Just a quick warning to those reading this who have already played the game! I'll be adding one or two origional characters to Wonderland. Jack is one of them. And I believe I forgot to mention in the other chapters this:

American McGee's Alice and related characters are (c) American McGee, EA Games, Rogue Entertainment, and anyone else it may belong to.

Selena Lawless is (c) me Masquerade, and cannot be used by other authors without permission

Now then, on to the madness!

*******

`You are old, Father William,' the young man said,

`And your hair has become very white;

And yet you incessantly stand on your head--

Do you think, at your age, it is right?' `In my youth,' Father William replied to his son,

`I feared it might injure the brain;

But, now that I'm perfectly sure I have none,

Why, I do it again and again.' `You are old,' said the youth, `as I mentioned before,

And have grown most uncommonly fat;

Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door--

Pray, what is the reason of that?' `In my youth,' said the sage, as he shook his grey locks,

`I kept all my limbs very supple

By the use of this ointment--one shilling the box--

Allow me to sell you a couple?'



Chapter 2: Village of the Doomed - Pandemonium

A Dr. Farly came in to check on me an hour later. He was smiling at my open eyes.

"Welcome back to the world, darling." he greeted.

"It's good to be back." I mumbled.

"Pardon?"

"Nothing. I just woke up from a bad dream. Where am I? What happened?"

Dr. Farly picked up a clipboard with a thick stack of papers attached.

"Well, from what I understand...your name is Selena Lawless, a 25 year old medical student at Maryland University in the United States. You were born in Ireland, then you worked as a technology engineer and playwrite in Tokyo, Japan. Then, you enrolled at the Maryland University of Medicine in the states to study medicine, then you came here to London for a two week vaca..."

"I know who I am!" I snapped. "Tell me what I'm doing here!"

"There, there. Last night in your room at a Bed and Breakfast, you suffered from a heart attack. The ambulence brought you here in time..." He flipped through a few papers and scratched his head. "...but by then, you seemed to have gotten into a coma. Nothing we did caused you to even twitched. You were breathing and your heartbeat was normal, but otherwise you looked dead. Good to see you're okay, darling. You gave us all a fright."

I had to smile. I couldn't help it.

"I tend to surprise everyone I meet." My smile faded away. "So, what caused the heart attack? My cholestoral is okay, I exercize daily, plus I think I'm a little young..."

"Well," the doctor bit his lip as he flipped through more papers, "it's not because cholestoral is clogging your bloodflow... You've caught a very nasty virus."

"Virus?"

"So far, it's only known as 'Hemomaxus.' It's been around for a couple years, so it is new. Well..." He seemed hesitant to tell me. As I started to wonder why, he finally continued. "It does the opposite that cholestoral does to the arteries. Instead of blocking them, it opens the arteries wider and forces more blood into the heart than it could handle. Essentially, the blood seeps into your lungs, and..." He took in a breath. "...leads to suffication."

"In other words, I'll be drowned in my own blood." I concluded. The doctor looked surprised. "I go to Maryland University of Medicine, Dr. Farly. I've heard of this, and I know there's a cure."

"Yes. You're in luck, we have a small stock in this building. Fortunantly, your case is still in its early stage, so one bottle of the formula should be enough. However, it is really expensive."

"I don't care about the cost. My life is at stake here."

"I understand." Dr. Farly smiled. "Well, I'll be right back with it then. Sit tight."

He closed the door, and left me alone in the room.

Well...I wasn't entirely alone...

...the stuffed rabbit was still in my hand...

*******

He came right back with a huge bottle capped with a plastic dose-taker. The doctor also handed me the receipt for me to sign, so I borrowed a pen from him and scribbled my name.

"I'll put it on my Capital One card." I told him. He accepted that.

"The innkeeper's wife to the Bed and Breakfast called. She will pick you up later today."

"Pick me up?" I blinked.

"You are free to leave, darling. You can go back to your boarding room. However, get plenty of rest, and take the medicine before eating anything at all. Come and see me again in a week for a check up."

"Thank you, Dr. Farly."

"Most welcome. And I like that rabbit there. Did you make it?"

I looked at the stuffed rabbit still cradled under my arm.

"Oh, no. I won it at an aution yesterday... er, two days ago. I like him a lot."

"Does he have a name?"

"I haven't thought of one yet."

"Did you bid a lot of money on him?"

"Yeah. I won him at seven hundred pounds."

"I'm sure it was worth it."

I nodded with a smile.

"So, would you like anything while you're waiting for your ride, darling?"

