When Alec woke up, he was shivering. He blindly groped around for his duvet, but he couldn't find it.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gGTBlQlkj
"Nng," he groaned, opening his eyes into a squint as he sat up and rubbed warmth into his arms.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJIMLMrJhI
It took him a moment, but Alec soon realized he wasn't in his room at the orphanage. His room had dull grey-white walls, not rich maroon wallpaper with thin lines of gold dripping from the top like nectar. His room had hardwood flooring where most of the panels creaked under his feet, not dark, dark red carpeting that looked incredibly soft. His room didn't have a walk-in closet next to a grand desk, which was probably mahogany or some other pretentious wood, nor did he have a balcony that looked out into the midafternoon sky.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKeF1vKKOJ
Alec slowly moved to sit on the edge of the large bed, the mattress much softer than his own, and frowned down at the gold colored duvet that was strewn across the floor. He vaguely noted that the carpeting was definitely as soft as it looked.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUZeNAAEWV
"What happened?" he asked himself, rubbing his face and trying to recall if he had ever seen such a magnificent room.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzFHlqtNaL
Then it hit him. Falling down the manhole, the room of blackness, shrinking, the garish giant praying mantis, falling into cake, growing, waking up in jail, and meeting people who were supposed to stay in a storybook.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHvKmxg6h4
"Oh god," Alec gasped. He hugged himself, feeling cold, and realized he was missing Mark's coat. The lack of the coat and the discarded duvet is what made him wake up due to the chill of the room.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPZP4NqFrm
"How long did I sleep?" Alec wondered as he got off the bed and wrapped the duvet around his shoulders. He went to the windowed doors of the balcony and saw the forest that stretched on endlessly. The sun was already closer to the west, the sky a dark orange hue that indicated it was some time in the late afternoon.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqVg7hHB4R
But time was irrelevant in Wonder, Alec recalled.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAzSlVpC2H
Deciding that he needed to find someone, and figure out where Mark's coat went, Alec left the duvet on the bed and walked over to the walk-in closet he had spotted earlier – the door was hanging open and he could see clothes hung on the walls of the corridor – hoping to find some clothes that he could borrow.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSxGICt8iU
Alec gaped when he entered the closet, though closet was not the word he could use to describe what was practically an additional room. It was huge!copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTlqasIR3M
"Jesus, it's practically the size of my room," he muttered, eyeing the clothing racks – actual clothing racks as seen in shops – and the cubbies against the far wall that housed various footwear. There was even a floor length mirror next to a dresser that had jewelry boxes on the sleek wooden counter.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqniiJeIlh
Alec looked around, shifting through the racks to find something he could wear. Most of the clothes were flashy, clothing he figured Chester would wear but certainly not him. Eventually Alec found a pair of normal, plain, khaki shorts that were a tad bit loose and a snug blue t-shirt that had two black stripes running down from the collar on the left side of his chest. He also grabbed a pair of black Velcro sandals that were one size too big for him, but it wasn't hindering.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡp29XIRzb0R
Alec stepped out of the room, looking down the long hallway to see that it was void of life. He didn't know where Jasper or Damien's rooms were so he reluctantly made his way to the twins' room.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uLrUVUCNX
Taking a deep breath, Alec carefully knocked on the door.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwoNPHw4pR
It was probably the most nerve wracking two minutes Alec had ever gone through. Finally, just as he was about to consider knocking again or braving an adventure in the mansion alone, a series of locks clicked and the door swung open.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPTvMCmlNn
One of the twins – Alec couldn't tell which – leaned against the door and rubbed his eyes. His black hair was sticking out messily, showing that he must have only just gotten out of bed.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡdURYlMUfpH
Alec's eyes couldn't help but peruse the view of the violet-eyed boy's bare torso with hints of muscle and a flat stomach. The twin was clad only in a pair of plaid pyjama bottoms that hung low on his narrow hips. Alec never realized how short the twins actually were. Their mere presence made them tower over him even though he was a few good inches above their heads.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPeCC3j98I
"Who is it, Darryl?" Alec heard from inside the room. The voice was groggy with sleep.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0txUYkxlGl
Darryl turned his head and responded, "It's Alice."copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡITfASBnMRM
"Actually, it's Alec," Alec corrected loudly. He received a snicker in response.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4BIGeM0nU
Darryl smirked and Alec narrowed his eyes at the boy.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡIongjmARIg
"Was there something you needed?" Darryl asked with a raise of a single brow.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡcras123oPU
