl next to him. "Hi, Alice. I'm a friend of your mom. She told me to bring you to your house. Do you guys wanna go now?" They nodded. "Let's go." They smiled at each other.

    "Princesses first," Aeson bowed, knowing very well about princes after having to watch countless Disney movies with his little sister.

    "Thank you, sir," She curtseyed. Then, they walked beside each other. 

    And that was the beginning of a very long, a very happy friendship.