"Can I watch TV?"

"Good show." he nodded. He walked to the wall mounted TV, and turned a dial. The screen flickered on, showing the news. I smiled again.

"That's fine. Thank you."

"See you in a week, Selena."

Then, the doctor left, but this time for good.

My eyes were glued to the news for the next fifteen minutes, but I wasn't really paying attention. I think I remember something about asylum patients being at an all time high in England before my head started to throb suddenly. It felt like I had a beating heart in my head. My heart in my chest got sore every now and then, but it didn't hurt as bad. I lay back a little further into the pillow, and sat my rabbit on my stomach.

"So much for my vacation...aw man..."

I started becoming aware of the familiar smell of burning glue around me...

*******

It felt like no time when the innkeeper's wife came to pick me up. Her name was Mirium McCoy, and she helped her husband run the Bed and Breakfast. They had two wonderful children: fifteen-year-old Jon, and six-year-old Lisa. They weren't with her when she came to pick me up; they were at school.

"Alright then, Selena?" she asked as she walked through the door.

"Yeah." I gulped, sitting up. "Ready?"

"Only if you are, dearie."

So, we walked to her car. The traffic was really bad, so it would be a long ride back to the inn. I lay down in the back, hogging the back seat with no guilt while Mirium got behind the wheel. We drove into the traffic, and I closed my eyes as my headache began to get worse. I closed my eyes and rubbed my head with one hand.

What is happening to me? Why do I hurt so bad?

Suddenly, the stench from before burst in my face! My eyes popped open...

*******

...and I found myself staring out into a huge cavern where the stench was absolutely overpowering. I was standing on one of two wooden planks fifty feet above a huge chasm of thick, green liquid. That was where the smell was coming from. It looked like a huge lake with no bridges, and two stepping stones that were very far apart. Two long vines were dangling from the ceiling, one of them was right in front of me.

The scenery was getting familiar...

"Oh no...not this dream again...but where am I? I don't remember any of this..."

I felt a prescence behind me, and I turned to see the Cheshire Cat, grinning as always.

"You were headed for the deepest pit of the Yur Mines to get to the Fortress of Doors, were you not?"

I blinked a couple of times.

"Wait a minute...yeah, I remember..."

It was starting to click...

"I'm right back where I left off...dreams don't do that...what kind of dream is this?"

The cat shook his head.

"You have not fallen into a dream, Selena. Dreams cannot hurt you, nightmares cannot kill you, but Wonderland can." He pointed at the knife sheathed at my side. "Your knife is neccesary, but not sufficent. Always collect what's useful. Reject your ignerence, and you may survive..."

I put a hand on the handle of the knife.

"So...this isn't a dream...but it can't be real! I was just in the car a while ago with a killer headache..."

I looked back at the cat. He was still smiling at me. That was getting annoying.

"Don't you ever frown? Wipe that smile off your face!"

"I can do better." the cat chuckled. "I can wipe my face off my smile." His body disapeared, leaving everything behind except his toothy, grimy grin.

I was the one doing the frowning.

"Alright, I'll play along with this. I'll save your Wonderland. Now, what do I have to do? Where's this guy I have to find?"

The cat snickered.

"Don't ask me all your questions, for even I don't have all the answers. You have the answers, you have to look around and find them."

I tapped my foot angrily.

"I hate people who try to piss me off."

His body reapeared.

"You should be going along your way now. You don't have much time."

I looked back at the lake scene. I had to get across to the other side of the cavern, but I had no way to get across the smelly lake.

"Do you have a straight-foreword answer as to how to get across this lake? I hope I don't have to swim..."

The cat brushed a dust cloud from the plank onto the liquid. The dust particles disapeared in a boiling fury. I bit my lip.

"Yikes...so what do I do?"

"Hanging vines are just as helpful as stepladders...if you know how to use them."

He disapeared.

"But how do I..."

I was too late, he was gone.

I huffed angrily.

"Prick."

I looked at the hanging vines. There was one right in front of me, so I reached out and grabbed it. I looked around, trying to figure out how this would go.

"Looks like I have to swing across... But I won't make it to the other side on this..." I looked at the second vine and thought for a minute. "No way. I ain't swinging for that...but it's closer than the plank...oh man, how can this get any harder...?"

I clung to the vine with my hands and legs, then I noticed something was wrong. I looked down at my clothes, and found that I was once again in that damn blue dress and apron.

"Spoke too soon..."

