Oh Alice!

Chapter 5

Alice awoke sore and groggy, trying to remember everything that had just happened. Or was it last night? She wasn't even sure what time it was or even what day, she just knew she was laying on a feather bed, in a room with gray walls and bright sun coming through the only window. She tried to sit up, using her left arm, but the shooting pain told her that wasn't a good idea. She cried out in pain, falling back on the bed, gingerly touching the bandages with her right hand. The door flew open, making her jump, which caused more pain in her arm.

"ALICE!" A black and white mouse came walking in, holding a gray tray with a green teapot and 2 tea cups on it. The mouse was wearing black boots, they looked like something a pirate would wear, black tight pants and a white blouse with ruffles on the sleeves. Around her hips was a brown leather belt and a small sheath, which Alice assumed held a small sword, the intricately detailed handle was visible. And of course, a black and white tail swishing as she moved. "I'm so glad your awake! Mr. Thomas was very worried about you. He will be so pleased to see you!" She set the tray down and stared at Alice, a big smile spreading across her small, furry face. Alice slowly took in her round ears and whiskers, realizing she was staring.

"Where is he?" Alice looked around the room once more. "And, where are we? Why are you smiling like that?" Fear started spreading through Alice. She knew this mouse, but from where? She giggled, and Alice flashed back to when she was 7, running through a field chasing this small creature. She shook her head, dissolving the weird memory.

"You don't remember miss? You're so silly sometimes. It is awfully nice to see you again! I haven't seen you in nearly 7 years! I wish I had gotten to see that tattoo of yours finished though." Alice followed her gaze and screamed. She was still screaming, when Luke burst through the door.

"Morrisa, what's wrong?" He locked eyes with Alice and froze. She was holding up her right arm to him, her bare untattooed arm. "Wh-I don't understand. Where did your tattoo go? Morrisa you said she would be fine after you fixed her arm! Where did it go?" Luke's face started to turn red, fear and anger filling his face. Morrisa started shouting back about how the tattoo was gone when Alice got there when a small white rabbit hopped in and stood in front of Luke, taking in the ongoing argument. Alice though couldn't stop staring at the rabbit.

"Anderson?" Alice whispered, so softly no one appeared to hear her, but the rabbit did. His eyes locked with Alice and nodded. Slowly, he hopped over and held something out for Alice. It was a small hair ribbon, like the ones she used to wear in her hair as a child. She took it from his little paw, turning it over in her hand, rubbing her thumb over the light blue satin, memories of her trips to Wonderland washing over her. Memories of Anderson, Morrisa, and... "Eingana!" Alice whispered as she jumped out of bed and ran out the door, leaving a confused group staring after her.

Alice ran through the small house, and out the door into a wide-open field. She whirled around a few times, searching the tree line and sky for anything, any movement. She huffed in frustration and closed her eyes, raising her hands up above her head. Eingana, she thought, where are you? After a few moments of silence, a screech from the northeast answered her. Alice whirled and watched as the massive dragon rose over the yellow and orange trees and glided towards her. She smiled, it had been years since she has seen her friends in this form. She took a few steps forward as the dragon landed the middle of the field, until Luke ran up behind her, picked her up and started running in the other direction, towards the house. Eingana screeched and Alice started kicking and wiggling trying to get loose.

"LUKE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? LET ME GO TO HER!" Alice screamed, continuing to fight his grip as he stopped walking.

"Alive that's a dragon! The one who brought us to this terrible place!" He set Alice down and put his hands on her face, trying to get her to calm down. "Alice, we need to focus on getting out of here."