Alec suddenly grew shy. There he was like a lost child asking for a chaperone of sorts to help him around the mansion.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjZN1F2NGp
"I, uh, just woke up and have no idea where anything is," he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. He was about to mention that he was also looking for Mark's coat but Darren came to the door hugging said clothing article to his chest.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoO5F8sf0a
Did they…? Alec gaped. I'm actually not that surprised if they did. Alec hugged himself at the thought and vowed to lock the door to wherever he slept from then onwards. He shivered – and not the good kind – at the idea of the twins stripping him in his sleep. It passed way too many levels of privacy and personal space. Not to mention just terrifyingly creepy.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcCHEEKH3z
"Oh," Darren said, adjusting Mark's coat in his grip. "Give us a few minutes and we'll give you a tour of the place. Damien is probably working, and Jasper must still be sleeping."copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeSB2Uh4HX
Before Alec could refuse their offer that wasn't really an offer, Darryl shut the door and Alec was left standing slack jawed and staring at polished wood.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡupmju1rWgs
"Oh god, what have I done," he groaned under his breath, putting his back to the wall next to the door and sliding down to sit on the cold marble floor.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NEKujoe1s
-x-copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡODGGeJAvNi
Alec and the twins – dressed similarly as the day before except they had black pistols strapped to their hips, Darren's to the right and Darryl's to the left – had already gone through the second floor of the mansion. There wasn't much since it was all bedrooms, most of which were empty. The third floor was Damien's work floor, blocked off by a door at the top of the only staircase that led to it. Whenever the door was closed and the L-shaped handle was turned upwards, it meant that Damien was in the middle of work and was not to be disturbed. The twins warned Alec to never, ever disturb the Hatter when he was working.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiHPBbQ387
The trio was now headed towards the kitchen and dining area, having already shown Alec the main rooms of the first floor such as the library and living room where they entertained guests.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgU91ptqDu
The library went two floors, filled to the brim with shelves upon shelves of books. Alec didn't manage to have more than a glance through the set of double doors since the twins quickly pulled him away to show him the rest of the mansion. He barely remembered where the places he had seen were already.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡSr7z8liJR6
They stepped into what Alec presumed to be the dining room, what with the long, rectangular, glass topped table plotted in the center with a number of cushioned chairs pushed in around all the edges.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1koJaZV024
"We mostly just grab some food from the kitchen," Darren explained.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yl2ImrbM5
"But dinner is generally held here," Darryl finished for him, leading Alec to a door at the other end of the room that led to a pristine white kitchen.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡFExMeG8wp0
"Why are there three fridges?" Alec asked, frowning.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrl0bv06v3
"One for each of us," the twins explained, heading to one of the fridges and rummaging around.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDBwFjS7uF
They closed the door with frowns on their faces and went back to Alec, hooking their arm around one of his and pulling him out of the kitchen.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9kKWyq44Q
"We're going to Hearts," Darren stated as they pushed through the main doors.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HiqItVIAq
Alec struggled to keep up and asked, "Hearts?"copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡML4nhJHaQb
Darryl nodded, "It's the kingdom. One of the biggest in Wonder."copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3l9NhHemM
"How many kingdoms are there?"copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rtmRcQMVq
"Four," they both replied. "Hearts, Clover, Spades, and Diamond."copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHbh5t1MDS
The twins pulled Alec through the forest, keeping to a path of unevenly cut dirt covered stone steps until they reached the gates to Hearts.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtVjCJBkXY
They dragged Alec to the fountain that was situated at the center of what Alec presumed to be the town square. People – all brunets, Alec noted, and every one with a red heart and number tattooed on their right cheek – of all ages were strolling about the stone paved area. Some stopped by the kiosks that were planted at the edge of the square to see what the merchants had for sale. Jewelry, perfume, fruit, vegetables, woodwork, watches; you name it, Alec spotted it.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71pBohNe3I
In short, the area was crowded.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhqRzvkAhY
"Mark!" the twins chirped, seeing the Knave when Alec could not. No sooner had they uttered the four-lettered name with a sly yet joyous lilt, Alec lost the feeling of their arms linked through his. He narrowly avoided running into an old woman and her children and when he looked up, the twins were nowhere in sight.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgroA47co4
Alec cursed with a groan and snapped his head in every which direction in the hopes of spotting two heads of raven hair. But alas, luck was not with him and he could not spot the devious twins.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡaw6A7uRUJV
