"Do I have to drink it?" I questioned, eyeing the blue liquid distastefully. I was pretty crazy, and I was into many different types of animes and mangas, but to dream about Alice in Wonderland? I think I'm turning a little bit insane, and not the good kind of insane either. "It...it might be poisoned, you might be trying to poison me!"

"I would do no such thing to an outsider like thee, but if you refuse much longer this potion I hold, then I'm afraid I will have to stoop to a much lower degree. Please, drink this, and come to Wonderland with me! I swear that nothing in this potion is amiss!"

I frowned and made a face at the tall red-eyed man, who might I mention, had rabbit ears and white hair, despite being in his twenties. At least, he looked like he was in his twenties. I think he was in his twenties...I could be wrong though. It took me a moment to figure what he meant by stopping to a lower degree, and I asked, "What; you'd force me to drink it?" He nodded with a smile, and I reluctantly grabbed the bottle. I really didn't want to drink it. "What's going to happen to me if I drink it?" I felt a small twinge of fear as I stared at the blue liquid in the clear vial. There was a heart on top of it.

"To play the game you must remain, but to win or lose is up to you, and what you choose to do."

Why does he keep rhyming? I wondered, but couldn't disagree with the fact that it was actually highly amusing. I liked rhyming-it makes me giggle. However, I refuse to laugh as this situation was a little...serious. Or at the very most weird. I know weird, my friends are weird, I'm weird... Slowly reaching a hand up, I uncapped the vial, ignoring the man's huge happy smile. I don't want to do this... Ugh, what if it tastes like that cherry cough medicine? I made a face and hesitantly sniffed it, seeing if it smelled bad or not. It didn't smell-it didn't even have a smell. It was just a blue liquid. "Is this water or something?"

"That is the Potion of Clover, and it shall help me bring you over!" I'm beginning to think that he's running out of rhymes...That or my imagination is just failing me.

"Okay, just one more question..." I said and looked up at him, cursing myself for being so short as I looked at the really tall man, "If I drink this I'm not really going to die, right? I-I'll just wake up?"

"This is no dream, but I can assure you that you shall live." Wow. He didn't rhyme. Guess even had has his moments of failure. I sighed, really really not wanting to drink this thing, but I held it up to my lips and swallowed. "Drink all of it, or the game won't be here for you play."

If I die, I'm shooting that rabbit in the afterlife, I thought, swallowing, before coughing as part of it went down the wrong hole. I held a hand up to my mouth as I coughed, but the man merely grinned.

"Welcome to Wonderland, Alexis. The country of Clover, the forest, where surely you now do persist."

...His rhyming makes me laugh, but I don't really like what he's telling me... I wish Sarah and Jack were here... I could always go to them for advice-when I did, which was rare. They usually came to me for advice, while I just kept my problems bottled up and to myself, ranting only in my head and talking to myself until I managed to comfort myself and get rid of all the doubt, all the worries and the fears...

But I had a feeling that I really, really shouldn't have drunken that potion...but even if I refused to, he was going to force me. I could see it in his eyes. Plus, a rhyming Bunny Rabbit never lies. I've had plenty of weird dreams to know that much. Though, in all honesty, I doubted this was a dream...

Oh, god, this better not be a dream-inside-a-dream thing where you wake up inside the dream only to later discover that you really were dreaming and you wake up again and it turns out that was a dream as well! I hated dreamception. So many nice and scary dreams at once... Ugh. Wait, where'd the rabbit go? I looked around in confusion, not understanding what was happening.


"Hey, did you know?"

"Sarah!" I cried, rushing over to hug the girl before Jack could reach out and stop me. I quickly lunged forward and tackled her, wrapping my arms around her shoulders as Jack grabbed my fingers and started bending them, trying to get me to release her. It hurt, but I merely reached out and kicked him in the leg, trying to keep my hold on the blonde girl. "I missed you so much!" I was sick again and had missed another day of school. Normally, whenever I was sick, I went to school anyway so as to avoid all the extra homework and so I could see my two best friends. But, this was one of those rare occasions where I was so sick that I was vomiting and nauseous and actually had to stay home less I pass out on the cafeteria floor racing to the lunch line. At least, that was before I stopped eating lunch.

"Mine!" Jack growled, all in good humor though, as he finally managed to pull Sarah away from me and into his arms. The girl laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck, giving him a quick peck on the lips as I pouted. Jack grinned at me and wrapped his arms around Sarah's waist. "See? Mine. You no get."