Well, dress or no dress, I had to get to the other plank. I sucked in a reluctant breath, and I started swinging my feet to pick up momentum.

After a while, I got the vine moving at a nice pendelum swing. The problem was...I couldn't reace the other vine this way. I really had to jump for it.

"Dammit!" I shouted. "This isn't fair! Why can't things go my way for a change!?" Keeping my eyes glued to the other vine, I prepared to jump. My hands were sweating and I was breathing heavily. I was scared.

'What if I don't make it? What if I fall into that lake and boil?

'Cut that out, Selena! You can do this!

'At least, I hope I can...'

I made a final swing toward it...

...and I lept with outstretched arms...

...and I caught the other vine!

"YES!" I cried in happiness. I slid down to the rock below me to catch my breath. "Oh my God, that was scary! Gotta breathe, gotta breathe..."

"Who's there?!" a gruff voice snarled from the dock. I jumped up to the plank and looked around. I saw another gnome, only this one was very different from the others. He had a crooked back, a long beard like Santa Clause, pointed shoes like an elf, and a nightcap styled hat. He was holding a smoking pipe in one of his hands.

He must have been the village elder who still lived free of bondage!

I approached.

"Hey there, eldest. I've been looking for you."

He scowled at me.

"Why would you pursue me to this stinkhole?"

"I need a word from the wise." I explained. "I have to get to the Fortress of Doors."

"And you came to ME of all people?" he huffed. "I'm not wise, girl. I've just grown old."

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"You're the only one who can help me right now. The rabbit ran off, the damn Cheshire Cat won't give me a straight answer if I ask where the bathroom is, and no one else makes sence..."

"Why do you need to go to the Fortress of Doors?"

"I want to shrink to a small size..." I measured with my fingers. "...about this big. I can find out how at the fortress. Can you help me?"

"Hmm..." the old man thought as he sucked on his pipe. "I suppose I could get you there...for a price."

I bit my lip. Uh oh...

"I...don't have anything that would be concidered money..."

The old man shook his head.

"You have your health and your wits. Mine are nearly gone. Age and insanity does that to a man, and I smoke too much, you see. I want you to pay me a favor."

"Sure." I shrugged. "What do I have to do?"

"In the card guard's keep is a key that I must possess. Get me the key, and I shall grant you passage to the fortress."

I nodded.

"That doesn't sound too hard..."

*******

I left him where he was, and continued down the cavern. I had a rather good idea where I was going. I figured that a guard's keep would be at the highest point of a slave plot. It would help guards keep track of all the slaves down below, and also keep them safe from uprisings.

I decided to test how well it would do under a one-woman assault.

I found a mine cart on a lift that led up, so I hopped in.

"Where's the up button?" I wondered, scratching my head.

Before I knew it, the lift rose up to take the mine cart and me up to the next level. I shrugged. Fine with me. It jerked as it came up to the rail, knocking me over on my butt.

"Ow!" I cried out. "Damn..."

Then, I felt the cart move slowly foreword...

"Uh oh..."

I sat up just before the cart raced down a steep and twisting track.

"Oh, great..." I mumbled as I was zooming through the caves and down hard twists and turns. "A damn roller coaster..." Nothing bores me more than a roller coaster, don't ask me why. Actually, I like the skill of not being effected by racing up and down in a seat. I can think more clearly at high speeds. So, I was heading along the rather quick and bumpy ride, wondering how I could get to the guard's keep from where I would be dropped off.

Wait a minute...where would I be dropped off?

I looked further up the track, and I caught a very strong whiff of the acid in front of me. The track disapeared off a very steep cliff...

...and I was about to go down with it!

"Aw, man!" I groaned, standing up. "I hate having to do this..." I quickly jumped from the cart and landed sharply on the ground. "OW!"

I got up just in time to watch the cart go over the edge of the cliff. I walked to the edge to see the cart splash in a river of acid, and completly disolve. I shook my head.

"Unforgiving place, this is."

I turned to look around, and there's another card guard right in my face! I quickly pulled out the knife, and blocked a stab from his spear. I grabbed his throat with my other hand and squeezed. He coughed as he started to loose air.

"Where is the guard's keep?" I asked. "I'll let you live if you tell me."

"You're here." he gagged.

"Thank you."

I dropped him and continued onward. Right on the edge of the cliff I was on was a huge building with candle-lit windows.

"Hmm...so this is it? It's a little big for a keep..."

"HEY!" I heard the guard behind me shout. "INTRUDER!"

"Shut up!" I shouted, flinging the knife at him.

I only meant to hit his foot...

