Malice in Thunderland

I lay in the bed. The growling, blank stare had been on my face for quite a time, now. My green eyes never focused on anything those days, they just looked up into space. I listened to my carers, how they said those mean things about me. I didn't like them, but what could I do? I've been sitting there in a coma like state for a long time.1

Well, there's nothing much to do but think. I though of what happened those years ago, the day I grew up for good. After I took my last visit to Wonderland, a terrible thing happened. My family was sound and still in the night when my cat, Dina, knocked over a pile of papers, which caught aflame and sent my house into a hell-binding mess. I remembered waking up and running to the Master Bedroom, where I could hear my mother and father's screams. "Mother? Daddy?"2

"Run Alice!" They said, "Save yourself Alice!" I didn't want to leave them, not after they started choking and remarked they couldn't breathe. I wanted to help them, to save them from the fire. But alas, the door was pinched shut and I couldn't get them out. Something grabbed me and threw me out the window into the cold winter snow.3

I felt as if I was responsible, like it was my fault they weren't here today. I had since become suicidal, slitting my wrists and calling to die and be with them. After my behavior was found out, I was taken to this asylum for the mentally ill. I was been cooped up in this facility for a few years. The fact that I tell them I've been to Wonderland probably made it so I didn't get out too quickly.4

A nicer nurse came in and set something in my bandaged arms. "Poor dear," she remarked, "After all these years, maybe that old rabbit will bring her around."5

I was left alone and, slowly, I brought the little toy rabbit up to my face. It's plush arm wrapped around mine. "Save us, Alice."6

Before I knew it I was falling down the rabbit hole once again, I fell down on the Wonderland ground with a hard thud.7

What a dastardly place it had become, it was gloomy and very dark. The buildings were twisted and broken down. Peculiar creatures were enslaved, working hard, with the card guards over close watch.8

Someone came toward me, what a scrawny thing he was, his bones looked out from his elephant skin, that was pelted with scars and cuts. It had no fat and no muscle, and it's eyes were an odd glowing gold. Its teeth were pointy and yellow, some rotting ones showed in the back. But it's grin was so familiar, it could be no one other than the Cheshire Cat.9

"You've grown quite mangy, Cat," I remarked, "But you're grin's a comfort."10

"Quickly, Alice, you must follow the white rabbit." He pointed his paw to the rabbit.11

"Please don't dawdle, Alice, we musn't be late." The rabbit's eyes were very crazy, his vest and hat were ratty, and he was just as scrawny as the Cat, but he could not be unrecognized. He grew small and climbed through a tunnel. I confronted a slave.
"What happened to this place?"
"Ever since the Queen took domination, this place has gone mad and horrid. The sun no longer shines, our fresh water is dangerous acid, and the Queen of Hearts made us all slaves. Joy and Happiness do not dwell in the same house, mind you?"
"Can you tell me how to get smaller?"
"I'd go ask the caterpillar, he is the wisest in all of Wonderland, but he is in hiding so he does not see our fate."
"Why don't you stand up to the Queen? Why don't you come together to break your bounds?"
"We are not brave, like you, Miss, only our death could rid us of this misery."
I smirked, "Or her death, I suppose."
Me and the Cat headed off for the caterpillar. Along the way I picked up some cards, jacks, and a croquet mallet to use against enemies if my knife were to become obsolete.12

"Take anything that looks useful and leave nothing behind. Reject only your ignorance and you may survive." The Cat said.13

The Caterpillar had gotten fatter, his skin was wrinkly, he was coughing on his hookah and he seemed very tired. He gave me the infamous mushroom, which sent me down, down, down to the size of a feather. After becoming smaller, I was faced with the Mock Turtle to tell me how to get back, right after I conquered the cannibalistic Duchess and blew her head off to get his shell back. The Mock Turtle made me an honorary reptile, which I wasn't so excited about.14

Finally I got back to the white rabbit, who had been waiting for me. "Lets say we trade in our stealth for speed, shall we, Alice?"15

Just then a giant foot came and stomped on him, making the ground erupt as if an earthquake struck. I ran over and looked at the mangled, bloody body which used to be my friend.16

I cried as the Cheshire Cat faded into sight right next to me, "Everyone I love dies tragically. I'm cursed, why go on?" I wept.17

"You must save Wonderland from the Queen of Hearts, Alice, you must leave the past behind you and move on." the Cat said before fading away.18

That was when I remembered my mission, the one I almost forgot: Defeat the Queen of Hearts and free the land and its inhabitants.19

I tore my way through the Chess World. A confusing and twisted yet beautiful place where everything is black or red and white checkered. There were stairs on the ceiling and there were pieces scattered amongst the board. Some were friendly, some were not. I witnessed the beheading of the white queen, and, to avenge her husband, I destroyed the Red King. After this, the other pieces started to battle, in this frenzy I was knocked unconscious and awoke in the most mad place I've ever seen.20