"B-But..." I tried to come up with an excuse, and gave a hopeful smile as I said, "Share?"

He didn't even think about it. He just went, "No."

"There are rules in every game. It has been decided since the beginning. "

"Sarah~! Jack is being mean to me!"

"When is that new?" I gasped, taking a step back as I placed a hand over my chest. She laughed at my drama.

"B-But, I thought you loved me! We-We had something special! We were married four times!"

"And divorced!" Jack cut in, causing me to pout. "And those weren't even real marriages."

"We're not even eighteen."

I huffed and crossed my arms childishly, pouting at them. "You guys are so mean to me..."

"That's the point, Alexis. No Sarah for you."

"B-But...I luvvles her! Platonically!"

"Yeah! And I love her romantically! There's a big difference between me and you."

Sarah shook her head at the normal everyday argument, amused. I finally managed to sit back down at the lunch table and rested my head on my arms, pouting like a little kid who didn't get their cookie. "You guys are so mean to me..." I faked sobbed, acting like I was crying as I buried my head down into my arms.

"Aww...is wittle Awexis sad? How cuuute." My eyebrows twitched and I could feel my face flame with embarrassment-both from being called "cute" even if it wasn't really a compliment, and from being talked to with a baby voice. I was fifteen, a high school, with practically no romance experience at all-I was going to be embarrassed from being called "cute" or anything of the like. I glared at Jack, who was grinning triumphantly at me.

"You must participate in the game; that's also one of the rules. It was decided since the beginning."

"Shut up! You're just sad because you're not as adorable as me!" Jack looked between me and Sarah and asked her,

"Who do you think is cuter? Me," He gave her a big goofy grin as he leaned towards her and kissed her cheek, "or Alexis?"

I gaped, my jaw dropping, as I exclaimed, "That's so unfair! You two are dating-you have an unfair advantage!"

"See! You just admitted I was cuter than you! Ha!"

"Shut up! You know what? Screw you, I'm shunning you for the rest of this movie. I'm taking a nap."

"But, of course, you already know all of this, right?"

For some reason, I just felt really sleepy...As I turned my head, having not closed my eyes yet, I thought I saw a white rabbit staring at me from the gym doors, wearing a red checkered coat. I stared in confusion, not understanding what I was looking at. I mean, I was weird, yes, and I watched a lot of animes and manga, and was a huge fan of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, but I didn't understand why I was seeing the rabbit from the movie...

"Huh? You don't know?"

I frowned, blinking multiple times, just waiting for the rabbit to disappear like an illusion. It didn't. I just stared at me.

"Hey, Alexis, what are you looking at?" I lifted my head and told Sarah,

"Uh, nothing, really. Well, unless a wall counts." I laughed. Then I said, "I was just thinking."

"About?"

"Uh, nothing really. Just stuff." She shook her head at me as I turned to look at the gym door again, surprised to see that the rabbit was gone. I looked around, and found him hiding behind the wall next to the bathrooms. What is up with that? Why was there a rabbit in the middle of the high school? And why on earth was it wearing a coat? Am I dreaming? Am I having a dreamception where I think I'm awake but am actually dreaming?

"As long as you understand that explanation, you don't need to worry."

What explanation? And why am I...

I stood up, quickly telling a confused Sarah and Jack, "Watch my things. I don't trust people. I'm going to the bathroom." I started to walk to the direction where the white rabbit was, but still didn't understand...

...why I was...

...so dizzy...

I barely managed to make it into the girls' bathroom before I fell to my knees, leaning against the bathroom wall as my vision danced with black and made the world blur and spin. My head hurt...it was like I had a migraine, but was lightheaded at the same time.

"Alexis, Alexis, do not fear. You won't need doubt or worry as long as I'm here." I turned my head at the voice and was startled to see a man with red eyes and white hair smiling at me, rabbit ears on top of his head. "I will bring you to Wonderland, and you will not have to fear a turn of hand. My name is Peter. Peter White."

"You...make...no sense..." I managed to get out, before I passed out. When I awoke, I was falling down a giant ass hole that was in the middle of the bathroom-I knew that 'cause I could see the tiled ceiling as we fell-and ended up landing, but not landing, in the middle of a forest.


I resulted to just walking around blindly trying to figure out where to go. Normally, I was against wandering into unknown places as that usually equaled me getting lost as I'm directionally challenged, or into trouble.

