Elizabeth in Otherland

Elizabeth sighed as she looked out the window. It was raining outside. The one thing she hated about Paris was how much it rained. it always put her in a poor mood, always made her remember things she wanted to forget.

Resolving to fight against the day she sprung off the couch. A good book would help. And maybe a bit of wine. Wine was a fantastic way to forget.

She was perusing through one of her bookshelves when she heard a rapping on her door. Who could be visiting her apartment at this hour? It seemed too early for solicitors.

Peering through the peephole in the door she saw a young woman about her age standing at attention. She wore a blue dress with a white apron and had striking green eyes. Was she some kind of maid? In any case, she had her curiosity.

Elizabeth opened the door and spent a moment taking in the sight of the woman. "Hello, how may I help you?"

"Hello, my name is Alice Liddell and I'm here to offer you my services."

"Services?" Elizabeth questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"I can give you peace of mind."

"What makes you think I need your help with that?"

Alice simply tittered to herself and slipped under Elizabeth's arm and into her apartment. Elizabeth stood aghast as Alice rummaged through her kitchen. "I'll call the police if you don't leave this instant!"

"But if I leave I won't be able to help you."

"I don't n-what are you doing?"

Alice turned and placed her hands on her hips. "Making tea, of course."

"Tea?"

"It'll help you relax."

"That's it." Elizabeth declared, raising a hand. "I'm sending you-"

"Would you kindly listen to what I have to say?" Alice interjected pointedly.

Elizabeth froze in place. Alice's words had struck her in the heart like a dagger. "How do you know that phrase?"

"Got your attention, did I? Well, no more questions for now. Tea time."

Elizabeth took a seat at the table and watched as Alice prepared tea for the both of them. It occurred to her that she didn't actually have any tea in the house, but that was the only a minor bafflement in light of what Alice seemed to know about her.

"Here." Alice said, handing her a warm cup of tea.

Elizabeth hesitated, but eventually accepted the cup. "Thanks."

"So, how do you feel?" Alice inquired.

"Good." Elizabeth admitted, nodding her head. "Tired."

Alice grinned wickedly. "Ah, that means it's working."

"What's working?"

"The drug." She chirped.

"Drug? You-" Elizabeth struggled to right herself but it was no use. Her muscles were useless and a haze had come over her vision. She noted, however, that Alice seemed to be in the same predicament. Why would she drug herself?

Elizabeth could feel herself falling, falling through her chair and out of life and into something new, something both different and altogether familiar. And then suddenly she saw a light so bright that it stole away her sight and consciousness.

When Elizabeth awoke it was in a whirlwind of confusion. The fugue was slowly lifted from her mind, but even so she had a hard time taking in what she was seeing before her eyes. Over the horizon was a city that seemed to span for as long as the eye could see. A twisted nightmarish metropolis with entire sections of land that seemed thrown into the air haphazardly. Bizarre spiraling obelisks jutted out from the skyline. Obelisks, she realized, that each resembled the Eiffel Tower after a fashion.

It was then that Elizabeth became aware of the fact that Alice was standing right behind her. Scrambling, she turned to face her. "What is this? Where are we?"

"Welcome to Wonderland." She explained matter-of-factly. "Yours, specifically."