Chapter One: Welcome Home, Alice
* Rosalie Alice Kingsleigh *
My name? Rose Alice Nicol… Rose Alice Kingleigh.
My age? Thirteen years.
My dream... no... my destiny? To find Wonderland.
I looked over at the sea. The salty breezes blew through my matted, blond hair. I always come to this grassy point off the coast to think. It also reminds me of so much. My aunt, Alice, the closest family member to me, is a common thought. I missed her greatly. She left for China two years ago. That is why I'm here tonight. Alice is sailing home and should be back tomorrow morning. I haven't seen her since I was nine. My dreadful father, Lowell Nicolson, may the Jabberwocky spit on his name, sent me to an awful boarding school. I do not consider my father. He means nothing to me. He's a monster. He started cheating on my mother a week after their wedding. Alice knew. She told me, and when Lowell found out I knew, he sent me away.
I was starting to feel sleepy. I'm most likely going to dose….off….
***
I was falling. Down, down, down a deep, dark hole. I flailed and spun, flipping in all directions. I've had this dream before. I was in Wonderland… or, on my way, at least. I fell and fell. My dream self soon got the hang of it. I speedily floated down the rabbit hole. I hit a marble surface. It was hard and stiff, yet smooth and cool. I soon realized I was lying on the ceiling. I fell and landed on the real ground with a thud. I pushed off the hard tile and stood up, dizzily. I shook my head and looked around the circular room. Doors lined the walls. There were so many, but which was the one that led to Wonderland? I heard a faint knocking. I look around the room once more. It sounded like it came from behind a tall curtain. I pushed the blue material aside. It revealed a small door, about a foot high. The knocking was coming from behind that door. The knocking grew louder. It soon became scratching. Soon, the noise ceased. I crouched down to the floor and peeked through the small keyhole. Nothing was there. I slowly backed away. Then there were faint footsteps.
"SHREEEEEEAK!" squawked the Jabberwocky as it broke a giant hole through the wall where the small door was. I screamed and scrambled around the room. A small table appeared in the middle of the room. I climbed up onto it as the Jabberwocky came fully into the room. I jumped to try and reach the opening that moved to the ceiling to get into the rabbit hole. I just couldn't reach! I shrieked and screamed, but the beast showed no mercy as it swung its claw at me. It opened its giant mouth to let out another squawk.
"OUUUGAAA!" it shouted. It sounded more like a ships horn. The Jabberwocky then turned into a puff of smoke. Soon enough the entire room vanished away into a puff of smoke as well. My eyes flashed open.
***
The sun shone brightly in my light blue eyes. I covered my face with my hands to block out the light. Than it hit me. The sound that woke me was a ship! Alice had returned! I looked over at the docks in the harbor, and sure enough, there was a large ship labeled "Wonder". I jumped up with joy and ran down the grassy point and down to the harbor at top speed. I saw people getting off the boat. Then, I saw her, and older version of me, being followed by a big, blue butterfly. I smiled widely.
"Alice!" I yelled. The
blond girl turned around. Her smiled widened. She threw her arms open as soon as I reached her and pulled me into a hug.
"Rose! I've missed you so!" Alice said sweetly. She released me from her hug. I helped her with her luggage and explained how I waited here all night as we walked back to my house.
***
I unlocked my front door and let Alice go first. She looked around the room as I took her luggage form her.
"Welcome home, Alice." I said smiling. "I'll bring this to your room."
I pulled her suitcases into the guestroom.
"So, where's your mother?" Alice asked, stepping into the room.
"Work." I replied. "She works from 6am to 11:30pm. She's out all day except Saturday and Sunday." I looked over at the nearest wall clock. It was 11am.
"Poor Margaret…" Alice mumbled. "How long has this been going on?" She asked curiously.
"Ever since she divorced my fa…Lowell." I said.
"He was a bad man. You shouldn't be ashamed of disliking him. He is not father material." Alice said strongly.
I nodded in agreement. "And I thank my lucky stars that I look nothing like him."
"Your more like my little clone." Alice said giggling. I laughed too. It was the truth; I looked like a mini Alice.
"So, what do you want to do today?" Alice asked me as she led me out of the room and into the den. I look at her curiously with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, you mum is out and we've got half a day ahead of us, so we might as well enjoy ourselves." Alice said, giving me a wink. I smiled at her idea.
"Does shopping sound alright?" I asked curiously. Alice nodded and smiled softly. She handed me my coat and grabbed her purse. She had never take her jacket off so she was out the door before I could pull my coat's sleeve right side in. I smirked and ran to catch up to her.
***
While we were out, Alice noticed a purple, black, and blue plaid journal in a corner store window. We went into that store and she left with a shopping bag… I think she bought it.
***
We arrived back at my house around 10:30. I was so tired that I went right to my room and got into bed. Shortly after I was under my warm covers, Alice came in and sat on my bed.
"Rose?" She asked softly.
"Yes?" I replied.
"Do you remember when I used to tell you stories when you were younger?" I nodded.
"Well, do you mind if I tell you another?"
"Sure." I said with a smile.
"Well, a year or two after Lowell sent you away, I stumbled back into Wonderland." She began.
"No way!" I said grinning like the Cheshire Cat.
"Way! I cant believe you still remember that story from so long ago." I nodded happily at her comment.
"Well, I was at a garden party you see…" Alice continued. She told another amazing story of her adventures in Wonderland. She told of clashes of queens and a fierce battle with the great Jabberwocky. I started to dose off as she spoke of leaving for China and seeing Abosolom as a beautiful, blue butterfly. I dozed off into my dreams.
***
I had the same dream as I did the previous night… you know… the one with the Jabberwocky, except nothing turned into smoke, I awoke when it was about to swallow me whole. I got out of bed and checked my wall clock. It was 11:30pm. I walked into the den to find Alice, sitting in an old chair, reading Wuthering Heights by the dim fire.
"Rose?" She said softly. I walked into view, my robe trailing behind me.
"I… I had a nightmare." I said. I watched Alice bookmark her page, stand up and walkover to me. She took my hand and led me back to my room. I climbed into bed once more.
"Do you remember what I told you long ago? I think you were six at the time. It was my father's remedy to escape a nightmare that he passed on to me. Then I passed it on to you." Alice said, taking a seat on my bed again. I thought for a minute or so.
"oh!" I said. "I remember now! I just have to pinch myself." I said.
"And tell yourself it was just a dream. Night Rose. Your mother will be arriving soon." Alice said smiling. She turned down my room lights and left. Its hard to believe that my room was still pastel pink.
