↳ Banner and dividers made by @kim-seok-jin. Thank you^^.
✉Titles:
➝Alice in the Madness of Wonderland: The Stygian Fairytale
➝Stygian (the madness corrupts me, and you, my saviour)
Though Alice ‘Y/N’ Liddell is overshadowed, and she doesn’t seem to think much of it, she yearns for a world which notices her- gives her a chance- a part of her wanting for a turn to be on the pedestal. But of course, nothing can change that-
Or can it?
One chance encounter with a boy with bunny ears and a strange hole, and she arrives at the world of Wonderland- a world of magic, mystery and madness. Protecting her life is one thing, but-
What more when everyone seems determined to capture her heart?
➠ Genres: Angst, fantasy, alice in wonderland!au, reverse harem, isekai (teleported to a fantasy world), mystery
➠ Overall Rating: PG-18
➠ Warnings: Violence, suicide, comatose, disturbing scenes, weapons, fights, yandere, insanity, mental illnesses, torture, massacre, serial killers, violent riots, executions, murders, large amount of people die, stalking, people lead other people on, threats, madness (but it’s wonderland so), tea parties and the white rabbit
✉ Beta-player [a.k.a. me, blog writer and walkthrough maker!] comments:
Several crashes may occur while playing the game, as the developers told me. This is still a beta version of the game, after all! The game also contains a lot of violence… hrmm, well, you’ll see for yourself. I’ve been told not to give too many spoilers, but the developers hinted to me that as the player, we have a special power!
If you complete a route, you don’t have to continue to the next one. You can pick whichever route you’re on and make it your true end. When that option pops out in the game, and you pick yes, Wonderland will close, and Alice and her suitor will be able to leave! It’s our choices while reading that matter!
Or… at least that’s what they said. Still, I’d warn you guys to be careful in choosing! This game is tricky, and it has several bad ends too… ah, I shouldn’t spoil anymore. This is an online game, so I put the links below if you want to play the beta version too! Careful though~ It links straight to the prologue, so for any players replaying, just choose the route after!
Oh, and one last thing- though all of the main cast are dateable characters; it’s of course, only one character per route though… or is it? Hehehe!
If you go through all routes, you might get a secret ending! Bonus scenes! So complete the full game when it comes out, okay?
No, the developers totally didn’t ask me to say all that to promote the game~
Have fun playing, and I hope this walkthrough helps you!
Reader discretion advised.
✉ Map:
Ah, this is the Wonderland we, as the player, will fall into! Do you see the different emblems across the land? Those are the villages under the influence of the roleholders! Oh… was that too much information? I don’t think I was supposed to reveal the concept of roleholders yet… ah well! You’ll just have to see for yourself.
Putting the villages to the side for now though, you should have a look at the main buildings first.
The little building on top of the mountain on the top left is the Hatter Mansion! It’s where you’ll meet the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, and many other questionable friends!
The place below the teapot emblem - the red state you’re seeing belongs to the King of Hearts. It’s the Hearts Castle! Here, reside the King, and his two faithful followers, the Ace of Hearts and the White Rabbit.
The tower a little way from the middle of the map is the Clocktower. It’s where the Clock Maker lives.
The last, but definitely not the least, place is where you’ll see the Cheshire Cat roaming around. It’s the colorful Amusement Park at the top right of the map! Make sure to go there sometime in your journey in Wonderland.
Now, I’ll try giving an overview of each village. These areas can be visited within the game in the routes, and often, you’ll see an important event revolving around them in the story.
Let’s go over the villages under the rule of the King of Hearts first.
See the emblem with the two keys? That’s Book End! It’s known for its loyalty to the crown, and the people there strictly obey their king. It’s also treated better than the other town under the rule of Kim Seokjin. Some say it’s because of its size being larger than the other’s, but most argue that it’s the result of his poor administration.
The village just above Book End, with the heart emblem is the town that mostly passes by through the shadows! It’s called Hearts’ Eve, and because of the people not being treated equally, many citizens from here have risen to protest against the king. They went as far as to call the Mad Hatter for help, hence the place is always in a state of political unrest.
The emblem with the teapot on the far left denotes Pekoe Town, so far the only village under the influence of the infamous Mad Hatter, Kim Taehyung. The people here live quite peacefully… if you forget the rare murder of a secret Hearts supporter here and there! The place is very well guarded, if I remember correctly.
Tugley Wood Town falls almost in the middle of the map. Its emblem has the green tree to symbolise the priority of the citizens - nature, and side by side, peace. It’s an independent state, but often has its matters overlooked by the tedious Clock Maker, Kim Namjoon, and the mischievous Cheshire Cat, Min Yoongi.
The other independent village is the one with the flower emblem! It’s called Hatter’s North for being north of the Mad Hatter’s state. I vaguely recall many people being in support of Kim Taehyung here, even if the village isn’t under his influence. Its works are still managed by Namjoon and Yoongi.
This was a lot of information to take in, so I don’t blame you if you’re confused on how to remember it! Just try giving this walkthrough a look if you’re puzzled about the general geography of Wonderland, and I’m sure it’ll ease your troubles~
To bring this to an ending note, I must add what I’ve been told about this world by the developers themselves:
‘As silly and nonsensical Wonderland portrays itself to be, some things will truly never change. Over the centuries of generations, the land has survived numerous generations of war and love- and has stayed the same. The edges may have faded, and the map itself may look worn out, but take heed, Alice… for there lies mysteries and secrets in every nook and cranny of this world…’
↳ All credits go to @kim-seok-jin for the banner and dividers! Thank you to @lvnatrgraphics for helping her with it!
Though Alice ‘Y/N’ Liddell is overshadowed, and she doesn’t seem to think much of it, she yearns for a world which notices her- gives her a chance- a part of her wanting for a turn to be on the pedestal. But of course, nothing can change that-
Or can it?
One chance encounter with a boy with bunny ears and a strange hole, and she arrives at the world of Wonderland- a world of magic, mystery and madness.
What more when everyone seems determined to capture her heart?
➠ Genres: Fluff, angst, mystery, fantasy, isekai (going to another world), alice in wonderland!au
➠ Rating: PG-15
➠ Triggers Ahead: Hints of creepy/obsessive behaviour, kidnapping, reader’s manhandled, stolen kiss (?), violence and weapons, physical fights, suggestive dialogues, confusion, madness
↳ A/N: Since the post is a little too big to be reblogged on mobile Tumblr, consider doing it through your internet browser instead. Feel free to send us your feedback through submissions, or an ask about the story in general. We hope you enjoy! ↲
“Warning!In entering this game, be warned, dear player. You are an outside force, imposing your will on this world. You may have great power, but this power only comes once. Use it as you wish- whether you wish to control the story, or let it consume you. You may choose to leave the story, the world, without an end, or you may also stay, and search for the true end.
Here, it is your choice that matters. If you believe in this world, they will exist in your head. It will be up to you to direct the story however you want- because, in the end, if there was no Alice, then there would be no Wonderland. Wonderland comes into existence because of the person named Alice- and so this story will be if you choose to exist in it.”
You find your attention focused on the cup before you, a thread of hesitation running through you at the sound of your older sister’s voice. Lorina seems as beautiful as ever, really. The sunlight luminates her features, giving her an ethereal glow.
