Through The Rabbit Hole

Chapter Nine: Alyssa

It wasn't long before I reached the garden, but it also wasn't happy. I was greeted by a large maze of decorative hedges. Just when things seemed to be looking up, I fell back down. It seemed to go on for miles. I walked forward and tried to navigate the maze. I rounded corners and reached dead ends, but I soon heard voices up ahead. I entered a part of the maze full of bushes with white roses and playing cards running around. They carried buckets of red paint along with brushes and ladders.

"Excuse me? What is going on?" I asked, tapping on one of their shoulders. He whipped around, splashing red paint everywhere.

"Why, we're painting the roses red!" he shouted in a singsong voice. He then dipped the brush into the paint and slathered it on a rose. The rest of the cards did the same and started out in song. I stepped back and walked out of the situation before it got any weirder. I was going to continue walking through the maze when a brush and bucket of paint was thrown at me.

"No thanks!" I said before dropping the stuff on the ground. The paint spilled on the ground and I walked away. They looked at each other with looks of confusion and worry before a card spoke up.

"But that's not how the story goes!" the 3 of diamonds shouted. I turned back and stared in disbelief. Was this really a story? It couldn't be. It had to be a dream because doorknobs don't have noses and rabbits don't wear clothes. Hares don't drink tea and cards don't talk. I was about to scream when someone else did it for me.

"The Queen is coming! The Queen is coming!" they all rushed to hide their misdeeds and throw away the tools. I stood still dazed and confused. I was knocked out of the trance by a ladder smacking me on my head. I fell forward onto my knees and noticed I wasn't the only one on the ground. The rest of the cards stood in nice row, bowing. I was going to question it when a trumpet sounded. I lifted my head to see the white rabbit. My excitement propelled me up and towards him.

"Hey, I've been looking for you!" I yelled over the noise. It was dead silent though. Wide eyes pierced through me at all points. Movement and all talk was gone. I gulped and was going to keep talking but a loud booming voice beat me to it.

"Who is this girl?" the voice echoed close in my ear. Turning around, I saw a larger woman in a dress that didn't help her weight. I made eye contact and instantly recognized her. I also recognized the shimmer around her neck. I smiled and gave a little wave before apologizing and even bowing a bit. A smug grin made its way to her lips as she enjoyed my praise. She then asked me to play a game with her.

"What game?" I questioned. She laughed and pointed at me as if I was stupid.

"Why, the only game worth playing! Croquet!" she exclaimed and then with a snap of her fingers, cards ran off to set up the field. I didn't know how to play croquet and I certainly didn't want to learn to. At one point a case that looked like it held golf clubs was placed in between us. I was going to peer in and grab a club when a hand smacked me away.

"The Queen obviously picks first," she said. I rubbed my injured hand, annoyed by her snottiness. My annoyance disappeared at the sight on what she pulled out of the bag. A green bird laughed and fluttered as she gripped its feet firmly. A shake of her hand and the bird was done messing around, straightening out. I looked out and noticed all the cards were set up as goals and a green hedgehog was placed in front of the queen. I cringed at the thought that this could be considered animal cruelty in the real world.

The queen got in position to swing the bird. She stuck out her butt, causing me to look away. I only looked back when a purple creature appeared on top of it. It was the cat that messed with my head earlier. I was about to shout at him and ask what he was doing when the Queen noticed me staring at her.