Alice vs. Wonderland

Chapter 5. The Secret Falls Asleep with the Wine.

Alice was woken by the sound of branches tapping loudly against the window of her ward. Opening her eyes, she stared at the ceiling, feeling her head throb from yesterday's sleeping pills. These pills had strong narcotic properties and always left her with a heavy hangover.

"Another day in hell on Earth," she thought, turning onto her side. Suddenly, her gaze fell upon an object that shouldn't have been there.

Alice quickly got out of bed and approached her discovery. On the floor, next to the writing desk, lay a note. She carefully picked it up and unfolded it. Struggling a bit, she read the contents aloud:

"Be at the main entrance at midnight."

The girl read the note again, making sure it wasn't a dream or hallucination caused by yesterday's medication. The note wasn't the only thing she found: next to it on the floor was a tiny key, barely bigger than her thumbnail.

Alice held the key up to her eyes, examining it. The metal gleamed even in the dim light of the room, as if beckoning her to act. She had held a similar key many years ago during her journey to Wonderland. Back then, she used it to unlock a tiny door to the royal garden, and after drinking a magical potion, she shrank to the size of a cat to pass through. But now, there was no garden, nor a door with a keyhole where this key could fit.

One thing she knew for sure-someone wanted to help her escape this place. And since she desired it herself, she was ready to accept the help, even if it seemed reckless.

Her train of thought was interrupted by the creaking of the ward door-Emily was standing on the threshold. Alice had just enough time to shove the note and key under the desk, so the girl noticed nothing.

"Good morning, Alice. It's time for breakfast," Emily smiled gently and, taking a large ladle, scooped a thick mass from a pot, filling a bowl, then poured hot tea into a cup. Some children were allowed to have breakfast in their rooms, while others, like Polly, ate in the main hall under the supervision of the orderlies.

Alice approached to take her portion and thanked her. Serving food wasn't part of Emily's duties, but being the new staff member, she was forced to carry out tasks Morvena had assigned to her instead of her friend, the orderly Agatha.

"Enjoy your meal," Emily wished her, handing over a spoon, and then left the ward.

Alice sat down at the desk and stared at the bowl. The liquid mass, resembling porridge, neither smelled nor looked appetizing. There was nothing else on offer here, so there was no choice. She ate a few spoonfuls and pushed the bowl aside, her thoughts returning to the note and the key.

Who could have left them? She pulled the key out from under the desk again and twirled it in her hands. The cold metal was somewhat comforting, but the key radiated a strange warmth, as if it held some kind of power.

The ward was silent. Emily had gone, and Alice was left alone with her thoughts. Time passed slowly here, like thick syrup from which it was impossible to escape. The key was her only hope, but without a door, it seemed like nothing more than a useless piece of metal.

Alice sighed and slipped the key into her pocket. Caution was more important than anything right now.

Half an hour later, Alice was descending the stairs to the main hall. Polly was already sitting on the floor, playing with her dolls and whispering to an invisible companion. On the sofa in the center of the hall, Henry clutched his plush raccoon named Rosa tightly. Sitting nearby, completely still, were the twins-Evelyn and Isabelle.

These pretty girls, with their doll-like faces and large eyes, seemed harmless at first glance. But their story was horrifying: they had tried to smother their three-year-old brother with a pillow, and only the timely intervention of a maid had saved the boy. Their parents, without hesitation, signed all the documents and sent them here. Alice knew the twins had been in this place ever since her stepmother brought her here with one of the orderlies six months ago. Once, according to rumors, they had been quiet and obedient children, but something had changed.