And I was right. For the moment, the very moment stepped foot towards a giant gate which clearly symbolized to keep out, and that you should run away while you still had the chance, I nearly got a bullet to the face. I screamed, stumbled backwards, and tripped as I fell onto my butt. I winced and looked up in alarm, seeing a man with strawberry blonde hair and brown rabbit ears glaring at me.

"Who are you and what business do you have with Blood?"

"Wh-Who?" I stammered, alarmed. I tensed, and feared that if I moved I'd get shot in the head. "Wh-Who's Blood?"

The man scoffed at me, cocking his gun again, as he took a few steps forward. Fear went up my spine as I stared at the gun's barrel, very easily able to imagine a bullet piercing my skull, through my brain, and out of my head, killing me instantly. "Don't act like you don't know." He then noticed as he stood over me, frowning, "You have eyes. Are you new role-holder?"

"Haaah?" I debated playing along and acting like I was what he said I was, but I think I already gave myself away with my intelligent question. "Um, c-can-can you please stop pointing that at me? I-I just...I'm lost."

"How do I know you're not a spy? Who are you?"

"Alexis! My name is Alexis!" I answered quickly, trying not to look completely terrified. That was actually rather difficult when the barrel of a gun was pointed straight at your face. "So-So, um, can I go now? I-I'll never come back, I swear! Just-Just don't kill me! I-I mean, as much as I'd love to get shot in the face," I flinched when I saw his finger twitch on the trigger, "I'd really like to find out where I am and not get killed, so...yeah." See him in deep thought, I took that chance to roll out of the way in a panic and scream, running for my life in a zigzag motion. "BYE! IT WAS NICE TALKING TO YOU!"

"Hey! Get back here!"

"No! You'll shot me-GYAH!" I screamed as bullets rang out in the air, ducking my head as I ran back into the forest. I could hear the man chasing after me, cursing loudly as his bullets barely grazed me and managed to hit the trees. I didn't even know where I was running. I just wanted to live. "Bad day, bad day, bad day, bad day-!" I let out another scream, this one of pure unadulterated pain and terror, as a bullet hit me straight in the shoulder. I fell, crying out in even more pain as my arm hit the ground. Damn it, it had to be my right! Of course it was my luck to get shot in my good arm. I forced myself up, running on pure adrenaline now, as I tried to escape.

More bullets shot out, but no more managed to hit me. I think the man cursed because he ran out of bullets and had to reload, thus giving me enough time to get away successfully. I didn't know where I was, I didn't know what town I was in...

I just missed my friends. I mean, I doubted they missed me, but I still missed them... And my family. What would my Dad think? My big brother? David, my brother, probably doesn't even know I'm gone-and won't until Dad actually texts him. David was in college, and lived far away from us, so we didn't talk as much as we used too. The thought made me frown as I sat down.

The man with the gun had stopped chasing me a while back, instead returning back to the large mansion with a string of profanities. I found myself a nice tree to lean against, after walking ages and nearing a town. I didn't actually enter the town, however, and just stayed out in the woods near it-though all the doors confused me. It was annoying, having to listen to them chatter endlessly. All they ever said was this:

"Open me!"

"No, Open me!"

"Come on, this way! Open me!"

And it was so repetitive... Alexis felt a little dizzy. She presumed it was from the bloodloss. She reached up to her bleeding shoulder and pressed her hand against it, trying to apply pressure. It was useless, however, as it merely kept bleeding. It hurt...

I could hear mewling-the sound of kittens-and footsteps. I tensed, and tried to stand, only to breathe in sharply at the pain that hit me. It wasn't pleasant. I gasped and grunted, crying out as I hit the ground again. Damn it... I would ask for a hospital, but I don't have any money, and quite frankly, I don't think I have insurance in this Wonderland either.

The footsteps were really close now, and I turned onto my side, resisting the urge to cry as I landed on my bad shoulder, before finally managing to roll onto my back. I let out a heavy breath as squeezed my eyes shut. Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow-! I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, but I held them back as I tried to push myself up.

The footsteps stopped, right next to me, and I froze, terror written across my face as I slowly turned to see who it was. Is it the gun guy? However, as I turned my head, I saw someone else completely. In fact, I don't even know who I saw. He didn't have eyes. He was carrying grocery bags, and had dirty blonde hair. He wore a white-collar shirt and plain khakis.