It was an insane asylum, but not like the one I was in. The place was covered with mirrors, floating objects in space, trick staircases, leaning passages that made you fall, and the fumes of mercury filled the air. The patients? Grotesque experiments were done on these mad children, I had to, sadly, kill many of them in defence, along with Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the nurses, whom I would later admit enjoy slaughtering. "You must use their size against them." Cat advised. That was when I realized they had the ability to multiply by splitting in two. Using my vicious weapon toys, I, one by one, did off with the pestering blokes.21

I later came across the March Hare and Dormouse. They seemed to be oblivious that they had been cut open, tortured with burning acid and electric shocks, and have robotic attachments to their bodies. They were no doubt the most cruelly tortured of all. I then came across the griffin, who informed me the Mad Hatter, the runner of the entire hell-like structure, would be coming at 6 sharp.22

The Hatter was giant, green to the skin, and madder than ever before. I supposed you've heard how hatters used mercury to clean their hats and the fumes caused insanity. This hatter must have been addicted to the stuff, seeing the symbol was written everywhere and his behavior was indescribable and uncontrollable. At least not until he was ripped to shreds by the jacks.23

After I conquered him, I freed the griffin, who took me on my way to HeartsLand. It was dark and twisted, like the rest of Wonderland. Molten lava bubbled in pools scattered around. Card guards were everywhere. Luckily there were frog-legged drinks and spray plants that made me more aggressive so I could plow through them.24

The caterpillar later showed up after I found some pieces to the Jabberwock's eye staff. He advised me to confront the dreaded Jabberwock, take his eye, and use it as a weapon, the only weapon which would open the gate to the Queen's palace. The Jabberwock is an indescribable creature, but I can say he was big, ghastly, and very dangerous and powerful. He first tormented me verbally by questioning my sanity and my meek being. I felt a break down inside me, but fought it and produced aggression. The griffin helped me in the battle, and I finally got the eye I needed. I shot the magical staff at the door and it blew to pieces, granting my entry.25

In the middle of the castle, the griffin and Jabberwock met again. Now with one eye and infuriated, he killed my dear new friend. I ran up to his side. He told me to avenge him. So, in my rage, I took on the Jabberwock once again, who teased me at my stupidity, making the rage bubble inside me. Using his own eye staff against him, I murdered the giant creature and proceeded to the Queen.26

Before I got to where she was, the Cat greeted me again. He greeted me with his famous smile and bared a last word of advice.27

"Bravery and I are on intimate teams. My natural curiosity has been tampered with caution, thus I've lived long." He said in his dark, low, mysterious voice. He faded and reappeared about a yard away, "But now, ignoring my instinct to flee or fib, I speak the truth without regard to consequence. Your courage deserves no less." He faded again and reappeared behind me, that mischievous feline, that Cheshire Cat, "You have suffered great pain and have caused some. You've endured deep grief and feelings of guilt. But now you will be tested with a more wrenching anguish, Alice. There is worse to come, you and this Red Queen cannot both survive, you are two parts in the same-" Next thing I knew there was blood everywhere and the deeply impaled, disembodied remains of my beloved friend is laying still on the floor.  I fell to my knees and wept. But then I knew that the Queen of Hearts must be defeated with pain and harshness.28

The wicked woman herself had become twisted. Her tentacles she had sprouted were long and binding, reaching out throughout the land and securing her to her evil throne. Her face was twisted in an satanic way and you would be a fool to consider her human. I confronted her and asked the unbelievable: "Who am I?"29

She replied to my lunatic question with her infamous refrain: "Off with her head."30

The battle was much like any other I had had. I fought with little strategy and with swiftness and power. Finally I made my way up to her, fling the bloodied, worn knife from my dress pocket, and slice her head off. I am shocked to see that, as she looked back, blood pouring, at me, a new face had appeared. My face.31

"You fool!" this monster said, "You are ignorant beyond belief," I cried again at this teasing, "This is all your head. If you destroy me, you destroy yourself. The fact that you have failed to retain your sanity is bad enough!"32

I couldn't take it anymore. I took my knife and finished this horror off. The monster recoiled its grip on this world and was left as a big bloody mess on the floor. The sun came out and Wonderland exploded with life. I remember looking out the window at this cheering, wonderful land. Wonderland, the way it should be. But before I knew it I was flying up the rabbit hole, as the light grew closer, everything went blank. 33

"Alice, Alice wake up!" The kind nurse from before was shaking my shoulder. My emerald eyes blinked in the light, confused. I was in a field, the asylum was in the distance. "You were given the wrong medicine and went haywire, running out of the place like a mad animal. Are you alright?"34

"Yes, I'm fine. You won't believe this, I-" I pondered whether or not this adventure was best kept a secret. The fact that I was drugged, though, gave a perfect excuse, "I went back to Wonderland."35

"Alice, that was all a dream, you were asleep."36

"I see."37

She helped me up and grabbed my hand, "Come on, let's get you back to the asylum, quickly, dear. I also have to say sorry, the little rabbit, we lost it. It's gone."38

So it wasn't just a dream, I thought.39

Finally, my sanity was restored. I took my cat, Dina, and my things, and left for the real world, where I could live out the rest of my life knowing that the formerly twisted world in my head was gone. For now.