Behind Sanity

Chapter Forty-Six

Behind Sanity

Chapter Forty-Six

1

                Alice saw the building as she and the Gryphon approached.  The place was quite large, made of old wood and shingle.  There were open windows that let white curtains blow in the eerie breeze, waving their surrender to Alice.  She examined it all carefully, wondering at once what the whole purpose of the school actually was, even though she had been there before.

                “What is this ‘school’ for?” she asked. “Why does Wonderland need one?”

                “I suppose it serves the same purpose as in your world,” Gryphon said thoughtfully. “Schools make children crazy.”

                “A home for the insane children?” she asked.

                “You must understand the cycle of things here, Alice,” he explained. “Insane children are the lowest forms here, despite what you have come to understand about the way things work.  It is not as simple as we have tried to make it for you.  The Queen takes souls, some she has immediate plans for, some she does not.  She takes the ones she does not, and makes them into harmless children.  She sends them to school where they witness strange things and have even stranger things done to them.  They comprehend none of it, finally releasing hold on all sanity.  She can then start anew, introducing them to a new reality that they eventually come to accept, but are not able to understand.  After retraining, they can ‘graduate’ to their destined form.”

                Alice felt sick to her stomach just hearing this, but still she had more questions.

                “What do you mean, ‘the ones she doesn’t have immediate plans for’?”

                “The Queen requires certain personalities to play her characters.  Every decade or so, she may change some of these personality traits, but she usually lets them develop as they will after the initial phase.  A certain amount of sanity is required to maintain some, such as the Cheshire Cat or the Mad Hatter.  Though they are still insane, there are still certain things that they must understand to give them a certain level of competence.  Flowers and insects must comprehend nothing.”

                Alice nodded in understanding, though perched on his back he could not see her.  She glanced again at the place ahead as they came to a landing.  Morgan was in this place?  Getting pulled from sanity?  If anything had happened to her, Alice swore by her blade that she’d kill everyone in the place.

                She pulled herself from the back of the Gryphon.

                “I suppose now, Alice, would be the appropriate time to say this,” the Gryphon began, his voice strange, though not weakened.

                “What’s the matter?’ she asked him.

                The Gryphon lowered his grand beak.  “It seems I should say goodbye.  I know not what the future will bring and, should I meet my death, I know nothing of my human body living or being dead.  I may never have the chance to speak with you outside this.  But I must tell you that I have great faith in you.  I’ll do anything to protect you and will gladly give my life for your cause.  This may be the last time we have to speak out of battle.”

                Alice offered a smile, though his words truly disturbed her.  His position must hold much stress, though he did not seem in the slightest bit regretful.  She hated the thought of losing such a loyal friend forever, never to hug him or see his true face, but if he was willing, she could think of no other way for it to be.  She put a caring hand on the Gryphon’s large shoulder.