Entry Three: LOCKED LONGING LOST LAUGHTER LASTING
Alice was walking in darkness. At least she assumed she was walking because what else would she be doing? Sitting maybe – actually that might make more sense, wasn't it silly to walk in the dark? She could trip over something.
"Do you fear Death?"
Alice looked up at the blue light, then down at her feet, which were, as she had suspected, walking. "Do I what?"
"Do you fear death? It is not a hard question, silly girl."
"No…" her voice trailed off then paused, turned around and came back doubly sure. "I could have died at any moment. The Jabberwocky could have killed me. The seas could have taken me. Disease. Random accidents. If I lived fearing Death why I would hardly be living at all. I just…" silence waited expectantly for her answer. "I just regret breaking my promise."
"Well then come along, we should not dawdle here." The blue light swerved closer and she realized it was Absalom.
"WAIT! CHEATER! STOP!" An old man with no wrinkles stuck his finger accusingly in Alice's face.
"Pay Him no attention Alice," Absalom said as he bobbed along.
Alice eyed the finger quizzically, "how have I cheated?"
"You haven't dear," a man with antlers, drawled. "My partner here is just grumpy because so far he's zero to one and the second match isn't looking any better for him."
The young-old man glared fiercely, "I don't see why you're not protesting, she's cheating you too."
Alice suddenly found a candle in her face, "would you be so kind as to light this for me?"
"But I haven't a match," Alice replied, breath floating over the wick. With that the candle flame roared and the antlered man sat back and laughed, candle dangling from his lips. "See? Much too full of life for me. Besides she hasn't cheated me - far from it. Her presence means I can call in my first loss." He grinned, "Death 1-1, Time 2-0. Hurts doesn't it dear partner?"
Absalom had been leading her farther and farther from the two men so Alice had to strain her ears to hear the first man's response. She heard not Time's voice but instead the rushing of wind. That was when she realized she was falling. Then the darkness became very, very White.
