Alice was just like any other girl.

Well, almost.

Alice, physically, was normal at least. With long, wavy blond hair and hypnotic blue eyes, people often commented on her beauty. Her face was soft, almost childlike, despite her age of sixteen and her ability to see what others could not in any situation. Her form was petite, and she was not the tallest girl, but when angered, Alice seemed to tower over her target of contempt in a whirlwind of rage.

Granted, Alice did not get angry often.

In fact, Alice was a rather laid-back girl, who preferred to sit and read under the trees in her backyard. While her parents were cooped inside the mansion that was Alice's home, (for she was a rich girl, you see) she would escape to this backyard, and as she read she would dream of other worlds too beautiful and grand to even be real. For these worlds, the unimaginable ones, were the worlds where Alice felt she belonged. Locked away in the pages of a novel, or perhaps in the shape of a floating cloud, whatever idea or form would please Alice, she had to keep to herself. For, such things as other worlds and strange goings-on were not appreciated in the world of the Mansion (that is what she called the home she felt so lost in, you see). The reason for that was beyond Alice, for all she knew was the Mansion. Alice had never taken a step out her front door, as her parents would grow furious if she did. She was confused at this, however, because as she finally surmised that it must be dangerous outside, she witnessed her mother and father leaving to the world outside as they pleased. It was often a source of great headaches for the girl, as she greatly hated anything she did not completely understand.

It was this problem that Alice was thinking about one sunny afternoon, as she was trying to read.

"Ah…" Alice sighed, flipping the page of the book she held in her lap to reveal yet another tangent of words and ideas. The sound of the leaves rustling in the breeze was the only thing to disturb Alice as she read, but even they seemed louder than usual today. So loud, that they began to drown out her thoughts; she couldn't even think the words she read anymore, which meant she couldn't concentrate properly, for Alice was the type to read aloud in her mind as her eyes traced the words on the page.

"I wont be able to read at all if this continues…" Alice muttered to herself, closing her book, and letting out another sigh. She had been sighing often lately.

If only mother and father would tell me why I cannot leave the manor… I wouldn't have to wonder about what lays beyond it! she thought desperately. The reason for her mind's distraction, was that, despite a long period of staying locked in the Mansion, her parents told Alice that they were going on a "usual trip to town" and left her all alone. Well, the servants were there, but they never spoke to Alice, anyway.

"How is it usual if it is certainly not usual? It's so unusual that it is usual, when it is not…" Alice said to herself. She sat there, under her tree, when she suddenly heard a loud noise coming from the Manor. Her head lifted slowly to look upon the place, but saw no sign of disturbance.

"What was that?" she wondered aloud, and began to grow worried.

The sound I heard was like a "bang", which could be interpreted as many things… it could have been a heavy object being dropped or a gunshot, and I rather hope that it was not the latter!

Deciding that the stupider thing to do would be to sit there, Alice stood and began to head to the Manor. Normally, around this time of day, when other people would have been having their 12 o' clock tea, not a peep was heard from any room of the Manor.

The servants would always retreat to their quarters, after serving the necessary people, and rest for the busy day to come. Alice felt sorry for the servants, because it must be dreadful to sleep during the day!

Ah, I must be losing my train of thought, Alice realized, and found herself standing in front of the backdoor without noticing that she had even gotten that far. Pushing open the door, Alice glanced inside, her eyes tracing the floor, to the wall, to the ceiling. She saw absolutely nothing.

Well, if there is nothing here, it must be safe to walk inside! Alice thought cheerfully, and stepped inside the house. However, as soon as she did, a dreadful, piercing voice screamed out to her,

"ALICE! WHY DO YOU CHOOSE TO WALK INSIDE NOW? SCURRY ON, SCURRY ON!"

Alice nearly jumped right out of her skin, and glanced to the end of the hallway. Standing there, looking as intimidating as ever, was the head maid, Florence.

"Hello, Florence," Alice said cheerfully. "I heard a noise, and –"

"Yes, that would have been your idiot cat again!" Florence shrilled. The woman was always yelling, and Alice secretly wondered if she was near deaf due to old age. The news of her cat, Lilian, surprised her.

"What do you mean?" she asked cautiously. "Surely you did not kill her."

"Surely!" Florence shrieked. "I would love to, but the stupid thing escaped me after tipping over a bookcase!"

Alice stifled a giggle, and gave a firm, apologetic nod. Florence shook her head, looking disgusted, and waved the broom she was holding at Alice.

"Anyway, get out of my way! I'm cleaning this hallway! Go near the Foyer, I've yet to clean there yet, and you can read in peace until I finish," she snapped. Alice smiled and gave a slight curtsy in response.

"Thank you, Florence. Happy cleaning," she said, and skipped passed the head maid before she could yell any more.

Entering the foyer, Alice lay herself on the welcoming sofa, and placed her book on the floor beside her.

"Who ever heard of a welcoming sofa, anyway?" she muttered to herself, staring at the ceiling. As if attempting to answer her question, a white furry thing jumped on Alice, mewing a great deal.

