Worlds Apart | Book 1 Wonderland | Jungwon X Reader

004

Your heart froze as the scene changed. Neither you nor Jungwon had been given time to respond or protest the quick pace you were going at. You'd barely had time to notice the change at all.

"Wait-"

"Watch."

Alice stood at a crossroad, her Rabbit at the other end of the narrow dirt path. "Why do you run?" She cried taking a step forward.

But her step forward made the Rabbit retract, hopping backward once. "I'm late. The Queen will be angry, I'm late!"

"But why do you never reach the Queen?"

"You must find her first, it's how the story goes!"

Pained confusion left Alice's face in a hot flush. "Why must you follow the story? What story is there?"

"I don't know, I don't know." The Rabbit thumped his foot on the ground. "But I'm so very late, so hurry, hurry, hurry!"

"May I at least have your name?" Alice called, running after him.

But her movement had only stirred his, and he was running again, the gap between them only growing wider. "I am the White Rabbit," He called, checking his little pocket watch once more, "And I am so very late!"

Alice reached out, crying and falling to her knees, giving up her chase.

Sunghoon looked away, walking through the forest towards the Blue Hour. "This way now."

The night faded to sunset as you crossed the border, gripping Jungwon's hand tightly. He squeezed yours reassuringly, but you could no longer ignore the feeling that something was missing. The feeling you'd had since you hit the floor of the rabbit hole. The feeling you'd been ignoring for three years.

As the three of you walked through the brush, Alice came into view, helping a cat from a tall, curved tree. She seemed older now, her clothes now tattered and ripped. "You should know better than to climb trees you can't get down from," She chided, stroking its back. "Do you have no name either?" Her question was answered only by purring. A collar found its way into her hands, and she scoffed. "The Cheshire Cat? Why do you name yourselves such things? I shall call you Heeseung. And you shall be the most wonderful guide in all of Wonderland."

The Cat, Heeseung, purred, smiling that half-moon smile he was so well known for, and disappeared from her hands. A gasp escaped Alice as she jumped back, grabbing her heart. The surprise in her eyes turned to panic as the royal fanfare began, and we were in the Court of Hearts.

"Where are you from?" The Queen of Hearts hissed. At her side was a boy no older than seven, standing proudly at his mother's side. A golden crown sat lopsided on his head, but he held his chin high in his signature manor.

You laughed at the sight, the now King of Hearts reduced to the size of a seven-year-old.

Alice bowed her head. "I am from the other side of the rabbit hole."

"The Otherside? What is that?" Queen Hari quipped, her tone cold and sharp.

"A land very much unlike this one?"

"And who led you here?"

The White Rabbit hopped out from the many court members, bowing his head. "'Twas I, Your Majesty. Though as to why, I cannot say."

The Queen's eyes widened with fury. "Off with his head! Rule 782, you must never be late! Broken. Rule 23, never speak without permission! Broken. Rule 949, only citizens of Wonderland may be in Wonderland and any coconspirators should be punished! That is three strikes, Rabbit!"

"No, wait!" Alice cried, standing from her kneeling position. "Don't, please. He did not know, and nor did I, please show him mercy."

"Who are you to speak against the Queen, girl?"