Divine

Part 10

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"There is nothing more luxurious than eating while you read - unless it is reading while you eat."

-E. Nesbit, The Magic World

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Chirping birds and bright light greet her through eyelashes. Rolling over, she groans, blinking profusely. Her hand still on the umbrella as she rubs her eye. Blinking again, she stands, hefting it over her shoulder.

Humming softly to herself, she skips down the orange leaf path, mingling with the dark green trees that began to grow tighter together until Ayumi had to close her umbrella and push her way through them into a clearing with a standing space for one.

In the center, a tree trunk with three mushrooms under which was carved: Eat me.

I'm a leftie, Ayumi thought as she reached for the mushroom on the far left. Nibbling on the edge, she stuck out her tongue reflexively: This tastes horrid.

As she scratched the taste off her tongue, she grew smaller as her ears retreated into her head. Screaming, Ayumi tries to grab at the trunk. Scraping off wood under her shrinking fingertips. But she stopped falling and dusted herself off dramatically before standing at the same height as the log. Reaching for the middle mushroom.

Her feet lifting off the ground, Ayumi grasps at air before looking at what had captured her. The ugliest millipedes pulsed beneath her armpits carrying her away from the only things that could help her remain normal, leaving a dark trail.

Normal? What was I thinking? I don't want to be normal.

Before she had even finished her thought, she was set on her feet again.

"And what do we have here?" began the most intoxicating voice.

Dusting herself off to soothe her nerves, she raised her eyes slowly.

Extending a gloved hand, "Who might you be, my lady?"

"Alice, and you?"

Kissing her hand, he whispered, "The Mad Hatter at your service."

"You aren't as-"

Scooping his arm under hers, "Come along. We are going to be late for tea."

Smiling, she let him guide her away to the sound of jingling keys.