Peering warily out each door, Adrastea noticed that each one leading somewhere new; the double doors lead to a completely white corridor, the green door to a kitchen full of teapots, dirty dishes from baking and various tea cups, and several others leading to more strange places such as a garden of flowers. The table and the single chair in the room had a small piece of cake and a pretty vial of fluid. Not feeling particularly up to testing the food and drink, she walked closer to one of the doors.

Beyond the doorframe, there was ruins. It felt strangely familiar. The remnants of a castle or a keep's tower was entrancing in the bright sunlight. The ground was also covered in a beautiful white and black tiles, much like a chess- or checker board. Outside the board was plenty of flowers and trees. Believing that this was as good place as any, Adrastea stepped past the doorway.

Adrastea didn't realize that the ground of the room and the board was slightly different, but at least a foot and a half. She stumbled as she landed on the checkered ground. However, the wind carrying the scent of flowers and nature to her nose whipped past her as she smiled and laughed in delight. Chuckling to herself as she got used to the new location, she didn't notice a timid white rabbit hop hesitantly behind her.

Feeling a tug on the hem of her hoodie, Adrastea looked down and her eyes widened as brown orbs absorbed a white rabbit as large as an average dog in a magenta waist coat like from 1800's shaking slightly as it peered up at her. "Who are you Miss?" it asked in a defiantly male voice. Not even bothering to answer, the young woman fled like she was being chased by wolves hungry for human flesh.

The panic clashed through her veins as Adrastea was like a speed demon. She was again, seeing all the danger in the trees that she entered. Running blindly through woods, she ended up stopping in a clearing with bare trees, ruins of buildings charred by something and burnt dead grass. Panting heavily from exertion, she glanced around wildly but when the coast was clear, she relaxed.

"I'm in a strange world." the girl concluded as she sat down on a burnt log. The place should have smelt like smoke or charred wood, but it was clear like it had been like this for such a long time. She was confused, but then again, doors that led from one place to a dozen others wasn't? "I should see what I have." she stated as if she was seeing what she had to survive a zombie apocalypse.

As she started to take the contents of the pockets out. Sometimes she'd give an item a strange look as if she had never seen it before. Others she glared at for being lost for so long. As she pulled items out, she sorted them into piles on the mostly clear patch of grass. Calculating the size of certain piles, she concluded that she was doomed, since she wasn't able to carry any sort of weapon since she had to ride an airplane.

The piles were what most would find a sixteen year old to be carrying. Although Adrastea would argue that the rest of her luggage wasn't here. There was a small pile of all the makeup she owned, which was significantly less than most teens. Another pile was all her jewelry, which had been packed into a small coin bag so she didn't lose any earrings.

The larger pile was her electronics. A touch screen iPod, which was covered in a clear cover to make it more damage resistant, was her constant companion. She also found her camera, which also had several 'new' memory cards, most of which she had thought that she had lost. A small laptop, which was mostly for holding all the images that she liked from the internet, was rarely used and sat uselessly here since she doubted there was Wifi. The pile was complete with a small, all in one solar charger that Adrastea got last year for a camping trip to make her iPod survive.

The last pile was Adrastea's extra change of clothes, which made her bag more bulky and heavy. The set consisted of a purple long sleeved shirt, a black tank top, tall black boots with steel toes, black leggings, and a purple and black striped mini skirt.

Sighing because there was nothing particularly useful in her bag, Adrastea put everything back and stood up. Sweating slightly, she took off her hoodie and revealed the body hidden beneath. "Might as well find an inhabitant." she noted cheerily as she walked.

Wearing tight dark blue jeans with black butterflies and rose embroidered up her left leg, brown lace-up boots that went half-way up her calves, Adrastea glanced at her shirt and blushed wishing she could change her top. A stretchy tan spandex/cotton long sleeved shirt hung off her shoulders as its design dictated ended a few inches before her belly button exposing her navel to anyone's eyes, was trimmed on the top with soft, not scratchy off-white lace. Adrastea had completed the look that morning with a black vest that tight and held her breasts up and together and was shorter that the shirt itself and black skull earrings, with white rhinestone eyes.

