Wonderland in Peril | COMING SOON

chapter i

THE underbrush has definitely changed here since say...two seconds ago. What was once a dark forest of clocks and whatnot has morphed into a sea of black tea. I've captured a million versions of the Everchanging Forest in oil paint, and not once has each time been a disappointment. Wonderland fails to stop leaving me in awe.

"What are you staring at again?" Camilla frowned. As the daughter of royalty, it's only natural she is only used to having all attention on her. Besides, Camilla was born in Wonderland so she has seen it all.

Most people here fear Camilla. Who wouldn't? She throws tantrums and fits that all of Wonderland will hear about, and sometimes, there is an execution! However, she is my best friend: it's really hard to fear a true friend when you know too much about them.

She could never kill me.

The table was set, and we were ready to have afternoon tea despite fixed time being practically nonexistent in Wonderland, but it's noon somewhere in Reality!

I smiled at Camilla, "Nothing. Let's get started."

She had practically demanded, "I'm going to pour the sacrifice tea!"

Then, she pours the teapot that we had reserved for the sacrifice tea. I watch Clover practice the Wonderland tradition of paying homage to the Creators as she poured the tea into the grassy roots where their bodies were buried.

"Now it's a real Wonderland party!" I grinned

But, I could tell that Camilla wasn't paying attention. Her eyes drifted elsewhere.

Camilla gets most of her looks from her mom, the White Queen: they both share the same pale blonde hair, dainty face and kind blue eyes. On the other hand, Camilla acts more like her aunt, the Red Queen: they both share the same hot tempered, stubborn personalities that makes Wonderland famous.

Although, the Red Queen was widely misunderstood in Mr. Carroll's perspective story of our home. If you were in charge of the mentally insane, would you be so carefree? No, and that is why the Red Queen is always on edge.

I continued to study my best friend's gloomy face. Something told me that she wasn't happy.

I sighed. "Cam...leave it alone. You shouldn't worry too much about Xavier Wooden."

She stubbornly shook her head, "I won't! I'll tell you something, Alice. I love him dearly. He has to be here!"

The fact that Camilla was heads-over-heels over the Biggest Airhead Jerk in all of Wonderland™(yes, an official title in my registry) really irks me. Xavier Wooden is a dimwit. He doesn't show up to his Obligatory Citizen Shifts with the Insane, and rarely ever talks to Camilla. Yet, his bad boy charm has her following him everywhere! It drives me crazy!

A typical conversation between the two goes like this:

CAMILLA: So, how's your day, Xavier? It's really lovely out here! I had the cards paint the roses red today JUST for you! Haha. Haha. Haha...hmmm.

XAVIER: Cool.

CAMILLA: OH MY GOSH! That was so so hilarious. Wasn't that funny, Alicia? (fake laughing as she pushes my arm for emotional support) "Cool". Ahaha.

And, I also baked some brownies for you. It took me five hours because I made everything from scratch and had my servants retrieve some ingredients from Reality but I made sure that I made everything. (hands basket full of delicious brownies)

XAVIER: (throws basket into dirt) No thanks. Brownies are truly a disgrace to this body (motions to well defined body as I try hard not to roll my eyes)