She was walking through a forest. Dark, with patches of dappled sunlight barely reaching the ground yet occasionally dazzling her. A woman, dressed completely in white startled her by speaking very close to Alice's ear: "No need to be afraid. Nothing bad can happen to you while I am with you. I am afraid we only have a little time before – before she gets back and I must leave you."
"Who…what…I've seen you before. But when I was much younger. What's going on? I want everyone out of my head! My dreams disturb me. Leave me!" This was the first time Alice had properly communicated with one of the strange, otherworldly figures who had haunted her since childhood.
The woman was beautiful, with a face so pale it could have been cut from marble. Her hair was short and white, cut in a tiny bob, and pale grey robes tumbled down from her thin frame. Although she was slim, there was a strength about her. Long, silver nails extended from outstretched hands. "You are safe here, Alice. I am not the one to fear. Do not be alarmed, because I am here to help you. Come here, dear child. Find comfort in my arms."
Alice didn't understand why this woman was asking to hug her, and did not particularly feel the need to oblige. "We've only just met. And I want to leave. Please let me go. I have commitments. I'm not a child anymore." She knew she was whining, but she didn't care. The sooner she could get back to Duncreoch Lodge, the sooner she could escape these imaginings.
The woman gently settled her arm on Alice's shoulder and whispered in her ear: "In order for you to escape from these nightmares, you must be truly here. You will be going on a journey, very soon. Do not fear, just be aware of what is happening. I will meet you once you cross the border into Wonderland. And you must remember this: you are an extraordinary woman. And you are the only person who can extract yourself from Wonderland. Until next time, dear girl. Goodbye."
She was falling. Everywhere around her, all she could see were red walls, and nothing to grip onto. Perhaps she was in a circular tower? There was no more time for her to think, because the next thing she knew, she was about to slam into the stone ground. She braced herself for the fall, thinking a quiet prayer to thank her father for raising her…
Alice jerked awake. Sweat soaked her thick nightgown, her feet twisted into the cotton sheets. Her arms were splashed out across the bed, as if she had just fallen onto it. Slowly she was able to make sense of her surroundings and slow her shallow breaths. She was much calmer when the maid entered to open the heavy drapes.
"There you are. Glad to see you're awake dearie. Kitchen thought you might like some tea and a biscuit to help you wake up, since breakfast will be a little later than you're used to." She set a little china cup and saucer down. Alice thanked her, and listened to the door open and close behind her, before she sat up and drank slowly from the cup. It did calm her more, and helped her feel a little more settled. The adrenaline from her nightmare must have made her hungry, because her stomach growled gently, reminding her it was there.
She picked up the biscuit and thought she saw the words "Eat Me" written in chocolate chips on the surface. But it must have simply been her eyes still blurry from sleep, because it was perfectly plain once she looked again.
Theresa came in to find Alice dressed in a simple habit, and the older woman immediately undid the buttons on the back and handed the girl a fully corseted, elaborate dining gown. "Mr Delaney will be joining us for breakfast. Unusual practice, perhaps, but he wishes to see you before he goes to see his tenants on the land."
Alice groaned. After that kind of night, seeing the man who she was supposed to marry was not the quiet morning she craved.