Closing her eyes, Adrastea listened and could vaguely hear chatter and the clink of china hitting china. Pausing for a moment to ponder the ridiculous idea, she then started to walk toward the source of the noise. The woods began to thin and a broken down windmill could be seen through the barren branches as she crouched behind them.

Adrastea studied the trio. They were a strange bunch, to say it nicely. There was a hare that looked like he needed a good bath that was very twitchy and kept moving and rearranging the tea cups and such placed in front of him. A mouse that had a sword and was dressed a tunic, and a man... a tall man with a strange looking top hat and unruly scarlet hair. There was two males and a female judging by the voices.

Holding very still, Adrastea watched them trying to get the courage to approach them. Feeling a warm breeze, she didn't tear her eyes from the trio. "Oh? We have a young woman who is spying?" purred a male voice that was rich in tone.

Goosebumps creeped over her skin, as Adrastea tried to move, but she was trapped in the fear. "No comment?" the male asked, as Adrastea felt something touch her she moved. As quick as a lightning strike, the hand belonging to the voice was grabbed and suddenly thrown and Adrastea saw a beautiful cat with smoky gray fur and electric blue stripes fly forward, then disappear into mist.

Panting as she tried to shake off her terror, Adrastea realized she was standing above the bushes and the trio was staring at her in shock. "My, my, you have a strong arm, lassie." said the red-haired man, as he got up from his chair and started walking toward her. Each step he took toward her was one step backward, she took to stay away.

A paw appeared out of nowhere and stopped the man. "I do believe she is scared, old friend." purred a familiar voice. The man stopped and took off his hat and bowed. "Well then dear lass, I am the Mad Hatter." he introduced with a soft accent that she couldn't quite place.

Blinking, Adrastea backed up even further. "No... that was just a story Mom would tell me... it can't be real..." she stopped as she realized which mother she was talking about.

"What isn't real?" asked the female mouse, who had come over unnoticed. Adrastea noticed that the mouse was very calm.

Adrastea shook her head trying to make this all go away. "Wonderland... I mean Underland... Mom's great grandmother came here..." she was stuttering in spite of herself and unable to complete her thought aloud.

The Hatter came close. "Great grandmother?" he asked, as Adrastea noticed his eyes were the entrancing green she was told about, his front teeth still spaced, and his hat just the same.

"Yes... Alice Kingsley..." Just as she murmured those words, his eyes turned a slight yellow.

"Where is she? When will Alice come?" he asked, his eyes innocent without understanding.

Backing up, Adrastea tripped and crawled away. "Sir... She's passed away long before I was born..."

Everyone's eyes were open with dread understanding as it dawned on the Hatter. "Alice's not coming back..." he said confirming it to himself. Green and yellow turned blue with sorrow and orange with anger. "WHY!" he screamed, making everyone flinch.

Getting up, Adrastea noticed everyone was scampering away. "He's going insane!" yelled the hare as he dove under the table with the mouse and the cat also disappearing from sight.

Roaring to the sky, the Hatter turned his attention to Adrastea. "You..." he growled. Dread filled her stomach, but then she wasn't afraid, not of the Hatter, whom she was always told was gentle and brave. As he came forward toward her like a predator stalking prey, she stood up and dropped her bag into the ground with a muffled thump. Goosebumps once again made all the hairs on her body stand up.

Opening her eyes, Adrastea came fearlessly forward and slapped the Hatter, who stood there stunned. "Do you think Alice would like you to treat her kin like this?!" she demanded, screaming in his face. "She died, so what?! Everyone's dies for your 411! Now get over it and cherish the memories you had together!" It was similar to what she had been told all those years ago.

