Through The Rabbit Hole

Chapter Seven: Alyssa

The path had soon become unclear and I was just walking in circles. At least it seemed like I was. I reached a point where the forest grew darker and more ominous. I felt as if eyes were on me at every second and that they were watching my every move. Almost as if I was being hunted, or followed. I sped up in pace to see if I could reach my destination faster.

"If only I could get directions," I whispered into the cold air. As soon as the words left my lips a voice came from in a tree.

"I could help you," he hissed. A striped, purple cat appeared slowly, bit by bit, until he was seen leaning on a branch. His eyes stared at me and seemed to swirl with amusement. I gulped as I contemplated if I should trust him or not.

"Do you know how to get to the Queen of Hearts?" I asked, stepping back a little. He laughed to himself as he placed his paws on his chin. He played tricks with himself as he pulled his head off and disappeared from thin air just to reappear. I kicked the dirt because I was fed up with these stupid games he thought were so amusing.

"Why must you reach the queen when I thought you were chasing the rabbit?" he asked with a purr. I had no idea what he was talking about. I only chased that rabbit for a bit, but my main mission was to get my locket back.

"What would give you that idea?" I said with a hint of attitude. He looked taken back before looking around as if for some kind of answer.

"Well, because that is how the story goes. Is it not?" he shifted uneasily, trying to keep his cool. I didn't know what that meant or what story he was talking about but, I needed to get my necklace back.

I don't care how it goes," I blurted out in frustration. I just wanted to rip out my hair and scream like a child. "I want my locket back!"

"Oh, you mean the gold jewelry that the queen has received," he chuckled again and I grunted as I started to repeatedly kick the tree. I was tired of his laughing. I was tired of his games. I was tired of this place.

"Just. Tell. Me. Where. To. Go!" Each kick brought forth another word while I tried to escape my frustration. The cat wrapped his paws around the branch, hanging on for dear life. I punched, kicked, and screamed. I was just like a child. This, I can say, was not my proudest moment.

"Okay! Okay!" The cat screeched. I stopped thrashing and stepped back to lock eyes with him.

"Just go down the path of roses

but don't get as close

as a fingertip

or you'll get pricked"

He purred the lyrics and then disappeared, bit by bit.

"Wait! Come back! What does that mean?" I pounded and pleaded for an explanation but, soon, I was left in the deafening darkness. Resting my head on the cool oak, I tried to make sense of his riddle. Where was the path of roses? Or was it a metaphor? I walked away from the tree and paced in a mixture of anger and desperation.

As I turned back to the tree I saw that it wasn't there. A sign post replaced it and arrows pointed in various directions. I read them and soon found one that said 'The Rose Garden'. I felt my heart lift up and my feet start moving as I ran down the path. Things were beginning to feel easier than before. The path seemed longer but, it was a price to pay for freedom. The once ominous forest began to light up from the cheery atmosphere ahead.