Theo had the habit of sitting on the edges of things whenever he felt nervous, like the edge of a chair or table. It was because whenever he felt himself crumbling under pressure, he suspected that he might need to flee when the situation calls for it. For as long as he could remember though, he was able to resist the urge.

That was until he was reminded of the fact that finals were less than a week away through a school announcement. Without thinking twice, he took his chance, picked up his things and speed walked out of the auditorium.

He wasn't the type of person that was pegged as 'rebellious'. If anything, he was the perfect opposite of it, a textbook case at that. Perhaps that was the reason why nobody reacted to his stunt right away.

Theo knew he should feel guilty. He knew he should run back to apologize to avoid any unnecessary complications that could stain his name. However, he was drowning under great amounts of academic stress and wanted nothing more than an escape.

Even if he had any regrets right then, he had already covered about a mile away from school and he felt there was nothing he could do to lessen the severity of the consequences of his actions.

He focused all of his attention on riding his bicycle in a straight line on the road when the phone in his bag started vibrating. From the ringtone, he had no doubts that it was from his mother. Someone from school must have informed her on what he had done.

The very image of his mother's disappointment at the other end sent something churning in his stomach. Along with that, he felt a knot of shame tying itself over and over again in his chest.

His mother was already undergoing brain-wrecking stress of her own. She had a dozens and dozens of manuscripts to type down and the deadline was inching closer like a ticking time bomb each day.

Theo tried his best not to cause any sort of trouble, any sort of commotion in school that would add to the number of lists she had to worry about. God knows she didn't need anything else to bear on her shoulders but now he had done it, did something he vowed never to do.

What made the feeling worst was the possibility of his father being there with her at the other end of the phone. Not being able to withstand it, Theo reached over and switched his phone off.

In the meantime, he wondered where he should go. He didn't had any specific destination in mind when he walked out the door. He wasn't even sure where he was or how far he had gone.

Well, that was not true. He did have a place in mind but it meant nothing when his only best friend wasn't there. In fact, he doubted that the safe haven he and his best friend, Drake, made was still standing. It had been almost eight years he last stepped into that area since Drake left.

Drake, he was thin but sturdy with a jumble of black hair that needed constant combing. He wore thick braces on his teeth and had a black left eye and a bright blue right eye. He was the only child in his batch to have heterochromia.

Like Theo, Drake had been bullied and in his case, it was because of his appearance, but despite it all he wasn't ashamed of who he was. He was enthusiastic about everything, was the first person for ever taking him seriously and a loyal friend to the end, even though his quirky antics were good for a laugh. Just the memory of him made Theo smile.

But, Drake had moved away a year later and Theo lost all contact from him. He didn't have any safe haven, he didn't have anyone to go to. He was alone and miserable with nothing but a gift, a monocle from a magician who went missing to make him feel better.

It was pathetic, but whenever he felt the monocle tucked away in his jacket pocket, he felt comforted and calm. However, this time, it wasn't enough. He needed to go somewhere, to get away from the harsh reality, to escape, but where?

His question was answered when a signboard filled with vibrant colours and glittery words came to his view at a curve of the road, prompting him to slow down. Once he was close enough to read the sign, he came to a complete stop.

WONDERLAND 4KM

"Wonderland." Theo said aloud before he frowned. "What a tacky sign."

He was about to leave, to go in the opposite direction from the so-called Wonderland when a seed of curiosity began sprouting in his mind, filling his senses until there was nothing but Wonderland in his thoughts.

At that point, he wondered whether there was still any inkling of his rational side left inside of him but he decided not to question it any further. A distraction from school, the bullying, the daily humiliation and his stunt was in dire need. This Wonderland place will do.

A warmth of calmness spread through his chest as he directed his bike towards where the signboard was pointing. By the time he reached there, he was delighted to find that it was a carnival.

Colourful confetti were thrown and balloons of various sizes were decorated everywhere. Faint music could be heard beyond the tall gates of the entrance. Occasional happy screams pierced the sky.

Massive structures of the rides could be seen; a small roller coaster, a big wheel, a helter skelter and so on. Small tents with their vivid yellows, magentas and royal blues advertised a good time to the people milling about. On the surrounding, the performers skipped, jumped and danced while handing out free tickets.

Although the bright, scream-inducing rides and the small tents were calling for his attention, a big, red circus tent in the middle of it all caught his interest. It was striped with the colours reminiscent of the candy shop with flags flapping against the wind. Just by looking at it, he felt the temptation grow inside of him.

