Escaping Wonderland

Beware The Jabberwock

"Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle."

― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

After her disheartening talk with Chester, the girl moved back to the bed and tried to get some sleep. Needless to say, rest evaded her. She tossed and turned but no matter which way she moved, she could not get comfortable on the rock hard mattress. Giving up, she spent the next few hours staring up at the ceiling. She could hear Chester humming in the next room. The tune sounded familiar but she couldn't place where she had heard it before. "Hey, Chester?"

    "Yes, love?" the boy called back, sounding just as bored as her.

    "What are you humming?" she asked.

    "Don't know. Its just a little ditty that's been stuck in my head since I got here." he told her. She frowned in disappointment.

    "Does it have words?"

    "Yeah, but I cant remember them. Sometimes I feel like its on the tip of my tongue and then it just slips away." he sighed. "Is it bothering you? I can stop if you want?"

    "No, I don't mind it. Its just," she bit her lip. "it feels like I've heard it before. Can you hum it again?"

    "I suppose." he replied hesitantly before humming the song once more. The girl hummed along, her head spinning as she struggled to find the words. She let out a frustrated growl when the tune ended and she still couldn't remember the lyrics.

    "This is so frustrating!" she huffed, slamming her fist against the mattress. "I know the words, I'm sure of it."

    "Easy now, love." Chester laughed. "Don't blow a fuse."

    "Bite me." she snapped, not in the mood for his teasing. She knew it was a mistake the moment she said it.

    "Well, if you insist." he cackled. "If I had known you were into biting, I would have-"

    "Wait!" she interjected, sitting up suddenly.

    "What have I told you about interrupting me?" Chester scolded.

    "Chester, shut it! I'm trying to think!" she shushed. The boy fell quiet. "That's one of the words."   

    "Words to what?" he questioned.

    "Shh!" she hissed before humming the tune once more. With a small smile she softly sang, "Beware the Jabberwock, my son. The jaws that bite, the claws that catch."

    "Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun. The frumious Bandersnatch." Chester slowly finished, adding with an amazed chuckle, "That's it. That's the song. Or at least part of it."

    "It doesn't make any sense though." the girl sighed in disappointment, laying back onto the bed with a frown.

    "This is Wonderland, love." Chester reminded her. "Nothing here makes sense."

    "Yeah, I know that but this is taking it to a whole new level." she muttered, punching at the pillow behind her head. They sat for a moment in mutual silence before she asked, "So what do you like to do for fun, Chester?"

    "Really? You're asking an amnesiac who spends most of his day locked in a 10 by 10 room what he likes to do for fun?" he asked incredulously.

    "Well, you must do something to pass the time. Otherwise, you would have gone insane by now." she shrugged.

    "Who says I haven't?" he quipped. The girl rolled her eyes.

    "Chester, just answer the question."

    "No. You'll laugh."

    "I promise I wont."

    "Fine." he grumbled before begrudgingly telling her, "I like to write poems."

    "Really? Are you lying to me?" she giggled despite her best efforts, unable to imagine Chester as a poet. The boy groaned on the other side of the wall.

    "See! I knew you'd laugh!" he growled, his voice becoming muffled like he had buried his face in his pillow. The girl covered her mouth, regaining her composure.

    "I'm sorry. You just took me by surprise. I actually think that's really cool." she assured him, feeling bad for laughing.

    "Liar." he spat out.

    "No, I'm not lying." she told him. "Will you read me one of your poems?"

    "No."

    "Please."

    "No. You have betrayed my trust. You don't deserve a poem."

    "Come on, Chester. I said I was sorry." she pouted, receiving no response. "Really? You're gonna give me the silent treatment now? That's real-" She was cut short by the sound a lock turning. "What was that?"

"That would be Dr. Hart, I imagine." Chester told her solemnly. "Get ready, love. You're about to meet the woman who's locked you up."

I give you chapter three! I hope you liked it! If you did, let me know by commenting and voting!