Authors Note: Chapter…uhhh…four! Have you been enjoying the story? Oh, I do hope you have! Rate…comment…you know the drill!

The door chimed of bells when Alice and Will entered the shop. It was a single, small room with a dull bulb casting the only light. Stacked to the ceiling were various books and tinkers of objects; teacups, bottles, keys. The room felt stuffy and smelled like the sea, feeling unfamiliar and dark, but in the strangest way, Alice felt as though she had lived there her entire life.

"Who are you?" Big eyes behind circular glasses peered over the counter, startling Alice.

"I think we should be asking the same question." Will spoke sternly from the corner in which he stood.

"I am who I am, a shop keeper and a wise man." The man said plainly, stepping from behind the counter. He was a short, stocky man, wearing a green coat that he constantly rolled up, for it was much too big. The man nodded to Alice and Will, then returned to his counter where lay hookah that he began to smoke.

"I'm Alice," Alice began.

"I know that." The man replied.

"You do?" Alice asked, puzzled.

"Indeed I do." The man nodded.

"Then why did you ask who I am?" Alice spoke again, more puzzled by the minute.

"I do not believe I was referring to you." The man nodded in Will's direction.

"Oh! Sorry!!" Alice cried out, alarmed that she had most entirely forgotten about Will. "This is Will."

"I know." The man smoked his hookah. Alice frowned in spite of herself.

"Then why did you ask…?"

"Why are you here?" The man interrupted, blowing tuffs of smoke from his lips. Alice stared blankly, more speechless and confused then she had ever been.

"I do not know." She said curtly.

"Hmm, I see…" He looked Alice over.

"Did you know that too, huh? Just like you seem to know everything else?" Will said in defense of Alice, standing in front of Alice in defense.

"Will, don't be rude." Alice started, not really who she should be defending.

"Alice, I don't like this guy. I think we should go." Will said angrily.

"Nonsense. Don't leave." The man said slowly as he went back behind his counter, out of sight in a room covered by a curtain. Alice and Will heard the sound of rummaging, things being moved, and the man reappeared, carrying something wrapped in pink tissue that was no bigger then his hand. The man walked to Alice and placed it in her hand. "This," he patted the small package with care. "is for you."

"What is it?" Alice asked, examining it.

"It is something that you will need when the time is right. You will know when it is." The man winked.

"Well, thank you very much, but we must go. Come on, Alice." Will grabbed Alice's hand and pulled her out the door. The man waved at Alice, then returned to his counter and smoked on the hookah, muttering something to himself that Alice did not hear.

"Bye! And thanks!" Alice cried as Will and Alice turned and disappeared into the night. Alice fingered the pink package that man had given her, then gingerly put it into her pocket. "What a strange shop that was." Alice thought to herself, shaking her very much confused head.