Chapter 6
London: 1904
What's it like? Not being able to grow up?
Baelfire stood on the rose trellis by Alice's bedroom window, as he did most nights. He was dressed properly now, unlike their first meeting. He wore warm pajamas with a red, velvet robe. Alice sat in the window and rested her head on the window frame.
It isn't all that bad I suppose.
I think I would hate it. People don't listen to you when you're a kid.
That's true, I suppose.
Wendy talks of nothing but never growing up. She wished on a star last night that she would always be young.
You say that like it's a terrible thing to do. What's the harm in wishing on stars? Besides, don't you like living with the Darlings? They give you nice things and you get to come nextdoor and see me every night!
I love being part of their family, Alice. It's just... I worry about Wendy. Wishes are not things to be taken lightly. You of all people should understand that.
I do. I've learned my lesson about wishes, Bae. Believe me...
Present Day
Alice's sprint came to a halt upon reaching main street. She slunk into a nearby bench and let out a heavy sigh. What was to happen now? Leave Storybrooke? Continue living for centuries? Maybe she should just end her life the unnatural way... but Perdie. She couldn't abandon her. Although, Archie's dog, Pongo, certainly fancied her. Perhaps the reason she could never end this cursed life was because she was a coward. A faint meow interrupted Alice's thoughts. It caused her to subtly gasp as she noticed a shaggy tabby cat rubbing against her leg. T'was brillig and the slithy toves. Did gyre and gimble in the wabe. Alice blinked the song from her mind and looked down onto the cat. She rested elbows on her knees and set her head in her hands. "I don't suppose you know what I should do." The cat blinked up and let out a hungry meow. Alice grinned, somewhat relieved that the cat didn't talk back to her, and said, "Didn't think so." Glancing across the street she saw a small bar with a white rabbit on the sign. With a squint of her eyes she leaned forward to make out the name of the place, "Rabbit Hole? Tch. figures." A familiar bark softened her face. "Perdie?" Looking behind her she could see both Perdita and Pongo being walked up the sidewalk by Dr. Hopper and another small boy. She stood to meet them as Dr. Hopper called her. "Alexis! We found you!"
"Hey again, Archie. Thank you so much for taking care of her." She keeled to greet her faithful dog and scratch behind it's ears. "And you got her a leash?"
"Indeed we did." The leash was not exactly the most interesting thing, but rather it was the boy at the end of it. She stood with a grin as Perdita sat by her side. "And who exactly is we?" She glanced down at the brown haired boy as he introduced himself, "I'm Henry. Who were you?"
"Nice to meet you, Henry. I'm Alexis Lyndell."
"Not who are you. Who were you? Back in your world?"
"Oh..." that's right. She had told Archie she was someone from another world as well as him. "I was a nobody." She examined the child. He was in his teens and his grin was very genuine, but also had some curiousity. She almost recognized it. "W- What did you say your name was?"
"Henry."
"Right." The name wasn't familiar, and yet she recognized him somehow. "Well, Henry, thank you for watching after Perdie." She took the leash from him and Dr. Hopper spoke up. "Alexis, we were going to the pond with Pongo if you and Perdita would like to join us."
"Oh, thank you but no. I think it's time we get going."
"I see... did you find the person you were looking for earlier?"
"Yes... I did." Archie didn't say anything for a moment as if he was expecting her to say more, so when she didn't it was a bit awkward. He just let out a simple nod followed by a hum, "Ah. Well, I'm glad to hear it. I hope to see you tomorrow Alice. I'm glad you finally decided to step out for a bit so we could meet." That's when Alice realized she didn't actually have anywhere to stay. "Oh, yes. It was a pleasure. Well, ta-ta." She quickly walked away but glanced back once more to look at Henry's face. Why was it so familiar to her?
Alice walked with Perdita to the local Inn. "I suppose it will do for tonight. C'mon gal." The steps creaked and the porch was crooked. It was clear that this Inn seldom had visitors. "Curiouser and Curiouser..." A small bell rang above the squeaking door upon entrance. "Hello?" Nobody was at the dusty, old desk and there were no sounds coming from upstairs. She walked through the lobby. There were old oil paintings on the walls and doilies on tables. It reminded her of a farm home she stayed in when she lived in Ireland about 40 years ago. She ran her fingers along the front desk until they were met with a dusty bell. With one tap, the bell rang throughout the building. "Still nobody... clearly they are not used to guests." But she then heard the floorboards behind her creek. She spun around quickly and was met face-to-face with the waitress from earlier - Ruby. She had a smirk across her face and had lost the waitress get-up. "I knew it," she hissed, "I knew you didn't live here."
