Down the rabbit hole

CHAPTER 5

Alice had no idea where this "Tea Party" was, but at least she had a head start. She had another mision, and that was to go to a party and have some tea. She began once again her journey walking along the mushroom forest. Her eyes were straight ahead this time. Even though her eyes lit up when she saw something interesting as she walked, she did not stop to look or touch. She knew she had to stay focused and not look everywhere. As she passed a bush of beautiful black flowers with yellow stripes she didn't dare stop to look at them, if she did she would never get to her destination. She now understood that everything she saw could not be real, but she had to believe it was, if not she was afraid to become a little crazy.

The sky was bright and the clouds had different forms as they passed by her head. She passed a couple of dancing leaves but she completely ignored them. She didn't want any distractions, she wanted to go home. She wondered if her mother had noticed her absence, or if she was still reading to herself, since she was not particularly listening in the first place.

Maybe she had gone after her. Alice wanted to think she wasn't worried sick. The last thing she would want is her mother to be terrified she had lost her daughter.

Although want really was bothering her is the thought of her father finding out. God knew what he would do. Maybe he wouldn't do anything, and that scared Alice even more. She wanted to still believe her father at least had a peck of kindness in his heart, and that if his daughter had gone into the prohibited forest, he would try to find her.

As she went along, straight ahead, no turning or slowing down she saw an arrow stuck to a mushroom. She rushed over and looked at it. 'Down?' Alice asked herself out loud. She had no clue what it meant, but she looked down at the floor. Absolutely nothing there. She looked up again at the sign and was very much puzzled. She decided to keep on walking, until she saw another arrow.

She rushed towards it again and was taken aback when she read what was written on the wooden arrow. 'Home.' Alice's eyes went wide and she looked at the bottom of the sign. There was something else written in a parenthesis. Once again she didn't understand where to go. 'Go to yesterday?' She huffed and walked along again.

She felt as if she was being toyed with and her cheeks became red with annoyance. She was being teased and she liked it not one bit.

She could admit that this place wasn't of her liking. Everything didn't seem real and it was annoying that she couldn't understand, nor the people nor that bladdering sign. She felt helpless and she did not like to be pranked at all. Even so, she remained calm and hoped there was another sign that would help her. She closed her eyes and breathed in and out. She opened her eyes once again and walked looking for another arrow. She saw one and smiled to herself proudly for being patient. She sighed in relief and walked over. She walked towards it and when her eyes met the words written on the wood, they shimmered.

'To the Tea Party.' Alice smiled to herself. This time, the arrow pointed in a logical direction. She turned to the right and started walking. Each step faster and faster until she ran.

She was very happy now, and she thought that running would make her get there before dark. The earlier the faster she would find Ms. White Rabbit, and go home. That was a good plan.

As she ran, she may or may not have tripped a few times but she didn't mind. When she was puffed out, she had to stop. Her hands were on her knees as she breathed in and out trying to catch her breath. Her heart hammered in her chest, but it wasn't because of the marathon she had just run, it was because of the excitement.

Suddenly she heard something. Looking up ahead she had heard music. A melodic song played in the distance and she walked towards it. The mushroom trees were left behind and thick trees were replaced as the music became louder and louder. She walked between them and she hid behind a bush. She looked in between the leaves when she heard voices. A couple of meters in front of her there were many kinds of animals, talking and dancing. There were chairs of all sizes, and a long table with lots of cups and tea pots. Alice knew she was in the right place.