Wondrous Nightmares
by Bloodysword99
Recommended song: Her Name is Alice- Shinedown
Chapter 1: Can't escape to Wonderland
"Poor girl, her family died in a fire not that long ago."
The nurse mumbled, staring through the tiny peephole of the patient's thick iron door. She felt rather sad seeing this brutal unforgiving cell they call a room, being occupied by a mere helpless child. In her years in medical practice, this was considered a crime. This treatment was just too cruel, a child being caged here, like an animal.
"A pity." Another nurse deadpanned, not even sounding remotely concerned.
It was because of her many years in this rathole asylum, that Nurse Priss Witless became sour and unfeeling. Her entire life is dedicated to Rutledge Asylum and she doesn't even get a penny raise in her payroll. The older nurse was a grump. Since the place was practically a medical disgrace to any other health facilities in all of London, no nurse in their right mind would work here. Only the desperate apply. The desperate nurses and doctors with a backbone of steel, a strong stomach and a conscience the size of a pea.
"I don't think the asylum is a place for a child." the younger nurse said meekly.
Nurse Witless scuffled, staring at the child who was standing oddly by her window. "That child is as mad as a hatter."
Nurse Witless always thought of Alice as a brat, born into a rich family, raised like a princess, lived a life of luxury, and all her wishes and whim granted in a second, Alice Liddell was like royalty. She was irritated how Alice was nurtured with childish fantasy and naivety. And the old hag had the monstrous urge to destroy her perfect pure world and wake her to a cruel reality. Priss thought it was about time the child grew up.
"She is being cured, right?" The young nurse was concerned.
"A cure for madness? Dear girl, there is none. Alice is beyond help. I don't know why Doctor Wilson bothers." Priss stated, walking away from the patient's door while caring a silver tray of assorted blood-stained scissors.
"Let her rot in her wonderland for all I care." The old one cursed as she walked down the Asylum hall.
The younger nurse glanced at the little girl, her guilt growing but she couldn't do anything about it. Her line of work wasn't a pleasant one and not the most fulfilling. Caging all these mentally unstable patients and treating them like livestock, haunted her, so much so she started…seeing and hearing things that weren't there. It was the stress, she concluded, or else she might end up in the ward herself.
She glanced at the 9-year-old Alice Liddell, a looming shadow flickered in the corner of her room. The nurse dismisses it and walked away hastily.
Alice smiled once the nurses left, glancing at the shadows in her room. "Won't it be just tragic if that hag accidentally fell down a flight of stairs and impale herself with her own scissors, hmm?"
There were sounds of murmuring echoing throughout her room and yet she wasn't afraid, never was.
"Quiet tempting, Boogeyman, but do you have any useful advice? Will you please come out so we can have a proper conversation? The nurses already think I'm mad," The girl asked.
The King of Nightmares materialized from the shadows next to Alice. He was tall and lean like a London gentleman. The man had gray skin as if he rose from the grave. His eyes were radiant and yellow like the lamp that started the fire that killed her family. His face was well sculpted for a monster that hides under beds. And the Boogeyman's smile—that wicked smile—wasn't as wide as the Cheshire but it was as creepy. But despite all the frightening characteristics, Alice Liddell felt no fear. The girl was brave even before she met the Boogeyman a year ago. She had 'moxie' the King of Nightmares said to her. And since then, Alice has invited him to her Wonderland, sometimes having tea with the Hatter, and playing Croquet with the Queen of Hearts.
Even when she lost everything in the fire, he was still there when she needed him.
"Why don't we go to your Wonderland? I'm sure it's been a while since we had tea with that…hatter." Pitch offered with disdain. He and the Hatter never had an easy friendship.
Alice always loved going to Wonderland. Every time she slept, the girl would be sent there and be as naïve and as free as she can be. Pitch had seen it for himself. Her mind was filled with such beauty, fantasy, and wonder; a utopia of twisted reality and a sweet child paradise. She would love to stay there forever if she could. She even offered Pitch a home, making a domain in her Wonderland just for him. A dark castle, larger than the Buckingham Palace, filled with black roses, a library so he could read to her, and a tea room so all of her friends could visit. Such a sweet child. Idiotic and ignorant yet still sweet. But, since the fire and her whole family had been burned alive, Alice hasn't been her sweet self or visiting Wonderland. For a year she had been awake and traumatized because of the tragedy; with no way to escape back to her Wonderland.
"I-I can't…" She muttered, holding onto her stuffed rabbit.
"Why not?" Pitch asked.
Her eyes were glassy and hallow used to be so full of life and joy but now, it was gone. Her innocence was completely drained.
"My Wonderland is…destroyed."
Pitch's eyes widen in disbelief. Wonderland destroyed? Her Wonderland? This is Alice Liddell, The strong, the clever, and imaginative little brat, Alice! How—how could a brave child be broken like this? Did they do something to her? He swore if those nurses and doctors laid a finger on his believer, he will give them nightmares 'till their dying days.
"Mr. Black...?" Alice called to him.
"Yes?" Pitch said while in the middle of his rage.
"I believe in you."
The Boogeyman glances down at the child, mouth agape. She knew she believed in him but she had never verbally said it. So, hearing it was a shock. But as he stared at her, the shock left him and was replaced with heavy sorrow. Those eyes, green as olives and could burn your soul with their dejection, pleaded for freedom.
"I know, child." He uttered.
"Then, please, help me. Help me save Wonderland and…myself." Big words for a child but she said it with conviction like an adult. A second later, the girl gripped the Nightmare King's grey and cold hand. She pleaded. "P-Please, Boogeyman. Please save me."
Pitch stared, astonished by her cold hands clinging to his. But what was flabbergasting was the fact, he was willing to do it, save her. He didn't know why but he couldn't let one of his strongest believers go insane.
"I will." He vowed as he clasped his fingers on her petite sickly hand.
Revisiting and Editing the fanfic 2022—This is the one story I really want to finish.