Fingers pin back the stray hair behind your ear, and you idly wonder how much you pale in comparison. Ah well. At least, in this moment, seated at the tea party, that your family is best known for… even if no one is there to witness it but you both, no fault can be found in your manners, an unachievable hunger for perfection having long been instilled in you.
After all, that is the expectations set on you as a daughter of the Liddell family. Or rather, not just from your family, but also from the noble society. Intelligent, beautiful, refined. To always be a lady in every way.
Still, no matter how well you hold yourself, you muse as you take a sip of your tea, it’s not like it will ever matter. It’s quite simple if you think about it- when everyone’s eyes are already turned to someone else, there won’t be any left to glance your way.
Alice in the Madness of Wonderland: The Stygian Fairytale | Walkthrough
↳ Banner and dividers made by @kim-seok-jin. Thank you^^.
✉Titles:
➝Alice in the Madness of Wonderland: The Stygian Fairytale
➝Stygian (the madness corrupts me, and you, my saviour)
Though Alice ‘Y/N’ Liddell is overshadowed, and she doesn’t seem to think much of it, she yearns for a world which notices her- gives her a chance- a part of her wanting for a turn to be on the pedestal. But of course, nothing can change that-
Or can it?
One chance encounter with a boy with bunny ears and a strange hole, and she arrives at the world of Wonderland- a world of magic, mystery and madness. Protecting her life is one thing, but-
What more when everyone seems determined to capture her heart?
➠ Genres: Angst, fantasy, alice in wonderland!au, reverse harem, isekai (teleported to a fantasy world), mystery
➠ Overall Rating: PG-18
➠ Warnings: Violence, suicide, comatose, disturbing scenes, weapons, fights, yandere, insanity, mental illnesses, torture, massacre, serial killers, violent riots, executions, murders, large amount of people die, stalking, people lead other people on, threats, madness (but it’s wonderland so), tea parties and the white rabbit
✉ Beta-player [a.k.a. me, blog writer and walkthrough maker!] comments:
Several crashes may occur while playing the game, as the developers told me. This is still a beta version of the game, after all! The game also contains a lot of violence… hrmm, well, you’ll see for yourself. I’ve been told not to give too many spoilers, but the developers hinted to me that as the player, we have a special power!
If you complete a route, you don’t have to continue to the next one. You can pick whichever route you’re on and make it your true end. When that option pops out in the game, and you pick yes, Wonderland will close, and Alice and her suitor will be able to leave! It’s our choices while reading that matter!
Or… at least that’s what they said. Still, I’d warn you guys to be careful in choosing! This game is tricky, and it has several bad ends too… ah, I shouldn’t spoil anymore. This is an online game, so I put the links below if you want to play the beta version too! Careful though~ It links straight to the prologue, so for any players replaying, just choose the route after!
Oh, and one last thing- though all of the main cast are dateable characters; it’s of course, only one character per route though… or is it? Hehehe!
If you go through all routes, you might get a secret ending! Bonus scenes! So complete the full game when it comes out, okay?
No, the developers totally didn’t ask me to say all that to promote the game~
Have fun playing, and I hope this walkthrough helps you!
↳ All credits go to @kim-seok-jin for the banner and dividers! Thank you to @lvnatrgraphics for helping her with it!
Though Alice ‘Y/N’ Liddell is overshadowed, and she doesn’t seem to think much of it, she yearns for a world which notices her- gives her a chance- a part of her wanting for a turn to be on the pedestal. But of course, nothing can change that-
Or can it?
One chance encounter with a boy with bunny ears and a strange hole, and she arrives at the world of Wonderland- a world of magic, mystery and madness.
What more when everyone seems determined to capture her heart?
➠ Genres: Fluff, angst, mystery, fantasy, isekai (going to another world), alice in wonderland!au
➠ Rating: PG-15
➠ Triggers Ahead: Hints of creepy/obsessive behaviour, kidnapping, reader’s manhandled, stolen kiss (?), violence and weapons, physical fights, suggestive dialogues, confusion, madness
↳ A/N: Since the post is a little too big to be reblogged on mobile Tumblr, consider doing it through your internet browser instead. Feel free to send us your feedback through submissions, or an ask about the story in general. We hope you enjoy! ↲
“Warning!In entering this game, be warned, dear player. You are an outside force, imposing your will on this world. You may have great power, but this power only comes once. Use it as you wish- whether you wish to control the story, or let it consume you. You may choose to leave the story, the world, without an end, or you may also stay, and search for the true end.
Here, it is your choice that matters. If you believe in this world, they will exist in your head. It will be up to you to direct the story however you want- because, in the end, if there was no Alice, then there would be no Wonderland. Wonderland comes into existence because of the person named Alice- and so this story will be if you choose to exist in it.”
You find your attention focused on the cup before you, a thread of hesitation running through you at the sound of your older sister’s voice. Lorina seems as beautiful as ever, really. The sunlight luminates her features, giving her an ethereal glow.
Fingers pin back the stray hair behind your ear, and you idly wonder how much you pale in comparison. Ah well. At least, in this moment, seated at the tea party, that your family is best known for… even if no one is there to witness it but you both, no fault can be found in your manners, an unachievable hunger for perfection having long been instilled in you.
After all, that is the expectations set on you as a daughter of the Liddell family. Or rather, not just from your family, but also from the noble society. Intelligent, beautiful, refined. To always be a lady in every way.
Still, no matter how well you hold yourself, you muse as you take a sip of your tea, it’s not like it will ever matter. It’s quite simple if you think about it- when everyone’s eyes are already turned to someone else, there won’t be any left to glance your way.
Which is fine, really. No one might acknowledge your success, but your failures go unseen as well. To anyone else, those words might seem bitter or jealous, but you know yourself that you say it with relief. You do not ever want to be in Lorina’s position, where everybody pays attention to her every move.
You don’t, you think to yourself. You really don’t.
“… -ice? Dear? Alice?”
You snap back to attention at her voice. Gently setting down the cup in your hands, you finally address the elephant in the room with a deep breath, unable to bear it anymore.
“Lorina, dear sister-” you pause, trying to find the right way to say it without hurting her feelings. “I’ve missed you terribly,” you start. “To be able to see you again in person is a pleasure, but- I worry about your health, coming to see me when you must have pressing matters to attend to.”
Lorina’s face brightens in that moment, to your surprise. “Alice, dear, for an important matter such as this, I simply could not wait to tell you- other matters can wait,” she beams, clasping her hands together.
“An important matter…?” You echo, confused. You’d received no prior notices or any hints as to what your sister is talking about. Your brows furrow, a puzzled frown lacing your expression. At your reaction, she only seems to smile even more, excitement showing.
“Yes, you see- my engagement with Malchin has been approved by mother and father!”
Ah.
Malchin. Lorina’s suitor of four years. A name you hoped you wouldn’t hear for the rest of your life. You exhale discreetly, trying to keep up a pretense of happiness, if only for Lorina’s sake.
“Really?” You smile at her. “Congratulations, Lorina!”
