Julius had it, at last, his sister's journal he had managed to steal when he went in to rescue her. He sighed, knowing she was the one taking care of the clocks, for now, taking out a piece of paper with a small stanza he wrote the day he realized who she was. When he started collecting words to avoid forgetting Juliet. Julius then proceeded to open the leather-bound journal that belonged to his sister and began to read.

Her voice a guide

the truth turned a lie

the hopeless wonders

might keep hope alive

My name is Alice Liddell, a seventeen-year-old girl missing a sibling and a mother. Both were taken by death, bless their souls. A long time ago I was found by Lorina and taken in as one more of the Liddell family. What was I doing before that? I have no idea, amnesia had been the one guilty of this. Well, at least that is what I have been told. But sometimes it makes me wonder, why do people claim that I disappeared a year ago? It makes absolutely no sense, maybe the reason why I don't remember it because I was abducted. Now all I have is a workaholic father and a younger sister called Edith. She claims I'm much better than her real sister, something about her being spacey and insensitive. I personally find it strange she said that according to what I remember dear Lorina was a really nice person.

A smile that could bring anyone to their knees, hair always combed perfectly for the occasion. Of course, she was sweet to all except me. Before her strange death, Lorina would always glare at me, as if I had done something wrong. Always correcting how I acted, making me hide my blue hair under a dirty blonde wig. Why did she hate me so? What did I even do?! I have no idea. But this is not what differed me from my family. No, not at all, but the fact that I do not have a heartbeat, only a clock that ticks inside my chest. Nobody can explain the why of this, not even me.

My dreams always had Lorina guiding me and some others towards a circus. Me being hesitant to enter. In there I talk about my job as a clockmaker, something about it being a family tradition and skill. Those dreams pester me every day, the circus and the place called wonderland... But all this changed on that fateful day.

Another strange dream was a handsome brunette boy with red eyes whisked me away from my room. My clock skipped a tick due to this. I needed to cool down, it was too much and I feared my clock would stop working. If Edith had been there in my room she would have done her best to calm or distract me. Such a sweet girl. But, she was away in America, somewhere called Michigan I believe, with her new husband. Yes, strange how a twelve-year-old was legally allowed to marry. Father? he didn't even stop it. It happened a few years ago before the new queen took control of the country.

All I could do was walk out of my room. Oh, the garden. I loved it, pretty flowers all over. The grass crunched under my feet as I roamed around the dark garden. It always calmed me, this place. Carnations, my favorites, different colors, and different meanings. Edith showed me how to choose them. There she was, a girl who was almost identical to me when I had my costume on. Father saw her and ran out, forgetting I existed again. Tears of joy he cried. I believe father ignores me because I refused an engagement with Alois Trancy. Not that I didn't like the blonde, he was sweet and kind. But we both knew we wouldn't work well together. He accepted my rejection gracefully as if knowing this was coming. They left me alone, going into the house as if I was only a shadow. I'm used to it by now.

"Juliet Alisson Money."

"Edith? You returned?" I turn around trying to find the source of the voice. I know I have heard it before. "Come out, let me receive you! I know you are now about my age, we have so much to talk about! And why do you call me Juliet? My name is Alice Pleasance Liddell"

"Really? Is that your name? Or is it the name they made you think was yours?"

"Edith? Did you forget my dear sister? I'm the noble Alice Pleasance Liddell, seventeen years of age!"

"Did you ever wonder why father never seemed to love you as he should? Why sister seemed to hate you? Why did I compare you to my real sister?"

"I know why! I wasn't perfect and rejected an important engagement. And you liked me because Lorina barely had any time for us. Honestly, Edith, you make no sense. I would believe that a fifteen-year-old such as yourself would recall that"

"Your real life is a lie..."

"How would you know? My whole time here was thanks to you rescuing me"

"It was a lie...you were kidnapped by Lorina"

"Lori? Wait...All I did to please her, was for nothing?"

"Exactly, come to me please sister. Find me"

"How could I Edith?" I asked as I sat on the grass. "You are only a voice I can hear in my mind. A pure figment of my imagination. Oh, how I wish you really were here, I would go and find you...but, I cannot go to America. Doctor Bumby said I'm not well enough."

"Find me, in wonderland. Find my door and free me. Oh, sister, it's so lonely here. If you find me, the truth will come."

This wasn't making sense, then again...it wasn't as far off, and it actually explained many things. Were the Liddell's even my family? Did I have a family? My hair, all though natural, it was an odd color. Lorina always mumbles of the sapphire linage, something about mythical people with blue hair and eyes.

"Yes, you have a real family...and me. I will make you arrive before she returns to Wonderland. You have 30-time changes."

"Show me the way" I never expected for a hole to open under me. I screamed for help, yet, it was futile. I should trust the words of my sister. She would never harm me.

Did you know?

Now I'm falling...my eyes closed, letting the darkness embrace me as a male voice echoed through the abyss.

Every game has its rules

This was endless...How long had I been falling and listening to this poem?

And rules were made to be broken.

Was I going to die? Would I know the truth? But who cares, my life is a lie, my name is a lie.

"Welcome to Wonderland"

"EDITH, WHO AM I?"I screamed

"Jub Jub bird."