The Hatter blinked, his eyes returning to normal. "You slapped me..." he said dumbfounded.

Adrastea snorted as she settled into her teenager mode, like at school. "So what? At this rate it won't be the last..."

The hare came out from under the table holding the mouse. "That was very brave of you, girl." said the mouse in awe. "I'm Mallymkun the Dormouse. And this holding me is Thackery Earwicket or the March Hare." Bowing slightly with Mallymkun, Thackery put her down on the table.

The Hatter bowed again. "Sorry for that display." he apologized as Adrastea eased slightly.

Adrastea smiled. "It's quite alright. I am Adrastea Korbyn." she offered her hand to shake.

Beaming, the Hatter offered his arm to Adrastea. "Shall we have tea?" he inquired. Looking at the table, Adrastea nodded. The Hatter looked at the arm that Adrastea didn't grab. "Is this no longer a custom in the Otherland?" he questioned, flecks of yellow appearing in his eyes.

Adrastea gazed at his arm and blushed. "Not much anymore..." she murmured, but made no move to come closer and take the offered arm.

Mally glanced over. "What is wrong child?" she asked, slightly concerned.

Adrastea shook her head making her long braid follow the movement. "Nothing..." she uttered as she turned and picked up her bag. The Hatter gave up and went to the table and pulled out a chair next to him out for Adrastea. Shaking her head politely, Adrastea took a seat next to Mallymkun and sat. Confused, the Hatter sat and the hare poured some tea for Adrastea, who thanked him but just stared at the liquid while the trio watched her for a bit before she ended being ignored as they started their normal chatter.

"Rude aren't you?" inquired the cat's male voice from the opposite end of the table from the Hatter.

Everyone stopped as he spoke. Adrastea didn't move, and sighed. "You have no room to speak, now do you?" she said calmly as she finally picked up her teacup of cooled tea and took a small gulp from it. "From what I know, you, Chessur the Cheshire Cat, is no enemy to make and thus one I have no wish to offend."

Moving slowly, Adrastea drank her tea gracefully and calmly until someone touched her side. "Why did you flee?" asked the rabbit from earlier, who was panting softly.

"Did it occur to you that you scared me?" questioned Adrastea as she finished her tea. She was numb at the moment, so she wasn't prone to one of her panic attacks.

The rabbit stuttered. "It..."

Smiling as she put down her empty cup, Adrastea turned to him. "Well Niven McTwisp, I suggest you don't do it again or I might have rabbit stew." Eyes almost popping out of Niven's head caused Adrastea burst out laughing. "I'm kidding, I loathe rabbit meat let alone rabbit stew."

Niven relaxed as Adrastea giggled slightly as he calmed down. Raising a shaggy eyebrow, the Hatter looked at Niven. "Tea?" he asked holding up a teapot. As Niven left to sit beside the Hatter and as far as he could from Adrastea as possible, Adrastea leaned down and got out her iPod. "Would anyone mind if I played some music?" she inquired as she held up the item that was mysterious to the Underlanders.

With a chorus of no's, Adrastea grinned like Chessur as she selected a song. Piano filled the air as Adrastea relaxed. The music built up as suddenly Adrastea began to sing, singing along perfectly with the female that originally sings the song. 'How can you see into my eyes like open doors? Leading you down into my core where I've become so numb...' Here the air seemed to still before the music was filled with drums, bass and guitars. 'Without a soul, my spirit sleeping somewhere cold. Until you find it there and lead it back home...'

Again the air stilled before a male voice from the iPod joined Adrastea and the unknown female singer in the song. 'Wake me me up inside.I can't wake up. Wake me up me. Call my name and save me from the me up. Bid my blood to run.I can't wake up. Before I come me. Save me from the nothing I've become...' Everyone's eyes were open and watching, but Adrastea's eyes remained closed as she sang and swayed slightly with the beat.