She giggles, and in the setting of the golden afternoon sun, Lorina glows. Happiness suits your sister, or rather, it always has. “There was nothing more that we wanted than to bring you the news in person. As my sister, you know how much he cares for you! He was just as excited to tell you this as I was- oh, we came straight here without notice… I’m sorry, Alice dear,” she suddenly murmurs, brows furrowing. You can’t help but frown as you hear her words, especially at the mention of him.
Even so, Lorina’s guilty face prompts you to answer her, so you keep the smile plastered on your face. “It’s alright. Why would I ever refuse a visit from my beloved older sister? … and from my ever so wonderful future brother-in-law,” you add hastily, in case she notices.
“What a relief then, for there’s nothing more I’ve wanted since our last meeting, than to see you again,” another voice joins the conversation- and your grip on the cup tightens, the necklace around your neck sitting colder than ever before.
Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.
Soft, caramel eyes that twinkle, a chiselled face, white-blond locks and sharp yet features that soften as he smiles, a being you’d only be able to picture in the novels you read, Malchin, the subject of your conversation, joins your tea party.
Foreign, a history shrouded in mystery, and yet impossibly skilled with diplomacy, Malchin is the picture perfect fiance for a daughter of your house. Yet even so, you find him to be someone you want nothing to do with. If you were to speak honestly, his words were seeping poison and his presence a headache.
Sometimes, you ponder over what made Lorina like him so much- but in the end, you aren’t in a position to do anything about it. After all, that has long been a tradition of your house. A Liddell journeys on her own to choose a suitor of her liking.
And Lorina, for some reason you will never understand, has chosen Malchin.
Looking up, you see his lips set in a smile as he faces you. And as always- the moment that your eyes meet, Malchin pauses, before his eyes turn too piercing, a trace of unexplained deep fondness becoming visible. Of course, he’s always been rather…affectionate towards you, and even if you found it uncomfortable in the past, nothing comes close to the tension you can feel it building up to right now.
You immediately avert your gaze when his lingers for too long to be considered appropriate, heart beating fast. Taking your cue as what it is, he starts walking- to Lorina, you hope, not wanting to be near him in any way.
When he’s about to pass by you, you tense, your focus entirely on your plate, there’s nowhere else you’d rather look-
You shudder as you feel the brush of his hand tuck away a loose strand of your hair, before his voice resounds.
“You look stunning, as always, dear Alice,” his voice is near shy of a purr, and you wrack your brains for a suitable response, your hackles raised. His next sentence comes out lower, and if you were sitting anywhere else, you might not have heard it. As it is, you have the front seat for his theatrical acts.
“Any man, if he were to see you, would fall in love immediately.”
“T-Thank you for the compliment,” your words come out stilted, and you almost stutter. What he means by it, you don’t want to contemplate too deeply into it. You should look at him as you respond, but- no. “A roundabout way to tell of how Lorina’s beauty captivated you deeply?” You redirect his words to your sister immediately with a false giggle. “After all, I’ve been told I am the picture perfect copy of Lorina. Really… you are as charming as always, Malchin.”
Guessing by his expression, he’s caught off-guard, if only for a second. Lorina’s shy giggle rings in your ears. His pupils dilate before he bursts into a sweet smile too, one that could never make someone paint him as the demon he is under that mask of his.
“Of course Lorina is very beautiful, and so are you, dear Alice,” he chuckles, laugh airy and soft and oh-so-toxic it makes you want to run, red sirens going off in your head. “If a man sees two flowers growing ever so beautifully, is it not his duty to state what they are? And if he likes one so much, enough to want it for himself…”
The feel of a hand subtly gliding through your hair makes you squirm- just a little, you’ve been trained not to show discomfort- and you keep the tight smile on your face, though it strains the longer he stays near you.
It seems mercy has finally come upon you though, as Malchin finally strides over to Lorina, slowly as if he seems reluctant, seating himself beside her- though not without fleeting overly fond looks your way as well. You try not to meet his gaze as often as you can, though you can’t imagine just how or why Lorina can stand this. She can see it, can’t she? It’s frustrating, truly frustrating and as Lorina chimes happily with a, “Alice, dear, more snacks?”-
You find yourself looking at her and trying to ignore the person on the side. It doesn’t help that the table is small, just enough to fit two people, and Malchin’s addition has made it incredibly crowded as he sits beside you. When his knees brush over yours- you almost jump. Your mind tells you to escape, but how?
Not even three minutes and all you want to do is leave.
You send a soft smile (or what you hope is one) to her, thinking over the words in your head, unwilling to stay a moment longer-
“Lorina, love-” the brief, fleeting glance your way snaps you out of your trance when ‘love’ rings in your ears, fortunately just in time to hear the next words being spoken, “-we seem to be running out of snacks, shall I call for the maid-?”
“Oh no,” you instantly cut in with an apologetic smile that you hope is believable. “I had the maids leave the garden for today, to give us privacy,” you sigh, looking at Lorina under your lashes as if to imitate the sorry but well-meaning child. Before Malchin or Lorina can speak further, you continue forward.
“Never worry though! Calling for a maid in the mansion is not too much- and besides, I believe you two have some words to speak to each other that I should not be hearing,” you giggle, playing the part of a mischievous, adoring younger sister this time. You see Lorina blush, and Malchin looks at you with amusement. The way his lips tilt in fondness and want, behind the facade makes you all the more relieved you are leaving.
“If it’s not too much,” he softly repeats, a cup raised to his lips, before you see something dart out- and you look away before you have to see more than his tongue pressed over his lips.
You quickly flee away.
If there is anything that gives you comfort right now, it’s the sight of familiar bushes, of familiar roses and hedges that make up the maze in the garden you are in. It’s no secret that the Liddells- your family- are people who indulge in beauty and luxury; the gardens that encircle the lands your family owns only attests to that.
Another thing that reminds you awfully a lot of your high status in society other than the large gardens and your last name is the chain of silver hanging down your neck. It comes down to a tear-shaped red tourmaline, and you faintly remember sitting under a certain tree, thinking of how it looks to be a real tear made of blood. Or perhaps a raindrop, you think idly. All that you know is that it’s a very special heirloom. Sometimes, it still baffles you- why your esteemed mother and father would give it to you, rather than Lorina. After all, it’s apparent that she’s the better child in their eyes.
Still, talking of gardens, this one in particular has been, and always will be, your favorite.
When you round a corner, you smile softly as you reach your destination- the clearing that lies in the very center of the maze. Inside, you see the huge tree that has been a familiar face since you were but a child, the croquet holes that are scattered around, the grass that tickles your legs as you pull up your skirt- the feel of the breeze…
… the… body lying down near the… tree…?
You pause in your steps, confused. Is that a new servant of the manor? It’s the only possible explanation for the unknown person to be sleeping in the garden that you’ve explicitly told them not to sully. You try to keep your temper in check as you stride over to the- boy? No, man- in quick steps, disregarding the danger-
You stop, for the second time, in surprise.
Having crossed the distance between him and you, the image of this sleeping man is now much clearer. Details previously blurred are now all too easy to see. What you thought was a mismatched uniform seems to be something else entirely, his whole outfit something you’ve never seen before. A red coat with an off-white shirt, paired with his white pants makes for an overly bright attire, though the black bow with white speckles does make it more coherent.
But as you look up, you retract all your other thoughts.
It’s the pair of bunny-like ears on his head, huge and brown and floppy that are mismatched with everything you know. How- why? What?
