In a Land Far Away: An Anthology

Project Wonderland

by AdrielleReina

The straps were too tight around my arms and legs, digging craters in my skin. The wheels of the hospital gurney squeaked like rolling, dying mice. "Please," I whispered, my voice hoarse and my throat parched. "You don't have to do this."

Alas, my pleas worked to no avail! The gurney-man merely glared down upon me with a wicked glint in his beady black eyes before inserting a rag in my mouth! Before I knew it, I began to feel drowsy...

When I awoke, my head felt as though it had been slammed into one of the concrete walls of the forsaken building. The stench of mildew and body odor reached my nostrils as I stared at the stark, white walls. I tried to lift my head up, but that was far too difficult, you see.

"Alice, you've awakened! Tell me, how do you feel, Dear?" the white coat asked.

"W-who are you?" I asked, frightened beyond belief! How did he know my name? His face was unrecognizable!

"Oh, that simply won't do." He shook his head with a frown. "She's been given too much!" He suddenly barked at the gurney-man, who I only noticed was still there in the shock room!

Oh, to break free! But my arms—my arms! And, oh! My legs! They were still ensnared by the gurney! I struggled within the confinement, but it hurt my chest to try to get up, for I was truly imprisoned under the confines of the blasted belts!

My heart thudded like the stroke of the midnight hour upon the grandest of grandfather clocks! It reminded me of that rabbit! The awful white rabbit! He was the reason for my being at such a terrible, horrible place.

As the white coat yelled at the gurney-man, I gagged from the putrid stench of those who already died under the care of these white coats and hadn't bathed! Oh, and the stress of it all, too!

"Alice, I'm Doctor Reginald," he suddenly told me after sending the gurney-man away. "You don't remember me? We've known each other since you were but a small child."

"Please! Please don't hurt me!" I screamed.

"Quiet, now! You'll be put to sleep again if you can't behave, Alice."

My neck felt sweaty from laying in one position on the gurney for so long. The lights were too bright as they shined in my eyes. Black dots clouded my vision. Oh, how terrible it all truly was!

"Yes, Doctor Reginald."

"Very good, do you know why you're here, Alice?" he asked, grabbing a clipboard.

Oh, indeed I did! "That blasted white rabbit."

He sighed. "I thought we were making more progress, Alice. You're regressing."

"But it's true!" I yelled. My body would have thrashed if not for the constraints, but instead I merely shook the gurney.

He adjusted his thick glasses. "You had a white, pet rabbit. Do you remember that?"

"He was not a pet!" I proclaimed. The white coat knew nothing! How could he? No one would ever believe me!

He set his clipboard down and rubbed his temples. "I'm sorry, Alice. This will be for your own good."

I watched as he grabbed a rag and rustled through his desk for that dreaded liquid to put me to sleep. No! Violently, I flailed like a fish out of water—hooked by the belted confinement! Tears streamed down my face. I turned my head ever so slightly and I couldn't believe my eyes!

That blasted rabbit!

He wore a black suit and a top hat! But the most confounding and terrifying thing about the wretched creature was the blood that soaked the fur of its face! Standing on his hind legs, he grinned wickedly at me!