Evelyn in the Country of Hearts

Debriefing

I wake in a plain bedroom. Moonlight engulfs the room in a gray-blue hue. Gingerly, I sit up. Was I awake yet?

Are you feeling better?" the girl from before walks in with a tray of tea.

I guess not.

"How long did I sleep?" I ask, rubbing crusty manifestations from the corner of my eye.

"Not long. Time is different here." She pours the hot liquid into a dainty teacup. "Drink this. Julius says I'm getting better." The girl beams, pleased.

"Julius...?" I shake my head.

"Oh, right. He said you weren't from around here. You should probably talk to him," she advises.

I rub my hand over my face tiredly. "Can he tell me how to get home?" I ask.

"Well, you had the choice at the beginning," she points out.

I scoff, "If only that were true."

She cocks her head blankly.

I glower at her. "You know, I don't enjoy being kidnapped or being forced to drink something against my will," I notify with sarcasm. "I'm very picky about what goes down my throat."

At this, she pauses.

"Was there a Peter--"

"White. Yeah, he's the one that brought me here," I answer tersely. "He was saying that me being here would make some Alice chick happy. Who is she anyway?"

The girl purses her lips before turning around half way to call some Julius person. A tall man walks in after a moment.

"Peter brought another," the girl says dutifully.

This man, Julius, sighs. "As the Prime Minister of the Castle of Hearts, I wish he would give a little thought about the laws he is supposed to enforce."

My forehead creases with disbelief. "That guy is a Prime Minister?"

The two of them give me confirming looks.

"Huh," I smirk, "You all have my sympathy."

"Shouldn't there be a way to get her home?" the girl inquires.

Julius stares at her deeply and from that, I know he loves her. He excuses himself, taking the girl with him. I stay seated in the bed, unsure of all this. Was this really a dream? If it was, I'd get home no matter what. I just have to wake up.

The door creaks open. The girl enters without Julius. She has a determined look on the empty face of hers.

"Maybe you will learn to like it here," she utters. "I like it here. I'm sure you will too."

"I'm sure you're wrong," I glare. "Lydia is waiting for me. I have a life, and I'm not throwing it away to live in this insanity."

"Insanity is just another way to adapt to an insane world," a voice preaches happily.

Alice and I turn our eyes to the voice of Peter White.

"You!" my eyes lock on him. "You're mine!" I whip off the covers from my body and attempt to jump at him. My body, however, does not cooperate. My legs swivel in several different directions before I crumple to the floor. "The hell..." I breathe.

"Oh yes, one of the side effects to the potion, I'm afraid," Peter tuts. "I would stay still for a bit." He refocuses his attention on the girl. "Alice!' He sweeps her into his arms and hugs her warmly.

"Great," I think to myself, "a love triangle."

Wait a minute...Alice?

I stare at the girl, bewildered, "You're Alice?"