If that’s not enough, as the man shifts in his sleep, the ears twitch, and you let out a small gasp, your curiosity taking over the fear that should have been your first response. Instead of wanting to run away- you find yourself intrigued. Who exactly, or rather- what exactly is this man and why is he sleeping in your garden?
If you’d known what would happen later on, you would have scolded yourself, curiosity be damned. It has always been your one crippling weakness since when you were a child.
But in this moment you crouch, coming closer, tempted to touch his ears and see if they’re real. The man murmurs something in his sleep though, and you find your gaze attracted to his face instead- and you fall even more silent, if that’s possible.
Beautiful.
Where his ears drew your attention before, his face certainly seems to take your breath away just as much. You’ve never seen someone as handsome as him- how do you describe the angel in front of you? Long lashes, the cutest nose, soft pink lips. Now you’re more than sure he isn’t someone from the staff- how could someone with his face work as a mere servant?
Peering down to his wrist, you see a purple gem, a garnet, you realize thanks to the academy’s constant pressure on noble women knowing their gemstones, shining under the glass of the wristwatch, even in the shade of the tree. It’s pretty, very pretty, you think with a soft smile. Befitting his awfully formal attire.
The ears twitch again and you turn to watch with fascination as his nose in turn twitches at the same time. Then his ears flop over, and into your hand-
You bite back the squeal building in your throat at how utterly soft his fur is. Unable to help yourself, you let your hands run over his ears. They’re addicting to touch, and it’s only when you hear the man below you make a sound that you halt to a stop, embarrassment coloring your cheeks red.
What in the hell have you been doing?
Observing someone sleeping without their consent- what more to touch them so casually-?
In a single moment yet again, you seem to have renounced everything you learned back at the academy. The mere thought of it makes you shudder and you hastily move to put distance between the two of you, but-
The hand that grabs your wrist in turn makes you squeak in shock.
“… Who…?”
Huge, doe-like eyes that fittingly make him more handsome stare at you and you find yourself unable to say a word, your heart unable to do anything but beat fast as you find yourself in close quarters with quite one of the strangest strangers you’ve encountered yet.
“A… Alice…?”
Then he immediately grins, and you’re broken out of your trance.
“Oh, I knew you’d come!” He beams at you- even his teeth resemble that of bunnies, you dazedly think- before shuffling closer until your noses are only a breath apart. “I only had to wait, and you’d come back one day. I knew you would. I knewit.”
“Let’s go home!”
“I-I beg your pa-!?” Your words are cut off as he suddenly, effortlessly tugs you close, and in a single move, sweeps you off of your feet. With your body cradled in his arms, your feet left dangling in the air, your head tucked to his chest and his arms tightly holding you, you aren’t given even the slightest bit of leeway to break free.
More than that, all the words in your throat die down as you’re suddenly brought close close close, so close to this (infuriatingly) handsome stranger’s face, such that you can clearly see the mischief in his gaze as he looks at you. There’s a touch of glee in there too, but more than that- ecstasy? Hope? Relief? The myriad of emotions he displays on his face confuses you, but then you stop that line of thinking when you feel him start to move.
“Let me down!” You hiss at him, trying- and failing- to move in any way.
“Why would I?” He asks, an innocently curious note in his voice. The rabbit ears that you’d earlier wondered if true proudly flop in the air, folding over and sometimes standing tall. Just like a real rabbit, you can’t help but notice, before his words sink in and you scowl.
“What do you mean, ’why would I’- for one, you’re basically manhandling me, and another, I’m not whoever you think I am! For both of our sakes, let go of me already, you-!” You squeal when you suddenly notice the hole that has- how, how!? You’d remember if there was a hole like that in your garden, let alone beside the tree’s roots!- appeared, huge and gaping. That’s not what makes your heart drop in fright though-
It’s the fact that it’s pitch black, even under the bright sunlight. It’s as if there’s a wall of some sort that prevents light from passing through, making you want to curl up in fear.
“… I guess you don’t remember, but that’s alright. It’s the rules, after all. When we return, you’ll surely remember me then, won’t you, dear Alice?”
And before you can ask him what that means, or even to ask him where he’s taking you-
-he jumps, and your scream is swallowed by the air as both of you fall down the hole.
You don’t know how long you’ve been falling, though internally you’ve counted at least two minutes, it feels as though an hour has passed instead. The only thing that keeps you grounded is the sensation of arms holding you close. Not even your voice echoes out.
In this space, you feel as though you’re weightless, in a void, enough to daze you that-
‘Let’s play a game, Alice!’
You see a flash of blue, of red, of different colors and there is innocent joy in the laughter that follows. Still, it flutters out of your reach like a butterfly…
- your heart aches. The sudden, sharp pain that makes itself known in your chest makes you gasp silently, scrambling for air as your lungs burn-
-and when you open your eyes again, all you can see is blue.
Blue, reaching as far as your eyes can see, white clouds that hang lazily in the air, the sun hidden behind them… the wind, suddenly loud and screeching in your ears. When you speak, you can barely hear yourself, but having experienced the void, this feels like a blessinginstead.
“What happened!?”
You didn’t mean that question for anyone, if anything it is just the expected reaction for someone who fell into the ground, only to realize they’d somehow gotten from under the ground to above the sky.
Still, your insane captor answers your question. “We’re back in Wonderland!”
Wonderland. Immediately do you feel your heart pound hard and fast, the emotions from before making itself known yet again. An hour ago, you never would have heard about it before in your life, so- why, why was it so…
… familiar?
More than that though, as the blue of the sky makes way for a startling amount of green, you’re reminded of your situation at hand.
“We’re still falling!?” You scream, tugging him closer, the pounding in your heart being replaced by fear, sharp and cold. “We’re going to die at this rate!”
The smell of something surprisingly manly, with a mix of flowers makes itself known, and his voice rings in your ears. “Don’t worry! I won’t ever let you get hurt,” he reassures you, hands cradling you even closer, tucking you into his arms enough that your head is now pressed under his head, your nose brushing against his neck.
The sudden proximity shocks you into silence, and you still. Thinking about it clearly though, as insane and fast-paced as the past few minutes have been, clearly- clearly he would be familiar with this, right? And it’s not as if you know how to make it safely to the ground either.
With that in mind, you gulp, deciding to trust your kidnapper, as infuriating and stupid as it may sound.
Seconds after you think that- you almost let out a gasp as you feel a soft sort of force envelop you both, visibly slowing down your descent- and when you finally open your eyes, you really do let out a gasp.
Below you both is what seems to be a gigantic tower of some sort, the balcony only a few meters away.
“What is that…?” The question falls from your mouth without you even thinking about it, dazed as you are. Yet again your kidnapper happily replies.
“It’s the clock tower- we’re almost there! Just a little bit more, okay, Alice?”
You gulp nervously. Still, it’s obvious to you that if you want to get away, or do anything- you have to reach the ground first, so you remain compliant in his hold until the two of you drop to the balcony.
The second that you hear his feet touch the floor- with a swift kick to his waist, you finally release yourself, although you squeak when instead of cringing in and holding his waist, he holds on to your arm instead and pulls you close, and-
“!?”
-he kisses you.
You freeze.
