Earlier that afternoon, just after Leah left and the group dispersed, Jane, Wendy, Alice, and Ariel all stood facing the same tree Peter had tried to fly from.
"How could he be so stupid!" Jane said as she kicked the tree. "He knows he can't fly, why can't he just accept it!"
"Same reason you and I still think Neverland is real. Maybe if we find a fairy with pixie dust-" Wendy began before being cut off.
"He got himself hurt, Wendy!" Jane shouted in her face. She then sighed "I see that there's now two options, either what they're doing is making Peter worse, or Neverland- it just isn't real" though she said the last part rather quietly.
Wendy however heard it loud and clear. Her face scratched up "How could you say such a thing!" She shouted at her sister. "First Alice, now you?!"
"Wendy I don't think she-'' Ariel tried to intervene but was cut off by Jane.
"Maybe Alice right. Maybe we have believed in this fairytale land for too long.'' Jane sighed and looked into her sister's flaming eyes. "I know Peter is your twin, but maybe it's time you let go. Maybe if we let go, hill let go."
"You can but I'm not! He is our brother and I will stay by his side as long as I can!" With that said, she turned, took Ariel's hand, and stormed off. "Come on Ariel, let's leave these non-believers to do their non-believing."
Jane sighed as he leaned against the tree watching as her sister left. "What am I going to do-" but stopped when she saw Alice crouched at the bottom of the tree. Down by the roots was a hole big enough for a rabbit. She, in turn, crouched down next to Alice to get a closer look.
Alice leaned closer and called into it "Mr White Rabbit?" no answer. She tried again but was met with the same results. So Alice did the only thing she could think of "I'm coming Mr Rabbit!" She then stuffed her face inside the hole.
Jane's face shot up with surprise. Only a few moments ago had Alice given up on finding Wonderland, now she was back to chasing rabbit holes. "Alice, what are you doing?"
Alice took her head out for a moment to respond "I think this is the hole to Wonderland, I just need to go in further." Without hesitation, she shoved her head right back inside.
Jane watched as her body slowly sank into the hole. She didn't know what to say, one moment Alice was moping around about forgetting Wonderland and now she jumped into the first rabbit hole she saw. "This day just keeps getting weirder and weirder," she mumbled to herself.
"Miss Jane, Miss Alice, what are you two doing?" asks a soft voice behind them.
Jane got up and spun around to see it was Miss Mulan. "Hello, Miss Mulan, me and Alice were just digging around."
Mulan raised a brow "Digging for what?"
Jane was about to answer when Alice came up and started coughing. "Alice!" She shouted as she got back down to her friend's level.
"I'm *cough* fine" she responded. She turned to see Miss Mulan behind them. "Oh… Hi Miss Mulan, I was just-"
"Going to tell me why you're digging in the dirt again?" she put her hand on her hips.
"Looking for wonderland," she said sheepishly as she wiped some dirt off her face.
"I'm afraid Wonderland will have to wait," she gave her a small smile "I've come to fetch you for your appointment."
"Well she can wait, Wonderland needs me!" she turned to go back into the hole but Mulan grabbed her arm. "Come on Alice, you can explore this tomorrow."
"But-" Alice began to protest when Mulan cut in and helped her to her feet. "This is not up for debate, now come along." She then leads Alice out of the courtyard.
Alice watched as Jane sighed and shook her head, this was not gonna end well for her. Alice was on her way to recovery, supposed to go home at the end of the week. But now- she tried to think of ways to keep it a secret, but Mulan had seen everything, and her dress/face was a dead giveaway.
When they arrived at their destination, Mulan gave a knock at the door. "Come in" came a voice on the other side. Alice watched as Mulan opened the door, revealing her least favorite person in the world, Dr. Gimhilda. "Ah Alice, I was wondering when-" she paused looking Alice up and down "what happened to you?" Alice didn't answer, she entered the office with her head looking at the ground. "Miss Mulan, you may wait out in the hall, I need a word with Miss Alice."
"Of Course ma'am" With that she exited, closing the door behind her.
"Sit," Grimhilde gestured to the chair in front of her desk. Alice sat in the chair, still refusing to make eye contact. "Alice, I thought we were making progress?"
"I am-"
"Look at me when I'm speaking to you!" Gimhilde snapped and Alice immediately lifted her gaze. her hazelnut eyes were like a soul into darkness along with her raven black hair. "Now tell me how you got so dirty, again?"
"I was- well you see-" Alice tried to think of the best way to put it, but there was no patience with Grimhilda. "Just spill it out, child!"
"I found another rabbit hole" Alice spilled out, there was no point in lying about it now. The room fell silent for a moment until Grimhilda reached into her desk and pulled out a pen. She then opened the file on her desk and began to write.
"What are you doing?" Alice asked curiously.
"I can see you're not making any progress, so I'm adding a few modifications to your treatment plan. Including keeping you here for another month for observation."
Alice's face lit up as she began to protest. "What?! But you said I could go home at the end of the week!"
"That was when I thought you were getting better." she closed the file "but now I see that your treatments aren't working as well as I thought."
"But I swear I'm getting better, please let me go home!" she gave her best puppy dog eyes but it didn't work.
"If you can improve by the end of next month, I'll consider sending you home." She stood up and began walking over to a small filing cabinet in the far corner of the room.
"But-"
Grimhilda sharply turned and spoke sternly "End of discussion, Miss Alice!" She then opened the top drawer of the filing cabinet and slipped Alice's file inside. Alice slouched back into the chair and folded her arms. "Understand that I am only trying to make you better, so you can go back into society as a normal human being." She closed the cabinet and walked back over to her desk.
"Who says I can't be normal exploring rabbit holes,'' Alice muttered.
Gimhilda heard the comment but ignored it. "I've upped your medication so you're excused from your duties tonight. I also want to see you back here tomorrow two hours after lunch so we can start your new treatments, is that clear?"
Alice sighed "Yes Dr Grimhilda."
"You may come back in, Miss Mulan."
Mulan opened the door and stood in the doorway "Yes Dr Grimhilda?"
"Please escort Miss Alice to the washroom so she may get cleaned up."
"Of course, come along, Miss Alice." Alice got up from her chair, but not before giving Grimhilde a side-eye. Then she stormed out of the room with Mulan hot on her tail. One Thing's for sure, today was not Alice's day.