"You have eyes..." The man said in surprise, moving over and kneeling down in front of me. I could see him examining my face as I leaned back, uncomfortable with the current situation. "Here, let me see your shoulder..." I tried my best not to flinch as the man made me remove my hand from my shoulder. He pulled down part of my jacket, and gently lifted my shirt from my skin-which was covered in blood. A sharp pain hit me as the cloth was pulled away from the wound, and I tried not to cry. "Oh, dear... Another innocent injured in the act it seems-and a mere child, too... This stupid war is injuring even the children! Here, I'll patch you up. Are you able to walk?"

Was this guy going to help me? I decided to trust him, as I didn't even know anyone here, and forcefully pushed myself onto my feet-breathing in sharply at the pain that hit me. I stumbled, and the man reached out and caught me, helping me regain my balance.

"Easy there, miss..." I wasn't too big a fan of it, as I'd rather try and walk on my own, but the man had made me sling an arm around his shoulder as he placed a hand on my waist, keeping me steady, as he held his groceries with his other arm. "This way. I have a small clinic in the nearby town."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak, as we walked.

Somehow, one way or another, I found myself laying down on a small bed in what looked like an infirmary. I figured this was the clinic he was talking about. I wasn't too sure why all the eyeless people were giving me looks like I just ate their food without permission, but I wasn't really in the mood to ask. When I saw him hold up a syringe, I tensed. "Wh-What's in that?" That had better be anesthesia...

"Medicine. It'll numb the pain." I still tensed, preferring to feel the pain than not at all. "You might want to close your eyes. It'll be over soon." Yeah, right. Because I'm totally going to listen to the number one line in a horror movie. I watched him tie a string around the area where he was going to stick the needle, and flinched when he stuck said needle in my skin. Normally, I don't have a problem with needles...but damn it all that hurt!

However, the pain quickly vanished, and my shoulder hardly hurt. It was just like a small pain...like someone was putting constant pressure on it. I also felt a little dizzier than usual. I was already slightly lightheaded from the bloodloss, but this was like straight-up exhaustion. I was going to pass out.

I heard clatter, and tiredly turned my gaze to see the man pick up a pair of tweezers-at least, what looked like tweezers. "Wha...What are you doin'?" I asked, voice slurring slightly. I tried to hold back a yawn.

"You want that bullet out of you, don't you? Close your eyes and hold still. This will only take a moment."

Despite not knowing him, or if he was trustworthy, I could already feel my eyes slipping closed despite my attempts to stay away.

I'd rather have to deal with the obnoxious idiots in my second period class than fall asleep in front of some stranger. Unfortunately, everything was already turning black...

I found myself standing in a strange space, literally like outerspace. It kind of reminded me of Doctor Who...

"Doctors!?" A horrified voice exclaimed, "They'll hook you up to mechanical deathtraps! You can't listen to them!" I whirled around in alarm, staring with wide eyes at a man who was floating in midair. Yeah. Floating. Is that normal? "Of course it's normal for me!" And now he's reading my mind. Greeeaaat. Just what I needed. "No need to put on an attitude," The man huffed, crossing his arms as he regarded me with his one visible gray eye. His other was covered with an eyepatch, and he had neatly brushed silver hair that stopped just below his chin.

For a guy who looked like he was twenty, and possibly a decade older than me, he was rather cute. I quickly dismissed that thought though, and resorted to looking around. "Why am I in outerspace?"

"You're not. You're simply dreaming," The man responded, causing me to make a weird face and pout. I argued, waving my arms around as I pointed at him,

"That's not an option-ANSWER! That's not an answer!" And this is what happens when I try to think before I speak. Blegh. I start thinking when I start talking and it turns out all weird. Now I sound like Victor from Corpse Bride. "And what's your problems with Doctors?"

"They're evil!"

"They're supposed to help you and hold on a second..." I paused, realizing something was amiss. The man watched silently as I turned my head to look at my shoulder, alarmed and surprised. "Dude! Where'd it go!? I was bleeding five seconds ago-What the crap?" Where the hell did it go?

"You're dreaming, as I said-now watch your language! A child like you shouldn't curse!"

"How rude are you? I don't curse!" At least, I don't out loud.

"I can read your mind!"

"Nooo, I totally didn't discover that by myself when you started answering stuff I was thinking!"

"Are you picking a fight?"

"No! I-I was being sarcastic!"