Soft, warm- and you heart suddenly feels like it could collapse in and of itself, red flooding your face and your movements halted. You can’t even find the words, your eyes wide with shock while his eyes are closed.
And then they flutter open, a flash of something wet across your lips and- you’ve had enough.
If before you held back a little somehow, right now, there’s nothing more you really would like than to just dropkick him off the tower- and with that feeling driving you, you punch him, straight in the gut.
Creep lets out a choked sound, immediately falling to his knees and you grin, but you forget the tight hold he’s kept on your arm, and-
-he pulls you straight down on him, making you hiss as you make contact with what has to be solid muscles, what the-
“-don’t just-!”
“-brat, don’t you know the meaning of eldest first-!”
“-so you’re admitting you’re an old… man..?”
And for what seems to be the nth time of today, you’re given yet another surprise.
This time, in the form of several men bursting through the previously unnoticed door to the tower. At first you notice a man with grey hair and spectacles, but then just as immediately as you see him, he’s pushed to the side by two more men. Both of which are not only fighting, but upon seeing you, immediately fall silent with a shocked gaze.
Still, you’re just as confused… as…
You follow their line of gaze down, down, down, to meet with…
… the eyes of Crazy, who’s- who’s flushedred, eyes wide and a dazed sort of smile on his face, frame trembling and you give up, you really give up, what the hell is going on-
“Jungkook, you little shit!”
All proverbial hell breaks loose as you suddenly find yourself gently but still firmly pulled away, the sudden movement making you dizzy. In the span of two seconds, you find yourself some distance away from Mad, and instead with-
Your eyes widen as you notice the similar looking bunny ears that seemed in fact longer than Crazy’s.
“Are you alright?” If the man before you notices your sudden bewilderment, he doesn’t say anything. He looks at you with worry, lips raised into a heart-shaped pout as he pats you on the head.
“I…” What are you even supposed to say to that question? In the span of what has to be half an hour, you’ve been kidnapped and then thrust into what seems to be another world entirely. Only the fact that panicking would not help is keeping you from bursting into tears. You swallow, coming back to reality when you notice how all too close he is to you. Hastily taking a step back, you smile at him, albeit shakily. “I’m alright, thank you.”
He beams at you, and you’re abruptly reminded of sunshine.
Or maybe it’s his clothes.
Clad in what has to be the strangest fashion you’ve ever seen- nothing is color-coordinated, it looks like the most wonky, tacky thing you have seen in awhile. His rainbow-colored tie clashes badly with the neon green jacket he’s wearing, while his pants- you can’t even figure out if they are jeans or trousers, stripes covering them. The strangest thing yet might be that he actually pulls it off quite well.
One of his large ears is home to a ring sitting on the tip of it, adorning a bright green emerald in the shape of a simple rectangle. It’s beautiful, you find yourself thinking. Very mismatched with his outfit (apart from the jacket), but still… gorgeous.
Oblivious to your inner confusion (and how you’re practically drooling over the gem when it’s not your place to do so), he gives you another smile. “That’s good, I was worried Jungkook did something to you,” he earnestly tells you.
“Technically, he did already steal a kiss,” another one murmurs. You glance over, once again being overwhelmed by how handsome the person speaking is. With hair that seems as though it was spun from silver, the uniform that he wears complements his appearance well, a sword sitting sheathed, ready to strike at any moment. “Though it seems Alice herself doesn’t seem to mind?”
Your eyes settle on the cyan stone- apatite, you dazedly think- fixed in place on the handle of the sword, gleaming and reflecting the sun’s rays. It’s hypnotizing and draws you in, and you would’ve dared to touch it if not for the unwanted attention on each and every single movement of yours.
Your smile stiffens as you register his words moments later into the curious silence. “I don’t believe that can be considered as a kiss, at least on my end,” you reply, your hands clenched around your dress. “It would have to be consensual first.”
“PerhapsI will be the one to first claim a kiss from our Alice then,” you squeak as you suddenly heard a new voice come from beside you- and when you spin around, taking a step backward, you’re met with the face of one of the men from before- boxy grin in place as he unabashedly stares at you with mischief in his eyes. You aren’t quite sure what to say then, speechless from everything that was going on. Too much, too fast.
“Speechless?” He murmurs, his grin turning into a smirk. “Well, I’m not surprised. I do have that effect on people, don’t I?”
“I know you’re confused right now, Alice, but- it’s not that hard to understand. Trust me- we’ll explain everything to you very soon!” Mr Bunny Ears Part 2 says brightly, before frowning as he looks behind you. “Well… as soon as they’re finished.”
It’s only then that you remember the previous events. Turning around, you aren’t quite sure what you were expecting to see. If the men from before were any indication, then the remaining two men would be a sight to see as well.
Still, it doesn’t fail to take your breath away.
A formal outfit, chain of gold with a clock at the end placed neatly on the tuxedo he wore. His hair lightly falls over his face in a side bang, though you can make out his eyes very clearly, with a pair of glasses putting everything together. Smart, is the first thing that came to your mind. Like the sort of person who’d worry over others excessively, you add.
“I mean- you shouldn’t have just kissed her like that.”
“Yeah! What about the ‘everyone gets a chance’ part?” Beside him, the last member of the group finally comes into clear view, huffing the question with a frown.
All that comes into your mind is that he looks like… a king.
The red, fluttering cape behind him, the crown inlaid with gems, the sceptre he currently wields; everything pointed out to a single conclusion. The gem that stands out the most, however, is the red ruby in the middle, charmingly dazzling and basking in the attention of the nature around it. It flickers as you land your eyes on it, finely cut to add to its extravagant flare.
Still, when his words sink into your head, you can’t help wondering if he’s truly a king, or merely wearing clothes like one.
“How are we supposed to lure her in if you hit on her when we aren’t even there? That’s not fair.”
Insane scrunches up his nose, pouting. “It isn’t my fault you’re so slow and old!”
“What did you just say?”
“I said you’re old. Suck it up!”
You bite back the laughter in your throat as you let them settle their argument. You aren’t deficient in the head to intervene without a thought, the situation does not quite require one nor are you comfortable enough to do such a thing.
After all, no matter how friendly these men seem, it is an irrefutable fact that you are in unknown lands. Being excited and careless is the least that you feel you should be. With that, you use the time they argue to observe them instead.
Even if what you’ve been learning so far about them hurts your head instead.
It is only then that Mr Wise seems to remember the situation at hand. Quickly glancing at you, he tries to placate the other two. “Guys, she’s still here-”
“Shut up, Namjoon! I’m being insulted and all you care about is-”
It’s then that his eyes seem to meet you once more, as he stops and stares. “Oh.”
You smile though you feel quite awkward inside, one of the many things you’re experienced in.
In this moment, all attention falls back onto you, and while you’re thankful for the brief opportunity to truly talk and figure out the matter at hand, there’s a certain type of disquiet inside you at having strange, gorgeous men stare at you.
King (you really should learn their names, a part of you murmurs) gives you a faint smirk. “Alice,” he smoothly says your name and- really, that’s another matter that has you on edge. How do these people know your name?
