Intro:

This should be the only 'Authors Note' kind of thing in the story, unless there is needed information that I haven't included or didn't want to interrupt the story for.

Anyway, the main aspect of the story is a modern version of Alice in Wonderland, using influences from different interpretations and songs. For a full list, look on my profile. If you have any criticisms about the story please review or PM me so I can improve it. Please note this is the first chapter so may be a bit short and doesn't give a lot of info but that is the point. Everything will be explained later on.

On another note, please enjoy and review if you either want to or have criticism. But please don't leave flames that are just use less and annoying. If you're going to flame at least tell me why you hate it and how I can improve it.

Thanks.

i-am-walrus

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What is it that is deaf, dumb and blind and always tells the truth?

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The mirror was antique; she could guess that much from the ornate design of the frame. Fruits, plants and strange grinning creatures curled around each other were carved into the wooden frame, stained a burnt copper colour.

It was also huge. It was a miracle that she had been able to carry it in by herself. With the pavement outside covered with ice and snow, and her black trainers that no longer had any tread what so ever, she was surprised that she hadn't slipped or dropped the mirror. She didn't need the 'seven years bad luck' joke hanging over her head for the next month.

Wiping the sweat from her brow, Alice Reid let out an exhausted sigh. Her face flushed from the physical labour and the sudden change from the bitter wind outside to the warmth of her shop. Alice wouldn't have been surprised if she looked like Rudolph. It would be fitting for the time of year. With only a week left to Christmas, she'd been out getting some last minute shopping when she'd arrived back to see the mirror sitting at her door. All it said on the note attached was to not lean on it.

The mirror truly was beautiful, it was a wonder that anyone would want to get rid of it in the first place. Yet, here it was, a perfect mirror to add to her stock. Though how the donator even knew she was opening a mirror shop she had no idea.

Probably a friend of mum's. Alice decided, turning from her reflection into the main store. She hadn't even named the place yet and she already had her mum telling people about it.

Her shop looked like something from a horror movie, even she could admit that. She'd only moved in two weeks ago and focused on her apartment above the shop more than the shop itself. She told herself that it was because her mum was coming over for Christmas and her mum had a tendency to be overly critical. Yet, she knew that the real reason was that she was having difficulty thinking of a name. Everything she came up with seemed cheesy to her and without a name she couldn't exactly open shop. So far, all she'd done was clean the thick layer of dusk and grime that had developed on every surface from the year of being empty and moved all her stock into the back room. The clocks where sitting in boxes, carefully wrapped in bubble wrap. They were antiques and she didn't want them breaking or getting chewed by Dinah. All the mirrors she currently had were covered with blankets after being taken out on the day she arrived. They leaned against columns and walls, the only thing actually on the shop floor. Now she'd have to go and get another cover for the new one.

A meow from upstairs reminded her that she had defrosting shopping upstairs and a bag that had fallen still lying on the sidewalk.

The salt she'd poured onto the path outside her door had started to take effect, melting the ice and making it safer for her to walk over.

"Alice! How are you love?" asked Mrs Canavan, a batty old lady who let cats in and out of her apartment as they pleased. She was a nice lady, treated Alice as if she was still a kid, bringing her sweets and giving Dinah a new toy or treat every couple of days. She lived in the next building to the right of Alice's building. Alice's shop was on the street corner, yet Mrs Canavan was the only neighbour she'd met so far and no one lived in the building to her left.

"I'm good Mrs Canavan. A bit bitter outside today." She commented. After talking to her for two weeks almost every day, Alice discovered that the best thing to do with Mrs Canavan was to make small talk. Sooner or later it would reminded her that she'd forgotten something, sending her running into the house.

"Ah, that it is. There hasn't been a winter like this for a long time. Must be some misbalance in nature." She though aloud, looking up to the sky as if it held all her answers. On top of being a batty old lady, she was also a nature lover. Apparently, she dabbled in Wicca in her younger days, she didn't keep it up but still watched over nature like a doting mother. If she saw a plant that was dying in a window she would either (a) take it from the window sill if the window was open- Alice had seen her do this several times, or (b) knock on the door and tell the owner to either water it or give it to her. Not many people reacted well to that though. Alice smiled at the lady before remembering the mirror.

