ALICE: BLOODY WONDERLAND

Chapter Two: Down the Rabbit Hole

The impact of the plane hitting the water shook my very core; metal grated together, crunched against the now bending hull of the leviathan and the bodies of those unfortunate enough to be caught in its teeth. I must have missed it, but someone screamed that the plane had hit land first. It was probably because I was in the back of the bird; all I could feel was the water starting to swirl in through the windows, the eddies forming around my ankles. I looked down and started to panic. In my amazement after the falling, I hadn't realized that my legs had been crushed underneath my seat. The pain struck me without warning, sending terrible shivers up my spine. I moaned weakly.

"Help!" I called out into the darkness with all that I could muster, "Please, someone help! I can't move! I'm stuck! Help…help!"

The loss of blood was starting to make me dizzy. I attempted tugging my legs from underneath the crumpled seat, but to no avail. The blood just swirled out faster, quickening my own demise. I felt water work its way down my cheeks; whether from tears, sweat, or the thundering rain outside I couldn't tell. I shrieked in agony as another ripple of pain ripped through my body.

"Anyone? Is anyone left in here?!" A voice called. "Scream if you can hear me!"

"I'm here!" I shouted back, my voice cracking apart, "Help! Help!"

"Hold on…I'm looking for you!" The voice announced, frantic, "Just hold on!"

The voice swirled around in my head. It felt so empty and light, like it could just take off, a balloon in the night-time sky. My eyes flickered closed for a moment before I shook them open again. No…I couldn't…I couldn't pass out now! They would never find me!

"Hold on…just a moment longer…hold on…"

…

"…Ah. There you are Alice…"

The voices began to fade into the background. The night turned darker, black submarines swimming in my vision. I couldn't…

The last thing I heard was the splashing of water as my rescuer swam past me.

….

"-No more than three…Jack, you can come; and Simon too." Another voice, different slightly from the one I'd heard before, broke into my senses, logged with water and pain. I would've thought myself dead, but this didn't exactly feel like heaven.

"Maurice, Roger, watch the camp while we're gone." Another voice ordered. I opened my eyes just barely, and sunlight flooded into them. It burned my skin with a hell-like intensity. I couldn't remember why, but my legs hurt like someone had shoved railroad spikes into every side of them. I moaned between my shallow, rapid breathing. By the sounds of scuffling around me, I could judge that at least one person had taken notice. A wet hand pressed itself against my forehead.

"Move her out of the heat, Maurice. For God's sake, are you trying to cook her?" Yet another voice snapped angrily. I winced as someone pulled me across the rough ground and into a different position. At least I was in the shade now. I sighed in relief.

"That ought 'a do it." The voice of the one who moved me said. It was dangerously close, close enough for me to feel his breath on my face. I shuddered uncomfortably, but still hadn't fully regained control of my limbs yet. They were numb and unstirring to me, like when you wake up and have been sleeping on one of your arms for the duration of the night.

The first complaining voice didn't speak up again. For a moment, I felt a pang of regret. So far, he was the only one to stick up for me.

Suddenly, my eyes winked open in surprise as something dawned upon me. I shot up, getting back control of my tired limbs. However, my revelation was stolen from me as my movement sent a shockwave of new horrid pain rushing through my legs. I screamed. The two older boys in front of me drew back curiously.

"Good morning sunshine." The first, a kind of short boy with wild brown hair and grey eyes, greeted: "Welcome back to the world of the living."

The second simply grunted apathetically, something that could be taken for a yes or a no, depending on the circumstances. I ignored him.

"Wh-what happened?" I squeaked. The one with the crazy hair drew farther back at the sound of my voice, as if he was surprised by the structure of it. I'd always had a very quiet, tiny voice. Some people were bothered by it, others found it cute. I found it neither nor.

"The plane crashed." He answered strangely, "You were lucky enough to get out in time. We found you here when we came to this meeting place…I don't know how you did it, with your legs like that. You're awful lucky, girl."

"My name's Alice." I said, looking up earnestly.

"Maurice." The boy smiled, "Nice to meet you for real instead of passed out."

"Yeah, me too." I looked around slowly, taking in the fullness of the place. It looked like the pictures on the postcards my parents would send me sometimes; a tropical paradise, complete with the colorful birds, only without the plastic lawn flamingos. The ocean spread out along the horizon, a wrinkly distrust crawling beneath its surface. I gasped and smiled. How beautiful. The palm trees swayed with the wind, as if nodding in agreement. Maurice smiled too. He was awful chipper, wasn't he?