You grip your dress tightly, willing yourself not to show weakness. Curtsying to him, of course- what else are you supposed to do- you open your mouth to introduce yourself, but then-
“I see you know your manners,” he cuts you off, looking quite… pleased? You’re unsure of how to take the tone in his voice. Is he trying to be formal and give you a command, or trying to make you feel at home with the compliment? It isn’t even a compliment, really. The last thing some random strangers as the ones you have stumbled upon would do was make sure you’re comfortable.
…Which you’re not. But they don’t seem to care.
“Unlike some other people,” the last part is added by King in a bitter manner, as he scowls at Insane with a side glance. You are quick to take your mind off of that detail. “Whatever the King orders, you oblige, correct?”
“I- yes, your majesty…?” Your reply is more of a question than an answer, but it seems as if the quick reaction to his words actually made him even more pleased, guessing by the ever-growing smirk of amusement on his face. Should you be scared…?
“Tell me honestly.“ He charges forward as he says, brushing a strand of your hair. You hold your breath, heart palpitations sounding louder in your ears with each beat. The others, unfazed, simply watch.
“Who do you like best from us?”
If not for his steel-cold gaze holding you down, you’d run, run faster than you have ever before. But you’re stuck, frozen, and it’’s not only because of the question he asks, but the way his fingers softly slip through your hair.
Truth be told, you like none of them.
Crazy, is… well, exactly that, completely unhinged and a psychopath. He dared to steal a kiss from your lips- and you had only met him for less than an hour!
And as for the others? Mr Bunny Ears Part 2 is interesting, that was true, a little questionable with his attire but friendly. Perhaps a little toofriendly.
Boxy Grin gently hinted at the same thing Crazy had done. King, the one standing before you rightnow, well… You bite down on your bottom lip. Yeah, he definitely isn’t your favourite. The rest- a minute of meeting did not an accurate analysis makel, so it isn’t as if you can say anything about them.
Really, it’s ridiculous that you’re even thinking for an answer, when you know there’s none.
“Well, obviously, she likes me more. She just isn’t saying it because someone is glaring daggers at her,” Boxy Grin says, rolling his eyes.
“Ohplease, be a little humble, will you?” King frowns. You don’t say anything- what is there to say? You don’t like any one of them… however, of you bring that up, murder did not seem to be far off the list of their reactions. Your current goal, as simple as it may seem at the moment, is to survive, and then hopefully head home.
“Jungkook, tell Taehyung to be humble. He simply can’t understand me, not that I would expect a plebian to do so.”
Crazy is starting to blush even more, you notice, turning red when you look at him with a grimacing look on your face. “W-Well, I-”
“You’re all really stupid, aren’t you?” Mr Bunny Ears Part 2 starts, “The only reason Alice hasn’t spoken yet is because she likes me best.” You would want to tell him ‘no’ firmly, but… He continues before you can say anything at all. “Seokjin, you’re glaring at her again.”
“It isn’t glaring if you do it to encourage someone!”
“What does that even mean-”
“Breaking news! The King of hearts is actually begging someone for the first time in history.” The silver-haired man, presumably a knight from the outfit, speaks.
"As his right-hand man, shouldn’t you be more supportive of him trying to be humble?”
“Spreading news of our great King becoming more humble is a way to support him, Namjoon,” he crosses his arms. “I always endeavor to spread tales of his greatness whenever I can.”
“Oh, for my flamingos’ sake, I am not trying to beg her!”
“Who even cares about your flamingos?”
“Youhaveflamingos!?”
“Should I sit down? This seems like it’s going to take a while, isn’t it?”
“Rather than sit down, I can already see this devolving into a fight-”
“Oh, I’ll definitely give you a fight alright, how-”
You startle as you see one of them pull out a- is that a gun!? How is it that a simple argument somehow devolves into a gunfight!?
“-howdare you people obstruct the king!? Why, if you’re looking for death, then I’m not opposed-”
Not to mention how the others seem to be getting just as agitated, the bright flashes of swords and the glints of metal from guns attracting your gaze. You look around- is no one going to stop it-?
“You’re the one being an obstruction!”
The resounding dark looks, yells, and the jerky movements all tell you otherwise, and you debate on leaving while they’re preoccupied. You’re not about to stay in a what seems to be soon a warzone-
“-All of you, stand down!”
With that, everyone turns quiet. The voice that last spoke seems to ring through the suddenly quiet air, as everyone turns to him.
Mr. Smart Guy looks at them with what you could only describe as burningrage, towering over the rest in the midst of the fit of anger. He’s the tallest, you realize, with how easily he’s able to intimidate everyone in the room. Even you are taken aback by the sudden stern voice of his, cold and unnerving.
“I will not tolerate any fights in this place. I assume you all know that by now?” Hastily as they should, the six other men nod to his words. Not all are willing, most are more than reluctant. "Yet it seems I deal with toddlers instead of adult men, who seem to forget the rules of this tower everytime.”
“This tower is a neutral area, and therefore it is not a place for you to hold your violence-happy, warmongering, amnesiac idiotic selves, and for clock’s sake-”
He sighs, loud and irritated, and you spot one of the men hastily putting away a weapon.
“… At this point, nothing will get done until the next cycle. Well then, if you can’t behave yourselves to be better than at least children, then I suppose it is partly my fault for believing you could do so. … I will correct that now,” he nods. The men look at him, confused, before Glasses guy points to the door behind him.
“Leave.”
You keep mum in the silence that follows.
“… Well then, what are you waiting for?” He raises a brow, a frown on his face as he meets his eyes with everyone.
“But Alice-”
“Go,” he repeats firmly. “I will take it from here, since you people seem to be too inept to do so. Just wait for Alice in your territories.”
His lips curl. “That is, if she picks you.”
“This is breaking the rules, Namjoon,” King grumbles. Beside him, Crazy nods frantically.
“We’re supposed to tell her about Wonderland together!”
“And have you guys actually done anything in regards to that?” He asks skeptically, before shaking his head. “I believe I already told you. I will not budge on this issue- leave. If there are consequences to deal with for breaking this rule, then I will gladly bear it, if it means having you people out of my tower,” he scoffs. “I will call you when we can start the official introductions, and I hope you will be ready by then to act as the role holders that you are.”
With that, the group seemingly deflates as one, though they finally start to leave.
King shoots you a last look before he turns away swiftly, the sunlight making his crown shine above anything else, its looming shadow falling over your small figure.
“I am leaving. Come to my castle when you have the least bit of respect for me and my flamingos.” He huffs, theatrically, might you add, taking a sharp turn from you to the door they had entered from.
“All hail the King of hearts!” Exclaiming so, the Knight leaves rather slowly than you’d expect for the energy in his voice, trailing after the King himself. You can see his figure sigh a little before the door closes behind him.
“Well you know what that means,” Boxy Grin says, a little while after the doors close. “I’m having a tea party tonight to the King of hearts becoming more humble and begging Alice.” Saying so, he takes off his awfully-decorated top hat to reveal a teapot and two cups. “Hoseok, dear, have some tea,” it’s a broken british accent that he speaks in. You have the desire to cover your ears in case he goes too high and potentially breaks his voice-
But he doesn’t.
Instead, Mr Bunny Ears Part 2, Hoseok, you catch his name, takes the offered teacup and begins walking towards the door. “You’re all invited!” And with that, andBoxyGrinchasingafterhim, they leave too.
