Mother always said I'd go to Wonderland one day. But I never thought it would feel like this, falling forever, weightless, air rushing past my face, whipping my short red hair behind my head. I've been freefalling for so long time has no meaning, when will it end?
It all started last night. It felt as if it called me, deep down in my bones. I followed the calling and walked outside. I walked onto the busy London street, amid a deluge. I looked down, straight into a puddle.
And I jumped. Instead of feeling a cool splash I went straight through.
I can see the bottom, there is a huge mat to land on. Angling myself, I land backfirst onto the mat and stop. Funny, I didn't bounce. I sit up and look around, and my heart leaps into my throat. The doors to Wonderland are ripped off their hinges, long scorch marks marring the front. The vials of shrinking and growing fluid have been smashed. Fearing the worst, I carefully walk over to the entrance of the doorway.
I'm caught in a bad dream.
Wonderland is on fire, the talking flowers are screaming in pain, instead of their usual backwards talk. The blue caterpillar, who is now a beautiful butterfly, lay dead on the path. Mushrooms are shredded, trees uprooted. The screaming has died down now, only to renew itself when a new wave of fire hits. There's only one thing I can think of that could do this.
The Jabberwocky.
There must have been an egg somewhere, or this may even be the first Jabberwocky's mate. There is no way I can take on a Jabberwocky, I'm not my mother, or even my father. The fabled Alice, and the Mad Hatter. But I can wake up, can't I? Just pinch myself.
I close my eyes and wish 'take me home', while pinching myself really hard. I open up one eye. I am still not home. Or is this even a dream? A bad dream. I can't believe it.
I'm caught in a bad dream. How can I wake up?
"Have you come to help us?" A voice purrs over my shoulder. I twist, it's the Cheshire Cat, probably the only one not dead yet, or screaming in agony.
"No, I have not. I think this is all a Dream, can you wake me up?" The Cat just looks at me with a twinkle in his eye.
"Well, if it's a bad dream, will it matter if you get hurt?" He has a good point there, maybe the pain will wake me up. On second thoughts, I better think through what he says. Mother said the creatures of Wonderland are madly crafty, he may be trying to trick me into saving Wonderland. I hear a roar and more screaming, this time it's closer now.
"I don't know, will it?" I can try trick it out of him, but I doubt that will work. Instead he just disappears, all save for that trademark grin of his.
"Oh Tarryn, will you save us? Be as good as your Mother?" His grin widens, he's trying to bait me.
I could help Wonderland couldn't I?
