Chapter 7 ( Ran away from wonderland)

In a world of enchantment and royals, the grand ball was a sight to behold—everything you could dream of from fairy tales come to life. Dwarfs mingled with giants, fairies flitted gracefully through the air, and the night buzzed with magic. 

It felt as though every corner of imagination had materialized here. 

As the carriage moved forward, I gazed out of the window at the dark sky, illuminated by vibrant fireworks. 

The colors danced across the heavens, each explosion more breathtaking than the last. It was magical, almost otherworldly, and for a fleeting moment, I felt like a princess. 

But unlike in fairy tales, there was no prince awaiting me at the ball. I pushed the thought aside and let the view capture my heart. 

The carriage came to a stop, and my heart raced as the door creaked open. Gathering my composure, I prepared to step out. 

A hand stretched toward me, offering assistance. I took it, expecting the coachman, but instead, my breath caught in my throat. 

It was Sylister. 

He stood there, his navy blue suit tailored perfectly, paired with a crisp white shirt, black bow tie, and polished shoes. His hair was neatly combed back, emphasizing his striking blue eyes. He looked... breathtaking. 

"Sylister? What are you doing here?" I stammered, pulling my hand away from his. 

His gaze softened, but his voice carried an edge of determination. "You ran off the other day after I told you how I felt," he said, stepping closer. 

I steadied myself with a deep breath, meeting his eyes. "You told me you still have feelings for Kitty. I can't be with someone who's not completely... mine." My voice wavered as my heart twisted, but I stood tall, determined not to break. 

Sylister closed the space between us, his warm is almost overwhelming. "Madie, even if I like her, that doesn't mean I love her," he said, his voice low and earnest. 

His blue eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, the world seemed to disappear. My heart pounded in my chest, words escaping me. Then, without warning, his lips crashed onto mine. The kiss was warm, intoxicating, and impossible to resist. 

My hands found their way to his chest, clutching his shirt before moving to the necklace hanging around his neck. I held onto it as if it anchored me in the chaos of emotions swirling around us. 

His tongue brushed against mine, tasting of warmth and something sweet, and for a fleeting moment, I let myself melt into him. 

But then, a voice shattered the moment. 

"Sylister!" 

I broke away instantly, my hand still gripping his necklace. My head turned, and there she was—Kitty. 

"How could you?" she said, her voice trembling with anger and hurt. "I thought you loved me." 

Shock and fury surged through me. I stepped back, realizing I still held his necklace in my hand. Sylister tried to speak, his hands raised as if to explain. 

"Kitty, I can explain," he began. 

But she cut him off, her voice rising. "Explain what? That you told her you loved her too? That I was just someone you liked?" 

Tears blurred my vision as a wave of rage overtook me. Without thinking, I pulled off my high heel and hurled it at him. "You're such an asshole!" I screamed, grabbing the other shoe and throwing it as well. 

"Madie! What the heck?!" Sylister protested, ducking to avoid the second shoe. 

Tears streamed down my face as I glared at him. "Go fucking burn in hell your as hole" I shouted, my voice shaking with betrayal. 

I didn't wait to hear more. 

I turned on my heel and walked away, my heart shattered. Behind me, I could hear Kitty yelling at Sylister, but their argument faded into the background as I distanced myself from them. 

I couldn't believe I had kissed him. I couldn't believe I had let myself fall for him. 

My chest ached with every step, but I didn't stop. I couldn't. All I wanted was to escape the pain and leave this night—and Sylister—behind. 

As I walked away, my emotions a tangled mess, I realized I was still clutching Sylister's necklace. I halted, my breath shaky, and glanced down at it. 

The charm dangling from the chain was in the shape of a small hat. For a moment, I stared at it, but the pain in my chest made it impossible to focus. 

Then, I heard something. Strange noises—soft, muffled, almost like… kissing. 

A part of me screamed to ignore it, to keep walking, but my curiosity tugged at me, drawing me toward the sound. 

I wiped the tears from my cheeks and followed the noises, my footsteps hesitant yet steady. The sounds grew louder, coming from just beyond a nearby wall. 