You let out a sigh as soon as they left. “H-Hi,” oh no. Oh goodness, why? Why can’t they leave you alone for a single second?
It’s Crazy.
“Sorry for… all of that,” he’s still tomato red, but you refrain from paying that too much attention. “They are a little crazy.” Andsoareyou, you want to say. Clearing his throat, he sighs, albeit shakily, “Well! I should, uhm, leave now that the King of hearts is gone. They’ll be expecting me,” it takes him all of his courage to walk away- but not before giving one last sad glance, as though he’s a puppy being forced to part with its owner and why did your thoughts even go that way?
You sigh, and upon making eye contact with him, you glare back like there’s no tomorrow.
It’s quiet now. There may still be two strangers remaining that are looking at you weirdly, perhaps even whispering things to each other, but at least it’s a bit more calm now.
You can hear steps coming towards you, but you only look up when you hear a familiar voice call your name.
“Alice,” it’s the one man that you had thought looked smart- though you did not get his name. “It was a pleasure meeting you. I hope they did not scare you too much. Please find me as soon as you’ve taken everything in. And please feel comfortable, this land is now your home too.” And with that, he gives you a little smile, scrunches his nose and fixes his glasses, then leaves.
You blink at the last man standing- he has cat ears? How did you not notice before? If you remember correctly, he came with the rest of the men but hadn’t said anything, right?
You expect him to say something, anything, but he just takes a step, and another, and then another, until-
A click and thud of a door. He’s gone, just like the rest of them.
You feel a sigh rip its way out of you.
You slide down, down, down until you’re practically sitting on the ground, for once, uncaring if your dress is dirtied. In this situation though, you find that you can’t care much, if at all.
For a few moments, you find yourself struggling to realize just what, exactly, should you feel. Even when you think back on it, everything feels like a blur, too fast, too intense for you to process.
What- and pardon yourself here- the ever living fuck has just happened?
You’ve been having these thoughts earlier, but now they seem to continuously repeat in your mind. Did that really happen? Haveyouactuallygoneintoanotherworld?
You don’t want to believe it. Who would? Here you are, without friends or family, surrounded by unknown people, in an unknown land. How are you going to get home? How are you going to survive?
… What more, the strange, focused attention the men earlier held for you. You have no idea what happened then, nor how they knew your real name. It’s a huge problem- especially when you remember that Crazy stoleakiss from you, and the others don’t seem to be far off from doing the same thing, given the incentive.
Looking down to peer at the treasured heirloom, you find it’s red color brightening into a pink, shining and dimming consistently, almost as if there is a light inside of it. It scares you, it really does, becauseitlooksasifthetear’sglistening, but that next to everything else and the fact that it has never done this before your entire life, only when you stumble into a strange world…
Just then, a strong gust of wind blows by, and with it, you feel the urge to burst into tears.
What the hell are you going to do now?
Your body trembles, you’re lost and you’re scared-
It’s okay. It’s okay, it’s okay, you’re going to be okay, right? You are. You’re going to survive, you’ll get out of this somehow, you will.
Because.
You’ve survived until now. You survived the mansion, their stares, your mother, the school-
You made it through. You tell that to yourself repeatedly. Youmadeitthrough.
Right.
Right.
Exhaling gently, you forcibly push all lingering feelings of panic and despair down, deeper down. You can’t break down now. You have to find a way to get through this.
Going home is your priority, has to be your priority. There lies everything you’ve worked for and understood in your life, but you have to face reality- perhaps you can’t go home right at this moment.
So.
First of all. You need information. Merely staying where you are is no good, either. Your options, you gather, are to-
A. Go with King, and the silver-haired guy. You guess that they reside in the huge, red castle south of where you seem to be.
B. Go with Boxy Grin and Mr. Bunny Ears Part 2, who, after minutes of squinting, you haphazardly guess to live in the huge mansion a little ways off the red castle. You say so because of the huge garden connected to it, where there’s a white table with what you assume to be decorations and food on it.
C. Go with Smart guy, he hasn’t gone far yet, you hope.
D. Go into the town, and brave your luck to find a house willing to house you.
However, each option has its pros and cons.
Option A. You… are highly uncomfortable with King, although Silver haired guy seems okay if not a bit weird. Although they would probably easily let you stay, you aren’t eager to find out what happens when the King decides to pursue his delusions of you liking him. Silver haired guy might help him too since he’s a subordinate.
So. Very low chances for that.
Option B. Seems to be slightly better than Option A. However, considering Boxy Grin casually assumed you liked him, and… Hoseok? The thought that his name seems slightly familiar flashes in your mind, but you will it away. For now, you don’t feel okay calling them by their names (truthfully it doesn’t seem to suit them as much as their nicknames [that you gave to them] do, so…) Bunny Guy Part 2 did the same, you aren’t sure you want to go there either. Even if the thought of tea parties reminds you of home.
Option C. The one most promising so far. Everyone so far seems to be… not quite right, so to say. But Glasses guy seemed to be the best and most normal one yet, if just as exasperated as you. He’s just as unknown as the others, that’s for sure, but you can reason with him better than you can with the others, and that makes him the best candidate so far.
Option D. Under Option C it seems. Blindly trusting people is just another way to say ‘please trick me and use me!’, and you are not that desperate to risk that. Perhaps if you really had no other choice. You don’t know the current state of the town, and you could find out later if needed.
Still, now that you’ve reviewed your options, it seems that Option C is the best one so far-
And with that in mind, you resolve yourself.
You arrived- no, you got abducted into another world. Fine. Alright. You’d live. You then got left behind bytheverysamepersonwhoabductedyou, but fine! That is fine too. More than peachy. You’ll find a way to survive and get back home.
And the first step is to find Mr. Smart Guy.
It’s the faint sound of movement that finally draws your attention, alerting you to the possibility that there’s someone in the room nearby. What feels like half an hour of wandering around, and you’ve managed to tour around a bit of (what you now know) to be a tower. Built in a square structure, with what seems to be an endless amount of stairs connecting each floor, the tower has quite the number of floors. You aren’t sure, but between guessing how tall each floor is and the distance to the ground, you guess it to be around twelve, maybe fourteen flours, including the balcony from before. It’s amazing, it truly is, but-
The fact that it took you six floors before finding the first hint of life beyond dusty rooms, not as much.
You stop by the door, listening for any warning sounds inside.
But you don’t hear anything- except for the sound of things being opened and closed, presumably side tables. Was this someone’s bedroom? Pushing the door ajar just a little, you peep through.
Ah. Finally.
He’s still wearing those glasses, hidden behind a stack of papers. To his right is a bookshelf, to his left, a few drawers. Not a bedroom, you think, more like an office of a sort. You frown a little, trying to make out the expression on his face, but open the door a little more, and you might make an unwanted creak and give up your location. Or the fact that you were staring at him in a rather creepy position.
So you’ve found Mr. Smart Guy.
Yet, still, you stand there, frozen and unwilling to move. You shouldn’t be scared of him though. He doesn’t seem intimidating at all, so why can’t you just approach him? You bite down on your bottom lip, before letting out a heavy sigh.
Remember your main objectives.
Clearing your throat, you make your presence known to Mr. Smart Guy as you open the door and enter the comfortable-looking office.
