Alice Unbound

by Colleen Anderson

  “What is it?” asked Dinah.

  “It’s Millennium Bridge. In London.” Mathilda looked at the youngest sister. “Alice has gone to London?”

  Tillie nodded, her pigtails bouncing, as she sucked on a lollipop.

  “Tillie, give Mathilda the vial,” Elsie told her sister.

  Tillie reached into her tutu and pulled out a tiny vial filled with a brown substance.

  “Give this to Alice,” Lacie instructed. “She left before we could give it to her. We’re going back to Wonderland.”

  Mathilda put the vial in her pocket. “Thank you for your help.”

  “Stay safe,” warned Elsie. “The Tweedle brothers are still out there. The walrus and the Carpenter won’t stay gone for long either.”

  “You could come with us.”

  “Just give Alice the vial and we’ll be fine,” answered Lacie.

  Tillie immediately turned on her heel and ran towards the other side of the road.

  “We’d rather not meet the Queen,” said Elsie.

  Lacie held out a pail and waved her hand. The treacle on the road floated through the air and into the pail. Mathilda and Dinah returned to the RV. As they passed the sisters, Mathilda honked, and Tillie waved.

  Night had fallen and the road was now black, the headlights doing a minimal job. A few slurping sounds emanated from the passenger seat.

  “Are you still eating those things?”

  Dinah’s pink tongue licked at her mouth before she held out an oyster.

  Mathilda’s stomach ached, so she grabbed the oyster and gulped it down.

  It was going to take over nine hours to get to London from Aberdeen, but if Alice was there it might not matter how much time it took. A burp escaped Dinah and Mathilda looked at her.

  Dinah groaned, clutching her stomach. “I think I ate too much.”

  Laughter filtered in and Dinah frowned.

  “It’s not funny,” said Dinah, hanging her head. “I think I need to use the kitty litter. Stop laughing,”

  “I’m not,” Mathilda replied.

  The laughter grew louder. A cat’s head materialized in front of Mathilda, suspended in mid-air. She shrieked and slammed on the brakes, screeching to a halt. Dinah thumped to the floor.

  “CHESHIRE!” Mathilda screamed.

  “My apologies, Mathilda.” Cheshire smiled widely.

  Mathilda took deep breaths to calm her rapidly beating heart. “I thought you returned to Wonderland.”

  The Cheshire Cat’s emerald eyes narrowed. “Which is where I wish to be, but my services are needed here.” His entire body formed and he grinned. “Hello, Dinah.”

  Unlike Dinah’s human form, the Cheshire Cat’s appearance was akin to a regular cat. If normal house cats had burgundy fur with purple stripes, that is.

  Dinah hid part of her face behind her tail. “Cheshire.”

  Mathilda rolled her eyes. “What are you doing here?”

  “I have come to inform you that most of the villains have been driven back to their own worlds. Wonderland’s are some of the last.” His large eyes glanced at the back of the RV. “I do not see our dear Alice.”

  Mathilda was getting used to sighing. “We haven’t found her yet. But we ran into the Treacle sisters, and I think she is in London.”

  Cheshire’s bushy tail swished. “The power of the Treacle sisters is amateurish at best. You must hurry. The other realms’ wizards cannot cast their spells to make the world forget this ghastly turn of events until all villains are back where they belong.”

  “We have to get to London first,” said Mathilda. “We won’t be there till morning, so they’ll have to wait.”

  If it were possible, Cheshire’s already wide smile deepened. “I believe I can assist.”

  Mathilda frowned. “I don’t like the sound of that. No offense, Cheshire, but you’re not one for being helpful.”

  Cheshire nodded. “True. I am allergic to helping, but no one wants things the way they were more than me. I wish to live in peace in Wonderland. I brought an old friend with me.”

  Before Mathilda could question Cheshire, the RV jolted. The moon’s glow on the ocean disappeared as the RV rose. Mathilda began to bounce in her seat, thankful she wore her seatbelt.

  “What is that?” Dinah screeched, putting on her seatbelt.

  If the devil existed, he would most definitely get smiling tips from the Cheshire Cat. His grin went from ear to ear, and his teeth seemed to twinkle.

