So, I actually started writing this around 4am...I finished the first draft around 5am. This is my 5am opinion of an okay story, lol. I think maybe it ended too quickly? Was it rushed?

This written for the Writing Theme Challenge over at Hostile Takeover Forum! The Theme was; Identity.

Sorry for any grammar errors! And I hope you all will enjoy! :3


She was falling, falling, and falling.

It was like the endless tunnel would never stop, as the dirt wall around her morphed slowly into darkness. Then, suddenly, she was no longer falling, just floating in a darkness that was like the night sky without the comforting presence of any moon or stars.

An empty state of silence.

Was she dreaming? Was this a dream of wonder such like the ones she often had? Did she have dreams like that?

The young girl held out her hand silently to the blank darkness, and she saw a flicker. Straining forward, she reached out her hand further and further.

Because, maybe, just maybe, if she reached far enough, she would reach the stars. Surely there were stars in this world, right?

"Who are you?"

The voice was gruff and unfriendly. She turned and saw a whisper of smoke float before her eyes, "I-..."

The young girl paused, "I-...I am not sure who I am.

There was silence before the gruff voice returned and snapped irritably, "You have to be someone."

Slightly miffed at the stranger's tone, she replied, "Well, I am sure I am someone."

"Then who are you?"

Again, the girl paused, quite disturbed with her lack of knowledge about, well, anything at the moment. "I can't seem to recall."

Snort. "Hah. You can't seem to remember. I guess that is a hint to leave."

"No, wait!" The girl darted forward, grasping empty air in an attempt to stop the mysterious voice from leaving, but the smoke merely faded away.

She puffed out a breath, blowing away a strand of golden blonde hair that had fallen out of her white bow that was tied in a stylish manner in her hair. "He was rude."

"He is always rude. I'll never understand him."

It was another voice, another man's voice, slightly deeper, with warmth, it made her feel...safe. "Who are you?" She glanced around, but there was nothing except endless nothingness spread out around her.

The voice replied, almost sounding sad, "You don't remember?"

Before answering that question, she thought, desperately searching through anything in her mind. What did she remember? Tea cups, a pretty garden, there was a young women...a servant? Or perhaps, family? Sibling?

"No..."

"What do you remember?"

"I don't believe I remember anything particularly useful at the moment." She replied honestly.

"Everything is useful to remember. If it wasn't, then everyone would be in big trouble, wouldn't they?"

"I guess so..." Her mind wasn't really up to questioning the logic of this mad man. "It would be useful to know your name..."

"My name? Oh, I doubt it. I hardly remember it myself, Alice."

"Alice?" She tilted her head, "Is that my name?"

"Why are you asking me? Isn't it your name?"

"Yes, but I don't really recall my own name..."

"Then call yourself what you would like, m'dear. There is no one to stop you."

The young girl shifted her stance, ignoring the fact that she was standing on absolutely nothing, there was still just darkness surrounding her. "Has anyone ever told you that you are quite maddening?"

"I believe there was one girl...once...or was it a rabbit? I forget. What was her name? Tillie? Lacie? No, no, maybe Alice?"

"My name?"

"Oh, you finally remembered your name?"

"No, I just assumed that-?"

"Assuming isn't good. Very bad. I once knew a Knave who once assumed that a batch of fresh tarts was meant for him."

"What happened to him?"

The voice sighed, "Something extremely unpleasant, I'm afraid."

Alice-or so she thought her name was-asked, "Are you ever going to tell me where I am?"

"You never asked." The voice replied, quite miffed.

"Where am I, then?"

The voice cheerfully annouced, "Wonderland!"

Alice glanced around for the second time. Why did that name sound so familiar? "I really don't see what is so wondrous about it. All I can see is darkness, I can't even see your face."

"That is your problem, isn't it?"

"You are very maddening."

"Off with her head."

"What?"

Alice could tell the mad man was smiling in his reply, "I just thought it might make you remember. It helps me to remember what time to prepare my early morning tea party."

"You have early morning tea parties?"

"Yes, you must come sometime, I do love visitors."

Once again, Alice looked around, twirling in a circle, holding out her hand, hoping to touch, for just a second, whoever was speaking. "Where are you?"

"In your head, Lacie."

"What?"

"I'm in your head."

Alice stayed silent, processing this new information. "So, you aren't real?"

"Who said I wasn't real?"

"Well, you are in my head."

"And that makes me not real? You are a rude little girl."

She brushed back her hair, slightly disturbed, "I am not rude. At least I try not to be. Why did you call me Lacie?"

"That is your name, right? Or is it Tillie? I can't quite remember. Would you like some tea?"

"I've never offered tea to myself before."

"There is always a first for everything, you know."

Alice tilted her head, and sighed. Whoever this person was, he was maddening.

"You poor girl...This is the lost Wonderland."

That caught her attention, finally this mad voice was giving a proper answer. "Lost? What makes it lost?"

The voice paused, as if sipping tea, "What makes anything lost? Lot's of things. This is about names. To be more specific, for the people who have lost their names."

Alice froze, for some reason, an ice cold touch was slowing twisting in her heart, whether it was pain or fear, she didn't know. "What do you mean?"

"Do you know who I am?"

"I would appreciate it if you didn't change the subject!"

The mad man ignored Alice's outburst as if it was nothing, " I never changed the subject. I merely asked a question that was part of the subject. You don't, do you? Remember anything about Wonderland?

"I-..."

What did she remember?

Smoke...cricket...caterpillars...a white rabbit. What were these strange memories?

"I remember...some things."

"Yes, yes..." The man waved her off rather dismissively, "They all remember some of everything, but do you remember who you are?"

"I-I..."

A tear slowly fell down the young girl's cheek as she stared blankly into the dark abyss, trying and trying to remember something. She reached up to wipe away the tear shakily, "I don't understand."

"Basically, my dear, Millie. You are a lost Wonderlander now. You have lost your very existence, your very identity, that thing that makes you, you are gone."

I don't understand.

One hand gripped at the ends of her dress, as she twisted it in her hands. What was this voice telling her? And why was she blocking it away?

How am I stuck in this maddening world of nothingness?

The voice spoke, cheerfull, as if not ever noticing her inner conflict, "Hey, Alice, how is raven like a writing desk?"

"What?"

"Since you are going to be here for awhile, how about some riddles?"

I don't understand any of this.