He grinned, triumphant. "I know. I just felt like winning that argument."

"Argh! You're such a jerk! Who the heck are you anyway?" He smirked, and floated around slowly, causing me to have to turn around to keep an eye on him.

"My name is Nightmare, Alexis Reynolds, and I am an incubus."

"...A what?"

He looked startled as he stopped floating, just staying in one spot in the air. "Wh-What? You don't know what that is?"

I shrugged, telling him, "I know what a succubus is. They're demons who seduce you before eating you or something like that, but I'm not to sure what an incubus is." It sounded a bit like an incubator, but I don't think this guy sat on eggs all day and flashed them with lights. Ah... I paused, realizing how the end of that sentence could have sounded if I didn't phrase it the way I did. Oops. "Gyah-! Dude, are you okay!?"

The man suddenly fell to the ground, coughing harshly with a hand over his mouth. "I-I'm fine-!" He went into another fit, and I ran over frantically. Dude-okay, think, think, think, think! What was one supposed to do-oh!

I remembered what my brother used to do when I had really bad coughing fits and ended up puking because of them, and knelt down next to the man and started rubbing his back with my hand. I hope I was doing this correctly...It's either this or smack him, which I know doesn't help at all-it just makes it worse. People think smacking a coughing person on the back is helpful, but if they're not choking on a piece of chicken, it's useless. "H-Hey, hey, don't-don't die on me, okay?" My dreams, my rules. No dying on me, random person!

"M-My name is Nightmare!" He appeared to be finished coughing, but I looked at him stunned when I saw the blood trailing down his mouth and covering his hands. Did he have a lung disease or something? Tuberculosis? Wait, what other disease make you hack up blood? "I'm not diseased! I-I'm just a sickly dream demon!"

I opened my mouth to respond, but closed it, realizing he was telling the truth. Plus, I couldn't really argue with him. I was a sickly person too-I mean, I don't cough up blood or anything like that, but I can get sick easily; when I get sick, I get SICK. I had asthma when I was little, too, and really badly constricted lungs. I had to get surgery a few years ago just so I could breathe normally again. They never did really tell me what was truly wrong-just that I was healed and all better. Wait, sick person! "So, you're not dying?"

"No!"

"Okay...fair enough. Why don't you go to a hospital?" He looked at me as if I just suggested that he was friends with Hitler himself. Or maybe someone worse...

"Because! They're evil!"

"How so?"

"They poke you with needles and give you poison to drink! They hook you up to metal deathtraps!"

"You..." I stared at him, and he was just frowning at me with a teary eye. Actually, it looked more like he was pouting. "You are the most childish adult I have ever met." Then I burst out laughing. Okay, that was it. I couldn't take it anymore. "I-I'm so sorry! Hahahaha-I-I'm sorry!" Ow, ow, ow. My ribs were starting to hurt. How hard was I laughing!? "I-I'm so sorry, but-but-but that's just ridiculous! Gyahahaha!"

He just frowned at me childishly, declaring loudly in an attempt to defend himself, "I'm not childish..." I was practically crying at this point, slapping my thighs as I fell to my knees. "Stop laughing!"

"I-I can't! I'm-I'm sorry!"

"For what?"

"F-For laughing! Gyahahahaha!" It took a good five minutes before I was actually able to stop. I was panting, breathing heavily as I tried to regain my air. "That...Oh, god...I'm so sorry, but that was just..." I let out a sigh and wiped the tears from my eyes with the palm of my hand, still chuckling a little. "Okay...Nightmare, right? What's up?" I stood up and shoved my hands into my jacket pockets, causing the man to finally stop pouting and at least regain a bit more of his dignity. He sent me another frown.

"I have plenty of dignity, thank you! Just wait until you actually meet me-you'll be far more than impressed!"

"What, like, outside the dream? But you're a figment of my imagination. When I wake up you won't exist." That was how dreams worked, after all. If I'm dreaming right now, and Nightmare's here, that means when I wake up in the clinic he won't exist. Unless he's that weird dream-watcher person you only see in stories... Wait, Incubus? Isn't that... Horror struck me, and Nightmare ended up coughing up blood again, his face a deep red. "Oh, HELL NO! I'm fifteen buddy! Back the frick off! Go find some other sleeping woman to rape!"

"I-I'm not that kind of incubus!" He gasped, hacking. Dude, how disturbing! I wouldn't have even remembered if I didn't think back to my dad's mythology books. "What goes on in that mind of yours!?"

