Alley Lost in Wonderland

It took me less than five minutes to get dress and head on out of the room. I need some fresh air and get a bit of Drakesville scenery inside my head that did not consist of a creepy picture.

I head on out the front door and step into the still warm day that alights the town that was split by one long driving road that seems to go on forever down its middle and shrouded by trees that seem to not know they are to flicker and sway in the breeze.

I decided I would explore much to Lady Tremaine's earlier warnings. I start to head away from the Inn moving farther away from the entrance of the town. My boots crunch on the dirt road as I walk by an old Post Office, two Taverns,  a general store, three grocery stores, a mechanic shop, and a  bank.

I continue on my walk and now the town begins to fade behind me and the forest was not so close to the dirt road but just as cloaking. I saw the steeple of a church and I continued to it when I got there I stare at the vast outlay of graves that bordered it.

The church stood like a vengeful white demon standing watch over its many devoured souls. I step away from the wrought iron fencing with its stripping paint and made to turn away but the disembodied sounds of gay laughter, voices raise in-game, punctuated by a shout of glee got to my attention and I walk on to the sounds.

It was a school and children of various sizes were at play. I stood watching them and once again it was as if modernized dressing did not find its way into this civilization. The girls were dressed in frocks with lace at the hem which was protected by white tunics, on their feet were black wool socks and black leather shoes, the boys were in shirts with sailor collars and knickerbockers wool socks up to their knees and button-up shoes.

I watch them as they frolic about the small but wide playground none of them paying me any mind. It was as if I was not even there, none of them gave me even a passing look or turn curious eyes on me the way children would often do. Like the men in the diner I was of no interest to them it seems. It was as if I wasn't even there.

I made to turn away when I saw a tall regal figure appear by the doorway of the pentagon shape board structure painted white like the church. She had on a long grey skirt of wool with a matching jacket resting upon the satin sash about the small of her waist. She wore a creme blouse with a high ruffled collar that was fastened by an odd shape broach at the neck. If I was any closer I would see that this broach had the very design of my named characters Lady Tremaine and the Wizard of Oz.

Her eyes found me and once again I felt the shiver that cold fingers caused to ripple your flesh. I turn away from her and hurried away not caring where my feet took me. I was heading for a clearing and here I saw to my amazement people who were a far cry from those of Drakeville.

I look behind me and saw that the school seem to be clouded and was some distance away and fading. It was as if I was taken from the twilight zone and transported back to modern civilization. I was not sure what was happening and when a group of teenagers stood waving at me wildly there mouths shaping words my boggled mind was fighting to comprehend I just stood there watching them and waiting for their approach.

They, however, were not approaching me but warning me that I was standing in the middle of the road and a vehicle was fastly approaching, I barely made it to the sidewalk as it speeds on by. I took a deep breath to steady my racing heart and my confused mind.

The shortest of the girl in the group of four consisting of two boys and two girls rushed up to me this time and queried if I was ok.

I made to speak but my voice seems to be lodge in my throat. She took my hand and lead me to the awaiting three who stare with eyes of inquiry at me.

"Let's get her inside she practically shaking," the tall wispy brunette hair guy instructs and I was aware they were assuming it was from my near-death experience. It was that too and the fact that my mind was racing with so many thoughts that it worked hard to decipher.

What the hell was taking place?

I follow them inside what appears to be a classier and modern structure of the diner I visited back in Drakesville. They allowed me to sit in an empty booth while the two boys went to get us girls something to drink.

"We saw you arrive a few minutes ago. What brings you to Misty Cresent?" the blonde asks her angular face holding a sweet smile and curious eyes of soft blue.

I stare at her not sure what to say. WHERE THE HELL IS MISTY CRESCENT?! my mind however scream.

I refrained from answering when the boys return and with them were not just a tray holding delicious-looking milkshakes but my tattered carryall. I blink as the one with wispy brown hair falling about a handsome face that sports a look of charm and intrigue that would melt any girl who was into guys heart and held them captive told me I had dropped it in the road after my near brush with death.

I glared at them as they watch me. We were all of us now sitting at the booth, they sip their shakes and wait for me to make sense of what was happening.

I gulp half of my shake which was a delicious mix of strawberry and vanilla with grated bits of dark bittersweet chocolate. I open my mouth and the words that came out were, "What time is it?"

The shorter girl glance at her wrist that held a cute leather strap wristwatch of pink with tiny charms attach to it and said. "Its now 4:08 p.m"

Time has seriously passed. I had clearly not just arrive, well maybe arrive here in this Misty Cresent town with its bustling activities of people and traffic and business. Here the people seem real and no one seem to appear out of place or time.

"I need to be at the Scarlett Ruins by six," I told them thinking it was best I did not say anything about my earlier experience in Drakesville. The last thing I need was them thinking I was some Looney Toon. It was probably better to share with them that I was here to spend two nights and an evening in a haunted house than to share with them that I had arrived approximately five hours ago and have been in Drakesville the whole time until I decided to explore my surrunding and walk out of Dean a Knootz novel.

However the look on their faces said it was best I had kept my mouth shut. I did not like the way they stare at each other or how suddenly it seem the atmosphere change from warm and friendly to close and scared.

The boy who had brought my carryall said after the stifling silence that followed my revelation, "You know that place is no place to stay much less even go right?"

"From the look of things she was the one who took the bet, since no one here in Misty Cresent is daring or brave enough to venture near that hiccup in our serene and resplendent town," the blonde respond staring at me.

"Looks like you all here have no need for five million dollars but I do," I respond my voice a bit hard as I thought they were criticizing my desire to get the money that would compensate my staying at The House.

The other guy with a close crop of copper waves on the top of his head and a dusting of freckles across the expanse of both his cheeks and beak like nose spoke for the first time.

"The Scarlett Ruins is best avoided but we are not here to stand in your way. We are just here to give you a bit of friendly advice."

Its not like you are my friends are you?, I made to say but instead I ask, "What is so bad about the house?"

"There is an evil so vile within that no one has been there for years. It has not been lived in by a living soul in at least...,"he seem to calculate then addded, "since the last 100 years. It was built in the early 1700 but a tragedy struck that place in the late 1800 to early 1900 and hell has been its domain since."

I laugh and shook my head and gave a soft slow sarcastic clap. "Well done, YOU guys are good but don't believe am going to walk away from this because of your eloberate cover story. I have no boubt the only spooks am going to find there are the ones created to get me to leave before my time." I look at all four of them before I said "I have never been one to scare easily."

The freckled face teen spoke again and I could see the fear in his hazle eyes "We aint playing you."

"For all I know you could be the teens who are behind the group Layla is in. Are you fucking around with me? Is there even a five million dollar insentive?"

I was getting angry now and I rose from the table and saw that my outburst has warrant me a few curious stares along with some of disapproval. I resist the urge to give them the finger as I made to leave.

The short girl stood with me her thick blunt bob swirling around her cheeks as she grab my hand and led me to a far wall of the diner where I was brought face to face with the painting that I had seem at the Maze Inn.

It would have been the same if on the pillard varendah with its sleeping porch had not stood a young girl I knew to be my Lady Tremaine.
My eyes devoured the persons with her.

Beside her the Wizard of Oz and the regal looking school teacher from the school was standing shoulder to shoulder and in the shadows was a tall figure clad in a dark suit with half of its face hidden, also the girl at the diner had her spot by the last step and they all seem to be staring at me their faces pale and dismal.

I look at the girl beside me and pulled my hand from her grip. I said nothing as I stood there. That house with its compelling dark aura and mysterious residents had me like Alice in Wonderland land.