Lost In Wonderland

Chapter 13

I hate this type of thing. A tradition, my mother claims. We could skip it one year. Just once. No one wants to go and spend a week at a lake with their family, especially when your family is like mine.

My dad's dad died, leaving his mother alone. She married my grandpa, Robert, who had four kids, now all my aunts and uncles. His previous wife is still alive. It seems like they married into us, but really, we married into them. We've always been distant—at least us grandkids. And I understand, but they ignore me. Always have.

It's really awkward now that my grandmother is gone. My grandpa Robert remarried to Lynn, who's very nice, don't get me wrong, but she's not my grandma.

We still go to the family events, but now it's bad for my parents too. Everything is just awkward and distant.

This year, I'm sharing a cabin with Olive, the youngest girl of the cousins. She's so young, she'll never remember my grandma. Olive is alright, but I have to be careful around her, one second she wants to show me everything that's hers, the next I'm locked out of her room. (True story.)

Now I sit outside of the main cabin, on top of a rock, reading. My earbuds are in and I'm tuning out the world.

The others are swimming in the lake, something I've never found fun. I like to swim, but the lake is gross.

I sigh and set down my book. I walk to my cabin and throw my phone, jacket, a water bottle, and an extra pair of socks into my backpack. I change the album I'm listening to and walk out of the cabin.

I'm heading to hike. There's some mountains behind the forest beside the lake. I don't bother telling anyone where I'm heading, even though I should. When I was just a kid, a little boy my age disappeared in this same place. Ever since then, the parents don't let anyone go off alone.

I have to go alone, though, no one else would go with me, even if I ask. So I check my laces and walk on.

Fifteen minutes later, I'm in the heart of the woods, and though it should feel relaxing, the trees feel eerie. I check my cell. No reception.

I decide to send a text to my mother telling her where I am, hoping it'll send on its own when I get service.

I can imagine her words now. Aero, you should've told us where you went before you left.

Well, Mom, you shouldn't have named me after a weapon.

I sighed and found a tree to fit under. The smell of decaying wood was strong, but all the trees looked healthy and alive. I ignored the smell and took a sip of water, hoping for some service.

I leaned against the tree trunk and took a deep breath. I could no longer hear the splash of water and murmur of voices that would be at the lake. It was peaceful here, but still eerie.

Something white flashed across my vision and I went on edge. I scanned the forest in front of me, watching to see the white thing again.

You're late.

Who said that? Was it even said? Or am I just imagining things?

It was the wind through the leaves. That's it. I'm just on edge.

There was a ghostly snicker, almost mockingly.

I stood up and packed my things back in my back. I took one step forward and fell down a hole. I kept falling for what seemed like forever, but it was impossible. Maybe I had stopped falling long ago, or maybe I fell asleep and now I'm dreaming.

I'm going crazy. All these family retreats are driving me insane.

Finally, I stopped falling, but the landing wasn't hard like I expected. It felt like I was being lowered, as crazy as that seems. I looked above me to where the hole I feel through should be and saw nothing.

I sighed. This is all so strange. Like a dream.

That's all this is. A lucid dream.

The room felt warped, like a drawing. The lines weren't straight.

It was all checkered, black and white. The white was dirty though, and seemed more like a white-beige. There was a small table in the center of the room, on it a platter. I walked over to it, my face shinning back like a fun house mirror in the silver.

I took the lid off and saw a tiny cake. Behind it sat a small piece of paper.

Eat me.

I looked around the room once more, knowing there had to be a way out. I'm not eating that cake. I have no idea where I am, or how I really got here. That cake could be drugged for all I know.

Towards the floor, there was a spot where the wall paper was peeling. I walked closer to it and pulled at the piece. It peeled off like a sticker to the waxy paper behind, revealing a small door.

I tried to turn the small handle but it was locked.

Locked? So I'm stuck here. There's no key that I can see, and I can't really destroy it. Then, if I do unlock it, how will I fit through?

I straightened up and looked back at the cake. It was almost mocking me. Eat me. Despite every nerve in my body telling me no, I decided to take a bite.

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