"I don't know, you tell me! You're the one with the mind-reading powers!" I then complained childishly, waving my arms around again, "It's not my fault High School corrupts your mind! I have nothing to do on the weekend except read fanfiction! If you're not careful with what your looking for, you'll stumble across some awkward stuff!"

He coughed blood again and I flinched, feeling guilty. That was my fault. I should just stop thinking... Which was going to be hard, since I'm always thinking... Ugh, conundrums! It's like that time when one my friends, not Sarah or Jack, but a different person, gave me the silent treatment and I thought he hated me, so I hid underneath the school bleachers and cried silently, ranting in my head about how I was such a horrible person. Best time I ever get when I'm alone-start downgrading myself. Yay.

"Y-You outsiders...are all very negative people."

"Hah? Oh, uh, I guess...?" I wasn't too sure how to respond to that. "What's the point of this dream anyway? When am I going to wake up?"

"Well, considering you were knocked out with anesthesia, we're going to be here a while... But the point of this dream is to tell you, basically, "Welcome to the Country of Clover". I was also going to tell you to be careful with who you approach, but I think you already learned that lesson..."

I almost asked him what he meant, when I remembered the crazy trigger-happy strawberry-blonde rabbit, who appeared to hate being called a rabbit. The jerk didn't even let me go! He just started shooting at me! Then again, in his defense, I did the bad thing and start running...but he was going to shoot me even if I didn't move, so I'm completely justified! I think...

"Are you?"

"Yes! My reason for being shot at is completely justified-the same way you hate Doctors!" I think. He seemed amused at that.

"Really?"

"Yes! Now stop judging me! And when the heck am I going to wake up?"

"Still going to be a little longer." I groaned and hung my head, running a hand through my bangs. I huffed and crossed my arms. "Alexis," I looked up at him through my bangs curiously, staring him straight in the eye. He looked serious, and even slightly mysterious, as he said, "When you awake and are released from the clinic," He said the word with such dislike it took a lot not to break out laughing again, "come to the Tower of Clover. You will meet some people there who can help and give you a place to stay."

"Why should I trust you?" I questioned, despite already knowing the answer. I already trusted this guy more than anyone else I met in this crazy world so far-but then again, I'm dreaming right now, so trust kind of comes with the package...I think. "How do I know you're not leading me to a death trap?"

"Because hospitals are deathtraps, and I'm offering you a place to stay during you time here in Wonderland. It's Tower of Clover or the Hatter's Mansion, and I'm sure that you don't want to get shot at again."

"...Touche. Wait, hold on! Don't go yet!" I called out, alarmed as he slowly started to fade. He looked at me in surprise and waited for me to continue. I said, "How am I suppose to find it? A-Am I just going to walk out and-and see a big tower with a clover on it or something? And-And are you even really real? Like, what if you don't exist and-and then what? Who am I suppose to say told me to go there? What if the Tower of Clover doesn't even really exist!?"

He smiled, floated down, and did something I wasn't expecting. He patted my head and ruffled my hair, saying, "It'll be fine. Just ask around for directions, and when you get there, tell the servants or a man with a lizard tattoo that a man named "Nightmare" sent for you. Simple as that. If you can't ask, just listen to the sound of my voice."

I pouted, slumping my shoulders. "But that's not helpful at all...And why are you patting my head? Everyone's always patting my head..."

It was true. Jack patted my head all the time. Even my brother, and sometimes even one of my other friends, Erin, did as well. Is it because I'm short?

Nightmare grinned at that. "Possibly. Maybe we just like patting your head? You figure it out." Yeah. It was 'cause I'm short. He faded completely, and the space around was painted black, leaving me to awake drowsily in the clinic.

I slowly opened my eyes, a sudden feeling of exhaustion hitting me. To my surprise,and utter horror, I wasn't wearing my T-shirt. I was just wearing my bra, and because of that, you could see the huge square bandage that was placed over my bullet-wound, with extra pieces of ace-wrap wrapping around it and chest to help put pressure on it. The jerk of a doctor could have at least left my shirt on me, or at given me my jacket! I made to wrap my arms around my chest, but let out a pained squeak and pain wracked my shoulder. I saw my shirt and jacket laying on a desk nearby, so forcing myself off of the bed, I walked over and picked up the shirt, attempting to put it on despite the excruciating pain.

