Alice looked around her in the new found surroundings, she turned evasively to stay clear from The Gentleman. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, this was the furthest she had ever been from home and right now...it was the scariest. When she reopened her eyes, she found herself on a beach, the subtle crash of waves hitting against the shore and rolling back out to sea, the sweet scent of ocean air. It was a beautiful sight and Alice had wondered how she ended up placed here of all laces, after all she was just in a crystal mirror labyrinth facing the evil ruler of Horrorland and now...a calm and tranquil place on a beach. Alice hook her head and took a step forward, her feet felt cool as the sand began to fill the gaps in between her toes, with each step she felt more at peace, as though the existence of Horrorland was all one big dream. Ahead of her was an old wooden dock with an organ grinding away itself some merry tunes as though to use happiness as a barrier to protect this place from all the wrong in the world. She sat down on the edge of the dock and dipped her feet into the cool clear water below, a cool shiver was sent up her spine and she looked towards the sun setting over the horizon. The real question was of course, was any of this even real? Was this all one big paradise in Alice's head where she could seek shelter from Horrorland? Where was Hatter? All of that now seemed irreverent as though it was lost somewhere deep in the ocean and didn't have to resurface for a long time.
A gentle hymn like harmony filled the air as a figure began to approach her in the distance, it was walking upon the water's surface, but Alice knew that such things couldn't exist and that miracles were only a matter of opinion. The figure began to walk closer...it was a woman in a long white dress with yellow pattern down both sides, she had shoulder length brown hair, and was carrying some sort of sceptre. She was one of the most beautiful women that Alice had ever seen, the question was however...did she even exist?
The woman appeared more ghost like the closer she got, she wasn't completely solid but had a slight transparency. “You seem lost, here take my hand and we will walk the water together.” The ghostly figure extended her hand to Alice who in turn took it and placed her foot onto the water's surface..she didn't sink, it was like she had also become ghost like.”What is your name child?” Alice was slightly frightened but felt more relaxed the more time she spent with this woman. “My name is Alice Muddle, and yours?” The ghostly figured laughed but gave no sound, just mimed it as though she had now lost the ability to make noise, her movements were soft and she began to glide across the water as opposed to walking. “You will see soon enough my child, we have a short journey ahead of us and I will assure you that any questions you have will be answered.”
Alice now felt more at ease with this woman and began to clutch her ghostly arm tightly, like she did when she was younger with her mother. Alice was once very close with her mother until she went of the rails slightly, all Alice longed for was to help her mother back out and turn her away from the evil temptations in her life...and now she had ended up here. The two of them approached something which resembled a gate, it was made from a bright light but was also transparent. “This way my child, the service is starting.” The ghost like woman began to glide through the slowly opening doorway with Alice still clutching to her arm. Inside of the doorway was a long room with a beautiful red carpet, at the front of the room was an alter with a tall thin looking man next to it.
As Alice began to look around she noticed that the many rows of seats were empty except from one child in the back, he looked sad and just bowed his head. Alice felt some sort of compassion towards him and let go of the ghost woman's arm. She stood at the start of the row and looked upon the child, he was a small boy with black hair and was clutching a toy plane in his hand. He was wearing some dungarees and had a white blank t-shirt on. Alice tried to move closer but felt as though something was calling her, pulling her back to the alter where the woman had joined the thin man. “Give the lord what he desires my pet, and you shall seek the peace you long for.” The woman extended her arm and placed a green wreath around Alice's forehead, she smiled and turned to rows of seats which had now filled.
An array of colours filled Alice's view along with somebody who looked a lot like Hatter, they had similarities in the face area and he kept smiling at her. The thin man cleared his throat, “We are here today to send this girl Alice Muddle back to her homeland and escape this madness of Horrorland, she can at least be with her family and continue the life she wished to lead.” Alice zoned out slightly and looked to the back of the room, the child was no longer there and in the middle of the aisle was the plane he was clutching. “Now child, your time to return has come, please dip your head into the holy infusion to go home girl.” The spectators fell silent and watched as Alice looked toward the alter, it was a smooth stone alter with some vine like decorations curling up it. Alice shook her head “I'm sorry but I can't go just yet...a friend needs me.” The man dropped the chalice he was holding and his hands began to drop onto the floor as though he was made of wax. “You...won't go home?” Alice shook her head “I need to go now, I'm sorry!” The spectators also began to melt and make ear deafening shrieks. The old man began to move towards Alice quickly, “You can't just say no girl, this isn't what was planned”.
Alice ran down the aisle avoiding the occasional member who tried to grab her arm or leg with their long waxy limbs. The door wouldn't open and it began to drop onto the floor like the rest of the church,it was all wax. The ghostly woman was now a pale shrivelled being who was approaching Alice with outstretched hands ready to strangle her delicate neck. A hand came through the melting door and grabbed Alice's arm and it tugged her through the melting mess that was once a beautiful church.
From the outside the door was just slowly melting and falling into the water below, Alice glanced up to look at her saviour and it was the child from earlier who sat in the back row. “Come on Miss, I know how you can get back to your friends!” The child was running as fast as his legs would carry him but then he began to shrink slowly. He too was part of the wax ritual and therefore he too would melt away with the rest of the church. “Don't worry Miss I will get you back before I turn into a puddle. He revealed to Alice a large hole just behind a bush on the beach. “This will take you back to the labyrinth, don't worry I will melt here over this whole to keep anyone from getting to you, now go!” Alice was pushed by the child and began to tumble in the darkness...once again.
