The Melancholy of Wonderland

Truth

"My, here again now, are we? Quit distracting me from my work, Grimlocke."

"You seem to be able to talk to me just fine while working. I do not see the problem."

"Today is the third day I've been working here and the fifth time you've come here today. Don't you have some stuff to do?"

"Not really," Raven admitted. "Being a noble basically means sitting around and greeting people."

"That sounds nice." Sarcasm dripped from Anya's voice.

"It is not." Raven shook his head. "But I get through it. After all, I get to talk with you afterward and admire the way you look in that outfit. It suits you very nicely. I like it." Anya stopped cleaning and looked at Raven with a serious and heavy expression.

"The way you said that," she said cooly, "completely freaks me out because you said that with literally no emotion in your voice. And you were completely expressionless. What're you playing at, Grimlocke?"

"Nothing," Raven said. "I am sorry, did I offend you in any way?"

"Perhaps. But it's getting late. I have to go to the mess hall now or else there won't be anything left to eat."

"I see. Then I will talk to you tomorrow, Anya."

"See ya, Grimlocke." Anya shot a dirty look at Raven before shoving past him.

Dinner that night was simple: some soup consisting of unknown poultry (at least to Anya), vegetables, and noodles. A simple salad and bread were side dishes. Anya shuddered as she took a bite of soup. It wasn't bad but it made her appreciate her mother's cooking more than she ever thought she would.

The girls around her engaged in light chatter, accompanied by the clink of utensils. Anya vaguely thought back to the cafeteria of her high school. It was always so loud and rowdy. People were always yelling, girls gossiped, and boys would roar. It was a wonder, that with so many young girls here, an order was maintained.

"She told me I could have the day off," the girl in front of Anya said, "because the cook messed up."

"Mistress Wren is wonderful, is she not?"

"Indeed. Mm, the soup is quite good tonight."

Jeez, they all talk so similarly.

Wait.

Anya looked around the room. There were no supervisors anywhere. Back at the West High School cafeteria, there were always one or two teachers attempting to maintain order. Here, the girls were talking amongst themselves. That was the only thing they did, and every single one of them spoke with the same quiet, monotone voice. Anya sucked it a breath. She quickly stood up, causing all the girls to look up at her but Anya was only focused on herself.

"I... Excuse me for a minute," she muttered.

Her heart raced and leaped through her chest as she tore through Grimlocke Manor. Hailing a corner, she threw open a door and was met with a burst of the cold night air.

The backyard of Grimlocke Manor was as extensive as inside of the mansion. There was an even larger fountain here than the one in the front yeard, shaded by several willow-like trees with curving white trunks and multi-colored leaves. It was at the fountain that Anya caught her breath. She understood now.

Why she felt so uncomfortable.

Why everyone gave her strange looks when she talked.