The anesthesia must be wearing off, and rather quickly at that. I managed to get it through my arms and over my head, and I decided to just use my left hand to pull my shirt down. I relaxed, feeling much comfortable in clothing and covered up. I quickly grabbed my jacket and put it on as fast as I could, with some difficulty due to my aching shoulder.

Something confused me, though, and that was that I could remember my dream in clear detail-like it was a memory. I mean, normally I'm able to remember dreams easily-most parts about them didn't escape me, even the tiny details...but this was like a straight up memory. It was similar to remembering what you ate for breakfast; you remembered what it looked and tasted like, and how fast or slow you ate it. The dream was like that, and to my surprise, and I remembered the strange man's name.

Nightmare. I was supposed to find some Tower of Clover and hang out there for a while...I think. I may have heard him wrong.

"Oh, you're awake!" I turned my head to see the doctor man walk into the room, closing the door behind him. He smiled, holding a small bottle in his hand. "And you're already standing...I'm impressed. Most wouldn't even be able to get up after that. You truly are an outsider, aren't you?"

"Um...Maybe. That's what people have been calling me." I told him awkwardly, not trusting this man so much after he practically stripped me half-naked. I was lucky I was still wearing my pants and undergarments. Okay mind, let's not go there. "Oh, um, thanks for, you know, patching me up?" It came out as a question. "And, uh, not-not to be rude or-or anything, but, uh..."

"When can you leave?"

"Y-Yeah..."

He chuckled and shook his head. "Anytime you wish. The wound wasn't serious-you'll still be able to move your arm perfectly fine once it's fully healed, but seeing how you're an outsider, I'm not too sure how long that will take. You'll heal faster than normal here in Wonderland, but this is all I can do for you to speed up the process. Besides, I'm not going to be keeping you here; I'm not that kind of man. I'm sure you have somewhere to stay, however...?"

"-offering you a place to stay-" I paused, remembering Nightmare's words. Hesitant and reluctant, I asked after a moment's silence,

"H-Have you heard of the Tower of Clover? A-A man-A man named Nightmare told me to go there..."

"Nightmare!?" The man appeared alarmed and took a step back. "You know the Incubus?"

"Um, not really..."

"H-Here! Take the medicine!" The man moved forward and quickly passed me the medicine, alarmed and slightly scared of me now, as he stepped back. "The-The Tower of Clover isn't that far off! If you go South and look up you'll see it plain as day! J-Just please have him spare me!"

I was so confused. Nightmare wasn't scary... He was funny. I liked him-well, what I've seen of him anyway. He seemed like a nice adult. Most adults I know are nice. Children are rather kind too, until they start acting bratty, but it's the teenagers you always have to look out for. Most adults and children liked me. Anyway, I'm not too sure as to why he was scared of a guy like Nightmare. "Um, I don't think he's going to hurt you... He seems friendly."

"He's an Incubus! He'll give you nightmares beyond you wildest imaginations; he'll make you deepest fears come true! He'll make it to where you'll never get another good night's rest again!"

...Now I feel as though I should be scared of Nightmare. Well, we'll find out, then, won't we? "O-Okay...I-I'll keep that in mind. Um, thanks for the medicine... Do you need money or-?" I remember sticking five bucks in my wallet because of a game that the Band was going to be playing at, and I was part of the band, and during third quarter we were all able to get snacks. I was planning on getting me a yummy fresh-baked cookie, but it seems a certain rabbit foiled my plans.

The man shook his head, and if he had eyes, I was certain he'd be staring at me like I was an animal. In a way, even without the eyes, it seemed he was. "N-No money needed! Just-Just please, return to your Lord Nightmare!"

Right...Okay. I'm weirded out now. Seeing how Nightmare actually exists, I'm interrogating him later. I cast one more glance at the scared doctor man before walking out of the clinic, ignoring the curious and slight frightened and angry stares from more...faceless. I felt like an outcast. I didn't understand why all these people were looking at me like they were, and I didn't understand what I had done to be looked at like that. Why were they whispering about me? And what were the role-holders they were talking about? I wanted to know. But most of all...

I wanted home. In the comfort of my room, where I could sit in silence and get on my laptop, reading nonstop fanfiction and manga online. Where I could listen to music and not worry about being hated by people... I wanted to be back at school and mess around with my friends.

But, there was one thing I wanted to know before all of that... Why were they so scared of Nightmare, and why didn't they have any eyes?