Elisa stepped out of the house and into a sunny garden. There was a wondrous assortment of flowers. From roses to tigerlillys. The most numerous of flowers thought were sunflowers. 'Why would take care of this many flowers?' Elisa walked through the garden and thought that she heard whispers. "Why have you come here?" Standing in front of Elisa was a very tall man. Gray, almost white hair fell over his face. And though it was clearly spring he was wearing a black trench coat and a red scarf. "My name is Elisa. I am very sorry to be intruding." He looked her over, "I don't care." Something about this man gave Elisa goosebumps. He looked down on her as if at any time he could crush her.

Trumpets started to play and guards appeared. "Have you gotten my flowers for me Victor?" A woman dressed in a fine red dress walked up the steps into the garden. Her red hair was tied into a high ponytail, but some strands of hair hung down her face framing it perfectly. "Of course my queen." Victor gave her a bouquet of roses. "Who is this?" Elisa soon realized that the Queen's attention was turned towards her. Victor spoke up, "Nobody of importance she..." "Why it's a little girl," the Queen interrupted. "Yes, and I was hoping," Elisa started to speak. "Lookup, speak nicely, and don't twiddle your fingers." Elisa did just as the Queen asked. "Tern out your toes, curtsy, open your mouth a little wider, and always say 'yes your Majesty." "Yes your Majesty." The Queen smiled at Elisa. One of the guards tried and fell out of line. The Queen turned her head to him and shouted at the top of her lungs, "off with his head!" The guard was picked up by the arms and dragged away. "I am the red Queen of hearts. You will address me as your Majesty, or my Queen. I am known for my brilliant speed. Would you like a demonstration?" "Yes your Majesty." The Queen ran to the other side of the garden then back in seconds. "You see my dear, only I am the fastest."

Elisa was confused by this. 'How is she able to run at such speeds?' "Now my dear, I am going to offer you the chance to be a queen." "Me a queen? But how?" "You must make it to the eighth rank in a chess match. Now the countryside is played out into squares, like a gigantic chess board. You will be placed in the second rank as one of my sister's- the white Queen- pawns." "Yes your Majesty." "Good girl. there is a train that will take you to your next space." Almost as soon as the red Queen had mentioned the train it had appeared. Elisa boarded a train and within only a few minutes it had jumped over the third row and directly to the fourth rank.