A cold wind gusted through the streets of London, causing Alice Kingsleigh to pull her coat closer around her. Due to the cold, the usually packed streets were rather empty, save for a few people, most likely walking home from various appointments and obligations. Alice knew she should be at home, celebrating her return from China, but she could find little to celebrate. Ever since she'd left Underland, things had taken a turn for the worse. They'd begun to look better right after, when she'd rejected Hamish's proposal and became an apperentice with her father's company, but things had become dark quickly. The men working with Lord Ascot had all but forced her to go back to London, and after mere days aboard the Wonder, Alice had decided to return. Lord Ascot had gotten another boat to take her back, and just a few hours ago, she'd returned. Her mother had hosted a grand party, which Alice had little interest in. However, it was at that party that Helen Kingsleigh had made an announcement. Her daughter was to marry Hamish Ascot, not matter what she wanted. Not knowing what to do, and feeling utterly trapped, Alice had ran out of the ballroom, out of the house and onto the streets of London.

Of course, all that she'd been through just made her miss Underland even more. This world wasn't for her, she knew that now. However, she couldn't go back. Alice brushed away a tear as she remembered. When they'd arrived at the Ascot Mansion, she'd gone off to find the rabbit hole. An empty patch of land had greeted her, as if the doorway to Underland had never existed. She sighed, letting the feelings of despair come now. Alice had repressed them for the party, but now they came in a storm. Glancing over, she looked into a store window nearby. Of course, she would have looked into a hatter's store. Her heart ached, and she smiled sadly, looking at the top hat in the center of the display. So distracted was Alice, she didn't see the person walking towards her. The two collided, the other girl dropping something.

"Sorry," Alice said quickly, bending down to pick up the package that had tumbled out of the girl's arms. The girl had also bent down and as Alice looked up, their eyes met. Alice had to repress a shudder. There was something about the other girl's gaze, something haunted and eerie. The girl just narrowed her green eyes and held out her hand.

"I believe that's mine," she said, quietly.

"Right..." Alice handed the package to her, looking at the girl more closely. She was a brunette, with extremely pale skin (even paler than hers, and that was saying something). A strange pendant dangled from a chain around her neck, in the shape of the Greek letter Omega. Although she was rather plain looking to the everyday passer by, there was something odd about her. Something that reminded Alice of Underland. She was very close to asking her if she knew about it, but couldn't. The girl probably didn't, and would think Alice completely insane. Even now, the girl was walking away.

"Wait!" Alice shouted before she could stop herself.

The girl turned, looking rather irritated. Alice suddenly found herself wishing she hadn't called out to her.

"...What's your name?" she finally said, lamely. Mentally, she scolded herself. Did she really think that this girl knew something of Underland?

"Alice," the girl said, with an air of indifference, eyeing Alice suspiciously. Of course, people you bumped into didn't normally ask for your name. "Yours?"

Well, this was going to sound bizarre. "Alice..."

"That's odd," the other Alice said, sounding completely uninterested, and began walking away again.

Alice Kingsleigh resisted the urge to call out to her again. This girl was simply too similar to her!

Suddenly, the other Alice turned around. Perhaps she noticed the same connection?

"You haven't heard of a Wonderland, have you?"

Alice froze as she was about to turn around. Wonderland...

"I have..." she breathed, turning to face the other girl.

"Come with me."