Alec made his way through the passing people, who all took a moment to stare and whisper about his blond hair, and finally reached the fountain. He sat on the edge and put his head in his hands, grumbling under his breath about distracted demon twins and wacked up time changes.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡDod3gMzBnQ
The bracelet on his wrist clanked together and Alec lifted his head to examine the piece of jewelry. It was silver and seemed to have no fastening, which made Alec question how Gideon had gotten it on him in the first place. It was pretty, Alec had to admit, but bracelets really weren't his thing.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡzP71eH5lTu
"Is that who I believe it is?" Alec heard. He looked up, and to his right Gideon was strolling towards him with a grin stretched across his face, the Merchant's messenger bag bouncing along with his steps.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡq40wE70v2K
The man was dressed just like the previous day, a complete replica of Bert the chimney sweep, but the clothes did not look rumpled and crinkled. They looked fresh out of the laundry.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡrG9EJpqi0N
"Hey, Gideon," Alec said once the Merchant reached him and he was once again on his feet.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ADgCRYHdS
Gideon's grin did not waver as he cocked his head to the side, "Why are you simply sitting, well now standing, here?"copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDWc9Aka6n
Alec sighed, "The twins took me on a tour of Damien's house, but when we got here, they spotted Mark and ran off and I lost them."copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡVx34bNtC6u
Gideon chuckled, a knowing smile on his face, "Ah yes, those twins. The Knave is the only thing that can disrupt their attention."copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡqf53wHVvp8
Alec shrugged, They've got something happening with Mark, he just didn't know what.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBMjOVT96Z
"What is that you have there, Alice?" Gideon inquired, gently grabbing Alec's wrist to examine the bracelet Alec had been fiddling with.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1xA5Jnzlt
Alec groaned and pulled his hand back, "I am not Alice, for crying out loud!" He glared at Gideon, eyes narrowed into suspicious slits, "And like you don't know, you're the one who sold it to me and sent me here!" It wasn't exactly true since Gideon had not sold it to him, simply let Alec try it on, and it was Alec who chased after Gideon, stumbling down the manhole after him and the rabbit form of Peter.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LJ9PgQLLg
Gideon chuckled, "Heheh, even though you look quite edible when flustered and irate, you're attracting a lot of attention and as much as I do love attention, I know you do not. I simply asked you a question, a question you have yet to answer and it is very impolite to ignore a question posed towards you."copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8RFrGBlQI
Looking around, Alec realized it was true. It was bad enough he was the source of current gossip – he wasn't deaf to the whispers from when he arrived with the twins nor blind to the look people kept shooting his way – and now he was just giving them more food. He closed his eyes and took a few deep, calming breaths before answering, "It's a charm bracelet that I can't remove."copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnJSXPBloW
"No."copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsIyCyOsjz
Alec's eyes flew open in disbelief, the effect of his mini deep breathing exercise instantly vanishing, "No? Whaddya mean no? You asked me what it was and I answered! AND YOU'RE THE ONE WHO FUCKING SOLD IT TO ME!"copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdIATahuv7
Gideon frowned, "Hush, little one, I don't remember you being so foul mouthed and so very, very loud."copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQuWIsMjNb
Beyond frustrated, Alec ran his hands through his hair, gripping the soft locks tight enough to cause stings of pain in his scalp that he ignored. "ARGH! I AM NOT YOUR FRICKIN' ALICE AND YOU KNOW THAT! I'M ALEC. A-LEK, GODDAMMIT!" he thundered, shaking in exasperated rage.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCDZafyZIR
Gideon tut-tutted, shaking his head at Alec. He calmly dug into his seemingly bottomless messenger bag, eyes seeking a specific bottle among hundreds.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡzr5h2YrktX
Alec was too busy fuming in a blind rage, trying to (unsuccessfully) calm himself down, and was therefore not prepared for Gideon to grab him around the back of his neck and crash their lips together. Alec gasped in shock which was just enough for Gideon to pass a cool, incredibly sweet liquid from his mouth to Alec's, only releasing Alec when all the liquid was passed to the horrified and shocked boy.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGNWDwopQb
Alec pushed away, spluttering and inadvertently swallowing the drink Gideon had passed to him. He wiped his mouth and stammered, "What the—Why—You...! What the hell was that?"copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7Ne6XuFWc
Gideon wiped his own mouth, licking the remnants of the liquid from his lips as he answered, "Simply one of my many concoctions." He held up a tiny glass bottle between his thumb and forefinger that had only drops of a crystalline pink liquid stuck to the bottom.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvECNHBf14
"What does it do and why did you...you give it like that?" Alec demanded. He could feel himself getting drowsy even though his brain was running at a speed faster than light times ten. But as the seconds ticked by, he could feel even his brain slowing down, his thoughts lulling into a sleepy daze.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsKZoovNNm
