Alice jolted awake. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself down before looking at the clock on the nightstand. It was exactly ten minutes before she had to get up for work. She groaned and sat on the edge of her bed thinking about the vivid dream that had just played in her mind. She couldn't describe it, but she felt as if she knew first-hand, what that place was. What it smelled like, what it felt like, not only to the touch, but also in her heart. But even as she thought this, she shook her head to clear the sensation.
That's crazy. She thought. You really need some friends. she scolded herself.
Alice stood and stretched her long body before walking to the bathroom to shower. After she was finished, she wiped the steam from the mirror and began brushing her teeth. That's when the rustling began. She held the brush still in her mouth and listened. The sound came again. She spat out the toothpaste that was in her mouth and set the toothbrush down. She crept quietly to the door and tried to open it silently, but it inevitably creaked.
Almost as soon as the door squeaked, she heard a faint popping noise. She narrowed her eyes and exited the bathroom. She looked all around her apartment, but didn't find anything out of the ordinary. She sat down upon her bed in confusion and was presently nudged by a cold and wet nose. Alice started and looked down, surprised to find a kitten there. This kitten, however, was not an ordinary kitten. Firstly, it had large violet eyes, which was not natural, she was sure and secondly, it was adorned with perfectly straight and precisely spaced black and gray stripes all along its small body. There was a light blue satin ribbon around its neck, but no identification was attached.
"Where did you come from little guy?" she asked the kitten while picking it up.
"Ouch!" it responded and Alice dropped the cat. "Don't squeeze so hard!"
"S-sorry," Alice said backing slowly away.
"It is alright." The cat said, "Don't be frightened." He lay down on her bed and began to lick a paw. "I'm here to take you home." The cat jumped down from the bed and began walking towards her mirror.
"Wait…" Oh my God, I can't believe I'm holding a conversation with a cat. This can not be possible! "Did you say take me home? This is my home." The cat gazed sardonically at her.
"Alice…" it said with an undoubtedly snarky edge to his tone, "please."
Alice was so taken aback at the sarcasm in the kitten's tone that she was momentarily struck speechless. The kitten turned and sat down on the floor with a humph.
"We haven't got all day you know." He said.
"All day for what?"
"Are you a dullard? I already told you! I am come to take you home!" being called a dullard by a cat made Alice lose her temper and she raged at the animal.
"Listen cat! I am not dumb, I am home and I have absolutely no clue what you're talking about, or why you're even talking at all. I must be dreaming or something because cats don't talk!"
"I do."
"Yes, but as I've said, you're obviously just a figment of my imagination."
"I am not. I'm as real as you are."
"This is a dream! Nothing more! In a few minutes, my alarm clock will wake me up and you will be gone." The cat sighed.
"I really didn't have to resort to this Alice, but you have really left me no choice." It was Alice's turn for sarcasm. What could a cat possibly do to her that would be so bad? That was when she heard the popping sound again and in place of the cat, was the most beautiful man she had ever seen.
***
Alice wasn't sure how long she'd been out, but one thing was for sure, she was definitely late for work. She went to jump out of bed but found herself on the floor. The towel that she had dried off with was folded neatly beside her and upon gazing at her body, saw she was clothed in a translucent white dress. Alice stood shakily, as she was in black paten heels, and walked slowly to her mirror. Her blond hair was styled with a Grecian headdress with a few stray coils of hair curling down. Her dark blue eyes were outlined in black and her full lips were painted ruby.
"You clean up nicely," said a voice from behind. Alice turned around and gasped in surprise. The now human cat stood before her and she instinctively backed up. "I helped myself. I hope you don't mind," he admitted holding up a glass of milk. He lounged on her bed, as if he owned it, and crossed his leather clad legs. Her eyes wandered appreciatively down his lean torso, for he had on no shirt, to his feet which were also bare. He wore his black hair shoulder length and spiky and Alice was shocked to see the points of a pair of ears poking out. When the cat, if he should even be called that, finished his milk, he stood and stretched.
"Ah! That was such a pleasant luxury. Back home, the queen holds all such luxuries to herself. She has grown most frightfully wicked and fat."
"Queen?" Alice inquired.
"Why, the Red queen of course."
"I still don't understand." Alice stammered.
"No time to explain. Must be off." The cat grabbed her wrists, pulling her towards her mirror.
"Wait! Why are you--- Alice wasn't allowed to finish her sentence.