“I- I’m sorry to disturb, but, good afternoon.” Your voice comes out as a whisper, though you hope he hears it in the silence of the room. Looking up towards you, you see relief color his face.
“I wondered when you would come,” he smiles, though his hands still hold the clock gears, he gestures to one of the chairs nearby, “It’s alright, please, sit down.”
You follow his words with barely any hesitance, though you remain cautious. Still, it’s a relief to think that maybe you’ll finally get a clue on what seems to be going on. The man coughs once seemingly thinking over his words, before he starts.
“I’m certain you’re feeling confused right now, so if you have any questions, please.”
Thank god. You take in a deep breath and ask not the first question that’s been driving you crazy, but the one that you need the answer to the most. “Do you know how I might get home? And if not that, then at least, an idea of where I might stay? I… the discussion earlier left me at a loss, since everyone immediately came and left without answering a single question of mine.” You look down, biting your lip in distress. When you speak again, your voice is a few sizes quieter. “And perhaps… why did they seem so fixated on asking who I liked best…?”
The expression on his face falters to a more solemn, stiff one at your words. He fumbles with his pen, the frown widening by the second. For a moment, he seems to think over his words- before he answers you.
“Hm, I suppose you’re right. It must have been terribly confusing earlier, to be caught up in the antics of the toddlers. … I’m afraid I can’t answer all your questions right now, since doing so for some of them goes against the rules of this land.” And he blinks at you, lost in thought. “However, you’ll find a place to stay by tonight, you need not worry.”
“And as for your earlier question…”
He runs his hand through his hair, brows furrowed, before he resumes speaking.
“This world is named Wonderland- a parallel world to your own- which people here call the real world. All those who inhabit this place are bound by rules, and as Alice, if you desire to go home, then it is in your best interest to complete the game.”
You blankly stare back at him. Not even several sentences in, and you’re already feeling blindsided. “The game…?”
He smiles wryly. “… I’m afraid to say that that question will have to be asked at a later time. For now, what’s important is for you to pick a territory that you might be comfortable having a discussion in… as well as a faction to stay with.”
“…What,” you softly say, shocked and stunned and possibly bewildered as well. “I- you have to be kidding me,” you mumble, “That’s…”
Smart Guy easily shrugs, looking at ease in contrast to you. “…I assure you, I am not joking. Although I am not at liberty to say why or how, Alice has the right to choose where to live during the remainder of her stay. Although it was to be decided earlier, the others were…” he grimaces before continuing, “…a little too rambunctious, so I sent them on their way. Besides, with how the argument was unfurling, rather than letting you choose of your own free will, it was more likely that coercion, and then a brawl would happen. Hence, why I believe it’d be best for you to have some information, if not a choice about which people you will be staying with. And so-”
Here he pulls out a map from a nearby drawer, smoothening it out on the desk near the two of you. It unfurls, revealing quite a quirky landscape.
Surrounded by mountains, you see a mishmash of villages, a mansion, castles- isthatthetoweryou’rein?- and what seems to be an- an amusement park?
“Your options,” the man gestures first to a huge red castle on the bottom right. You can see miniature mazes and rose gardens drawn around, along with a crown. “Hearts Castle, where the King of Hearts, along with the Knight of Hearts and White Rabbit reside.”
Your mind flits back to the men from before- the pompous king, who’d quite honestly irritated you, the knight who seemed more inclined to snark than to serve, and-
You hold back the annoyed twitch as your thoughts go to the young man with rabbit ears from before, the one who’dkidnappedyouandstoleakissfromyou.
Yeah, you aren’t going there.
His finger by now moves to the mansion in the middle of the town. You spot two guns in a cross, circled by roses. “Hatter Mansion, where lives the Mad Hatter, as well as the March Hare.”
The one with the tea cups from before, you assume. You question their sanity, but looking back on it, they were much more preferable to living with, rather than the first three.
Still… remembering how one of them- the Mad Hatter himself, probably- assumed you to be falling for him… perhaps not.
Finally, he points to the amusement park that sits on the upper left corner. “Or the Amusement Park, the territory of the Cheshire Cat.”
Cheshire Cat? Who…?
Might be the one who left last, you deduced. No, you won’t be going there either. You aren’t keen to share a living space with someone you barely know anything about, even less than you do the others.
You pick your options carefully. There’s only a little chance of success, but…
“Come to think of it,” you change the subject as gracefully as you can, smiling sweetly at him. A step forward is all it takes before you’re standing close to him, and you fix an interested look on your face. “I wasn’t able to learn your name earlier.”
He exhales, eyes now seemingly turned and glued to the clock that you now notice he’s fixing on the table. “It’s Namjoon. Kim Namjoon.”
…Instantly do you notice the weird way he’s told you his name, though you refrain from commenting. “My name is Alice, Alice Liddell. But please do call me by my first name, I wouldn’t mind at all!” You feign cheerfulness. “Would it be okay to call you by your first name, Namjoon?”
“Youare Alice, after all,” is his only reply. You suppose that’s as much as a confirmation you’re going to get- the short replies that you’ve suddenly been getting all but telling you he’s losing interest in your conversation. Still, his words are confusing. The way he’d called you Alice seemed more than your name, but rather a title-?
And he all but agreed that his first name is Namjoon. Kim Namjoon. You’ve only met one person who introduced themselves with their family name before their first.
A flash of intrigue, one that makes you wary as he bends down a little to smile at you. “My name is Malchin. Lee Malchin. I’m ever so pleased to meet you, dear Alice.”
The mysteries keep piling up, you suppose. More questions that come as answers arrive.
“Do you live here alone, perhaps?” The tower is full of empty rooms, the upper floors full of dirt and dust. As grand as the tower seems to be, it’s surprisingly empty. Lonely.
“Actually, I do,” he looks at you for a split second before averting his gaze down to the clock he seems to be fixing. And he’s trying hard, you notice. You’re not very educated on clock fixing though, so you’ll skip over the details.
You scramble your brain for a way to keep the conversation moving, although the other person seems more than uninterested. “You must be quite an important figure then,” you eventually say.
The sound of metal on metal, the clock being repaired slowly dies down.
Namjoon turns to you- his lips purse and he briefly gives you an irritated look. “Alice, may I ask for your reason in doing this? I presume it’s obvious I have no desire to talk to you.”
You wince minutely at the harsh tone he sports. “I…”
“Well?”
“…What about the Clock Tower? Could I stay here?”
Namjoon stills. You hold your breath, suddenly feeling nervous, but…
“…It would be foolish to choose my domain,” he eventually says. Namjoon’s face is set into a frown as he speaks to you, words clear and cutting. “As I have no interest in participating in this game. You’re better off winning over the other role holders.”
“But-” you hesitantly push forward. “Why not? I mean, so far you seem to be the only one who-”
He cuts you off.
“I am the Clock Maker. My duty is to Wonderland more than it is to a game where we pander to the whims of a girl for a chance at a world unknown to us,” he smoothly says, but- you shiver as you hear the undertone of scorn. All previous gentleness and warmth has disappeared from him, leaving only the coldness of a man who is annoyed- before he thaws a little, seeing the timidity in your eyes.
He stands up, and you take a step back, confused- and then he steers you by the shoulders