It was like the tent itself was bedazzling him, putting him under a dizzy spell, encouraging him to make up his mind. Soon, he placed his bicycle on a nearby tree, discarding his belongings in the process, and walked into the carnival towards the big, red tent.

After a while though, Theo's excitement died down when he found himself apologizing to every person he bumped into and struggling from going one point in a place to the next. He was surprised to find that there were so many people were walking about. After all, it was a school day, a working day. He had expected less people and more open land.

Maybe all of them had run away from a stressful environment like he had, or, perhaps they were all tourists. The latter seemed more likely.

He never had the chance to mull over on that question when a taller and bulkier man bumped into him, startling him. Theo turned to the stranger to apologize, despite not being in the fault this time, but found himself frozen on the spot.

He stared into the eyes of the stranger, unable to look away. They were pitch black, like he was staring into a void of nothing. Cold, prickling fear overtook him, paralyzing him as he felt his heart leap into his throat.

The presence of the man scared him, more than he would like to admit. It was unsettling, and Theo didn't know why.

The stranger stared at him for a few seconds longer, clicked his tongue in disgust and walked away. When the overpowering presence of his left from his radar, Theo let out a breath that he had been holding all that time and was shocked to find how lethargic he soon felt after. His hands trembled, and the all too familiar tingling sensation lingered in his fingertips.

Had staring into that person's eyes sucked all the energy out of him? Was that even possible?

Nevertheless, he studied the stranger as that person walked away. The tall man was wearing a smoky grey hat and trench coat with a white long scarf over it, an odd choice of attire as it was a scorching hot day. It would make more sense if it were winter but it was not.

What threw Theo off guard even more was that the coat had a hazy like appearance, as if it was woven right out of smoke. He began starting to question his own eyes when he felt a cold presence again. This time, it was familiar, comforting even. Yet, he sensed something malevolent.

"Alice..."

Theo stilled and for the second time, his body grew cold with dread. Then, out of the blue, two hands reached out and yanked him to a side, turning the world a blur of bright colours. Theo yelped and was about to fight against the unknown culprit blind, when a wild white stallion ran past him, startling him once more.

Not a moment later, three alien looking clowns were chasing after it. Two of them were yelling profanities; one of them lost his red nose while on the run. All three of them were failing to get the runaway stallion under their control.

"Wha-

"Are you alright?" A voice said, interrupting his question.

Theo turned around to face a guy no older than him. He was wearing a big top hat on his messy black hair and tailcoat that looked a little too big on him. Nevertheless, he was smiling at him as if he was the most interesting person in the world.

Theo noticed that his eyes looked funny, but cool at the same time. It was a mixture of purple, blue and pink, like a supernova. He was smart enough to know that those must be contact lenses. No one could have natural eyes like that.

Yet, Theo could have sworn those colours shifted, swirling in his eyes that no ordinary contacts could not. It was distracting.

"Thank God you're alright." The guy with the hat said with a relieved sigh, snapping him out of his thoughts. Then, the guy flashed a friendly looking smirk, making him look mischievous.

"You are not from here, are you?"

"... Is it that obvious?" Theo asked, surprised.

"I am good with remembering faces." The guy said, his smirk broadening. "Anyway, the parade is going to start soon. It's going to be dangerous walking around daydreaming you know?"

Theo let out a nervous laugh. He wanted to say he wasn't daydreaming but thought better of it. If it were not for him, Theo was sure the white stallion would have pulverized him by now.

"How nice of you to be concerned about me." Theo said, giving him an awkward smile to which the other male grinned in response. Then he gave a curt bow, with his top hat, astonishing him.

"Welcome to Wonderland." The guy said when his smirk turned downright malicious. "Princess Alazne Leonheart,"

Right then, Theo felt his heart stop and he heard alarm bells ringing in his ears. Dozens of images started spiraling around in his mind, making his head spin, overwhelming him to the point of nausea.

There were images of golden spires, crimson leaves and several children. There was the feeling of being free, of bearing a responsibility, the pride of being looked up to and the excitement of doing something magical in the palm of his hands.

Then there was the feeling of mortification and humiliation of his classmates mocking him, traumatizing him as he soaked in the cruel laughter after confessing something as ridiculous as being the reincarnation of a princess from a faraway land.

Before he could let those pictures, those false memories, and the harsh reality to overtake him, Theo stepped back and glared at the smiling teenager. He didn't seem so chummy anymore.

"You've mistaken me for someone else." Theo said, a crease forming between his eyebrows. "Sorry but that's not my name."

If the guy felt perturbed of offended with Theo's statement, he didn't show it. Instead, to Theo's annoyance, his smile grew broader, reminding Theo of the Cheshire Cat.

