The Abyssal Forest loomed ahead, an eerie mass of twisted trees and thick mist that stretched far beyond what the eye could see. The branches seemed to move on their own, bending and swaying as if whispering secrets only the trees knew. The air was thick with the smell of damp earth and something else—something darker, more sinister.
Alice led her companions cautiously through the woods. Beside her, the Mad Hatter hummed a disjointed tune, his eyes flickering with both curiosity and unease. The White Rabbit, always on edge, clutched the sleeping Dormouse close to his chest, glancing nervously at every rustle in the shadows. The Walrus and the Carpenter trudged behind, their normally jovial expressions replaced by grim determination. And bringing up the rear were the White Knight and the Queen of Hearts' General, both alert and battle-ready, their weapons gleaming in the dim light.
The deeper they ventured, the quieter it became. Even the birds seemed to avoid this place. The oppressive silence weighed heavily on them, and Alice felt an inexplicable sense of dread gnawing at her. Something was wrong here. Very wrong.
Without warning, the Mad Hatter stumbled and let out a gasp. Alice turned quickly to see his face twist in pain. His eyes, normally bright with mischief, darkened, his expression contorted as though something unseen had grabbed hold of him.
"Hatter?" Alice called, her voice tight with concern.
The Mad Hatter looked up at her, his face now twisted into a grotesque grin. "Tea time…" he whispered, his voice hollow and wrong.
Before Alice could react, his form began to warp. His body stretched and twisted unnaturally, his vibrant colors bleeding into shadow. His hat fell to the ground, but the creature that stood before her was no longer the Mad Hatter—it was something darker, its eyes glowing with malevolent intent.
A cold chill ran down Alice's spine as she backed away.
"Hatter…?" Her voice trembled.
He lunged at her with inhuman speed, his fingers like claws reaching for her throat. Alice jumped back, heart pounding, her sword drawn instinctively. But just as she prepared to defend herself, a terrible scream erupted from behind her.
She spun around to see the White Rabbit doubled over, his body twitching violently. The Dormouse slid from his arms, landing on the ground with a soft thud as the Rabbit's fur darkened, his features stretching and twisting into a monstrous shadowy figure. His eyes glowed with the same eerie light as the Hatter's.
"What's happening?" Alice screamed, panic rising in her chest.
One by one, her companions began to change. The Walrus' face turned gaunt, his tusks warping into long, jagged spikes. The Carpenter let out a low growl as his body grew taller, his limbs elongating into spindly, unnatural forms. The White Knight and the Queen's General both screamed as they, too, succumbed to the shadow, their armor twisting and darkening, their eyes glowing like embers in the dark.
Alice stood alone, surrounded by the shadowy forms of her friends—her allies—now unrecognizable. They circled her like predators, their voices hissing and whispering dark things she could not understand. She tightened her grip on her sword, her breath shallow.
"Stay back!" she yelled, though her voice shook with fear.
The shadows didn't listen. They moved closer, their twisted forms stalking her, their glowing eyes full of hunger. And then they attacked. All at once.
Alice swung her sword wildly, parrying blows as best she could, but for every shadow she struck, another would appear. They were everywhere—surrounding her, clawing at her, dragging her down. She could feel their cold hands on her skin, their sharp whispers echoing in her mind, pulling her deeper into the darkness.
"No! This can't be real!" she screamed, but her voice was swallowed by the shadows.
Just as she was about to be overwhelmed, a booming voice echoed through the forest, a voice that seemed to come from the very shadows themselves. "Wonderland belongs to the Void now..."
Alice gasped, feeling the weight of those words pressing down on her. The shadows closed in, their cold fingers wrapping around her throat, squeezing tighter, tighter...
And then she bolted upright with a gasp, her heart racing. Sweat dripped down her forehead, her body trembling violently. It was dark, but not the suffocating darkness of the Abyssal Forest. She was in her bed. Safe.
Alice clutched her chest, trying to calm the wild beating of her heart. The dream—it had felt so real. Too real. The shadows, her friends... the way they had turned on her. She ran a hand through her hair, trying to shake the lingering dread.
The door creaked open slightly, and the White Rabbit peeked in, his eyes wide with concern.
"Alice? Is everything alright?" he asked softly.
Alice stared at him for a long moment, her mind still reeling from the nightmare. She wanted to tell him it was just a bad dream, that everything was fine—but the truth was, it wasn't.
