I shook my head, looking at Alice, "I don't get it, what is the game about?"
She smiled, "I'm not sure. All I know is that Wonderland is all about the game. No one could keep going without it, and they all listen to the 'rules' though I don't know what all the rules are. They don't make any sense, and I only heard people say a rule here and there in passing."
I laughed, "That's weird, it doesn't make any sense for a world to live in a game."
Alice only nodded, staring at the stream.
Tapping the water with my finger, I looked at her, curious, "Do you remember any of the rules?"
She looked up, thinking for a moment, "Well…The people that rule the territories have to invite everyone to their home every now and then to keep the people together, or something like that…and…another was, 'if you drink the potion of hearts, you must participate in the game'."
Here, Alice smiled, then rolled her eyes, "There was only one more I remember…Peter said it before I was taken to Wonderland. He said, 'If there is a hole, you must jump in.'"
I looked at Alice, "A hole?"
She laughed a moment, nodding her head, "When I was taken to Wonderland, it was through a huge hole in my garden. I'm not sure how it got there, but a hole is how I got back too. I filled up the vile of the potion of hearts, and it let me open the hole to come back here."
There wasn't much more after that, so I figured Alice was done telling stories for the day.
I couldn't help myself, looking at her as she stared at the river, remembering things I could only imagine, "Alice?" I asked, getting her attention, "Wonderland really does exist, doesn't it?"
She smiled, in an airy way that made me feel sad for some reason, "Yes. It's hard to believe but Wonderland exists…somewhere."
I looked up at the sky, "I know you said that you came back here, because you had to…but…do you miss it?"
She looked over at me a moment, then her eyes told me before she did, "Yes, I miss everyone there…I came back to my home, but Lorina died a few days before I came home…she stayed out looking for me when Father said I was just being a child…She got very ill for being out in the bad weather, and the cold nights…"
I stared down at the soft grass, thinking, "Lorina was your sister, right? She was why you wanted to come back…because she would worry…"
Alice looked down, and I could see she was almost crying, "…Yes..."
I nodded, "I'd like to see Wonderland too…"
Alice smiled up at me, and nodded her head, "You'd like it there…I can see it when I tell you my stories…"
We lied there in the grass on the river bank for a while, silent as we thought about everything we'd said.
I remember Alice saying something before, something about being told that anyone could go to Wonderland if they wanted to. She said it was said by the Incubus that helped her get there, Nightmare.
I closed my eyes, 'If there was ever any wish you would answer, I wish I could go to Wonderland…so that I'm far away from here…'
I opened my eyes, half hoping it would work, that something would happen and I'd be there all of a sudden. It was a stupid thought, but still one I'd secretly hoped.
I sighed, "We should go home, Alice. It's getting dark…"
She smiled, "It's a good time for a tea party…"
I laughed, "It's a good time for bed. Come on, I'll walk you home, okay?"
She stood up, patting down her dress with its white apron front, and flattened her long hair, in its blue bow, "Alright."
The forest was much quieter than usual, and everything seemed still. Alice didn't seem aware that anything was weird, so I just followed slightly behind her, keeping my eyes on our path.
I paused a moment, hearing something in the trees to my right, and kept my eyes there, still. Alice looked back, "Is something wrong?"
Shaking my head, I nearly started forward again, but then I heard it again, 'Play the game.'
I stepped forward, toward the trees, and Alice slowly followed, "What is it?"
I only continued, like I wasn't controlling my feet, as I continued through the trees, off of the path.
There it was. And I'd have never believed it if I wasn't looking down at it myself. There was a large, black hole in the ground, surrounded by trees.
I heard Alice take in a breath from behind me, and I smiled, "Alice…if there's a hole, you must jump in…right?"
She laughed a moment, nervously, "I'm not sure we should just…"
I shook my head, "I have to…"
Alice stepped up next to me, and took my hand, "Do you think it will really take me back to Wonderland?"
I grinned, "Anywhere but here."
And then I jumped, pulling her behind me as we both laughed at the prospect of what we were doing.
It was a dream. It had to have been a dream. That's why this long, darkness never would end. Alice was with me, still holding onto my hand, but I was scared now. Why did I jump in? We would surely die when we hit the bottom, wouldn't we?
Alice laughed, "Everything must come to an end…"
I looked up at her as I fell, "B-but we'll die if the ground comes soon…"
She smiled, "No…That's not how it works."
I couldn't help myself, touching the ground below me. I was on my knees on the stone floor, wide-eyed and shaking. Alice was standing over me, "Are you alright?"
I looked up, "I-I am…"
She looked around, "I wonder what we are supposed to do now…"
I stood up, "Isn't this your world you told me about? You know where everything is, right?"
She smiled, "Yes…I only wonder if we can stay here…without being in the game…we didn't drink anything…but maybe that doesn't mean we aren't in the game still…"
I laughed, "I guess we'll have to figure that out."
Suddenly, Alice's head shot up, looking at something behind me.
I turned too.
"Hello again, Alice."