"Ah, so you don't believe?" The strange boy asked to which Theo narrowed his eyes.

"Believe in what?" He asked. "That's not my name."

"Believe in magic." The guy replied, winking after he did so. Theo cringed. There was something about this guy he didn't like. Regardless, Theo felt something awaken inside of him but he shoved it back inside, buried it in even deeper.

"There is no such thing."

"Oh, I think there is." The guy said. His multi-coloured contact lenses twinkled in mischief to which Theo can't help but feel like he just got himself wound into a very weird situation, one that requires an immediate evasion.

"Well it was nice knowing you but I kinda need to go-

"No matter the rhyme or the reason, you still received that name didn't you?" The guy said before Theo could have the chance to flee. "In your previous life I mean, Alice,"

Theo felt something clogged up in his throat. He gawked at the boy, unable to stomach what just happened. More than anything, he wanted to run away, go as far away from this stranger who seemed to know Theo more than he knew himself. However, the questions that remained unanswered made him stay.

"How do you know all that?" Theo asked. "Did someone school tell you about that? If so, I was a kid back then and was way into fantasy games so you can't blame me for being weird."

"No one told me." The stranger said in a matter of fact tone. "But surely you must have known all along right?"

"Known what?" Theo asked, getting wary of him.

In truth, he knew the answer but he was reluctant to accept it. He could feel his defense mechanism kicking in and more warning bells were alerting him to keep his guard up, which bewildered him. He wasn't in life threatening situation, yet he couldn't help but feel like he was standing right outside of Death's door.

"That all those dreams you been having all this time." The stranger started. "You, as someone else, a girl, a princess. The magic running through your veins to your fingertips, the Lady in white, the crimson leaved tree, the Golden Child, the Shadows..."

Theo tensed up as the stranger listed all of the things that he should not have known. Yet, the words rolled from the stranger's lips as if it was no secret. A shudder ran down his spine but Theo managed to keep his calm. There must be some logical explanation to why he knew all of this, but something told him that was not the case.

"Surely..." The stranger said, those multi coloured eyes glinting at him. "You must have realized that they are not dreams, but memories of your previous life?"

Theo narrowed his eyes in suspicion. It was subtle, but he figured out that this stranger was trying to rile him up, get him to panic. It worked for a few seconds, but he was not going to give him that satisfaction.

Yet, Theo can't shake off the feeling that something was afoot. For the guy to know all that was one thing, he could have heard it from someone from Theo's school, but to state all of the things Theo hadn't mention to any soul, now that was another story.

"Why the long face, Princess Alazne Leonheart?"

 Theo shuddered at how the stranger seemed to the pleasure in teasing him. Nevertheless, the name, it sounded so foreign to him. On the other hand, it fitted like a glove as well. He knew that name, he always did since the beginning, but how did this guy even know?

"...Let's just say... I am probably Alice," Theo said, trying to look indifferent. "Satisfied?"

Before Theo could wait for the stranger to respond, Theo felt the cold presence again, but this time, he realized he could locate it. The hair behind Theo's neck began to rise when he somehow knew that the unmistakable presence was right behind him, watching him like a hawk.

He was about to turn back to look when the stranger stepped towards him and leaned to his ear.

"Don't turn around." He said, no louder than a whisper. "Unless you want to call the Shadows forth."

Theo blinked and stared at the stranger as he leaned back.

"Shadows?" Theo asked. "What are they? Enemies?"

"You of all people should know dear, Alice," The stranger answered. Theo felt almost all the veins on his head throb. Really, talking to this guy was like asking for endless riddles.

Deciding that the conversation had gone long enough already, Theo dared to be bold. He turned around, ignoring the stranger's warning to show that he has no right to boss him around.

However, once he did that, the faint music stopped and an eerie silence reclaimed the air. Theo almost tripped on himself.

"Well, Shadows usually stay with humans they like." The stranger behind him said, sounding chirpy. "Though that in itself is quite problematic, don't you think?"

Just as he said that, Theo felt the hair on the back of neck rise again when he noticed that in a distance, the grass darkened. It started shifting to a circular pool, bubbling black liquid like tar. To his stupefaction, no one else in the carnival seemed to notice the phenomenon, forcing Theo to question whether he was daydreaming or had gone senile for the third time that day.

Then a figure emerged from the ooze, turning into the shape of a human girl. At first, Theo didn't recognize her because her whole body was covered in that black ooze. However, when her colours surfaced, Theo took a sharp intake of breath.

