DEAREST, ALICE.

CHAPTER 1 - THE BOYS

THERE WERE LOUD SOUNDS OF LEAVES RUSTLING AND CHILDREN'S FOOTSTEPS. A young boy ran towards a forest as fast as he could, as the boy ran, his short ponytail hitting against his head, and a few wisps of blonde hair that found their way out of the knot bounced in and out of his vision in the same rhythm.

The kids he was running from were also orphans. Those kids lived with him in Saint Mary's Orphanage, just like them he was an orphan. Though he used to have a mother- except she died in a fire when he was little. This time he didn't know what he did wrong, he was a good kid that didn't like to cause trouble- most of the time at least.

Though there was something he was sure of- their leader and the most feared kid at the orphanage, Maxon, hated him, unknown to him the reason why. He would always pick on him and try to make his life a living hell. He'd only cause trouble whenever the ladies taking care of them wouldn't be looking, so they thought he was an angel.

What a two-faced bastard, Alec thought to himself.

"You can run, but you can't hide, Alistair!" yelled Maxon while running towards him; he also had his gang following him to make matters worse.

"Leave me alone- why do you always bother me!? You're such an eyesore!" Alistair responded angrily, while gasping and panting. While still running, he grabbed small rocks and threw them at his pursuers, trying to slow them down, but failed to so, as every hit would miss or be dodged. As he kept running, the corner of his eye caught a clothed white rabbit with odd eyes while holding a watch; it seemed to be in a hurry. He decided to follow it on a whim.

On his way while running and following the clothed rabbit, he tripped on a rock and almost fell into a huge hole near a tree, which the clothed rabbit had leaped into. He scrambled to get up, but realized it was too late, as Maxon and his gang had already caught up with him.

The boy gave up and kept still as he saw it was useless to run away now, and was waiting for what was about to come.

"I hate everything." Alistair muttered to himself silently, still on the ground and looked down just to see how tattered and dirty his clothes became from his marvelous fall. Some kids from Maxon's gang laughed and giggled at him, he tried to ignore them, but instead gave them a menacing glare that shut them up. Maxon put his hands on his waist and stood straight, giving himself an authoritative air around himself. He leaned towards the now fallen boy, with an annoying grin pasted on his face and drops of sweat falling to the ground.

"Well, well, well, look at yourself, Alistair-"

"Oh, I'm looking, can't handle how pretty I am?" "Alistair interrupted in a sassy manner, staring at Maxon's blue eyes, which he thought were beautiful, sadly his personality was as bad as him. Maxon didn't handle the staring very well, but tried to keep his cool.

He continued in a mocking tone. "As I was saying, how it feels like, to be in such a humiliating state, I mean- maybe that's why your own mother abandoned you! Since you're such a disgrace."

Alistair wanted to punch him so badly right there, but didn't. "So? At least I got to know her, unlike you whose mother you don't even know is dead or alive!" he shot back at him. The brunette flinched at those words and grabbed the blond by the collar.

"You little-" he shouted angrily but, before he could finish his sentence, a little kid accidentally pushed him and both boys fell down the rabbit hole. Alistair, who's collar had been released during the fall, had his eyes shut, too scared to even scream, he clung onto the brunette like his life depended on it, they were in an awkward position, Maxon was holding him and making sure he didn't let go of him while Alec looked like a damsel in distress.

They both remained silent.

As they were falling down, they saw various objects falling, like a teapot pouring down tea into teacups, or piano's playing songs despite not having anyone playing them, and plush toys of a great variety defying gravity. Including some beautiful furniture, like some cupboards, bookshelves, maps hung on the rocks. Everything was colorful yet calming.

As they tumbled down, down and down, thinking the fall would never end.

Everything went blank.