And then I felt my body his concrete. Thirsty, so thirsty I needed a drink! I really hoped someone had water. Noise, too much of it, I hate it. Bustling people running around, children laughing, and adults running. How was I supposed to be heard with all this chatter? Looking around I could see different games and workers. Yet, that hadn't unnerved me as much as the fact that there were people missing faces. Wait a minute faceless? My chest heavily heaved. My sobs deepened to my diaphragm, making my entire body convulse with each and every huff for air. I cover my blurry eyes wishing to vanish into the deepest pit in existence. Every breath felt like needles driving into my already exhausted lungs which are ready to pop at any given moment. It hurts ... it hurts so much -!

"Calm down. Check your pocket, a drink awaits, it will help"

Obeying, I searched inside with my hand only to find a tiny vial with the symbol of a spade on the top. Strange how it was made with black glass. "Oh Edith, what am I supposed to do? Should I drink it?"

"Yes"

I took the vial, honestly, it was bitter-sweet, like medicine. I didn't like doctors, but Edith would never make me drink something harmful, she was no doctor. My world was warping, the floor moving underneath, the dizzying feeling barely let me find a seat. I felt my self drifting away till it all turned black.

"Father? Father? You should take a break. Please I know you're tired, and your exhaustion shows" my father turned towards me, shaking the sleep away. Again, passed out due to overworking. It was as if he tried to get more business intentionally to forget all that was around him.
"Silence Alice, get your stuff. Dr. Bumby is waiting" I remember him saying annoyed. Always, him and Lorina were like this, why were they so mad at me?
"I hate Dr. Bumby's father. He is an ill-intentioned man" I answered fixing my blonde wig.
"Come on my dear, it's for your own good. He wishes to help with your amnesia" said Lorina who was waiting outside.
"Right"
No, he didn't. I knew, he always sent me away, to the clock tower. I loved the place. Beautiful, it felt like home. Only Edith cared in this world.

Oh, Edith, I wish it was all a dream. I wish I was never a replacement Alice.

"Calm down, try to stand up"

I did but failed, dropping to my knees in the middle of the Amusement Park I had fallen into. Faceless customers jump, bewildered by my slam to the ground. Were they worried? No, it was surprise and horror, maybe because I have a face? This must be abnormal to them. Am I still crying? Yes, it seemed so, I cannot discern if its because I fell or because I am having information shoved into my brain so fast.

"A-Alice?!" a man's voice asked concerned. It sounded familiar.
Yet, I ignore the man as his pats my shoulder, trying to untangle me from my little sobbing ball. Oh, Edith! It hurts...It hurts so much! Why? Why? Why? She did not answer. I miss her already.

"Alice please calm down..."I looked up towards the source. The tears had stopped, I was dry of them.
But there he was, as I took in his appearance. A man in his 30's with green eyes hidden by oval glasses and red hair in a braid. He wore brown pants, a white work shirt with a yellow vest and jacket over it. The yellow jacket has a light-blue diamond-shaped pattern down the sides of the jacket and music notes on the ends of the sleeves and the front of it. The belt that he wore was a bit eccentric, brown, but has carousel horses attached to the sides in the front.

"How do you know my name?" I asked, at last, feeling myself relax.

"Sorry, I confused you with somebody else" he apologized with an embarrassed smile."Did you just say your name is Alice? Welcome to Wonderland dear foreigner!"

"Yes, could you tell me yours?"I asked.

"Of course, where are my manners? My name is Gowland pleasure to meet you! Oh sad you came in April season, things get more dangerous you see!" he answered helping me up with a grin.

"Dangerous? Would you be kind to explain it to me, Mr. Gowland?"

"Yes, yes, come with me. Too many prying eyes could be trouble for us"

He took me to his office and explained to me the power struggle there was between his territory, the heart castle, and the hatter's mansion. The people with faces were either foreigners or faceless, and they could easily be replaced. Ironic if I am honest. It seemed here life was never important, sad how this world lives. Yet, nobody seemed fearful to take out a gun and murder with no mercy.

So, the castle was spring, the amusement park summer and Hatter's mansion full of mafiosos was autumn. Mr. Gowland explained the clover tower was the only neutral territory, and the one in winter. Oh! How I loved snow! Back in my homeland, so many things happened during winter. My personal favorite was when I could go out and skate in a pond or Thames! And then there was the joker's forest. That land was necessary to go from territory to territory. Mr. Gowland warned it was dangerous and I needed to do my best to win the games of the Joker. To go home, I needed to fill my vile, which, represented my game.

"I do not want to go back. What could I do to avoid it? I hate my life, as it is truly a lie." I said.

"Break your vile"

"Are you sure dear?" He was concerned, it seems I'm an oddity.

"Yes"

"Then, you should break the vile. But if you do, you will play an eternal game" he stated seriously.

"Yea it is better than being Alice's replacement everywhere" I mumbled, sadly he heard me.

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing! It's just something in my world I discovered. Haha," Nervous laughter, great, could I be any more obvious.

"I understand. But, try not to say that to others. Whenever you are ready, I'll be here" He is so much like Edith. He was the father I never had, I couldn't help but hug him as he laughed gleefully. Now, all that was left was to find Edith.