"Yes," she finally whispered, though her voice lacked conviction. "I'm fine, Rabbit. Just… a bad dream."
The White Rabbit nodded slowly, though he looked unconvinced. "If you say so," he mumbled, casting a wary glance over his shoulder before leaving her alone again.
"Rabbit, wait!" Alice called out before the Rabbit could close the door.
He paused, looking back at her with a furrowed brow. "What is it, Alice?"
"I need your help," she said, urgency threading through her words.
The White Rabbit's ears perked up, and he took a cautious step toward her. "What do you need?"
"I need to speak with the Duchess," Alice replied.
The Rabbit's expression shifted to one of alarm. "Alice, that's dangerous! The Duchess is in the Queen's dungeon, and she's heavily guarded. You know the Queen wouldn't like it if we snuck in. Besides…" He hesitated, wringing his paws nervously. "I don't think getting near the Duchess is a good idea at all."
"I know that," Alice insisted, rising from her bed and approaching him. "But I really need to talk to her. I need to understand what's happening with the Shadows, and she's the only one who might have answers. Please, Rabbit, I can't do this alone."
The Rabbit's eyes darted around as if expecting the Queen's guards to burst in at any moment. He took a deep breath, glancing back at the door before returning his gaze to Alice. "But if we get caught…"
"I won't let that happen," she promised, her voice pleading yet firm. "I need to know the truth, and I believe the Duchess can help us. Just this once, please."
The White Rabbit looked conflicted, his ears drooping slightly as he weighed the dangers. After what felt like an eternity, he let out a heavy sigh. "Alright. I'll help you, but we must be extremely careful. One wrong move, and we could find ourselves in a lot of trouble."
Alice felt a wave of relief wash over her. "Thank you, Rabbit. I promise to be careful."
With a nod, the White Rabbit took a deep breath before pulling out his watch. "Now, let's see if I can manage this." He fiddled with the watch then kneeled and tapped the ground. With that the ever familiar hole that Alice witnessed countless times now appeared on the floor.
"Alright," he said, opening his eyes again to look at Alice. "This should lead us right in front of the Duchess's cell. Just remember—stay quiet and stick close to me."
Alice nodded, her heart racing with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. "I will."
Together, they stepped through the portal, the world around them swirling into a kaleidoscope of colors. The sensation was disorienting, as if they were being pulled through a whirlwind of memories and emotions. When they emerged on the other side, they found themselves in a dimly lit corridor, the air cold and damp.
The atmosphere was thick with tension, and the shadows loomed larger than life. Alice could hear the faint sound of distant chains clinking.
"Remember," the White Rabbit whispered as they crept down the hallway. "The guards are everywhere."
They moved cautiously, their footsteps muffled against the stone floor, until they finally reached a heavy iron door at the end of the corridor. The door was barred with thick metal and sealed with a heavy lock, but Alice could sense the familiar presence beyond it— the Duchess.
Taking a deep breath, Alice glanced at the White Rabbit. "Are you ready?"
He nodded, though his eyes betrayed his apprehension. "Just be quick, alright?"
Alice stepped forward and knocked lightly on the door. "Duchess?" she called softly. "It's me, Alice. I need to speak with you."
Silence hung in the air for a moment, and just as Alice feared their attempt would be in vain, she heard the familiar voice of the Duchess, laced with confusion and fear. "Alice? Is that really you?"
"Yes!" Alice responded eagerly, pressing her palm against the door. "Please, I need your help."
There was a moment of hesitation before the Duchess spoke again, her voice trembling slightly. "You shouldn't be here, dear. It's too dangerous."
"I know," Alice said urgently, "but I have to know what's happening. The Shadows, I need to understand what they are."
The Duchess fell silent for a moment, and then Alice heard the rattling of chains as she moved closer to the door.
"Are you sure, Alice?" the Duchess whispered, her voice laced with something between dread and warning. "Are you truly ready for what I'm about to say?"
Alice hesitated for a heartbeat, feeling the weight of the question settle deep within her. She could sense the gravity in the Duchess's voice, the fear of what was to come. But she had come too far, faced too many dangers to turn back now. She had to know. Wonderland's future—perhaps even its survival—depended on it.
Steeling herself, Alice nodded, though she knew the Duchess couldn't see. "Yes, I'm ready. Tell me everything."