  “Our Caterpillar turned into a butterfly,” he replied.

  Mathilda frowned. “He’s not known for being helpful either.”

  Cheshire pranced around the dashboard. “I hid his hookah on him as an enticement.”

  Dinah laughed, petting her tail. “Oh, Cheshire. You are a scoundrel.”

  “What do we do once we find Alice?” asked Mathilda. “Does she know what to do?”

  “She does,” answered Cheshire. “However, once Alice has sent the villains back, you must return yourselves to the Realm of Undying Stories along with the other heroes.”

  “Of course.”

  They didn’t belong in this world. Their place was alongside the other characters from beloved books where they were safe. It mattered only that the villains never escape again. Mathilda relaxed, and though she was still worried and on edge, her eyes eventually closed.

  A hard shake jostled Mathilda and she lifted her head from the headrest. The RV was once more on the ground, the sky alight with a new day. Relief filled her as she took in the Victoria Memorial directly in front of them. Even if the Winged Victory on top of the monument was painted red, it meant they had reached their destination.

  A tap at her window made her jump. She cursed the Caterpillar for being stupid enough to leave them in the palace courtyard. Guards surrounded the RV; some in black armour, others in red. The guard at her window wore blood-red armour, and a black diamond displayed over his heart with the number ten. Mathilda rolled her window down a crack.

  “Can I help you?”

  The guard held up his spear. “Out of the vehicle.”

  “What do we do?” asked Dinah.

  “Do as he says. Alice has to be here.”

  Mathilda slowly opened her door and stepped down. The ten of diamonds immediately searched her, finding only the vial. She glared as he put it in his belt.

  Mathilda kept her head down, avoiding the severed heads on spears stuck into the ground. She knew they weren’t just Wonderland characters, but Centaurs, Hobbits and a few Narnian’s. The guards led them toward the palace. Looking up, the bright sun reflected off the red paint, reminding her of the neon sign over the strip club where they once found the Dodo squandering his time. The palace walls matched the crimson carpet, making Mathilda feel as though she were in a giant strawberry.

  They walked down the length of red hall, and into the throne room. Nothing was safe from the Queen of Hearts’ red fetish as gold and wood had been painted. Mathilda began to sweat. What were they going to do now? They wouldn’t survive meeting the Queen, not when she wanted Mathilda dead as much as Alice.

  Beside her, Dinah growled low and menacing, flexing and extending her claws. The guard shoved his spear into Dinah’s back. She yowled and whirled, pouncing on the guard. Mathilda stood silently, watching as the other guards tried to pull her off. A muzzle was brought forward and fear filled Dinah’s yellow eyes.

  There was a shout. “No! Leave her be.”

  Mathilda looked up. A figure in scarlet with a veil over her face sat on one of the thrones. The guard Dinah attacked stumbled as far away from her as possible. Tiny red scratches covered his face, with many more on his black armour. Mathilda kept her attention on the throne as the figure stood and pulled back the veil.

  She gaped at the heart-shaped face staring back. “Alice?”

  The expression of indifference didn’t change on her little sister. Mathilda rushed forward but several guards circled her, their sharp spears halting her. There didn’t seem t
o be a mark or bruise anywhere on Alice’s body. Her blonde hair fell neatly down her back, but her blue eyes looked lifeless. The scarlet dress didn’t suit her, and the veil created the illusion of a devilish halo.

  “Alice! What are you doing?” Mathilda frowned. “Where’s the Queen?”

  Alice scowled. “I am the Queen.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  A short man wearing a gold crown and a red and white robe stood at Alice’s side, only coming up to her waist. Mathilda glared at the King of Hearts, and he intelligently looked the other way. She tried to push aside the spears but one poked her stomach, and another pricked her back. She halted, looking for another route.

  “What did you do to her?”

  The King of Hearts stroked his thin moustache. “It’s perfectly simple. Alice is my Queen now. Unfortunately, the same will have to be done to you.” He took a deep breath. “Send in the White Rabbit!” he yelled.

  A nearby door opened and a guard walked in holding a rope. At the end was the White Rabbit, curled into a ball, being dragged along the floor. Large patches of fur were missing, his ears drooped from torture, and his only clothing was the pocket watch wound around one of his legs.