He could identify that girl from anywhere. Blonde hair, blue eyes, wearing a blue Victorian dress with white ribbons. She had always haunted him in his dreams. She was the one who ruined most of his childhood. She was him, and he was she, but in another reality, in another world. She was none other than Princess Alazne Leonheart, Alice for short, a figment of his imagination.

"Why is she here?" Theo asked, panicking. "She shouldn't be here. She isn't even real!"

"Well that's simple." The stranger said. "No one likes to be ignored, Alice,"

Theo's jaw almost touched the ground when he realized that this strange guy could see it too. In fact, the teenager was looking right at the girl with keen interest and that wicked smile, stunning Theo.

"Anything can happen in Wonderland if Alice believes it to." The stranger said and then tipped his top hat. Theo gasped when glossy black wings erupted from the strange guy's back, glistening under the sun. It enveloped the boy in a cocoon, shrinking him before dissolving away into thin, grey smoke.

Theo stared at the spot where the guy was just standing a while ago, dazed. He was having a difficult time digesting it all in. He was certain that it was only minutes ago where he stormed out of the auditorium, riding his bicycle to vent out his stress.

But right now, he felt like he was thrown in a world out of order, a dream, where logic didn't apply and nothing made sense. Then he remembered that he was in a carnival called Wonderland, which in turn made him let out a small hysterical giggle at the irony of it all.

Had he imagined the stranger? Had he visualize the experience with the guy in his own mind as a way of coping with his stress?

Deep down, Theo knew. As he turned around to find the girl now taking small tentative steps towards him, passing through oblivious bystanders like a ghost, Theo knew that he just stepped deeper in a nightmare than stepping out.

He didn't know what would happen when the girl reached him and he wasn't willing to find out. He turned on his heels and started running like the wind, glancing back from time to time to check if she was following. He cursed under his breathe each time when the girl seemed to get closer and closer. His day was just not going to get any better. If only he could get rid of her somehow.

Panicking, he reached over his jacket pocket and clutched the monocle, the last miracle that particular magician ever gave to him. It was perhaps not the best thing to do given at his situation but like always, he relied on that inanimate object to calm him down and think straight without fear clouding his judgement.

An idea popped in his mind a while later, but Theo though against it. It was a terrible idea. The worst idea in the history of terrible ideas. He wasn't sure it was going to work, no he was sure that it was going to fail. It defied against all systems of logic.

"Anything can happen in Wonderland if Alice believes it to,"

Theo stopped running and started wheezing, but most of all, he thought about that last statement. His terrible idea started to become less terrible to his ears, making him groan. He couldn't believe he was going to do it.

Theo turned around and yelped when the girl was only a few feet away from him, making him almost forget what he had planned to do. Soon, he shook out of it and clapped his hands. Then he pushed both of his hands outwards towards the girl, a gesture he learned from his dreams to ward off... well something which he can't seem to remember.

Five seconds passed and nothing happened.

Theo felt his face heat up when people gawked at him like he was a lunatic. He wanted to go back in time and slap himself for being an idiot. He knew magic did not exist. Why did he even decide to believe in such a thing?

For all he knew, the girl could be harmless because she didn't exist. She was just an imaginary friend Theo made when he was a child.

Then, blonde girl did the same gesture, slow and steady. It didn't take him long to realize that he was screwed. She was too fast though, and Theo knew that he could not dodge, whatever that girl was about to throw at him. He would need a miracle if he ever want to come out alive.

Time slowed down.

Theo felt his legs tense as a sphere of crackling electricity took form on the girl's palm and flew towards him at high velocity. Without thinking, he jumped, rolled to a side and pushed his right hand outwards to the girl again. He wasn't sure how he managed to do all that but he decided right then was perhaps not the right time to think about it.

That was when he felt a change occurring in his body. A tingling sensation started running towards the palm of his hands and it escaped through his fingertip.

Whatever escaped from his hand, it missed the girl by a long shot and struck to an unfortunate bystander. Theo jumped when the victim cried out in surprise and he almost shrieked in disbelief when the man started to shrink. His body started to deform and white feathers started sprouting everywhere. At the end of it all, the man clucked.

Theo just turned a man into a hen.

'Holy cow! I just did magic!' Theo thought but his face fell upon realization.

'Oh no! I just did magic!'

The result caused some nearby bystanders to scamper away in terror, horrified with what they had witnessed. Theo would have done the same too but one look at the blonde girl, hands raised to cast another spell, he knew that he would have to postpone that for later.