...how the hell did I slice his head off instead?

He fell to the ground in a bloody mess and his meta-essance was absorbed into my body.

"Oh no..." I gasped. "I did it again...dammit..."

The Cat appeared beside me.

"You are much to lenient, Selena."

I glared at him.

"I didn't mean to kill him! I don't want to kill anyone!"

The cat shook his head.

"Understand, dear girl. From the moment you arrived here, you are the enemy of the Queen. Everything in Wonderland that serves her will be thirsting for your blood. Build some mettle if you wish to survive."

"So, it's kill or be killed?"

"Aye."

I held up my knive.

"And I'm supposed to fend off guards with just THIS?!"

"Here." the cat offered, holding out one paw. "A new toy for you to play with." A small swirling light floated above his paw, then turned into the object he wanted to give me.

I made a flat face as I looked at his "gift."

"A deck of playing cards?"

The cat grinned before reciting a little poetry:

"These cards aren't for playing,

"They're much sharper and flatter,

"But when the deck slices and dices,

"Then they are no laughing matter."

I took the cards as he vanished.

I leaned against a wall and looked over the cards. Each one was the size of my hand, as thick as credit cards, and had edges as sharp as the butcher knife. I shuffled through the deck to look at the cards, and I noticed something.

"Weird. There's 51 cards..."

I checked to see what was missing, and I half chuckled at my discovery.

"The Queen of Hearts card is gone..."

*******

Behind the first door of the keep was another door. I took in a deep breath, and kicked it open. Just as I expected, three guards were right in front of me. Expecting them, I acted quickly. With my card dealing hand, I flung three cards at them. Their heads came off clean without one blood splatter, but when they fell over the blood oozed out. I flicked my hand, and the three cards appeared back in their deck. The meta of the dead guards seeped into me as I slowly continued on.

"Not bad." I admired my deck of deadly playing cards. "I guess I'll hang onto these." I put them in a pocket of my apron. "I'll use the knife, though. I need a handle to hold onto."

I turned down a hall, heading for the main room. Suddenly, something zipped past my face and grazed my cheek. It burned! I side-stepped away too late, and put my fingers to my cheek.

Then, I spotted the culprit.

It was a card guard, but this one was dressed as a red diamond suit. He held a spear in his hands, but the end was tipped in a pinwheel of spinning blades. He swung the spear at me, and from the spinning blades shot a red card. I dodged it easily, and smirked.

"So, I'm not the only one who knows that trick..."

"By order of the Queen!" the card yelled, flinging another attack at me. "Off with her head!"

I dodged that shot too. I arched my arm back, and then quickly brought it foreword. That movement flung the knife at the guard, and I ended up slicing him in half. His meta flowed into my body as I looked around for the key.

I found something like it on a table in the main room. It was a ghoolish resembling item: a skull wiht a bony forearm stuck in its jaw. Fingers on the hand made up the teeth of the key. It was probably what that old man wanted.

"A skeleton key, eh?" I smiled. "Cute." I put it in my pocket. "Now, how do I get it to the old man? I can't take a mine cart back..." I sat in a chair by the table. Why not? There were no other guards left in the keep. "Hey, Cheshire Cat?"

He appeared, sitting on the table.

"You rang?"

"How do I get back to the hanging vines place from here?"

Rather than a grin this time, he just gave me a smug smile.

"If you find yourself stuck with no back door to retreat, then go through the door in front of you."

"What door?"

"That one." He pointed his claw over my shoulder. I looked up to see a door on a small flight of stairs.

"I don't remember that being there..."

"You didn't see it."

I stood up and put two annoyed hands on my hips.

"If it was there, I would have seen it! So, don't give me that shit!"

He gave me a chuckle of pride.

"No wonder why you were chosen. Everything about you is like my young Alice. The look, the attitude, the brutality, even that foul mouth on some occasions."

"You're just saying that cause I'm in a damn blue dress and apron!"

The cat shook his head.

"In Wonderland, you must open everything. Your eyes, your ears, your mind...but not your heart. Toys are weapons, friends are foes, child's play has become a pain in the ass. Trust nothing you see to be what you expect."

"And that includes you?"

He shrugged.

"It is entirely your choice to listen to me or not, but it pays to heed the feline."

"Was that a 'yes' or 'no?' "

"Both."

I was getting annoyed very quickly.

"Never mind." I huffed, heading for the door. "I don't need you to piss me off any more than I am now."

The cat laughed at me as he vanished.

I moaned as I opened the door.