"You like this place, don't you?" He asked gently.

"Yes." I whispered, "I think I'll like it here."

"Well, hopefully we won't stay long. I've got a choir concert to get to!" Maurice elbowed the boy next to him, the one with the scary eyes and black hair. "Ain't that right, Roger?"

"Don't touch me." The boy named Roger spat. Without another word, he stood up and walked into the forest. Maurice watched him go with resigned interest.

"Don't bother about him," Maurice consoled, "He's kind of…different."

"Is that a bad thing?" I asked in my normal small voice. Maurice laughed in response and shook his head.

"No, but it'd be best if you steered clear of Roger."

I looked around for a moment more, absorbed in the meek happenings of the trees and rocks and the little children playing in the ocean. I wished briefly that I'd had the strength to play with them. Maurice caught me staring wistfully past him and shot me a devious smile.

"I can carry you over, if that's what you want." He offered. It sounded genuine enough.

"That would be great, thanks." I murmured. He scooped me up bridal style and walked me over to the water. As he waded in and set me down, the littluns started to stare curiously. At first, the salty water sent a horrible, stinging pain through my legs; but eventually I got used to even this and was able to sit comfortably. It was almost like the water was drawing poison out of them and with each second they felt better. The caked blood rinsed off in the gentle pull of the tide, revealing the gruesome wounds beneath. They actually…they weren't that bad upon a second glance. Very bruised, but the lacerations were only minor. I sighed in relief and closed my eyes, soaking in what I could of the sun.

"Hey, are you ok here by yourself?" Maurice asked plaintively, "I'd like to have a look around. Can you walk at all?"

"I'll be fine." I answered, glancing up at him. He was standing over me, water dripping from his hair and onto my head. The drops trickled down my pale hair and touched my face, cooling me of my fever. It felt relieving. "Go do what you need. I can handle myself."

"Alright, but if you need anything just call out. Someone ought to hear you." Maurice smiled again, then turned and waved, splashing through the water noisily. I cringed away as some struck me in the eye. Rubbing it out, I blew out a breath and took in the rest of the scenes before me.

Little kids played about it in the water, screeching in delight and joy. It seemed like they were enjoying themselves, and didn't need to be watched over. One of the smallest wandered over and peeked at me curiously through his sopping screen of hair.

"Are you here to watch us, miss?" He asked.

"Yes, I suppose I am. Are you having fun?" I answered, putting on the smile my teacher always put on for me. He took to it fondly.

"It's fun to play in the water!" He exclaimed at my question.

"It is."

"Uh-huh!"

For a while, the child played around close to me. He had a large burn on the side of his cheek, winding down his neck. If I hadn't known any better, if I hadn't lived at my aunt's for the past four years, I would've mistaken it for a birthmark. My aunt was an apothecary, and she'd taught me all of the things she knew. I could easily heal my legs, if time permitted it. Perhaps when Maurice came back I'd ask him to be my crutch for a walk in the woods. The proper leaves should be there…Or maybe someone else could take me. Just as I thought this, one of the boys pounced, aiming for the boy with the burn, but missing by leaps and bounds and landed on my knees. Pain shot through my already tired body. I let out a terrible wail. All of the kids cowered, running away from my screams. Or maybe from something else.

Someone hoisted me up out of the water by the crook of my elbow. My wet dress made my body heavier, and I shook visibly from the cold touch of the air and the new weight that burden my fragile frame.

"You're scaring the children." My capturer, Roger, apparently back from his trek, scolded, "And I can't stop the waterworks if they start, so shut up already. It can't hurt that bad."

"…" I was speechless with fear. Words evaded me. The only audible thing that escaped my lips was a muted whimper, brought on by my freshly bleeding wounds. They turned the water red beneath me. Roger looked down, scanning the clear blue waves with expert eyes.

"You're going to attract sharks if this keeps up…sigh…" He commented drily. I bit my lower lip as he dragged me out of the water, still by my elbow. He didn't appear the least bit worried as he plopped my limp body down on the sand and scooted up my dress a little to get a better look at the wounds. I trembled uncomfortably. For some reason, this Roger figure made me incredibly nervous. Just him looking at me was enough to send me shaking…but now he was touching me…I swallowed another scream.

"The wounds aren't that bad…" He muttered, "Just deal with it, girl." He got up and left. Unlike my first introduction to Maurice, I didn't even feel obliged to give Roger my name. Call me girl if he wanted to, as long as he had nothing to do with me. I wouldn't even let him have my name.

Everything was precious here.

Even my name.

Alice Persi McClellan would always be mine.