Worlds Apart | Book 1 Wonderland | Jungwon X Reader

005

The trouble with your destination was that you'd no idea where it was. When you'd exited from its depths the first time, you'd arrived in a garden, and when you'd looked back, the door was gone.

"But where may that be?"

It was an obvious question, yes, but not one you hadn't prepared for. "I'm not...sure. Alice was in a forest." You nodded. "We start there."

"All of Wonderland is forest."

"A regular forest," You quipped, easing your horse into a trot. Jungwon fought to catch up with you, raising an eyebrow. His skepticism radiated from his body like ocean waves, crashing upon you.

"Define 'regular.'"

"One with trees and grass and-"

"Again, most of Wonderland." Part of you was glad he was being the rationality you needed at the moment. It seemed as though the roles had reversed, he was sane, and you were losing your mind. The other part wished he'd give you time to calm down and clear your head. Time you didn't have. "How about we start with a rest," He said, pointing at the setting sun. "It's nearly night."

You didn't want to stop. You wanted to push on until you found that goddamn Rabbit, but fatigue reverberated through every bone in your body. Even if you wanted to continue, you would collapse from exhaustion sooner or later.

"There are no nearby towns nor inns," You sighed. "The closest would be two days north, that stupid Caterpillar likes his isolation a little too much."

Jungwon eyed you. "You come here often?"

You nodded, slowly. "He knows everything, he's a good source. Sometimes he'll tell me the Rabbit's most recent haunt, sometimes he won't be in the mood. But it's always worth trying."

"Oh. I didn't know," Jungwon said simply. Then, he fell silent, both your horses falling from a trot to a walk.

You didn't talk for miles, riding in rigid quiet. Jungwon made no effort to talk, no effort to reach you again. It was uncomfortable. Almost hurtful.

A crescent smile appeared before you on the path, stopping you. The Cheshire Cat stood, brushing the nose of a horse. "You'll never make it to Riddleton at this pace. You'll pass out." He looked at you. "And something worse than me will come along."

Jungwon tipped his hat to the Cat. "Heeseung."

"Hatter." The Cat stared at you, smile still plastered upon his lips. "I suppose the Caterpillar has shown you our past? Otherwise you'd be headed towards the Rabbit. Funny how he chose now."

You pursed your lips. "Yes. He did."

For a moment the Cat's eyes were blank, and his smile flickered. "When you see Alice you must give her my regards. I'm sure you'll meet."

"Oh?"

"Yes," He said, disappearing and reappearing in a nearby tree. He traced his fingers along the bark. "I am sure. I may not have the sight of the Caterpillar, but I am every man's guide and therefore must see all who are lost. Both you and Alice are lost." Heeseung looked up at you once more. "But at the moment, you're lost differently. So I shall guide you towards safety."

Jungwon's eyes flitted nervously to the Cat. "We could just make camp. We won't make it two days north."

"Since when was a Hatter a voice of reason?" The Cat purred. "Has our Ace of Spades gotten to you?"

There was a slight pause from Jungwon. "No. I simply see no feasibility, even by Wonderland's laws of nature."

"I do, I see many ways. Backward, forward, this way, that way. But," The Cat pointed towards the setting sun, "That way would be best."