I had woken up in a cold sweat. That has to have been the worst nightmare I’ve ever had. I looked around to make sure I had actually woken up. My black cat, Dinah, was laying at the foot of my white cotton bed. There was a faint light in the room from the candle sitting on my ebony wood bed stand. I’m safe now, I’m at home. Everything is okay, it was just a dream.

I slowly start to uncover myself, my feet hitting the cold wood floor. As I stood up the floor creaked, causing me to cover my mouth. I stood still listening for my sister or my parents. It was silent, you could even hear a pin drop. I tip toe over to the door, slowly opening it. I looked out into the hallway, but alas nothing was there except for the lamp I had left earlier.

I close my door and head back into my bed. I finally get comfortable under the covers when I hear my sister Lizzie screaming. She sounds like she’s in pain, I want to comfort her, but I’m frozen with fear. I hear her struggle and she slowly starts to get quieter. I felt a small smile form on my lips. I try to be quiet, as I hear my parents screaming from afar. They sound like they’re choking.

I look around seeing smoke coming in from under the door. I hear Dinah meow from the window. She’s sitting on the window sill looking at me with her big green eyes. She jumped from the window and I grabbed my book off the bedside table and joined her. I looked down at the ground below me. I could see a bright orange glow coming from the windows in the living room.

I heard the floors creak and could smell the burning wood. I looked down once again, then I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I jumped from the window down onto my Mother’s azalea garden. I crushed the violet flowers with my bare feet, causing my feet to ache in pain. I didn’t care, I just needed to get away from the house.

I ran as fast as I could, still smiling and my golden hair blowing in the wind. I finally reached the main part of town, I was freezing due to the snow. I couldn’t find Dinah anywhere, it was snowing so hard I could barely see. I kept walking until I bumped into someone’s chest. 

I looked up to see a man in a dark brown frock coat with a big dark brown top hat covered in rainbow lace and butterfly pins. I wiped the snowflakes off my eyes to get a better look at the man. His face was a pale sickly yellow color. He had big green eyes, the same shade as my Father’s. His long straight black hair sat right on top of his shoulders and was covered in snowflakes. He had a big smile on his face like he had been waiting to see me.

“Alice! I’m so happy to see you! I feel like we haven’t seen each other in forever. You’ve gotten so big, say, do you remember why a raven is like a writing desk?” The man had asked, his voice had a very calming sound to it, almost hypnotic. I looked at the man very confused, I have never seen him before. Not that I know of. How exactly is a raven like a writing desk? That seems like such an odd question.

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“I’m sorry sir but I don’t know. I’m also very sorry to ask but, what is your name sir?” I ask, squeezing tighter onto my book. The man’s eyes seemed to darken like I had just said something offensive. He then turned around and walked away, like he had been scared of something.

“Sir! Wait, please!” I yell out toward the man, but alas it’s too late, he had already disappeared into the night. I started to walk forward hoping to find somewhere I can stay. My light blue nightgown had stuck itself to my skin from the freezing wind. Suddenly, I saw a bright light shining on my right. I turned toward it to see a big brick building with the words, ‘Thompson’s Orphanage’ written in big gold letters.

Maybe I can get help there. I ran up towards the building pushing the big charcoal gate open. The front yard had freshly fallen snow covering it along with some toys littered about. I walked up towards the big oak doors, knocking first. I heard some noise that sounded like someone walking downstairs. Suddenly, the door opened showing a young woman with long pale blonde hair. 

“Excuse me, Ma’am. I need help, my house caught on fire and I can’t find anyone who will help me.” I cried out, tears falling off my cheeks and onto my light blue nightgown. The woman had piercing blue eyes, I could see they were full of sympathy. 

“What’s your name, love? I'll call the fire department right away. Please, come inside. You’ll freeze if you stand out there.” The woman replied, her voice was full of care. I slowly walked into the building, closing the doors behind me. The room we were in was big, the ceilings were so high up a Giraffe could fit in here. The walls were covered with a green floral patterned wallpaper and the floors were dark wood.

“My name is Alice Liddell.” I said, looking around more, you could tell the building was old because the wallpaper was peeling off the walls and the floors were starting to lose its smooth exterior. I continued to look around, especially at the paintings. There was one in particular that had caught my eye. It was a painting of a tea party in a meadow.

Well, more like an empty tea party. It had a long wooden table with a beautiful clear tea set on top. In the chairs was a grey and dark purple tabby cat, a dark brown hare, a white dormouse, and a large chair that seemed to be reserved for someone. The item that caught my attention was the big dark brown top hat covered in rainbow lace and butterfly pins.

“Darling, you wouldn’t happen to have any family I can contact, do you?” The woman asked, grabbing the phone again. I truly don’t think I do. I mean I have Aunt Imogene, but I don’t remember her number. I look towards the woman and simply shake my head no. She puts the phone down and walks over to me.

“That’s quite alright, we have an extra room here that you can stay in for the time being. How old are you dear?” The woman asked, holding her hand out for me to grab. I slowly reach for it and hold it lightly. “I’m seventeen, Ma’am.”

“Please, call me Miss. Lovin.” The woman said, leading me to a room that had dark blue flower decorated walls and smooth dark wood floors. The room had a small dark wood desk in the corner and a twin sized bed with white covers on the left side against the wall. I walked over to the bed and got comfy under the covers.

“I truly am sorry about what happened to your family, love.” Miss. Lovin said, shutting the curtains. I looked up into her sapphire eyes and could see she truly meant what she said. If I’m supposed to feel upset about my family's passing, then why haven’t I truly cried? 

“Goodnight, sleep tight.” The woman said, closing the door behind her. I laid there staring up at the ceiling listening to her footsteps disappear down the hallway. Lost in my thoughts I finally fell into a deep sleep.