Full Summary: Alice Kingsleigh did not live in the Victorian ages. She did dream of Wonderland but that is not where this story takes place. It was all a dream within a dream, and the true Alice lives in modern day Chicago with issues like everyone else. A year after dreaming up Wonderland once more, Alice wakes up to the harsh reality of a dysfunctional marriage, an awkward relationship with her Mother and a life that has been manipulated from the very start. Now is her time to stand up and fight her very own modern-day Jabberwockies. But will she be as brave and courageous as she was in Wonderland?

Prologue: The Dream

"Sweet dreams," Where what Charles Kingsleigh would always say to his youngest daughter after he planted gentle kisses onto her cheeks, and tucked her under fluffy beddings. And the child would look at the man with large blue eyes, and let a small grin surface its way up to her lips and reply, "Sweet dreams, papa."

And with that she would instantly be thrown into a world were cats could grin and talk. Where flowers had faces and voices and where about every contrary thing was the most sensible and demanded. Where every evil and innocence could be grown and sprouted. Did she ever create such a place? Did she ever imagine such insane characters that had every color imaginable either on their wardrobe or hair color even skin?

Who knew, who knew, who... knew? But she knew for a fact she did not create the Knave of Hearts. For such a man was the opposite of herself. He was the darkness to what was light within Wonderland. And he was holding the young girl's hand as we speak.

"Alice, it's pleasant to see you," The man smiled at the child who just looked inquisitively at him. He had just brushed a chaste kiss onto the back of her pale hand as he kneeled before her. She didn't know why.

"I can hardly say the feeling is mutual," The blond child commented quickly, making the immensely tall man falter and almost crash into the cobblestone ground below him. But as quick as a whistle he regained composure and stood, his entire being radiating someone new and dangerous.

The Knave let go of Alice's hand and watched as it fell to her side lifelessly. The girl gave him an untrustworthy glare and stepped back cautiously...

"Come now, I know you, Alice." He turned around somewhat regally and bowed mockingly at her. "Why would I be here in your dream unless you... wanted to see me?" He was making her feel trapped and flustered by the way her eyebrows rose and her cheeks reddened.

Alice wouldn't have anymore of this and spoke. "I wanted to ask..." And it was then that things began to swirl and bright colors faded to darker hues as if they were burnt to a crisp. Everything seemed so different... Were they like this when she came? No, something was wrong... Wonderland was...

And she could hear it now. Roaring fires off in the distance, tall pillars of black smoke erupting from the ground and before her stood a man she did not recognize. She eyed the Knave carefully this time and noticed the change of wardrobe, the change of presence... The way he looked at her.

It made goosebumps pop all over skin. It was an unusual feeling especially here in a dream...

"There is a war, Alice." The Knave became solemn as he readied his sword towards Alice and stepped forward. But she reeled back and tried to make distance from her and the creature that was inching ever so close.

Before more words were spoken or exchanged the child turned and ran with all her might. Noticing that the farther she ran the brighter things seemed to get. But whenever the Knave got close everything began to dull and sizzle.

Oh please... Wake up... Wake up... Wake up!

"I'm coming for you, Alice..." And then... She woke up. Woke up to a twenty year old body that had experienced better days, seen better light and breathed in better scents. She felt as bad as she looked, honestly.

"Alice, I'm coming home." It was the familiar voice that resounded from the other side of the answering machine that made the woman breath heavily.

That voice...

"Meet me at the cafe." He more than demanded before hanging up.

"Found you, Alice..." Even though it sounded like a mere whisper. To Alice it was a loud scream that echoed for far too long.

And she found herself in modern day Chicago, 2010. Her mind reeling from memories of things passed and worlds that faded all too quickly.