"Are you calmer now?" Gideon questioned, eyeing Alec curiously.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡYntLCAJ6fG
"I...I...um..." Alec's feet wobbled, his vision swimming before his eyes.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMcXpZE0eF
Gideon frowned and took out a little leather bound notebook that had seen better days and flipped through the pages quickly before stopping at one somewhere around the middle. "Hmm… maybe if I increased the concentration…"copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4q8PqxdWk1
The rest of Gideon's words turned to muted mumbles as Alec's ears felt like they were filled with cotton.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡijoM41mO7B
"G-gi-gish-sh-on, wha?" Alec slurred. Before he knew it, his eyes rolled back and his legs crumpled under him, no longer able to hold up his body that felt like lead. The last thing he remembered was the sensation of falling but uncertain as to which direction.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqoHnNH2NV
-x-copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡISmRHNoVKJ
For the second time in the same day, Alec woke up to an unfamiliar setting. The white walls, white flooring, stiff bed, and sterile scent made him question if the past events truly had been only a highly elaborate dream. Then Gideon walked into the room.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡW22lP7mbWt
"Ah, you've awakened," he said, coming to sit on the bed as Alec pushed himself up into a seated position.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrTc8hZPkN
"Water?" Alec requested. His throat felt ridiculously dry, as if he had been sleeping for days. That thought begged the question, "How long have I been out?"copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2F8TnViiG
Alec winced at the sound of his croaky voice and eagerly gulped down the glass of water Gideon handed to him.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fI5BydXJ9
"Only one shift," Gideon replied. He continued after Alec's frown of confusion, "Time in Wonderland is a very fickle thing. Each time period, what we call a shift, lasts from 3-4 hours. We have dawn, morning, afternoon – which is the longest shift split into afternoon, midafternoon, and late-afternoon, evening, night, and midnight, though never in that particular order. Right now, it's dawn."copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxAlJJDJzX
Alec massaged his temple, feeling that incoming migraine. "So let me get this as straight as I can. Time here doesn't flow normally. There are 'shifts' which are basically the different times of day that happen out of order. Today I woke up in the afternoon, and now it's dawn but it's been only one 'shift'."copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlZbtTypcR
Gideon nodded and clapped his hands together, "Perfect!"copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5e7OjImwG6
Alec fell back, tilting his head up against the headboard of the hospital bed and groaned. He closed his eyes and heard Gideon shuffling about before a weight was dropped on his lap. He opened his eyes and looked down at his lap in surprise.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7Dgtn066z
"My stuff!" Alec exclaimed when he saw his worn out jeans, trashed sneakers, and light blue t-shirt he thought he had lost in the Fall of Darkness.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CU3OoXnN9
"I went to retrieve your items. You caused quite the mess, Alice," Gideon said, reaching to the floor to pick up Alec's backpack.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTnlHH44eK
"Well sorry, next time I'm freaking out in a place that defies the natural laws of physics and is pitch black, I'll make sure to not crash into anything," Alec replied dryly. Gideon's use of Alice did not go unnoticed by the blond, but he had just about given up with correcting the troublesome Merchant.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUSOblbbsi
Gideon ignored Alec's sarcasm, carrying on, "Now back to your bracelet. You asked me why it was not a charm bracelet, correct?"copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwUFzI4x5R
"Before you forcefully kissed me and made me drink that thing that made me pass out, yes," Alec responded, narrowing his eyes accusingly.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkL4GtMKx0
Gideon waved off Alec's anger, "Details, details. I said your bracelet was not a charm bracelet because you have no charms. A charm bracelet cannot be a charm bracelet without the little trinkets."copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIVmx6IIia
"Your point?" Alec asked. He couldn't see what was so important about a charmless charm bracelet.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03GVJgENNJ
Gideon shrugged, "Just an observation and a thought. And I thought it odd that only your right hand could not go through the looking glass."copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡFt4qyKTkur
"You think this bracelet is somehow linked to getting out of Wonder?" Alec asked.copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZ9glGm3pF
"I'm only saying that it was odd." Gideon stood up and dusted off his slate grey slacks. "I must be off now, Alice. When you are ready, you can just leave, I have already dealt with all the hospital details."copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqIUlraZfY
With that, Gideon left Alec alone in a hospital room and Alec realized he had forgotten to ask Gideon how he had entered the Fall of Darkness. He also had one other predominant thought in his head: How am I going to find my way back to the mansion?copyright protection363ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUrNk0yek2
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