'Now that I know what I'm without, You can't just leave me. Breathe into me and make me real... Bring me to life...Wake me up. Wake me up inside.I can't wake up. Wake me up me. Call my name and save me from the me up. Bid my blood to run.I can't wake up. Before I come me. Save me from the nothing I've become.I've been living a lie...There's nothing inside. Bring me to life...' Hatter stared at the change in the girl she was singing as if she was in this situation...

'Frozen in time without your touch, Without your love, darling. Only you are the life among the dead...All this time, I can't believe I couldn't see. Kept in the dark but you were there in front of me... I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems,Got to open my eyes to thought, without voice, without a soul. Don't let me die must be something more. Bring me to me up. Wake me up inside.I can't wake up. Wake me up me. Call my name and save me from the me up. Bid my blood to run.I can't wake I come me from the nothing I've become.I've been living a lie. There's nothing inside. Bring me to life...' As Adrastea sang the last note and the song's music died away she opened her eyes and everyone was staring at her in shock.

Everything seemed paused as the iPod started playing another song, but softer so it went unnoticed. After a moment, the Hatter started clapping wildly and everyone joined him, shouting 'encore'.

Blushing as deep as humanly possible, Adrastea murmured 'thank you' and stared down at her empty tea cup before the Hatter noticed it was empty. "Gosh, someone give the girl some tea! She must be parched!" he ordered and Adrastea's cup was soon filled.

"Where did you learn to sing so beautifully?" questioned Chessur, who was still a little surprised.

Adrastea smiled shyly. "By myself."

The chatter soon started again and continued even as the sun began to set. Adrastea noticed Thackery was nodding off and Mallymkun was asleep in a teacup. A thought hit her, and she interrupted the Hatter and Niven as they debated about the use of ribbon on a hat. "Where am I going to sleep tonight?" she asked.

Mallymkun stirred slightly in her sleep and woke up as all eyes turned to the Hatter, who was getting a faint blush on his cheeks. Silence reigned for several minutes as the problem was pondered. "Well we could take you to the Queen's palace, but that would take all night..." offered Thackery.

Chessur had a thoughtful look on his cat face. "You could sleep here. In the morning, we can take you to the Queen's palace." Adrastea and the rest looked at the Hatter. "Well Tarrent?" inquired Chessur with a soft purr to his tone. "In the end it's up to you, it is your house."

Hatter's face was tinted pink with embarrassment. "But..." he stuttered as he looked down at the hands he was fiddling with.

Mallymkun smiled at Adrastea and winked. Thackery was asleep already. Niven looked at his pocket watch murmuring his farewells as he scampered off. Chessur grinned his signature smile as he started to turn into vapor. "Goodnight everyone." he said as his grin faded away.

Adrastea glanced around. "We'd better get inside it's getting dark." she announced, which snapped Hatter out of his trance of fiddling with his fingers and thumbs.

"Yes, yes." he muttered as he scooped up Thackery. Mallymkun jumped onto Adrastea's bag as they marched up into the run-down windmill.

Mallymkun curled up in a broken teapot that had scraps of fabric that served as blankets and pillows. Thackery was carefully placed by the Hatter onto a small make-shift bed under a table in the kitchen. Blushing slightly, the Hatter led Adrastea to a small bedroom with a handmade bed with a quilt and several pillows. "Goodnight, do try to sleep well." murmured the Hatter as he turned to shut the door and leave.

"Hatter?" ask Adrastea, causing him to turn.

"Yes?" he responded.

"Where are you going to sleep?" questioned Adrastea.

Smiling softly, green eyes twinkling, the Hatter slowly shut the door and just before you couldn't see his face, he answered. "Somewhere..."

Adrastea sighed and looked at the bed and shuddered. 'He sleeps here... a man...' she mentally as she lay on the floor, curling into a ball, her hoodie being used as a pillow. As she fell asleep, she wondered if being in Underland was a good thing or a bad thing to happen to her...


The song is "Bring me to Life" by Evanescence