The Badlings

Chapter 12. The Badlings in Wonderland

Look closely at your bookshelf. Are you sure every book is where you left it? Doesn't one seem to stick out from the rest? I thought so. It wants to be noticed. The more you read it, the thicker it will get, bursting with pride. And the books you haven't touched in years will get thinner and thinner until they perish.

Lucky for Alice, her story has never been abandoned, and she certainly didn't plan to abandon it herself. She loomed over the children like an oversized doll, her wavy hair combed back, her face alert and curious.

"Who is that?" said Peacock, backing off.

"I think that's Alice," said Bells. "Alice from Wonderland."

And Alice it was.

"You poor things," she said kindly, "those dreadful birds must've scared you silly. Why, I'm sure by now you don't know what to think about us anymore. It must be so confusing." She pouted. "You sad creatures. Well, I don't approve of what they want to do. I certainly don't want to leave my story. I'm perfectly fine here, and here is where I'll stay, so, you see, you don't need to fear me." She waited for them to answer.

"Are you Alice?" asked Bells. "Alice from—"

"Wonderland? Why, yes, I am," answered Alice and frowned as if she thought of something unpleasant. "At least that was my name this morning. You see, I've changed since then so many times, I'm not quite sure who I am anymore."

"Holy buckets," said Peacock, "you talk just like her."

"I am her," said Alice petulantly.

"You never know," confessed Peacock, recalling what Grand said to Bluebeard. "What if you're fake?"

"Do I look fake to you?" asked Alice. Her eyes glinted with a carefully concealed fury.

Peacock noticed it. "No, not you. You look very Alicey. I mean, Alice-like. I mean, like a proper Alice."

Alice smiled triumphantly. "Thank you, Peacock. And you must be Bells?"

"I am," said Bells, impressed. "How do you know?"

"Your friends Grand and Rusty told me."

"Grand and Rusty?" Bells brightened. "Where are they?"

"Here, as a matter of fact." A smug tone crept into Alice's voice. "I have rescued them all by myself. It's so much nicer to be in my story than in any of the others, particularly the one where dead women chase you all over the page."

Bells opened her mouth. "You know?"

"Everyone knows. News spreads fast here in Mad Tome. Besides, Bluebeard told me himself. He floated by on his way out." Alice sighed theatrically. "Poor chap."

"What happened?" asked Bells.

"You saw what happened," interrupted Peacock. "He axed it."

"No, I mean to Bluebeard."

"Why do you care? He's a freak!"

"Peacock!"

"What? Let's figure out a way to destroy this Mad Tome or whatever and get out of here instead of talking all day. How you girls get anything done is beyond me."

Alice regarded him sternly. "How rude."

"Ah, don't mind him." Bells waved a dismissive hand. "He's a boy."

"And that makes you better than me how?" bristled Peacock.

Bells propped a hand on her hip. "I didn't say I'm better than you."