Lost In Wonderland

3. The Queen Of Heart's Daughter

I didn't ask questions. I wasn't going to upset him. Even though Ethan had this grim expression on his face, he still handed over the folder and asked me to open it. Why did it feel like he knew what was in it? Did he try to research my background when I arrived? Is that his only excuse for not kicking me out?

I sat in the chair in front of him at his desk. My hands roamed around the thick folder. Sighing, I began to proceed. His eyes focused on me as I slowly opened the file to reveal several documents, one including my birth certificate.

Name: Amelia Heart.

Born: November 11th, 2000.

Mother: Queen of Hearts.

Father: Alister

Mixed emotions began to rise inside of me and I knew I couldn't face Ethan at the moment. The throbbing in my head continued, but I refused to let it take over. Ethan, expressionless, seemed to also have known. I closed it shut and awaited a response, even though the hollow room seemed lifeless. So many questions pounded in my mind, and it gave me a headache. Soon enough, my vision began to blur, but I shook it off. Ethan slowly adjusted his hat in anticipation. I clenched my head in agony, and Ethan shot up from his seat. Reaching out to me, I wiped my face. I didn't notice the tears in my eyes. I guess I was afraid that he didn't care about me, only my status.

"Amelia?!" Ethan shouted out, but I shook my head. I didn't want him to worry. However, the need for his reassuring embrace begged in my skin. He was right in front of me, but I aspired something more, something like what we had last night.

"I-I'm fine." I pushed the folder back towards him and stood up. Ethan's face grew weary and full of concern. "Thank you." I faked a smile and left the room before the waterworks began to overflow. In the corridor, my body felt heavy, but I continued to head to my room. Eventually, the world slipped from under my feet, and I crashed into the ground. I covered my face to hide my blotchy red face full of tears before my vision soften until I closed my eyes shut.

I could hear several maids whom had been cleaning peacefully throughout the rooms start to yell about, and a warm hand was placed on my temple. Although I was unconscious, I could feel a circle of people hovering around until a murmur dispersed them. A few moments later, someone had lifted me off the ground and took me to where I believed my room was.

-🐇-

When I woke up, my back was pressed up against an oak wood tree surrounded by a familiar white wooden fence. The shade covered me from the sun that hung high and mighty above in the dark blue sky. The shouts of children playing off in the distance was audible and the face of my foster mother was in front of my face. Her messy brunette hair was tied in a bun and she sported a pair of overalls. Her hands were on her sides, and she clicked her tongue disapprovingly.

"This isn't a time to be slacking off, Amelia." She scolded, her finger pointed at me in a tempting manner before she grabbed the shovel that laid beside me. "Get back to work." She demanded with a sharp tone. I watched her leave with the tool and everything fell back into place. I was still in my reality. I was home.

Standing up, I quickly felt dysphoria. Tears slipped from my eyes, but I quickly wiped them away with my dirt covered attire and headed to the barn to feed the horses. My modest yellow dress moved with the wind despite the spots of mud here and there. I ignored the painful feeling that reminded me that something was off. Some part of me was missing.

"Wake up." Someone spoke, yet no one was around. Moments later, my name was called with the same voice, and I spun around. Whomever it was, the voice was well known.

My hand slid across the horse's back as he gulped the carrots I'd laid before him moments ago. The sun was setting, but the unease was still present. Stepping down from the stool, my foot slipped, and I was sent crashing into the mixture of hay and gravel. I tried to prevent my head from colliding into the ground, but I felt the cuts it caused on the side of my forehead.