Alice's Life in Wonderland

Chapter Twenty-Two - Death Between the Werewolves

The Christmas days had been joyful for Alice, for after her encounter with Hatter again returned her spirit. Soon, the Christmas week had passed and so did the New Year.

January came, the weather was as bitter as ever. It had been snowing continuously for days and Alice was not able to send her pet to the palace, nor visit her friends. So she was quite lonely all by herself in the house, doing chores, cooking and reading by the fireplace.

She looked outside, it was still snowing now. The snow must be inches deep. She could hear the wind howling outside, hitting the window panes and rattling the door.

Soon, the hours passed, the grey sky turned dark. It was midnight. Alice was sitting by the fire place, sewing. Suddenly, there came a knock on the door.

"Who could be here?" she wondered. "At a time like this!"

She opened it and snow tumbled into the house, wetting the carpet. Joanne was standing outside, inches deep in snow. She only had a shawl around her and her little cap was blown away, exposing her wolf ears. She was shivering.

"Jo! Come inside this instant! Dry yourself."

"No! You must help me!" whimpered the poor girl.

"But..."

"Just wear your coat and follow me!"

So Alice did, the air was colder than she expected. Trudging after Joanne, Alice tried to catch up with her, but the little girl went through the snow swiftly, perhaps for her nature or wolf thing in her blood.

"What are we doing?"

"Miss Alice, look! It's the full moon. John, he came to visit me this afternoon. When he left, the moon rose. As the light shone on him... He... he..."

"What?"

"He turned into a wolf, and is now finding the rest of the Howling Wolves, for the monthly hunt."

Alice face twitched, the Howling Wolves were known as one of the most dangerous species in Wonderland, or we should say deadly. And with their protector turned into a wolf, they are deadlier than ever.

Now, it was time to find John Wolfson, the werewolf boy who turned into a wolf on the night of the full moon.

There came a howling noise, Alice and Joanne jerked their heads towards Wonderland City.

"To the City!"

All the doors of the city were shut, all the windows were closed. Shadows loomed over the buildings. Wolves surrounded the area both inside and out.

As our brave girls dashed into the city, they were soon circled by numerous Howling Wolves, all hungry for a good meal. They all smacked their lips, yellow eyes glowing with greed and hunger.

"John! John!" cried the little sister, looking over the sea of wolf heads. "Miss Alice! Try to help me identify him!"

"How?"

"John, he has a mark on his forehead! A white star! And a silver whistle around his neck."

Soon, a wolf pranced up front. Its fur brown as bark, its eyes glowing more fiercely than the other. His sharp teeth shone. Alice looked at its forehead, it had a white star mark on its forehead. But then, she also noticed another brown wolf with a white mark of a star on the forehead.

And on the second wolf's neck, there was a silver whistle.

The whistle Alice had always seen John wearing it.

"It's him!" she cried and Joanne looked at the wolf.

"John! It's Joanne. Don't eat me..."

The wolf held out a paw, all the gnashing of teeth and grinding sounds quieted down. The wolf looked at the girls, the glow in its eyes softened.

"It's me, John. I'm your sister. I'm your twin."

The wolf paced towards Joanne, sniffing.

"Come, John. Come to me."

Suddenly, there came a howling sound. A wolf had been shot!

Alice and Joanne looked up and saw an army of hunters, led by the General of Hearts!

The wolf with a silver whistle turned his towards the men and gave a fearful howl.

"Ah-woo!"

The wolves charged at the hunters and the general.

"No!" cried Joanne. "John!"

But the wolves did not listen and the general and his men charged at the wolves, their weapons aimed and raised. Joanne rushed towards the pack.

"No! It's too dangerous!" yelled Alice.

The general aimed at the wolf with a silver whistle. The wolf snarled at him. Joanne ran in towards the wolf. Antony Le Cœur shot an arrow.

Joanne's eyes widened, her breathing stopped. Her eyes fluttered shut and, toppled down.

The sun rose, and the first rays of sunlight shone on the body of the wolf with a silver. After a blinding flash, a boy of wild brown hair was kneeling there, and too fell down.

The wolves ran into the woods, howling.

General Antony Le Cœur and the hunters stared at the bodies lying on the ground.

Alice ran to the lying bodies. She knelt and felt the boy's heartbeat, it was normal. Then, she turned to Joanne. She had an arrow stuck at her chest. Alice felt her pulse, nothing.

Just then the boy's eyes fluttered open, he bounced up and saw Joanne. He gasped and took her from Alice's arms.

"Joanne!" he cried, tears rolling down his cheeks. "My little sister!"

But the girl never breathed or moved again.

For Joanne Wolfson was dead.