London: 1904

I don't understand, Alice. How are you 52?

When I was 12, I followed a white rabbit into a forest, only it wasn't like the ones here in our world.

What was it like?

It had magic, it was... a Wonderland.

Alice, you must never go back to this place.

But there are all sorts of ways in. Rabbit holes, looking glasses... here I'll show you.

Alice No! Magic is not wonderful! Can't you see? You've been cursed because of it.

I... I never thought of it as a curse.

All magic comes at a price, Alice.

That... that's what he said.

Who?

Rump- Rump... oh what was it...

Rumpelstiltskin?

Yes! How... How do you know that name?

...

Bae. You're not from this world are you? You are from there! A world of Magic?!

Present Day

Alice breathed in multiple smells as she walked in. It reminded her of a bakery she visited every day during her "late teen-looking" years in Scotland. It smelled like cinnamon, sugar, shepherds pies, and freshly brewed tea. Tea?! Clean cup, my dear. We must move down! Move down. MOVE DOWN. Alice shook her head to get rid of the memories of the horrid mad man. Archie noticed as he hooked Pongo's leash to a table outside and walked in behind her. "Alexis? Are you alright?" She turned and faced him with a forced grin, one that wasn't noticeably fake because she had over a century of practice with it. "Oh yes."

"I see. Well I hope your dog doesn't mind keeping Pongo company out there. She seems awfully attached to him."

"I don't think she'll mind." She grinned and they sat at a booth in the corner. Archie opened his mouth to continue the conversation but before a word could be muttered a couple menus were smacked onto the table in front of him. "Hey Archie... who's your friend?" The tall waitress was smacking on chewing gum and giving Alice a cold glare. Archie looked at Alice and waited for her to introduce herself. "Oh! Alexis. Alexis Lyndell." Archie smiled and looked back to the waitress. "She came over with the last curse and has finally gotten around to exploring the town. Alexis this is Ruby." Alice kept her eyes on the waitress.

"Really? Just now started exploring town? Didn't you ever have to buy groceries or anything?" Alice didn't answer and Archie cleared his throat to suggest a change in the subject. That's when Alice realized, He knows I was lying. Is that why he is still hanging about me? Trying to figure me out like a typical shrink? She spoke up, "Well, I left my house during the night. I'm not a very social person." Ruby smacked her gum, "Clearly. So what will it be?" Archie handed the menus back to her, "Just two cups of tea please. Two sugars for me and..." Alice added, "Just cream." Ruby popped a bubble with her chewing gum before walking away without a word. Alice glanced around the diner. So, everyone here was a fairy tale character? Like Rumpelstiltskin said? But they all looked so normal. Then again... so did she. "Alexis?" Alice looked back to Archie who was adjusting his glasses. "You said you don't get out much. So why the sudden change in behavior today?"

"Oh, well I was going to visit someone."

"Who?"

I dont know. "An old friend. But I was having trouble finding their house when I ran into you."

"Well Pongo and I have walked all over this town, perhaps I can help." She handed him the paper from Gold and he adjusted his glasses once more as he took it. His eyes widened reading the address. "You... you know who lives here?"

"Well I..."

"You say he's an old friend?"

He? "Very old..."

"I see. Well it's only a short walk down the main road. About two blocks. Then turn right and it's the largest house on the right." She sprung from her seat. "Oh thank you, Archie thank you!"

"Wait! You're tea."

"Oh I'm just... I remembered that I'm late."

"You're late?"

"I'm late... Do... do you mind of Perdie stays with Pongo? I shouldn't be long."

"Um.. yes of course. As long as you return with a leash for her. I would hate for you to get a citation-"

"Thank you doctor Hopper!" She nearly knocked Ruby over who was returning with the tea as she ran to the door. "Sorry I'm late!" Goodbye, Hello, I'm late I'm late... She pushed through the door and ran towards the street. Perdie whimpered and began to follow. "Stay girl! Stay!" Alice then ran as if it was the last mile of a marathon. Why was she so excited? She had just met a wonderful friend. The first who genuinely cared to speak with her and yet she was more excited about finding the item that would end her life? And what of Perdie? Her loyal companion was just expected to... do what exactly?

Archie watched through the window as Alice ran. Ruby looked at him confused, "Jiminny Crickets... oh pardon the expression, Archie. But who exactly was that?"

"I'm not certain yet, Ruby. But I intend to find out."

Faster and faster Alice hurried through the vacant streets and pushed through the morning mist. "Two blocks, this is the street." She turned and saw a long driveway on the right. At the end was an enormous home. It looked as if nobody lived inside. The quiet was almost too loud. She approached the steps, checking the paper to ensure she had the right home. Suddenly the feeling of ending a marathon was gone. That finish line in her mind had turned into a plank... and she was walking it. What if she didn't want this? Living a long life wasn't so bad. Especially if she lived it here, where it was so quiet with all these nice people. People she would grow to know and love. People who would outgrow her. People she would outlive. People she would eventually have to say goodbye too. No. This was a curse and always would be.

Before she knew it, Alice had was on the porch and had knocked on the door. The sound brought her out of the thoughts she had gotten distracted with. She struggled to breath when the door opened. She didn't know what to expect, but based off Archie's reaction to the address it must be someone terrifying. The door opened and nobody was there... yet she heard a voice. "Can I help you, Ma'am?" She looked down and saw a very small girl in front of her. She was taken aback at the sight. The girl looked so familiar, but where had Alice seen her before? She had lived in many places but didn't remember this girl. She did know that face though. Her eyes, her dimples, her nose... then it struck her. This girl was the spitting image of Alice when she was 12 years old. The only difference was their hair color. The girl looked confused and repeated, "Can I help you?"

"I... I... I'm sorry but," Alice wasn't sure what to say, but she had seen stranger things before. "You're not about to tell me your name is Alice are you, because I'm having the strangest case of deja vu right now!" The small doppelganger's confused look didn't vanish. She was about to respond when a man's voice came from down the hall. "Grace? Grace who is it?" Alice looked up and once again lost her breath seeing who was walking up behind the child he had called Grace.

No. Not him... not the mad man again! And yet, Alice stood frozen on the porch as she looked into the eyes that haunted her dreams for the last century. The Mad Hatter.