"I am never going to get used to that..."

The stench of the acid punched me right in the face. I pinched my nose as I walked foreword. I was back at the acid lake, and I was standing on the very lip of the smelly liquid. Past the second dock, I saw the old man standing where I left him. He waved to me, then walked through a door opposite of me.

I looked around the lake for any way for me to get to him. Except for those two steps next to the vines, there was no way for me to get across, and those steps were too far apart. I fumed a little.

"Cat!"

He appeared by my side.

"So soon?"

"Nice door..."

"What's wrong now?"

I waved my hand at the lake.

"How the hell am I supposed to cross this?!"

He immediatly answered.

"Only the insane relate pain with success."

"HUH?!" I did not understand at all.

"My riddles are not hard to comprehend. The key is to remember just this: " He grinned his widest grin. "We're all mad here."

He disapeared, and I looked out at the lake.

"What a prick! I don't get it!"

I stared out at the lake, tapping my foot impatiently. I thought of a bazillion ways to get across, and none of them would likely work. The only one with any possibility of succeeding was wading across. The acid was only ankle deep...but that idea quickly left my mind.

No way! It'll eat all the skin off my feet!

But no matter what I thought up of, no other idea would work.

I was getting pissed.

"Cat..."

He reappeared.

"Is something wrong, dearie?"

"I think I solved your riddle..."

"And?"

"Have you gone mad?! ... Never mind, don't answer that..."

"What's the problem?"

I angrily jutted my finger at the acid lake.

"I am not setting foot in that! I'm gonna die if I do! There has got to be another way around! C'mon, what am I supposed to do?!"

The cat wiped an imaginary tear from his eye.

"Oh, what a sad sight." he sniffed. "The lazy kitten is afraid of getting her feet wet."

"I am not lazy!" I defended. "And I'll 'get my feet wet' but not boiled into a bloody mess!"

The cat shook his head.

"Alice used to say 'risk nothing, gain nothing.' You Americans used to say 'when the going gets tough, the tough get going...' "

"I'm not American, I'm Irish, and I say this!" I yelled, grabbing his neck in my hands. "If you don't help me find a way around this, I'm going to break what's left of your neck!"

He grinned at me, uneffected. Then, he completly disappeared from my hands. I looked around in clear confusion.

I stood back up and sighed hard and heavy.

"Okay, I'm not going to play along anymore! I'm done with this dream! Time to wake up, Selena! Wake up! Time to take your heart medicine! Good morning, Selena! Wake up!"

Something suddenly stabbed into my shoulder, and I screamed in pain! Blood bubbled from my wound, and I stuck my hand over it. It was a shot from a card guard! I looked up at the highest dock above the lake, and I found the culprit.

But he was a card guard...

...he was a human!

He was mostly standing in shadow, but from what I could see was his typical human figure. He had short hair, pale skin, and looked about my height exactly. He was holding a diamond card spear in his two hands.

I glared up at him.

He was bad news with a capital B and N.

He suddenly swung his spear and fired another shot at me. I jumped away from it quickly, keeping my eyes on his figure in the shadows.

"Who are you?!"

He flung another shot at me, and I rolled out of the way.

I gotta escape...but the only way out is through that acid...

I glared at the door that old man disapeared through, and I stood up angrily.

Dammit, I hate this place!

I jumped off the ground and into the acid. It quickly ate through my boots and seeped into my skin! I felt like I was catching on fire! Screaming in pain, I ran for the low dock. The man kept firing at me, but missed while I was still running. I finally reached the dock and pulled myself up and out of the acid. I lay there and breathed in relief. "Oh God, that hurt like hell..."

I looked up at the guy who was shooting at me, and I noticed that he stopped. He was just staring at me. I sat up, since my feet were in too much pain to stand up.

"Who are you?!" I yelled at him. "Tell me!"

He didn't say anything...

...instead, he whistled at someone behind me.

"PHWEEEEE-WEEEEET!"

I turned and saw ten card guards charging foreword. I shook my head.

"They don't learn..." I took the playing cards out of my pocket, and flung ten of them at the guards. Their heads instantly came off, and they became ten bloody messes. Their meta seeped into my body, and all of my wounds were healed. Even my boots were fixed. I stood back up, as the ten playing cards returned to the deck in my hand. I turned back up to the man.

"So, you herded me up here like a sheep to a pack of wolves?" I scorned. "Nice try, but I don't get caught in traps like that so easily!"

The man threw back his head and laughed.

"Huh?" I blinked a couple of times.

