Edith was the first to climb off their companion. Alice struggled a little bit longer as Elsie, who was quite ready to be out of her uncomfortable position as floor pillow, kept squirming and fussing and got the two of them in ever so much more of a tangle that only the patient and clever Edith could put to rights.
The three lovely ladies at last all stood up, adjusting their dresses and fixing their hair. Edith's ringlets were all in a fuss, Alice's petticoat had gotten so wrong it was difficult to discern how one was to put it right, and Elsie, who was always found in a disheveled state in some manner or another, actually managed to look quaint with her short hair sticking up in a strange state of disarray and her dress some how higher up on one leg than the other. Alice put her back to proper anyway and regretted it instantly.
Now that they had all fixed themselves, the friends ventured a glance about them. They were in a low, wide, dim lit hall that seemed to go on for a good length of ways before eventually leading to some sort of brightly lit room. The floor was tiled with interchanging black and white marble squares, much like that of an expensive chess board, which explained the slight bruising Elsie had procured during the landing. Peering above them merely resulted in complete and utter darkness, holding no hint that they had perhaps had fallen down from somewhere up there at all.
Without any indication of another passage, the girls plucked up their courage and strolled down the long hallway, arm in arm. The path they took was a slow one as the stretch of hall appeared to lengthen and the bright light beyond become more distant with each step towards it. As this improbability unnerved them, Edith began noting how the dim lighting of the hall would be put out right as they would pass under it and those waiting still just before lacking any clear, perceived source; the only light was always just one more step in front of them, and if they were to turn back they would be forced to do so in the impenetrable dark. This was a frightening thought.
After quite a bit of time passed in this manner, at last they entered into that brightly lit room, and as they did were so dazzled by the strength of the light. The room had a great, high ceiling, was very wide, and went round in a beautiful circle. In the precise center of the room was a glimmering clear-glass table standing on three legs and holding a skeleton key, a book, and a few sheets of parchment. Intriguingly enough, the majority of the room's wall were made up of doors of all sorts. Some were tall and grand— mahogany with a polished silver handle—while others were rotting, splintering bits of wood that appeared as though one slight touch would shatter it. Still others were irons or metals like the entrance to some medieval torture room. Some were arched, other's rectangular. A few doors were square or round, and all doors were of different heights, colours, and appeared to have some lock or another.
Alice took a good look about the room before stating rather quizzically, "Curious."
"What is?" Edith asked.
"I don't see him," Alice continued, eyes still wandering. "He must of slipped through one of the doors, only I can't tell which."
Elsie stared. "Who?"
"The peculiar white rabbit. You know, the one we chased down here."
The two other girls looked surprised at one another then incredulous towards Alice. Edith raised an eyebrow while Elsie shook her head. "I don't know what you're talking about. I followed a cuddly kitten, with orange stripes."
Alice and Elsie exchanged glances then looked towards Edith, who appeared to be blushing somewhat. "I chased a hot Asian guy." After an awkward , incredulous, dumbfounded, and apparently a highly articulate silence, Edith quietly defended, "He had a really nice tophat."
Alice and Elsie nodded as though that silly, inconsequential detail settled everything. Edith—the mature, mild, motherly Edith—had a rather romantic turn of mine and seductive turn of mouth. Her reasons therefore were sufficient.
*to be completed; just proof it hasn't been completely thrown off*
