Through The Rabbit Hole

Part Two: Beauty

I surfaced in the fountain, begging for air. I looked down in hopes that Alyssa had found the locket but, was suddenly more concerned with something else. The scenery wasn't the garden we once were in. The village had a warm glow to it. The ground was brick and the buildings ranged from stone to wood. Carts were pushed full of fruits, and animals walked in packs towards their shepherds. It was a cute little town full of people going about their lives, and yet it seemed much more than that.

I went to stand and that's when I realized how deep the fountain was. My feet touched the bottom of it but the water still rose to my neck. I stood contemplating what was going on while Alyssa rose to the surface and coughed up water. Her hair was soggy and covering her face so she couldn't see. I pushed it off to the sides for her. When our eyes met I smiled before realizing how embarrassing that was. I looked away and tried to change the subject.

"Where do you think we are?" I pointed at the unfamiliar area, bustling with people. Yeah, people who were now staring at us as we waded in the fountain. Alyssa didn't seem bothered by the sudden attention and climbed out.

"I don't know but, we should go dry off before we attract a crowd," she said calmly while walking off. I pulled myself out too and tried to act as normal as possible. I caught up to Alyssa at a small shop where she borrowed some towels and dried her hair. I duplicated her actions as she dried off as best as possible and returned the towels. I was putting my shoes back on when she started to hit my back.

"Ryan," Alyssa started out. "Look," her finger pointed towards a girl in a blue dress carrying a basket of books. It took a minute for me to process her image, but she looked familiar.

"Why do I recognize her?" I asked myself, standing up.

"She looks like Bella," Alyssa whispered under her breath. "That has to be Bella!" she shouted before running off to the bookstore that the girl had entered. I took a minute to notice the men outside the bookstore. Some seemed to be trailing behind her while others tried to catch a glimpse through the window. Weird. II ten proceeded to trace Alyssa's steps into the alleyway next to the building. She was ducked on the ground, peeping through the window with intensity.

"What are you doing?" I said in my best whisper. Alyssa glared at me before looking back through the window.

"Shut up and duck," she commanded before shoving me down. Although she seemed angry, I could see the way her cheeks flared when her hand touched me. It made my heart beat in my ears as her hand lingered on my shoulder. I peered up through the window with her and saw the girl chatting with a small, old man.

The girl glided around the room, passionately talking about whatever. She clutched a book to her chest as the old man dug around in his pockets for something. My mind instantly filled with fear at what Alyssa might do, because dangling from his hand was a gold necklace. I glanced over at Alyssa's wide eyes and knew this wasn't going to end well. As the girl started to leave, so did Alyssa. She shot up and bolted out of the alley. I barely had enough time to process and chase after her. When I reached the entrance to the shop, Alyssa was already interrogating the girl.

I didn't move though.This girl was too familiar. Her hair, her clothes, this shop, in fact, everything here seemed all too familiar.That's when it clicked. I remember sitting on the couch next to a sprawled out Alyssa as everyone else was huddled around the tv. The sounds of disgust echoing from Alyssa's mouth as a movie played. The girls around the T.V. letting out the occasional sigh. The guys spread out in the room as they only came to hang out because their girlfriend's were. I quickly grabbed Alyssa's wrist and pulled her off to the side. Her face read the feelings of anger so I tried to subdue them.