Alice in Dreamland (梦境中的爱丽丝)

Running Away/Life is Complicated

The soft pattering of the rain and heavy, earthy fragrance enveloped the youth as he ran. He ran to nowhere, a destination ever so conveniently not drawn on a map and not written in textbooks. A place that can be enticing or utterly dreadful—maybe a bit of both. However, it was different for Xiao Ming. He truly had no choice and didn't have any hope for looking back, thus his disregard for the details.

Xiao Ming was always told that he shouldn't hold anyone to a higher standard than what they've proven to show. So, he really shouldn't have been surprised to see no one but an empty street, the hollow sounds of the rain, and the bitter taste in his mouth.

He had run mindlessly for what felt like days as he reminisced the times he had spent with his overbearing family that paid him no heed, only pretending to notice him to put up face when meeting relatives. Xiao Ming was truly a hindrance to all of whom he encountered.

The youth ran for a few more minutes before the ache in his lungs made him unable to go any longer. This pain was unlike anything he had ever experienced. It felt like hundreds of fire ants were biting his lungs and the muscles in his legs, leaving a stinging sensation, so he swiftly found a nearby tree and nested his head and back against it.

Xiao Ming's body was aching all over, but nothing could compare to his broken heart. It had been shattered beyond repair. To anyone who saw it was a pitiful sight.

He ran his slender fingers through his hair, trying to alleviate the growing headache he had been trying to suppress. Xiao Ming absentmindedly grabbed beside him, expecting it to be a water bottle or something similar. He was met with nothing but grass and moist dirt.

Xiao Ming groaned as he was very bluntly reminded of his lack of preparation. He hugged his knees, bringing them closer to his chest before breathing out a long, needed sigh. Saying he was exhausted was a major understatement.

He knew he should think about what he had just done. I mean, he had just run away with absolutely nothing but his person. However, Xiao Ming was drowsy, but he understood that nothing he could do would change his situation unless he found his way back.

His mind was littered with thoughts, and truthfully, he couldn't be bothered anymore, so he slowly lowered his eyelids, his eyelashes slightly quivering, and drifted into a deep slumber.

Xiao Ming opened his eyes slowly, examining the vicinity while adjusting his back. Because he had gone to sleep so abruptly, he didn't know the location in which he slept. The tree the youth was leaning against was on the edge of a forest and made way for a vast meadow holding all sorts of delicate-looking flowers. In the center of the meadow was a tree that was bigger than any other he had ever seen, and this tree seemed to be surrounded by a relatively shallow creek.

His throat was dry, and his limbs were aching. However, that was the least of his issues. Xiao Ming fervently searched his pockets in hopes of finding something of use, and while he did, the old, half-eaten chocolate bar was not at the top of his list.

Oh well. It would do.

Xiao Ming took slow bites as he raised himself off the ground, outstretching his tired and sore limbs before focusing on the view before him.

The meadow was adorned with flowers of all different vibrant colors; it seemed endless, definitely a trick of the eye, he thought to himself as he sauntered over to the tree that seemed to grow the nearer he came.

After a while of walking, he arrived at the creek. As he suspected, the water was quite shallow and surprisingly clear. He could see the small rocks that had smoothed over and the flowers that had gracefully scattered throughout the meadow and found their way into the creek, gently following the current.

Several butterflies swarmed around Xiao Ming. The youth presumed their actions were prompted by his red shirt.

He absentmindedly walked around the tree, allowing the butterflies to follow until he stumbled upon a large opening in the ground. The hole looked large enough for a grown man to enter, and he wondered why he hadn't noticed it before. The more he looked, the more a sense of foreboding dread overcame him. It sent chills down his spine, leaving him in a cold sweat.

Xiao Ming made it a point to stay away from this... The more he looked, the more he contemplated if this was even a hole. Perhaps it was a cave another human had dug out.

His inferences were ambiguous, and no matter how hard he thought, nothing was for certain, so he decided to leave this matter for later.

He slumped down on a large root that was protruding from the ground. It provided more comfort than the tree he leaned up against. However, due to his circumstances, no matter how good something was, he had a sour outlook, seemingly dampening the mood.

All he could do was let out a breathy sigh and purse his lips together while taking in the scenery.

He wondered what life would be like if people paid him attention. As that thought crossed his mind, he couldn't help but ponder the outcome if he were to go back. It was hard to say what the outcome would be, but Xiao Ming knew that he didn't want to rot in this unknown place. Besides, he'd have to get up and do something sooner or later.

The youth rested his head against the hard bark of the tree and hummed to himself, ostensibly forgetting his "what ifs."

The butterflies gracefully flapped their colorful wings, landing on the tree's leaves and his legs. Some of them headed toward the cave. It almost seemed like they were trying to lead him. Though hesitant at first, Xiao Ming truthfully had nowhere else to go. Besides, if there was something down there, it would've already sought him out for an early dinner.

Xiao Ming crawled to the entrance of the cave, examining it with a sense of dread still heavy in his heart. However, a peculiar serenity drove him to extend his first, then second leg into the hole.

He braced himself for what lay ahead and was met with nothing but a dark tunnel that looked boundless—the only source of light emanating from the hole's entrance.

Xiao Ming hesitated to call it a mere hole; it felt more like a cave. This seemingly endless cave was spacious enough for a grown man to stand without the need to bend even the slightest. Not only was it sturdy, but it also appeared perfectly crafted.

The cave seemed inviolable, devoid of a muddy, pungent smell, and there were no cracks that could initiate the cave to become a sinkhole.

Xiao Ming couldn't help but mentally praise whoever had made this cave. Yet, this admiration gave rise to more questions. Why was there a need for such a long cave? It truly was a mystery filled with ambiguous answers, each more bizarre than the last!

The further he walked, the stronger a saccharine aroma enveloped the air. Its sweetness became increasingly overpowering. It was unavoidable and nauseating, but it wasn't a smell to emit danger.

Though the smell held some sense of reassurance, he couldn't help but feel increasingly drowsy. Maybe it was from the rise of stress that the last day granted him or some other factor, but he was really feeling terribly sleepy.

He looked back to gauge the distance between his position and the cave's entrance. To his surprise, he'd only walked about fifty steps!

Xiao Ming had been walking for at least ten minutes and felt like he had taken more steps than his progress indicated. He also noticed that the light was still emanating from the entrance and radiantly at that!

What exactly was going on?

The more he thought about it, the stronger the aroma grew. At this point, he was practically using the cave wall as his only support to keep him from falling, and he was certain that if he let go, his person would fall! He needed to get out of this cave. The quicker, the better!

The more he tried to accomplish this task, the more difficult it became to keep going. Xiao Ming held the entrance to his mouth with one hand while the other rested on the cave wall, desperation etched on his face. Xiao Ming bent over at the waist and plugged his nose as tightly as possible. He knew he had to find a way to break free from the disorienting grasp of the intoxicating aroma, but his attempts were all in vain.

Xiao Ming's eyes rolled back into his head, and he fell without regard to brace himself. He had blacked out!