The Rabbit Man

Alice woke up with damp eyes, confused and overwhelmed. A few stray tears had rolled down her cheeks during the night, though she couldn't remember why. She lay still for a moment, staring at the ceiling, trying to piece together what had caused her to cry in her sleep. Was it a nightmare? A memory? She couldn't recall. All she knew was that a heavy, inexplicable hopelessness clung to her like a shadow.

Doudou, her cat, slept peacefully at the edge of her bed, his soft purring a comforting rhythm in the quiet room. She got up quietly, careful not to disturb him, and padded over to the window.

The early morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a pale glow across her room. The clock on her nightstand read 6:57 AM—way too early for any serious thinking.

She hurried through her morning routine, grabbing a quick breakfast of toast and orange juice before washing up and rushing to catch the bus. The streets were still quiet, the world just beginning to wake up. The crisp autumn air nipped at her cheeks as she walked to the bus stop, her breath visible in the cool morning.

The bus was packed, as usual, but Alice managed to find a spot by the window. She stared out at the passing streets, her mind wandering. The strange events of the past few days weighed heavily on her. The visions, the dizziness, the feeling of being watched—it was all too much. She tried to push the thoughts away, focusing instead on the familiar sights of her neighborhood.

As she walked to her next class, her heart nearly jumped out of her chest.

"Boo!"

Alice screamed, spinning around to see Martin laughing.

"Martin! Are you trying to kill me?" she snapped, puffing out her cheeks in mock anger.

"You fall for it every time! I'll never get tired of that," he said, still chuckling.

"You're so dead next time," she muttered, trying to calm her racing heart.

The air had grown cooler since yesterday, hinting at the approaching winter. Martin's tone shifted to something more serious.

"Last night was fun, but you really scared me at the end, Alice."

"Oh, it was nothing. Just tired, that's all," she lied, forcing a smile.

In truth, she was still shaken by what had happened. It was the first time she'd experienced something like that, and just thinking about it made her muscles tense. The dizziness, the swirling lights, the feeling of being pulled into another world—it was all too real.

"Could it be related to your visions?" Martin asked, staring at her intently.

"What? No, of course not," she stammered, her voice trembling.

Martin looked disappointed, but Alice couldn't bring herself to tell him the truth. She was already struggling to process everything herself; burdening him with her fears felt too selfish.

"Alright, I won't push you. But just know, Alice, no matter what happens, I've got your back. I'll always be here for you."

His words made her cheeks flush, but she quickly masked her reaction.

"Stop being so dramatic and get to class!"

"Right, I almost forgot. We've got basketball in gym today. Gonna be fun! See you later," he said, darting off.

Alice headed to her Moral and Civic Education class with Mrs. Yelimna Loiseau, a teacher as eccentric as her name. Mrs. Loiseau's bright turquoise and purple hair, vintage outfits, and unique accessories made her stand out. Her teaching methods were just as creative, making even the dullest topics engaging.

Today's lesson was on citizens' rights and responsibilities. Mrs. Loiseau started by showing a documentary about the history of voting rights. The class was captivated, and Alice found herself drawn into the film.

Afterward, Mrs. Loiseau assigned a group activity: summarizing the documentary and preparing questions for a debate. Alice paired up with the student next to her and got to work.

As she focused on her notes, her pen slipped from her hand and rolled under the desk. She reached for it, but it was just out of reach. Frustrated, she imagined an invisible force pulling the pen toward her.

To her shock, the pen moved on its own, sliding into her hand!

Alice froze, staring at her hands in disbelief. Had she just... moved the pen with her mind?

No one else seemed to notice, and she quickly tried to brush it off, but her heart was racing. A dull headache set in, and she felt lightheaded.

"Mrs. Loiseau, may I go to the nurse? I'm not feeling well," Alice asked, raising her hand.

The teacher agreed, and Alice left the classroom, her vision blurring as she made her way to the infirmary.

The nurse gave her a snack and suggested she rest for a few minutes. Alice reluctantly agreed, lying down on one of the beds. The short nap did wonders, and she felt much better when she woke up.

Thanking the nurse, Alice headed back to class. But as she walked down the hallway, she heard a strange sound—like water boiling.

She turned to see a man in a red-and-black three-piece suit stepping out of a swirling, vaporous hole.

He carried a leather briefcase and dusted himself off with a gloved hand. Alice's breath caught in her throat. The man had the head of a white rabbit!

His blood-red eyes locked onto hers, and she immediately recognized him—he was the same presence she'd felt watching her last night.

"Alice Astarl," he said in a commanding voice, checking a golden pocket watch. "You're late. I was beginning to think you'd never awaken your power."

"What... what are you talking about?" Alice stammered, her mind racing.

The Rabbit Man opened his briefcase and pulled out three gray marbles. He tossed them to the ground, and they shattered into smoke, transforming into three humanoid slimes.

"Capture her," he ordered.

The slimes lunged at the girl, their gelatinous forms bubbling as they moved.

Alice's instincts screamed at her to run, but her feet were rooted to the spot. This wasn't a dream. This was real!

A certain death was coming at rapid pace, and she was'nt ready to face it!