  “Late, late, always late,” the White Rabbit mumbled. “Time, time slips by. Can never go back. Always forward. Only ever forward.”

  The King smirked. “If you had looked at the heads in the courtyard you would have seen my wife among them. My dear Alice didn’t enjoy sharing so I thought it best the Queen lose her head.”

  “I’m the Queen,” Alice fumed.

  The King looked at Alice. “Of course you are, my darling.”

  Mathilda stared at her little sister’s face. There was no way to get closer, but perhaps she didn’t have to. There was usually one word that could break a spell; Mathilda only had to figure out which one.

  The King of Hearts went over to the throne, but his legs were too short. He snapped his fingers and a guard stepped forward and placed him on the seat.

  The King straightened his crown. “Alice arrived yesterday. All alone with no one at her side. My dear wife locked her up, but I paid her a visit.”

  Alice stood as if she were a statue, her eyes unblinking, and Mathilda’s heart broke.

  “Mmm—” The King stopped. “You are Alice’s sister. You tried so hard to save her and the world. There will be a place for you here in the palace and you will never have to be parted again.”

  Mathilda kept her focus on Alice. “We can be together in the Realm of Undying Stories.”

  The King snorted. “Contained and pushed away. In this world we’re seen by everyone. The people attend us. In the Realm we’re lucky if anyone reads our stories. Children are forgetting…they don’t want to hear old tales.”

  “You’re wrong,” Mathilda argued. “You’re jealous, because you’re a villain and everyone loves heroes more. Once I awaken Alice and drive you back to Wonderland, everything will be as it was before. Though here’s a piece of advice; when you return to Wonderland you might want to find a hiding place. Your true Queen might be a little upset with you.”

  The King gulped, but raised his head in defiance. “Alice is under my spell. You can’t awaken her.”

  Mathilda smirked. “You think I didn’t notice how you stopped from saying my name? It’s always been me and Alice. Even though I’m older and couldn’t imagine the same as her, we’re best friends. Sisters. Which means we would do anything to save each other.”

  “RABBIT!” screamed the King. “Wind your watch!”

  The White Rabbit sat up and began to unwind the gold chain from his leg. A shrill yowl came from behind Mathilda. She didn’t need to look to know that Dinah had pounced. The guards focused their attention on Dinah, allowing Mathilda to move forward, catching the White Rabbit’s attention.

  “I am Mathilda, sister of Alice of Wonderland, and together we will drive you back to your rightful place.”

  Mathilda only had to say her name before Alice blinked several times, peered around the room, then down at herself.

  “What the hell am I wearing?” asked Alice.

  “Mathilda!” Dinah yelled.

  She turned to see half the guards lying on the ground.

  Dinah threw the vial of treacle she had swiped from the guard’s belt, and Mathilda caught it.

  The remaining guards milled in confusion, and the King couldn’t get down from his high throne.

  “Alice, it’s from the Treacle sisters.”

  Mathilda threw the vial toward her sister and Alice caught it. Mathilda pushed Dinah down on the marble floor as Alice pulled the cork from the vial. Large gobs of molasses spurted out of the tiny vial and covered the entire room. The molasses surrounded her and Dinah in a bubble, and when it disappeared Mathilda raised her head. The King and guards had disappeared. The room was as it had been, no evidence of red paint. Looking out the window, she saw all the severed heads had also vanished.

  “Mathilda.”

  She turned and fell against the wall as Alice jumped into her arms. They clung to each other until a low mewling intruded. Alice stood back and turned.

  “Dinah!”

  Alice threw her arms around Dinah’s furry neck. Mathilda couldn’t help herself and wound her arms around them, but the embrace didn’t last long before her nose began to twitch. She let go and sneezed loudly, making Alice laugh. Mathilda couldn’t help but laugh as well.

  Alice reached for Mathilda’s hand, holding Dinah’s paw in her other hand.

  “Let’s go home.”

  It was the best idea Mathilda had ever heard.

