Wonderland

The gold wrapping Rabbit's pocket watch shimmered in the morning light. Small dew particles drew her eyes as they swirled through the air before landing gently on cool blades of grass. Cheshire placed the freshly sharpened knife in her unsteady hands. Alice trembled. She placed the top of the blade just above her wrist and with ease she left two small cuts. With his devilish smile Cheshire placed the white roses next to her. Alice held her breath as she watched blood pool at the cuts. Rabbit, too, held his breath as if their exhalations might taint the bloods purity or ruin the moment in some way.

The Mad Hatter's cold expression melted into a smile as each crimson drop stained the clean petals. At that moment he saw Alice in a true state of bliss, something she had long lost, hidden behind the veil of depression and hopelessness.

"Only when you have nothing left, nothing to hold you to this reality, can you return to Wonderland," his words echoed in her mind. Life draining from her body, she collapsed to the floor. Reality faded into a blur as her tear filled eyes closed. The grassy floor twisted around her and soon she was floating gently downward, a warm breeze slowing her fall. Slipping farther from the daylight above her, the smell of fresh earth and wet moss filled her lungs.

Faint music played below and she imagined an elaborate celebration had been planned for her return. Smiling, she felt her body release all the pain she had held onto. Every hate filled word, every failure, every time she wasn't good enough, it all drained from her body, leaving a hollow emptiness in its place. This was the sacrifice, it had to be done, she had nowhere else to go, no one to hold her, she had nothing left and blood was a small price to pay to live in her fantasy forever.

How strange it was that the light above her never dimmed.

Several raindrops landed on her cheek, stirring her from her peaceful state. She thought it odd to have a rainstorm in a tunnel, but it was Wonderland after all, nonsense was commonplace. Muffled voices floated around her, though she couldn't tell if the sound was falling from above her or floating up from beneath her; as her concentration shifted she was jerked violently upward. A heavy ache filled her veins and her mind was flooded with the voices of those she left behind.

"Alice wake up! Please wake up!" Her mother cried as she pulled the body of her lifeless child into her. "Please wake up."