why is a raven like a writing desk

The Cafe

Author's  note before reading. Long time lurker, first story here. Haven't  written fanfiction in a long time but had an idea and felt like writing
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Rain fell as Alice  walked down the street with her umbrella in her left hand, with her backpack  on her right side. Rain was the last thing she wanted today but she knew it was suppose to come, she at least dressed appropriately.  She wore a light blue top with a white collar, a white cardigan  draped over it with dark blue jeans and sneakers.  On her wrist was a charm bracelet  and her blonde hair had a few black clips holding some strands of hair from her face.

She was suppose to meet her boyfriend John at  this cafe, it had the name of some flower but it was out of her mind at the second.  It was John's idea to meet up at this cafe,  it was a favorite  place of his after his family moved to this little town  John's  family was a military  family often moving from base to base and this was the last place they moved after his dad retired.  Alice had never been the most social person but neither  was John.  That was how they met earlier this year, not long after their first week of college.  They met at the library where a study group for Psychology  was being formed, there they leared that they both had came there from their little towns for a fresh start. They started dating not long after and John  told her about his older sister and younger brother.   They both seemed so kind and John thought her and his sister would get along well. They had the same imaginative  spirit  as he called it.  

Alice  was really excited to meet them as soon as the year ended Alice and him talked about taking a road trip to meet each other's family.   John's was first.  They had only arrived yesterday, staying at a small motel as Alice was too nervous to meet his family right away and John understood  and didn't  mind staying there too.    It was why he suggested meeting up at this cafe to meet his siblings. He had left earlier in the day to go pick up his siblings and she said she would walk since it was only a few minute walk.

Her phone went off and she picked it up after the second ring.   "Hey John, I'm  almost to the cafe, did you pick up your siblings yet? "  The rain started to let up as she walked, glad that John always packed to be prepared.

There was a light chuckle.  "Yeah but it took a bit longer than I thought. Micheal got caught up at the storytelling event at the library.   You know you could have come with me to get them? They don't  bite." John answered.

"I know I just am nervous."  She replied with a yawn. 

"You didn't  sleep well last night,  did you have another nightmare?" 

"No." Alice lied. "Just nervous  for today that's all." She stopped  and looked up at the building to her right, it was a brick covered building with a sign that said  Tiger Lily cafe,  it was covered with flowers and vines.  That was the name of the place, she recalled.  John said they were known for their specialty  tea blends and freshly ground coffee.   "I just got to the cafe, I'll find us a table.  I'll go get a cup of tea while I wait. Do you want me to order you any? "  She closed her umbrella and  walked inside the building,  there were several vases of flowers with fairy lights wrapped around.   They blinked softly.    She set her umbrella by the door as she noticed a few other people had left their own near.   

"No I'll order when I get there.  Love you Alice."  He said.

"Love you John"  She hung up and put her phone away.  Taking a look around at the tables, there were several people in groups, talking, munching on pastries and sipping their beverages.   It looked like a cozy place, she could see why John liked it here.  She went over to the counter,  there was a  girl with a  white apron on with a black baseball cap.  On the cap was a iron on patch of a white rose but Alice couldn't help but notice the rose had a stain on red on the side. 

"Hi, welcome  to Tiger Lily  Cafe, where our items bloom with flavor.   What can I get you today?"    The girl said in monotone voice, of course  not really excited  to be here.   No one likes customer service jobs. 

Alice turned her attention to the chalk board menu, it was a bit old school but she liked it.   "Can I just have a cup of earl grey?"

"Can I interest you in a strawberry tart? They are the special of the day?"  The cashier asked in the same monotone  voice,  having to ask this with every transaction.  

A tart? Alice thought, she hadn't thought about tarts in a long time.    She yawned rubbing her eye a bit.  Her attention going back to the hat. "Yeah sure....um sorry but why does your hat have a rose when the place is called Tiger Lily?"

"We all got to pick a hat, the place is suppose to represent a garden." She answered. 

Alice nods paying for her things,recieving them not long after.   She found a table  in the corner of the cafe and let out a yawn again. She really was tired.   She was nervous about meeting her boyfriend's family but that wasn't  the reason for her poor sleep.    It was a nightmare,  one of falling  in  endless void before it changed to  her changing size, first becoming as tall as a giraffe  before becoming tiny as a mouse.    It ended with a cruel voice of being yelled at.  "Off with her head.." she muttered to herself.    John didn't know what her nightmares were, she didn't know she would tell him of her journey  to wonderland.   Anytime in the past she did, she was looked  at like she was crazy,  her dad said that it was all in her head. Flowers don't  talk, cats don't  smile,  and  people can't  be chess pieces so she just stopped talking about it.     But she knew it was real.

She looked at the small tart in her hand, circular in shape with  a heart in the middle.   It was just like the one in Wonderland.   The queen of hearts would love to have this.    She then glanced up at the vase  on the table, covered in soft yellowish green fairy lights.   The flowers were red roses.  She must have picked this without noticing,   everything been making her think of Wonderland.   She must just be so stressed and nervous about meeting John's family her mind was just trying to distract her with things she wanted to forget.

Alice took a bite of the sweet strawberry  tart, glancing a bit at her phone for any new messages.    Suddenly  there was a scream.  "Ah! Get it out!"   A elderly woman screamed as a black raven had somehow gotten in. It flew around the cafe, the cashier at the register  seemed uninterested in it so the patrons tried helping  to get the bird outside.  Alice sipped her tea, trying to keep an eye on the chaos.   Soon she lost sight of the raven only for it to reappear near the front door where it was quickly let out.   Alice shook her head laughing, taking another sip of her tea. She set the cup down  and when she did she was caught by surprise.  In front of her was a small blue vile with some kind of label and a rolled up piece of paper with a wax seal.     She grabbed the vile and looked at the familiar looking phrase.

'DRINK ME'