"By the way, did you see anyone dropping off a mirror earlier? Did they leave a message?" Alice asked, picking up the Granny Smiths that had rolled out of their bag. Mrs Canavan shook her head sadly.

"No dear. I've been at the park most of the day." She replied.

"Too bad. It was really pretty and I was hoping to thank the person who gave it to me." Mrs Canavan nodded softly.

"Well I hope you find you're mystery donator. When are you planning on opening shop?"Alice laughed, picking up the last piece of food that had fallen.

"As soon as I think of a name." She smiled, standing.

"Well, as soon as you do I'll be you're first customer. I've had my eye on that clock that lady donated last week." Alice laughed again as she opened her door with her foot.

"I'll hold it back for you. Bye Mrs Canavan."

"Bye dear. And say hello to Dinah for me!"

Chuckling as she closed the door, the bell above her twinkling as Alice made her way up to her apartment. She made a good choice moving here. Even if the state of the place wasn't totally pleasant.

Defrosting groceries sat on her kitchen worktop, melted ice dripping onto the floor to mark the beginning of a puddle. A long haired tortoise shell cat stalked in between the bags, meowing at Alice as she walked into the kitchen.

"You hungry kitty?" Alice asked her, petting it softly as she reached out to paw at her knitted coral coloured poncho and meowed again, its large eyes pleading.

"I know, I know. I'll get your food in a minute." Alice said, placing the other shopping on the worktop beside her.

As her cat, Dinah, sat eating her food that Alice had just placed out, Alice went to putting her shopping away, ticking everything off in her head.

Present for Mum.

Check.

Present for Charlotte.

Check.

Mini-Christmas tree.

Check.

Cashew Nut Roast to force down mum's neck.

Check.

She really needed to convince her mum that being a vegetarian didn't make you a less healthy person.

But you're missing out on vitamins!

She also needed to stop reciting her mum when she thought of her. A crash followed her thoughts only seconds after, causing her to jump slightly and turn, hand to mouth.

What on earth...

Dinah - who was usually totally docile and lazy to even bother with a mouse- was sitting at the edge of the counter, ignoring her food and moving her tail from side to side in a hypnotic motion as she growled.

On the floor lay a couple of broken plates, along with several damp tea towels that had been hanging up to dry. Letting out a sigh of relief – as she had feared the worse, something along the lines of axe-murderer – Alice shook her head, feeling stupid.

It's just a couple plates, Alice. No. Need. To...Panic?

Her personal thoughts where once again interrupted by the seemingly inanimate pile of tea towels wriggling, before moving across the floor to the stairs.

"You better not have invited one of your 'friends' in again Dinah." Alice scolded, following the moving tea towel, but it was gaining speed, going so fast that Alice had to begin running to keep up with it.

"Hey! Wait!" What possessed her to call out to a tea towel, she wasn't sure but it was sure better than nothing.

Finally, Alice saw she'd trapped it up against the new mirror. There was no way it could....

No way....

Suddenly, without any warning, the runaway tea towel disappeared through the mirror. At least that's what it looked like....

Stop being silly Alice. She scolded herself. There is no way a tea towel could just disappear. Now go and look behind the mirror.

Alice nodded shamefully at her inner voice's scolding as she walked over to the mirror. It looked solid.

Of course it is. It's just a mirror.

Yeah, just a mirror.

"Hm, I don't see anything." Alice sighed leaning against the mirror pane. "Mayb- Whoa!" Suddenly, there was nothing behind her. Her first thought was, 'oh damn it, I've broken the mirror!', but that theory was soon forgotten as she began falling.

And falling.

And falling.

And falling.

It never really occurred to her that a mirror shouldn't do this, not until she hit the ground. And even then, that thought only lasted a couple of seconds as the impact on her head quickly caused her to pass out.

Well...at least she didn't break the mirror.