ALiCE in WoNDeRLaND

-5-

"Hi," I repeated, slightly annoyed.

They immediately went back to their business, arguing about something called Project

DINAH.

I took a seat at the edge of the table, as far away from the others as I could get. The blonde

took the seat across from me, and for a brief moment our gazes met. I quickly looked

away, choosing instead to stare at the silver. (In doing so, I failed to notice the odd look

the redhead shot at the blonde, who could only shrug in reply.)

The red-haired male cleared his throat. "ALiCE?"

I looked up in alarm. "Huh?"

The others were silent once more. I suddenly realized how loudly and harshly I had

answered him.

"Are you sure you're okay?" the redhead asked.

I nodded, giving another half-hearted attempt at a smile. "Yeah, just, you know. Bad

dreams."

They all nodded in agreement, as if this explained everything.

"Oh, those," the blue-headed one laughed. "You'll get used to them after awhile."

But the blonde was still concerned. "But she wasn't dreaming."

I snickered. "How would you know?"

He glared at me. "You weren't asleep."

The silence prevailed once more.

"Then what did I see then, if I wasn't asleep and dreaming?" I asked snidely.

The blonde was not about to be defeated so easily. "Why don't you tell me?"

I looked to the others for aid, but they were all on his side. Sighing, I spoke. "Okay. I

was in the house, this house. In the attic."

"And?"

"There was a kid there."

"A kid?" the redhead asked, more than a little distressed.

"Who was this kid?" the blue-haired one demanded, equally stressed.

I shrugged. "I don't know. I..."

I trailed off, noticing the blonde's hair reflecting in the light. There was a flash, and the

vision of that small boy flew through my mind, then disappeared in less than a second.

"Well?" the blue one asked.

"It was you," I whispered, staring at the blond one.

He stopped.

"Namdhari?" the redhead laughed.

I hesitated, then shook my head. "No. Surrender."

Silence.

***