Alice was found lying on the soft earth as exhaustion pressed itself onto her small body. She was completely still, with the exception of the gentle rising and falling of her chest. She was drifting in and out of consciousness from time to time. Beads of sweat rolled down her stolid face, long dark hair plastered to her forehead. Her arms and legs were covered in stinging cuts and aching bruises, but her long tattered dress concealed most of the injuries.
Time had been inching along at a snail's pace, with Wilbur's dead branches dangling in the soft breeze, which carried along rattling leaves and pushed the thin wisps of clouds further along the red sky. The silence that had engulfed the diseased world seemed never-ending until the soft thumps of the Cheshire cat's large, invisible paws padded around her.
"Good show! You've destroyed your first foe," the giant feline skeleton congratulated, creeping next to the young femmora as its thin body began to materialize. "But look at you, so out of breath, after only putting one soul to death," he went on, peering down at her exhausted face.
Green eyes fluttered open to see that menacing grin smeared across the Cheshire's face. "I didn't mean to kill him," she said slowly as she tried to heave herself into a sitting position. It took a deal of effort, however, but she felt slightly better to be upright.
"Look at you, would you rather be dead too?" he smirked, circling around her like a vulture waiting for its prey to die.
"I wouldn't have done it if I could have helped it," she explained, emerald eyes locked onto the feline.
"Is that so? You looked to be enjoying yourself a few moments ago," he replied, slowing to a stop near her feet.
"Strange how I don't find it funny," she said exasperatedly. "I'm not killer."
At this the cat let out a loud howl of laughter. "Not a killer? Then, I wonder what happened to this stupid, vengeful pillar," he slunk beside Wilbur. "Just look at your work of art. Butcher's blade driven right into his heart," he grinned. Digging his giant claws deep into its trunk, he leapt up high into the tree in one powerful movement, slick body contracting and springing forward. "Then tell me, what do you think you are little doe? I am curious to know," he grinned as he settled himself on one of the think branches.
Alice glared angrily at the feline as she pushed herself up to a stand. "I'm…just a girl."
The cat let out another loud howl of laughter.
"I don't see what's so funny."
More laughter merely followed.
"Oh, this is ridiculous…"
The shrieks of laughter continued, long bony tail twitching excitedly as the ancient creature watched the fifteen-year-old turn to leave. "Where are you going my dear? Wonderland still needs you near".
"Home," she answered curtly, starting down the winding path.
Another burst of laughter. "What home Alice? Don't play around. The one you burned to the ground? The one where you watched your family writhe in pain, the home in which you ordered them to be slain? Alice dear, you do know, you have absolutely nowhere to go."
Alice swirled around, shooting a dangerous look at the over sized cat. "I did no such thing," she said in a quivering whisper.
"Oh, but you did Alice dear, you did that and much more, I fear," he replied in a merry tone, enjoying the teen's reaction to his words.
"I did not!" she cried, voice echoing through the quiet woods.
"You did, you did! God forbid, you wished ill of them all, and Wonderland, dear Wonderland, merely compelled them to fall. Why must you constantly avoid reality? Is it your morality? No? Are you afraid perhaps? Afraid someone learning of your mishaps?" he inquired, although he knew quite well what it was.
"Shut up," she hissed, hands clenching into tight fists. "I shan't waste any more of my time in this wretched place…I'm leaving. Enjoy your pathetic life," she spat, storming back down the path.
Before she took two steps Cheshire materialized in the middle of the trail, refusing to let her get by.
"Don't be ridiculous child, you've got a mission to compile," he hissed, yellow eyes glowing maliciously.
"Yes, and what if I don't want to?" she questioned, a small smile playing on her lips as she realized who it was that controlled the game.
"If you don't complete it, Wonderland will suffer. And for you, it will be rougher," he replied, smile curving into an angry frown.
"Is that so? Well I don't quite see the connection," she replied, folding her hands behind her back as she waited for the Cheshire's explanation.
He let out a low, raspy sigh as he slowly began pacing around the young girl, eyeing her now and then before divulging any sort of information. "Well I suppose it shan't hurt to shed some light. Maybe then you'll be polite. But if you dare open your mouth, at all before I'm through, I'll leave you to yourself," he warned, coming to a halt before her.
Alice merely gave a short nod of agreement.
"Well, as I said before, you wished ill of your parents, and Wonderland simply did its duty to put them out of existence. Understand now, Wonderland was created by you, for you. And so we try to do our best to keep you content by fulfilling those desires you long for. But of course, you're merely a stupid child, and the only thing you can expect from a stupid child is stupid wishes. You wanted your parents gone, but you never said how. So we had our fun and terminated them with a simple yet deadly house fire. And suddenly when they're gone you realize you want them back. Oh, now what is Wonderland to do? We cannot perform miracles! How strongly you yearned for their return. But when they never came back, you grew hateful, dangerous, deadly. And, well, what are people to do with such a child? So into the asylum you where thrown, and there you were to stay. And that venomous anger continued to grow with nowhere to go. And Wonderland, dear Wonderland, cares for you Alice. To see you in such pain puts Wonderland in pain. And suddenly the world changed, morphed into this awful hellhole. Just for you. Hundreds of victims roaming the land, all for but one purpose - to die by your hand. Your mind is a powerful thing, Alice. That anger, pent up inside, it has shape shifted into these miserable beings. And now, I hope you see where I'm getting at. By killing these wasteful creatures, you not only purge Wonderland from them, but also set free the sorrow buried deep within. I hope you understand, for I don't have the breath to explain it all again," he finished, a think trail of saliva trailing down his mouth as he rested his head on the soft earth.
"I…suppose I do," she said slowly, turning away from the cat to look back at Wilbur. It was strange…he seemed to be fading away… "I never imagined something quite like this was possible…"
"Yet it is," the feline assured, rising from the ground.
"Now I believe it's about time you continue your climb," he urged, taking several quick leaps towards the tree.
"But I'm still not quite sure what I am to do…kill Wonderland?" she asked, questions still lingering in her head.
"One step at a time," he replied, crawling up the trunk to where the butcher's blade was wedged tightly in. Clamping his giant fangs around the wooden handle, the Cheshire cat gave a hard tug, and the smooth blade slid out.
Alice slowly approached him, as he hopped down from the willow and placed the knife gently in the palm of her hand. "I think it would be a good idea to pay Caterpillar a visit," the cat explained, as he began to disappear.
"Wait! How do I get to him! Don't leave me just yet!" she cried.
"You'll find your way, no need to worry. Besides, I'll be watching incase you run into another scurry," he assured, nodding at the butcher's blade in her hand before vanishing along with Wilbur.