Prologue

“Mrs. Liddell you can’t keep doing this to your own daughter, she’s living like a prisoner!”

“Our lives are none of your business, child, you shouldn’t even be here. Leave my house this instant and don’t you dare come back!”

“I am not a child and neither is Alex anymore! I promise you this won’t be the end of it. You’re insane!”

Lewis…wait, please Lewis. LEWIS!

“Alex! Where are you going, sweetest?”

Lewis…?

And the earth opened and the time stopped

And little Alex dropped, and dropped,
And dropped...

“What…?” Hatter bent over the bustle of pink skirts and golden hair, which had just fallen from the sky. “How…?” He examined the young girl unable to complete a single coherent thought in his scientific mind. “Who are you?” At last.

“Ouch!” She rubbed her behind, blinking the sun out of her eyes. A tall man in a ridiculous suit and a top hat helped her sit up.

“Are you alright, there?” He kept on examining her form for injuries and a trace as to where she might have come from.

“I think. My name is Alex, but…where’s Lewis?”

“I didn’t see anyone else fall down, which brings us back to the most important question−how exactly did you arrive?”

“I don’t know. I ran after my friend and suddenly I was falling and falling… until I ended, here. What is this place?”

“The Wasteland, of course, we’re in the Northern Hemisphere. Shouldn’t you know that?” Wishing he had brought his examination kit, he patted his chest pocket in vain. This girl could really use some assistance with her orientation.

“What? A wasteland? But where is America?” Alex found her feet, after all.

“America? There hasn’t been an America for twenty-five years! You mean to say you come from America, then? Could you−”

“−I do.”

“−have found a time hole?”

“And what is that, Mr. …?”

“Hatter−so careless of me not to introduce myself, please forgive me.” He bowed low, fixing his lips into a polite smile.

“What is a time hole Mr. Hatter?” Alex leaned in with interest.

“Come on, Miss Alex. It’s getting late and I have a tea party to attend. I’ll explain in the way.” Alex took an unsure step next to Hatter, nodding as if to finally convince herself to follow.