The Story

Alice in the Shadows

Before the Red Queen could give the order to attack, a sudden gust of wind swept through the clearing, and the chessboard began to shift. The pieces moved on their own, sliding across the cracked squares with eerie precision. The Red Queen's eyes narrowed, her hand tightening on the hilt of her sword as she glared at the board.

"Who dares...?" she hissed, her voice laced with fury.

And then, from the shadows, a figure stepped forward.

Alice.

Faye's breath caught in her throat. The girl before them was not the Alice she had imagined from the stories. She still looked young, her long, tangled blonde hair , her once-bright blue eyes became green—something broken. She wore a tattered dress, stained with dirt and blood, and her movements were jerky, unnatural, like a puppet being pulled by invisible strings.

But there was no mistaking her. This was Alice.

"Alice..." Briar whispered, her voice filled with shock. "What happened to her?"

Alice's eyes flicked to them, and for a moment, Faye saw a flash of recognition in her gaze. But it was fleeting, quickly replaced by something colder, more dangerous.

"You shouldn't have come here," Alice said, her voice hollow. "Wonderland is mine now. And the Red Queen... she's just another piece on the board."

The Red Queen's expression twisted with rage, and she raised her sword, pointing it at Alice. "You insolent girl," she spat. "I am the ruler of Wonderland!"

Alice laughed, a harsh, bitter sound. "Wonderland rules itself now. And it will devour you all."

Faye's pulse raced. The situation was spiraling out of control. She could feel the madness of Wonderland pressing in on her, tugging at her mind, trying to drag her down into its chaos. But they needed Alice—needed her to help them escape this twisted place.

"Alice!" Faye called out, her voice shaking. "We're not here to fight! We just want to find a way out!"

Alice's eyes flickered again, and for a brief moment, something human passed through her expression. She stepped closer, her movements slow and deliberate, as though she were struggling against some unseen force.

"The way out..." Alice murmured, her gaze distant. "It's not what you think. The only way out... is through."

Faye's heart sank. Through? What did that mean?

Before she could ask, the Red Queen let out a furious scream, and her army surged forward, their swords gleaming in the dim light.

Briar drew her sword, stepping in front of Faye to protect her. "Get ready," she said, her voice steady. "We're not getting out of this without a fight."