"W- what? Of course I do... I was just exploring."
"A dusty Inn? Doubt it."
"Ruby, please... don't tell anyone."
"Who are you exactly?"
"Alexis Lynd-"
"Yea, yea I know all that, but I mean for real. Who were you in that world?"
"..."
"Look, if you don't tell me I'll just go hunt down this author guy they say is running around and ask him?"
"Author?"
"Yea..." Ruby narrowed her eyes at Alice. "You aren't just not from here... you're not from our world at all are you?"
"Ruby, please..." She sighed and Ruby rolled her eyes. She wasn't sure why, but she had some sympathy for Alice. She strutted around the desk and picked a random key from the shelf. "Here... first night is free if you promise me something."
"What's that?"
"You either tell me who you and and where you came from, or you leave first thing in the morning." Alice didn't answer. Both options were tempting, but she wasn't sure which one to choose. Ruby crossed her arms and leaned on the counter. "Think it over today and we can revisit the issue later tonight. And try to keep your dog from barking. Pet's aren't allowed but I kinda have a soft spot for dogs." She grinned and her mood seemed more welcoming than earlier today. "Thank you, Ruby." Ruby winked as Alice and her dog walked up the stairs and into the first room on the left. It was a small, well-kept room trimmed with lace and blue walls. It reminded Alice of her room as a child. She unhooked Perdie from her leash and the dog reclined at the foot of the bed. Alice practically dove face first into the soft pillows. She suddenly felt very safe. Ruby trusted her, or appeared to. She had met some kind people. Jefferson didn't know where to find her. And most of all, the Dark One was safely trapped outside the town. Alice opened her eyes and thought about him for a moment. What was it about the Dark One that made Jefferson revert to a mad man? She let her eyes search the room until they landed on a small phone book on the nightstand. She sat up straight and began to flip through it. "G... G... G... Go... Gol... Here it is. Gold! Mr. Gold Pawnbroker?" She needed to know who Rumpelstiltskin was in this town and why he was thrown out in the first place. Perhaps there would be someone at his residence who could give her some answers.
Five minutes passed before Alice had the nerve to pick up the phone. Was she really doing this? She could just do as Ruby suggested and leave first thing in the morning. What was it that made her want to know who Gold really was? He wasn't her concern anymore after all. Curiosity, it was. Her curiosity was her true curse. Dialing the number gave her so much anticipation, like she was a detective. After the phone rang a few times, a young sounding female answered. "Hello. Can I help you." What a curious accent. "Um... Mrs. Gold?" There was some silence on the other side for a moment before the other woman said, "Yes. This is she. Who is this?" Alice looked about the room for something, anything, to help her come up with a fake name. She had used hundreds before but they all escaped her mind right then. "This is... Perdita... Frame."
"Frame?"
"Um yes... With an 'I'. F. R. A. I. M. E... Fraime. It's French."
"I see. Well what can I do for you, Miss Fraime?"
"I'm... um..." She noticed a paper on the nightstand and tilted her head to read the title. "I'm a reporter for The Mirror and I am writing a story about citizens who are... no longer with us."
"Eh, sounds depressing. Did you say you were a reporter? Fraime... I don't recall seeing that name before."
"It's... my first real article. And it's just, I was wonder, if you might tell me about Mr. Gold..."
"..."
"You know. I just know some people are curious as to why he left... so suddenly..."
"..."
"Mrs. Gold? Are you still there?"
"Is this a joke?"
"What? No!"
"Who put you up to this? Because it is not funny."
"Nobody!"
"Well everyone should know why I did what I did, and I don't appreciate you prying into my affairs and questioning the decision I mad about Rumple. Excuse me." Alice pulled the phone away from her ear as Mrs. Gold hung up. "Blimey." She hung her phone up on the nightstand and laid back on the bed. So, it sounds like even Mr. Gold's wife didn't like talking about him. Perhaps it was good that Alice broke off her deal with him. She felt a familiar weight on her leg. Looking down at them she noticed that Perdita had lifted her head over the bed and set her chin on Alice's leg. "Aw, C'mon girl." Perida jumped up and laid next to Alice, resting her head on her shoulder. Alice looked out the window to see that the sun was starting to go down. "We just have to find a way out of this, girl. We have to find that ingredient... and end this."
- Is Alice actually going to break the curse, or is something telling her not to?
- Will she meet Jefferson again despite the conflicting emotions she deals with when they are together?
- Will she find out that Henry is Baelfire's son? Or Gold's grandson?!
- Is it wise for her to trust ruby?
- Will she just give in to the stress and go get a drink at the Rabbit Hole? lol
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