Do You Wonder?

re01: the casa Montreal

01: the casa Montreal

   I felt my insides bubble with fear as I had opened my eyes, stumbling upon the realization (I mean, duh, it's obvious) that I'm not in the library anymore. The place was giving me this alligator-jiggling effect that I can't explain the reason 'why' I feel like so. I took my liberty to look around, and I find that everything is weird. Like, flying ostriches kind of weird—— I ducked as one had flew past me, barely dodging its claws.

Like a child's painting filled with the brightly contrasted colors with the realization that I am somewhere else. And I don't know anything— not even a clue as to where I am standing. But my surroundings did take my attention, left me mesmerized even as I took in the view in front of me.

    The grass were a vibrant emerald green and the trees had a soft, aquamarine glow to it— at least the one I woke up under (the others were patches of cyan, mint green and some warm shades like purple, fuschia and scarlet). It had violet dangling flowers that had a shimmer of gold (like gold streaks). With a sigh I stood up before and took in my surroundings. The place was—is breathtaking. Butterflies were around the area where I had stood, dancing around me, like I'm some sort of flower that they wanted me to be near.

    It's far too different from what I am back at home. Heck, I even look too far different from what I used to be back at home. If that place can still be called one. But as I pat my hands on my thighs to clean up the dust— or imaginary ones in that matter, I realized that I was wearing some kind of gown, one that seemed like something a teenager would wear to a ball, to homecoming, whatever. All I know is that it looks fancy with a heart-shapred strapless bodice. It was a blue and sparkly sleeveless gown with hints of purple. As if on cue, I touched my hair. I felt braids come across my head in some kind of flower crown style with flowers the same colors as the gown splashed across the crown of my head.

    It was stunning. I could only wish that I had a mirror so I can see how I look. These seem too real to be just another figment of my imagination. I wanted to look around—I did, by the way, and as I walked far deeper within the spiralled, purple, grey and mint trees, I heard people chatter from a distance. The place seems peaceful— way too peaceful at that, making me curious and followed where the noise was from.

    It was a long table, filled with teacups and people— most of them were actually animals— chattering. The ambience extremely cozy, like there's some familiarity between them. The area smelt like cigarettes that weirdly had hints of chocolate. It was an event that makes me feel slapped kn the face with "we're happy and we don't need you" vibes. Like they were in their own world— technically, they are, but something had really caught my attention.

    It was a cat that looked somewhat creepy in a way that I cannot pin point the reason why. And when our eyes met, he smiled, gluing me into my spot, unable to move. "A guest," he stated, his smile not leaving his face while he spoke. His voice was deep but menacing and hot. The cat-like person spoke with extreme familiarity that I can't ever explain. But no, he's high-key creeping me out, but drawing me to him at the same time. "Would you like some tea before the hatter arrives?"

    It was then it clicked to me. A smiling cat(-like person since it speaks), bustling tea party, weird surroundings, a late hatter. "Where am I?" I managed to ask, hoping that I am not where I am right now. The cat chuckled as it morphed into something more... human-looking. His eyes still held menace, but he looked so... I gave my head a smack, figuratively, of course, I can't let them see me well, crazy—— even if this world is already to me.

    "Lady Arielle Motreal, you are not supposed to be here." The cat said, his smile still wide, but his voice laced with worry. Very contradicting, if I'd be asked. But what caught my attention was the name he refereed me to.