"Ah, Lilian!" Alice said, delighted to see the cat safe.

"Florence will kill you if you're not careful," she whispered sadly, petting Lilian, who began to purr contentedly. Lilian was Alice's only friend, and she really did not want to lose her to Florence's temper.

Alice lay there with Lilian for a long time, petting the cat in a motion that soon became robotic. From the head, to the base of the tail, where her fingers would then stroke the tail softly, curling up and making their journey back up to the cat's soft head again. In her mind, Alice began to count how many times she petted Lilian, in an attempt to pass time.

1… 2… 3… 4… 5… 6… 7…

Suddenly, a knock from the grand front door shocked Alice so much that she jumped, and Lilian, disgruntled, gave an annoyed meow. Ignoring her cat's anger, Alice lifted her head, and looked to the door.

If mother and father were returning, they would simply walk right in… she thought to herself, a frown settling on her lips. Much to Lilian's displeasure, Alice sat up fully, and continued to stare at the doors.

Does this mean there is a visitor? she thought, her heart pounding. Her breath quickened. She suddenly felt excited and nervous at the same time.

As far as Alice could remember, back to the days when she was so small her mother had to accompany her everywhere, there had never been one visitor to the manor. The friends her parents treasured so greatly were always visited, but never brought. So, who in the world would knock on their door now?

Oh goodness! If I sit here thinking, the visitor will think nobody is home, and will leave! Perhaps he or she will keep me company for a short while.

Alice stood, holding onto Lilian, and sped towards the door. Her hand grasped the large handle, and she pulled, using all of her weight, for the doors were at least four times her height.

The person who was standing there was nobody like Alice had ever seen before.

It was a man, a tall man, who seemed to be made but nothing of legs. He wore a top hat that was longer then his neck, and a pinstripe coat. He smiled down at Alice, a smile that stretched far across his face, to the point where Alice wondered if his teeth hurt. His eyes were as black as coal, and made Alice think of black roses and shadows.

He frightened her a great deal.

"He… hello, sir," Alice nearly whispered.

"What was that, girl? I cannot hear you! But do not speak another word. I have come to tell you that there is a world out here, you know. Not one of books and dreary days, but of adventure and passion!" he suddenly cried, in a voice far too high-pitched for his appearance, and took Alice's hand. Alice's first instinct was to snatch her hand away, as his hand was clammy and rough, which felt strange to her smooth skin. Yet, she did not, as the stranger did not seem hostile, and she did not want to be rude without good reason. However, what he said did puzzle her, and she had to tilt her head to look at him, a question in her eyes.

"Good sir, adventure and passion is not acceptable here," she said simply, reciting what her mother and father so often told her.

"Nonsense!" cried the man. "And I do mean nonsense, for that makes rather non sense!" he cried even louder, and his wide smile was quickly replaced with a look of fierce rage.

Alice did not feel the need to correct him (it was "no sense", you see).

"Rather… do you think so?" she asked quietly.

"I know so!" the man declared, and suddenly a hand was on her back, pushing her out the door.

"Come with me, and you shall see!" he cried, pushing her so fast along that Alice struggled to keep up. She gazed around her at the front yard of her home, and the sight that surrounded it.

For it was nothing like Alice expected.

You see, when Alice sat in the backyard of her home, she was surrounded by lovely trees. A forest, according to Florence, that was filled with peace.

Yet now, looking at the other half of the wood that surrounded her home, Alice felt no peace.

The trees bore no leaves, but instead stood naked and brittle against the sky, and despite the shining sun, a black void filled the space between the trees.

"What is that?" Alice asked, but suddenly realized the hand on her back was gone. Spinning around with a gasp, Alice saw that nobody was there.

"Hello? Mister? Where did you go?" she called, turning to look every which way in the hope of catching a glimpse; yet there was none to be seen.

Alice suddenly felt very cold. She was alone, standing in a place forbidden to her. After a moment of standing there, frozen in fear, Alice slowly turned to face the wood. She stared into the void between the trees, and suddenly she heard a voice.

"…li…"

"…lic…"

"…Alice…"

"ALICE!"

Alice jumped. The voice was coming from the wood.

"…H-hello?" she whispered, for she was quite scared by now.

"…om… Come here…"

Alice stared into the void. The voice was telling her to go to it, although she was sure she did not recognize the voice. It did not belong to her mother, father, or the man she just met. Her heart hammered against her chest, a steady beat that started to slowly sound like footsteps. The crunch of a leaf here, the soft squish of the mud there…

That was when Alice noticed she was walking.

"Stop!" she cried suddenly, but it was too late. She was already standing in front of the wood, and her heart did not want to stop. Her mind cried out, yelling, screaming, but her heart yelled back, arguing with dreams of adventure and passion. And try as she might, Alice could not fight back against such ideas that pleased her so.

For, such things were not allowed in the Mansion.


Thank you so much for reading! Please review!
- Haru