Adam in Wonderland

Chapter 1: Curiouser and Curiouser

     "Wouldn't it be great," Adam thought while stuck in 5th period, "to just escape this world, and never come back?" He considered the people in his life, that they might miss him."Nah," he thought, "They'd likely never notice, they're all much too concerne-" A ruler smacked into his desk, just shy of his right hand.

     "Adam Carter, it comes as no shock you weren't paying any attention. Would you care to prove me wrong, or will I be writing you up for detention?"

     Caught off guard, all Adam could muster in response was a feeble, "Huh?"

     Ms. Livingston smirked, satisfied with his response. "Looks like detention again, Carter. Now if anyone would like to answer-" Adam sighed, if he was going to be in trouble for daydreaming anyway, there was no need to pay attention now. Imagination could be much more satisfying than deconstructing the plot of Lord of the Flies, anyway. As Ms. Livingston droned on, Adam saw himself as a wizard. He was a powerful spell-caster who could turn Ms. Livingston into a frog. He giggled at the idea of her frizzy red hair bouncing wildly as she hopped around the room. He caught himself quickly, and stared down as his desk to avoid confronting the strange looks from his classmates.

     He could always tell Harry when he got home, his faithful pet rabbit would always listen to his wonderful stories. He was the only one who never complained. Of course, it occurred to Adam that it was likely because he couldn't communicate a complaint, but it was enough that he sat relatively still and appeared to be listening. Now it would be an extra hour before Adam could relate this image. The seconds ticked by slowly, and he felt as though the bell might never ring. It eventually rang, exactly on time, no matter how long it seemed to last to Adam. He slowly trudged through the halls to where detention was held, his feet knowing the route without much input from his brain.

     He checked in, sat as close to the back as he was allowed, and immediately resumed his daydreams. Far-off worlds, magic quests, beautiful romance, all of this played out in Adam's mind. He didn't even notice the supervising teacher leave the room to use the restroom, or the eyes now on him. It wasn't until the wad of paper hit the side of his head that he realized the situation.

     Nicolas Crouch was seated two desks to the left, the textbook definition of a bully. He sneered when Adam met his gaze, but it didn't last long. Behind Nicolas, out the open door, Adam saw a rabbit. Unlike his Harry, this rabbit was pure white. He sat there, almost as if he was waiting for something. Adam got the feeling that this rabbit seemed rather stressed, if rabbits could seem stressed. Maybe it was his overactive imagination again. Still, he couldn't help thinking he should do something about a rabbit loose in the school.

     He looked around for the teacher, and after Adam was sure they were gone, he started for the door. The peculiar rabbit dashed quickly down the hall before Adam could get close enough to catch him. He considered the options in front of him, he could chase after this mysterious rabbit or sit in detention wondering what kind of adventure he had missed. There wasn't much for him to consider. He sped down the hall after the white creature, praising whatever gods would listen that he didn't run into anyone as he did.

     The rabbit hopped around a door and into an open janitor's closet. Adam entered the doorway with a last burst of speed, just in time to see the little fluff-ball fall into a deep hole. Where there should have been shelves of toilet paper and a mop bucket, there was nothing but a gaping empty darkness. "Maybe I fell asleep in detention?" Adam thought, "This all seems too fantastic." Based on the assumption that he was safely asleep in a classroom, and not in any real danger, he jumped into the hole, cheering excitedly as he fell. The fall was strange, and seemingly endless, Adam couldn't tell whether or not he was floating for a while. It really began to feel like he was not falling at all. That feeling changed quickly upon impact.

     He hit something, it didn't necessarily hurt. It was more, squishy. Someone groaned from underneath him, and he shot up, realizing he had fallen on a rather odd man. "Well," said the man, wincing as he stood. "That was not exactly how I'd imagined it." Adam was trying to be respectful, after all he had just fallen on the man and should be apologizing, but he couldn't help staring at the man's head. Coming out of his startlingly white hair were rabbit's ears. He was rather tall, Adam's head only came up to his chest, and dressed in a white not unlike his hair. That was to say, pure and almost blinding. Everything, from his vest and dress shirt to his pants and shoes, was white.

     "Sorry," Adam stammered out, "Wha- I mean, who are you?"

     The rabbit-man pulled out a silver pocket watch at checked the time, "Afraid there isn't time for that now," he answered. "Come along or we'll be late." He briskly walked down the path in front of them, an almost adorable spring in his step. Adam caught sight of a small, puffy tail peeking out of the man's trousers. "We haven't got all day," he shouted after he had made some distance ahead, "let's go now!" Adam was puzzled, but he also knew he wouldn't get a chance like this again. He was going to enjoy this experience, dream or not. He chased after the man, wearing a smile all the way.