  A NIGHT AT THE RABBIT HOLE

  Cait Gordon

  With chest bound underneath a crisp blue shirt accented by a tie dangling below the unbuttoned collar, this brand-new person stared so intensely into the mirror that they could have been looking through it. They. That was the pronoun now. Not he. Not she. They. The stocky yet fit soul considered adjusting their tie, but winced. I always feel like I’m choking in these things. They examined the way the faux-silk hung, and nodded. Yeah, I prefer it sloppy chic.

  One last decision had to be made, for today at least. A name. Something gender neutral or is that too expected? Perhaps it would have made more sense to have chosen a name at the beginning of their transition, but for some reason they’d left it by the wayside. If you’d asked them, they’d not have been able to tell you why. In any case, the moment had arrived and a deadname stood on the precipice for burial. Time to give birth to a new one.

  Focusing on their reflection, they met a face with high cheekbones and a dimpled chin, smooth skin, a freckled nose, and thinned lips pulled taut. They raised a thick brow over a pale blue eye. Their other eyebrow and eye remained impassive. Atop this facial configuration rested a newly acquired undercut with a long bleached fringe. Who do I look like? I mean, sometimes people say they look like a Sam or a Shannon or an Ashley. But who do I really look like?

  They bit their lip. Rummaging through their brain’s filing cabinet, it felt like every uncovered file turned up blank. Okay, it really shouldn’t be this difficult. I mean, I know who I am now, so putting a name to me has gotta be easy. They swore loudly and ran a hand through their soft fringe. Another ten minutes passed where several names came to mind, all of which were met with a meh. Shaking their head, they did what they always did at times like this. They grabbed their cell phone for advice.

  Where to begin? The first letter of the alphabet seemed logical. “Names that start with A,” they barked into the search engine.

  The results appeared. Nothing inspired. The person huffed.

  “Names that start with A that ROCK!” they shouted.

  They laughed loudly at an image of Alice Cooper in full makeup. After scrolling down for other suggestions, all of which left them flat, they returned to the photo. Alice. That would be way too funny. They gazed once more in the mirror. Well, it’s definitely not a cliché. I can’t help but feel more than a little pleasure fr
om the name Alice representing my gender-fluidity. Their reflection smirked. Yeah, I’m so doing this. Hey, everyone, I’m Alice. Deal with it.

  “Thanks, search app!” Alice said to their phone.

  The screen went blank.

  What the heck?

  A white dot appeared against a black background. It stretched from both sides and each end curved upward, resembling a wide grin. Alice blinked a few times. They never remembered installing a smiley app.

  “Um, hello?” Alice asked. “Where did you come from?” They poked at the screen. The smile distorted with each touch, but returned to normal.

  “Hello, Alice,” said a voice unlike the tone Alice selected in their phone settings.

  “Wha— How did you know my name?” And why am I talking to this thing?

  The grin opened up into a toothy smile against the dark screen. “I like this name. I also like glam metal. That’s why I chose it for you.” The smile vanished, replaced by a hand whose fingers were arranged in a heavy metal-salute.

  “Yeeaah, okay, so—”

  The phone display returned to normal before Alice finished their reply. Everything looked as it always had, including the purple and aqua cupcake wallpaper. I’m not on any meds, so I can’t be hallucinating. They checked for rogue apps. Nothing. That wasn’t weird. Not at all.

  They were putting their cell in their back pocket when it vibrated, taking about ten years off their life. Alice feared looking at the thing, expecting the grinning metalhead app. They exhaled when they saw it was a text from a friend:

  Are you coming? We’ll never get into this new place if you’re not on time!

  Alice smiled. Ah, Bunni. You’re obsessive, but I love you.

  I’m on my way. And call me Alice.

  Move your butt, Alice! We’re going to be late!

  They smiled.

  Butt is moving. See u soon.

  Alice hopped off the bus as it entered The Garden. Not its official title, but that’s what everyone called it. This section of downtown comprised an eclectic collection of coffee shops, strip clubs, dance venues, tattoo parlours, and various religious institutions. Finding a church beside a tanning salon or house of ill repute – if anyone even said that anymore – seemed perfectly normal. Prophets new to the ’hood often admonished “sinners,” but eventually could be found sharing a tea and a scone at a nearby café with the same people they’d tried to rebuke. Something about the pulse of the neighbourhood created an atmosphere of acceptance. You could be who you really were there.