My heart skipped wildly. "Just a peek," I told myself. "Just one quick look, and that's it." 

I crept closer to the wall, each step feeling heavier than the last. Slowly, I leaned around the corner. And that's when I saw it. 

My breath caught, my heart plummeting. 

There, pressed against the wall, was my best friend Raven. 

Her bare body was arching into her boyfriend, Dexter, as he moved against her, their bodies intertwined in raw intimacy. 

I froze, my lips parted in shock, unable to tear my eyes away. Dexter's hands gripped her waist, his movements slow and deliberate, their moans filling the air. The sight was like a dagger to my chest. 

I stumbled back, leaning against the wall for support as silent tears streamed down my face. 

My mind screamed at me to leave, to erase what I had just witnessed, but my legs felt like they had turned to stone. 

Everything inside me felt hollow. 

The guy I liked had turned out to be a player. My best friend—the one I trusted the most—was having sex with her boyfriend after hours we just had sex. 

 The people I cared for were shattering me, piece by piece. 

Where was my happy ending? My magical moment? 

With tears blurring my vision, I turned and bolted. I didn't care where I was going; I just needed to get away. I ran and ran, letting the wind sting my face, hoping it would drown out the pain, the heartbreak, the chaos of everything I had just seen. 

The world around me felt like it was collapsing. 

Everyone I trusted had hurt me. My life felt like a twisted joke, and the weight of it all was too much to bear. I didn't know where I was going, but I didn't stop. I couldn't stop. 

All I wanted was to escape the madness, the betrayal, and the crushing realization that the people I loved the most were the ones breaking me. 

I ran as fast as I could, as though I could outrun my life here in Wonderland. 

 Everything was so twisted and chaotic, a mess I couldn't untangle. I felt like nothing more than a pawn, an object people could shove around however they pleased. No one cared about me or how I felt. 

As I sprinted through the woods, my foot caught on something, and I tripped, crashing hard onto the ground. 

Pain shot through my leg, sharp and searing. 

 Wincing, I slowly pushed myself upright, my hands trembling. Looking down, I saw a nasty scratch on my knee, blood trickling down in thin, red lines. 

"Damn it," I muttered through my tears. Just my luck. 

That's when I noticed something strange—the necklace of Sylister was glowing, faintly at first, then growing brighter. It almost seemed to tug in one direction, as though it wanted to move on its own. 

I grabbed it, frowning. "What the hell?" 

Forcing myself to my feet, I winced as my leg throbbed with pain. But the necklace pulled again, harder this time, and I had to hold it tight to keep it from flying out of my hand. 

A strange smoke began to swirl around me, thick and otherworldly. I blinked through the haze, and then I saw him. 

The Caterpillar. 

He lounged against a massive tree, his figure hazy in the dim light. He stared at me with sleepy yet knowing eyes, a trail of smoke curling from his lips. 

"Who are you?" he asked, his voice low and drawn out. 

I bit my bottom lip, holding back the sharp words that bubbled in my throat. I wasn't Alice. I was born here, in Wonderland, and I knew every strange, twisted corner of this world. 

Crouching slightly, I smirked, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Just your darkest dream," I said. "Keep dreaming, big boy." 

The Caterpillar chuckled, but I didn't wait for his reply. 

The necklace gave another strong pull, nearly yanking me off balance. Stumbling, I followed its insistent tug, deeper and deeper into the woods. 

The air grew colder, the trees darker, their twisted branches casting eerie shadows. 

Around me, Wonderland's creatures began to stir. Strange eyes glinted in the darkness, and I could hear the soft flutter of wings and the low growls of unseen beasts. 

The necklace pulled me onward, leading me to the edge of a dark, gaping hole. I hesitated, but before I could stop myself, the ground shifted beneath me. 

I screamed as I tumbled into the blackness, reaching out to grab hold of something—anything—but there was nothing to catch. The darkness seemed endless, swallowing me whole, until finally, the void gave way. 

I fell through the sky, the cold wind whipping around me, and landed with a painful thud—right on top of someone.