He stopped laughing as suddenly as he started.

"So, this is the new Alice?" he asked. "You are just as good as they say. I am impressed, but the Queen has nothing to fear of you."

"So you CAN talk. Tell me who you are!"

The man grinned.

"I am His Royal Highness and the captian of the Queen's guard, Prince Jack of Hearts."

I rolled my eyes.

"So, what card does that make you? A Joker?"

Jack frowned at me.

Before he could say anything, I turned for the door to leave.

"I don't have time for any more crap. I'm outta here!"

As my hand reached for the door, Jack fired a shot just above me head. I froze so that I could glare up at him.

"Selena, you are a coward to run from me and Her Majesty! You have only two choices now! You can prove yourself an infedel to the crown and fight, or you can come peacefully with me to the Queen! It is your choice!"

I wasn't willing to do either.

"I'll give you two choices!" I shouted at him. "Get away from me and leave me alone, or kiss my ass and leave me alone! I've got things to do!"

I opened the door.

"We will meet again on bad terms!" Jack yelled as I walked through. "Count on it, Selena!"

I closed the door behind me.

"Whatever."

The old man was waiting for me on a dock several meters over the village. Tied to the dock was a flying contraption that looked like a hot air balloon tied to a hang glider. The old man looked happy to see me.

"I heard you talking down that snob back there. Are you against the Queen of Hearts?"

"She's got a problem with me, so I guess so."

He sounded happy to hear that.

"Excellent! Finally, someone who can teach her a lesson! Tell me, do you have the key?"

I took it out of my pocket and held it up for him to see it.

"This is it, right?"

"Yes, yes! It is, thank you!" the old man nodded. He jumped onto the glider and started peddaling his feet along the controls. The oval balloon filled with air, and giant bird wings unfolded from its sides and started to flap. "Hop in, then. I'll take you to the Fortress. I'll even help you get small. I know how it's done."

I shrugged, and climbed into a basket in front of the glider.

"I could use all the help I can get." I admitted, sitting down. "Let's go."

"Can I come too?"

I looked back on the dock to see the Cheshire Cat. I beckoned to him.

"Sure. Hop in."

He jumped into the basket and curled up beside me. Then, the glider began to float into the air. We were taken out of the village until we were swallowed by complete darkness.

I turned to the cat.

"So, tell me, am I in trouble with this Queen of Hearts?"

"You are now." he shrugged. "Jack, her brat son, will tell her what a bitch you are."

"I don't care." I shrugged. "I know I'm a bitch." I leaned against the back of the basket. "Jack...the Prince of Hearts..." I muttered to myself. "I feel like I know him from somewhere..."

Suddenly, a huge gust blew from nowhere, and rocked the glider. The cat and I were tossed around the basket.

"Hang on tight!" the old man called. "Looks like the wind is on the Queen's side too!"

The wind was screaming in my ears as I was being shaken hard. I could hear the wind yelling words.

Selena! Wake up! Selena, please wake up! Selena! Selena...

*******

"...wake up! Oh God, Selena! Please wake up!"

My eyes fluttered open, and I saw Mirium hovering over me with frightened eyes. I moaned, feeling a little sleepy.

"Mrs. McCoy?"

With a relieved cry, she hugged me.

"Oh, you scared me half to death! I thought you died on the way here! Your face looked so cold and lifeless, I wasn't sure you were breathing!"

"I was just asleep." I assured, hugging her back. "I'm fine." She helped me out of the car, and I found that we were parked outside the Bed and Breakfast. She helped me into my room, where I took some of my medicine.

Yuck, it was awful! Thick as syrup and it tasted like gasolean!

"I'll get you something to eat." Mirium offered, leaving me alone in my room. I sat the stuffed rabbit onto my pillow.

"I don't get it..." I muttered. "It's not a dream...but it can't be real..." I looked at my finger, seeing the cut from the centipede bite.

"It can't be real...it just can't be..."

*******

`You are old,' said the youth, `and your jaws are too weak

For anything tougher than suet;

Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak--

Pray how did you manage to do it?' `In my youth,' said his father, `I took to the law,

And argued each case with my wife;

And the muscular strength, which it gave to my jaw,

Has lasted the rest of my life.' `You are old,' said the youth, `one would hardly suppose

That your eye was as steady as ever;

Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose--

What made you so awfully clever?' `I have answered three questions, and that is enough,'

Said his father; `don't give yourself airs!

Do you think I can listen all day to such stuff?

Be off, or I'll kick you down stairs!'