Alice in Makai

Falling into a Dream

Who knew a dream could turn sour so fast? I didn't. I hadn't even began to suspect that a harmless dream about that damned pendant could be a problem, and the next thing I knew it was no longer a dream. It was a full out nightmare. And it all started with that silly little necklace, the one I had found lying there on the ground. It was just waiting there, glinting in the midday sun. A pretty blood red stone, set in simple silver. It had looked so lonesome there, out of place on the dirty ground. It was begging to be picked up. And so I had. And that's where everything started to go wrong. Let's start from the beginning, shall we? I'm sure you're a bit confused right now. I'm babbling on about some necklace and a nightmare, and you've got no clue, right? Well, I'm about to tell you a story. You might want to make yourself comfortable. Pull up a seat, get a cup of tea. This story, my story, is quite strange. A real, modern day 'Alice in Wonderland'. Ready? Here goes.

It all started on one sunny day in May. I had been out to the mall with a handful of friends from my school, and was walking home, my hands ladened with my purchases. I had finally found a dress for prom, so I was quite happy. Unfortunately I hadn't found a necklace to go with it, but the event wasn't for another couple months, so I had plenty of time to find one. So I was humming happily as I walked, my head bowed to watch the ground I was treading on, as was my habit. And that's how I saw it. A red glint from the corner of my eye caught my attention, and I turned to see a pendant lying on the ground nearby. I stared at it for a while, enthralled. It was nothing special, mind you, but it drew me in, nonetheless. A blood red stone, catching and reflecting sunlight, set in simple silver. It was beautiful.

I wanted it quite badly. And it was just lying there. Whoever had dropped it had probably already gotten over it's loss, so I reached out and picked it up. My mind was made before I even touched it, I was keeping it. Finders keeper, losers weepers. Marveling at the pretty pendant in my hands, I examined it. The silver chain was snapped, probably what had caused it to fall from its original owner. Frowning, I wondered if there was a way to fix it. 'There is a jeweler down the street from the house,' I thought to myself. 'I'll drop in after I drop off my bags.' And with that thought, I was off again, eager to get home to relieve myself of my shopping bags. The pendant was warm in my hands, a reminder of my good luck. Or so I thought.

After kicking off my shoes, I raced to my room, to put away my purchases. "I'm home!" I called out to my parents, as I stomped up the stairs, and giggled as I ran passed my confused brother. Gently putting the pendant on my dresser, I tossed the bags onto my bed and started rummaging though them. Pulling out my dress, I held it up to get a good look at it. "It's pretty." My mother commented from my doorway, admiring it. It had a black top, with a V-neck, and cascaded down over the wearers hips with layers of black and red. The black layers were the same silky material as the top part, and they were followed by layers of red in a gauzy, almost see-though material. I smiled, and hung the dress up in my closet, before sorting though my other purchases and putting them away.

After all that was said and done, I turned to examine the pendant again. Picking it up, I cradled the warm stone in the palm of my hand. Lifting the chain with a finger, I looked closer at where it had broken. It looked as if it had snagged on something, and snapped. Carefully wrapping the chain around my hand, I went back downstairs to tug on my shoes, briefly letting my mother know I was going for a walk. Once outside again, I trudged down the street, intent on discovering if the chain could be fixed.

The bells above the door of the jewelers chimed as I opened the door, causing the man behind the counter to look up in my direction. "Ah, hello." He said, smiling politely. "How may I help you, my dear?"

"Oh. I have this pendant with a broken chain. I was wondering if you could have a look at it?" I wandered over to the counter, and laid the necklace down on. Biting my lip anxiously, I watched as he picked it up to examine it.

"Of course." He said, picking the pendant up gently. I watched as he examined it, then got out his tools and started to fix the chain. I left him to work in peace, and started looking around the shop. There were all kinds of jewelry in the many glass cases on display, and I looked at all of them, admiring the silver, gold and colourful precious gems. Soon enough he had finished, and after paying him for his services, I departed, my pendant hung around my neck.

The rest of the day passed fairly uneventfully. My family and I gathered around the table for supper, chatting and gossiping about how we had spent the day. Afterward we popped some popcorn and watched a movie. Soon enough it was time for us to go to bed, and that night I fell asleep with my new pendant clutched tightly in my hand. Perhaps that's why my dreams that night were strange...

I'm sitting, a pool of water before me, it's calm surface like a smooth, silvered mirror. Leaning forward, I peer into it. The surface darkens, a image coming into view. At first it's only blurred colours, and vague shapes. Bit by bit, though, it clears. Soon, a crystal clear picture. I gasp, as I realize it's not just a image. It's like a reel, moving images forming a video. I put my hands near the edge of the water, leaning forward to gaze into the water, intent on what was unfolding.

A forest of bamboo. A palace, its entrance a demonic mouth. Two thieves, one holding a stolen mirror. The alarm sounds, and they run, with guards on their heels. One was tall, and wearing white. Long silver hair swayed behind him, and silver ears twitched upon his head. I could see a tail swishing behind him too. I leaned closer, trying to make out what animal it was. 'Fox?' He turned to look at his partner, the stolen mirror cradled against his hip. I looked at the other thief, and was enthralled. He was tall too, but not quite so tall as the other. He had his black hair in a ponytail, and a frayed hat sat upon his head while wings were folded and tucked behind his back. They smirked at each other, before taking off, leaving the guards to fumble after them. Off they ran, weaving between the trunks of bamboo graceful. A chiming noise caught my attention, and I gasped as I saw a pendant that had been around the dark ones neck snap and fall. A very familiar pendant. The same one I had found. Leaning forward, my nose almost touching the surface of the water, I watched as the dark one turned, hardly losing his stride, and raced back to find the necklace. The silver one stopped, calling out. "Wait, Kuronue!"

Already it was too late. The one called Kuronue had already stooped to pick up the pendant, and that was when the trap was sprung. Shoots of bamboo came flying at him, one peircing him through the ankle and preventing him from escaping. Gasping, I reached out, unheeding of the fact that I was already far too close to the waters surface. I gasped again as I lost my balance, plummeting forward. I had expected to fall into water, to drown. But to my surprise I found myself falling though a thin film of some cool, wet substance, and then I was falling though frigid air. Falling towards a familiar forest of bamboo.