She aimed her palm at him and fired again. Theo dodged that too, by leaping backwards. He missed the plasma ball of magic by mere inches where the ball turned the ground to ash, making him let out a nervous laugh. The girl didn't seem to share the same sentimentality as she aimed again.

This time, she conjured up a ball of blazing red fire. Theo felt his body paralyze at the mere sight of it. He was not going to get out of this one, not without being fried at least.

Yet, Theo's luck held still. When the girl shot it at Theo, he tried to escape but instead, he tripped. He then found himself face first on the ground, the fireball of death whizzing past him. He felt the heat as it passed him, singeing the hair on the back of his neck.

Relieved and shocked that he had cheated death for the third time, Theo stood up and felt a new boost of confidence pulsating in him. He held his hand towards the girl again who remained motionless, as if asking him to give her the best shot.

Soon, Theo felt energy flowing in his veins again, which felt so familiar, almost like it was part of his body. He could feel it tingling on the palm of his hand, running towards his fingers. It burst through his fingertips and Theo watched in awe as something white sped towards his target.

However, someone out there must hate his guts because to his disbelief, it missed the girl by a hair and struck a little boy's teddy bear. All the blood drained out of Theo's face when the boy dropped his teddy bear, screaming in terror as the stuffed animal started to grow in size. It continued to expand until Theo was sure it was twenty-five meters tall.

'This can't be happening.' Theo thought. 'This is ridiculous! I am actually bloody casting magic! This is freaking awesome!... And freaking horrible!'

He noted that his indecision in priorities was starting to get worrying.

Regardless, he turned his attention back to the girl again but let out an embarrassing squeal when fireworks started closing in on him. Everything was happening so fast, Theo didn't have the chance to think this one through and raised his hands in surrender.

However, at the corner of his eye, he saw the tiny rockets turned upwards as if an invisible barrier deflected them. It zoomed towards the sky before dispersing in random directions. Then it exploded into an array of different colours.

One of them hit the stuffed animal and Theo assumed that it was going to transform from giant teddy bear to giant cotton balls but he stared aghast as the rocket distinguished upon impact.

By then, the carnival was up in chaos. Everyone was running around in circles, all of them trying to escape the madness and being slammed into each other during the process. Theo faced the girl again, his body growing tired from all the acrobatic like reflexes and stunts he was pulling.

He didn't know how long he was going to keep up the pace and hoped it would end soon. Then again, he wasn't even sure what in the world he was facing.

At that point, Theo noticed something that he failed to pick up earlier. The girl was not in complete form. Where her feet was supposed to be, was the smoky black substance. It was as if she is part of the black ooze and moves with it.

Then out of nowhere, he heard something tinkle. It was soft, vague but distinct. The girl stopped moving, as if she too, heard the sound. They both waited, and Theo perked up when he heard it again. It was the sound of bells, tiny ones at that.

On cue, a tiny silver bell rolled by, tinkling away. Theo watched the bell rolled to a stop between him and the very real figment of his imagination. It just laid there, seemingly unimportant when Theo heard the sounds of tiny bells again, behind him.

He whirred around, trying to catch the source when a mini explosion threw him off guard. It happened right where the small bell was, evoking purple smoke to spurt out everywhere.

He was no way near ready to defend himself from that attack and Theo made the mistake of inhaling the smoke in. The effect was almost immediate. The world around him seem to tilt. He felt all the strength in his body leave, betraying him.

Soon, his knees buckled and he crashed on the floor. He groaned in pain, unable to endure the nausea that soon filled his head. His surroundings just won't stop spinning and Theo felt like if he looked at it any longer, he was going to throw up.

Amidst the purple smoke, he saw a silhouette. Whoever it was, he was small but he was holding something large. It looked like a hammer but Theo couldn't tell as his consciousness was fading out fast.

The figure walked up to him and for a moment, he feared that it was the blonde girl but relaxed when he saw a different attire. He couldn't look higher than the person's shoulder so the face was a black blur.

"Who are you?" A voice spoke and Theo assumed that it was from this guy. He was about to answer, even in his futile position, but dark dots started eating away his vision.

Desperate, he fished his hands to his jacket pocket again, clutching the monocle and brought it to his chest, forcing his body to curl over it in a fetal position through his last remaining consciousness before he blacked out.

That was how Theo's day turned from normal to absolute madness.

Little did he know, that was only the beginning of madness.

Author's note: I would like to dedicate this chapter to Contrariwise who helped me edit this chapter and gave her thoughts on to this xD You guys should check her stories out too! Give her some motivations! Anyway, if you see any additional mistakes that we both miss, please notify okay?

Updated 22 January 2016

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