First Steps, No Return

Let the Tale Be Told

Opening Book

Book 5

Back to Wonderland I am falling,

For my friends voices are surely calling.

There is no light at the end of the tunnel,

This unnerving, hell-bent funnel.

Only the darkness will be waiting for me,

But I will calm it, with the greatest of ease.

I must, I can not lose,

Wonderland can't stand another bruise.

Let my gentle words free the empress's wraith,

And immerse this land's wounds in an amorous bath.

My hands begin to quiver in fear,

For I feel mortality is surely near.

Around me the rabbit hole begins to enclose,

And I come face to face with White Rabbit's nose.

My heart leaps as I eye the familiar figure,

But what pain, oh did he render.

His face has lost its entire luster,

But his fur is still as smooth as a bowl of custard.

I wrap my hands around his small paws,

And scratch under his cute, white jaws.

"Well at least your heart still remains some of its glee,"

The rabbit remarks as he eyes me curiously.

"Rabbit my dearest friend,"

I murmur quietly into his perked ear,

"How could I forget a companion so dear?"

The rabbit slowly jumps back,

"No time to talk Alice,"

He says in a rushed voice,

"Follow me, you have no choice."

Tears begin to form in my eyes,

I look around, only to behold a surprise.

Wonderland... the place I once knew...

My escape to play among the few.

The world has changed since my young age of seven,

It is far from my own personal heaven.

The land has turned distinctly bland,

This was never my deep rooted plan.

Here, this place, was never meant to look like this,

It seems to be in a slumber, awaiting some gentle knight's kiss.

But, this is no fairy tell,

Something has gone awry.

"Alice, you can view your surroundings later, hurry now and follow me,"

The small rabbit pleaded.

I can sense that my help is more than just needed.

The rabbit turns and begins to run,

But I'm not finding this game to be very fun!

"Rabbit, please wait,"

I yell aloud, like I've missed some important date.

"Maybe the time in the asylum has made you weak Alice?"

I hear a black voice echo in the distance,

My body trembles in fear,

"Best not to show resistance,"
I quietly remark to myself.

"Do not fear, my admirer, a ally lies at your gate,"

The voice seems to be getting closer by the second.

I begin to step backwards only to trip,

And I land with a thud on my small hips.

Quickly a large tail wraps around my thigh,

And I begin to feel my heart fly high.

"Cheshire,"

My words bounce around the room,

Trapped in the presence of this worlds impending doom.

The Cat I once knew,

Has done more than just grew.

His soft brown fur, no longer smells of cat,

Now he leaves the linger of a dead rat.

His beautiful green eyes,

Have truly come to their demise.

Golden pupils stare deeply into my soul,

But there's nothing there, just a black hole.

Putrid Tattoos have scarred the kittens face,

This is truly a large disgrace.

His wet nose presses against my thin neck,

And I quickly fall short of all breath.

My favorite of them all...

Oh, how his heart did surely fall.

"Cheshire, My friend,"

I mutter aloud as I grab at his tight skin,

"What has happened here,"

I question the cat as his tail slowly swipes back and forth,

"Your eyes, there as innocent as a dear's,

And your body has grown older over the years.

Your mind and soul have fallen into an abyss,

And the craziness in your eyes, I surely did not miss.

But to answer your question, young girl,

Your face as pretty as a polished pearl,

Wonderland has fallen under your pressure."

He smiled at me with a frightful gesture.

"I did this, but how?"

The words slowly spill out of my mouth,

And seem to land upon my blouse.

"You're as ignorant as a cow,

Look around and embrace the truth,

You've been locked for years under the same white roof.

It's been a decade since light pinched at your heels,

And you've gone so long without your much needed meals."

His answer causes me to weep,

For years I have been locked in an eternal sleep,

Without taking the liberty to even eat.

My own world took all the consequence,

Now I can only wonder,

What will become of this?

The Cat seems to read my mind,

For he answers me in one of his strange rhymes.

"Alice, you've finally come back, to defeat the red queen,

You must kill her by all means,

If you can free us, your mind still my have a chance,

And once again we may dance and prance,

In the world of your wonders."

"Cheshire, if you speak the truth and your words still hold wisdom,

Then I will free Wonderland from this tainted prison.

Break the gates, and set you free,

Then we can have a jubilee."

My words cause the cat to purr,

I feel that I have pleased him if I do concur.

His lips open,

But no words come out,

I sense that he would like to shout.

And Let the pain escape,

Like some primal ape.

"Cheshire, what must I do now,"

My question sends the cat back to normal,

"Must I venture through wonderland on the prowl?"

He holds up his hand and points in the direction the rabbit ran,

"Now your adventure has finally began,

But remember; keep your eye on the sand.

Journeys do not last forever,

They all fall like the red robins feather.

So hurry on now, and catch that blasted rabbit,

Keep on him like some uncontrollable habit."