Chapter 1: Welcome to Wonderland
The sky over Riverton was always a shade of twilight. There was no clear beginning or end to the day—just an endless stretch of dusky calm. Yet, something strange had begun to stir in the town, a ripple of unease that no one could quite explain.
Avra Descent Tiberius, a newcomer to the small, sleepy town, stood on the edge of the forest that bordered the edge of Riverton. She had heard whispers about Wonderland—a place people spoke of in hushed tones, a mythical destination that seemed as much a part of the town as its cobblestone streets. But no one dared to visit it, not after what happened to the others.
The air was different here—thicker, almost alive with an energy that pulsed beneath the ground. The path to Wonderland, if you could call it that, was nothing more than a winding dirt trail, barely noticeable under the thick trees. And yet, despite the warnings, Avra was drawn to it.
Her feet moved on their own, as if the forest itself had beckoned her to step inside. A flicker of light caught her eye—golden and inviting, like a lantern swaying in the distance. She pushed through the branches, her heart pounding as the world around her grew eerily silent.
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When she finally emerged into the clearing, the sight before her felt like a dream. The air shimmered with strange colors, swirling like a painting in motion. An archway of vines twisted above her, framing the entrance to what could only be described as a fantasy come to life. Flowers, impossibly vibrant, bloomed at her feet, while candy-colored houses dotted the landscape. She could hear the faint sound of laughter in the distance, soft and melodic, like a song from childhood.
But beneath the illusion of peace, there was a coldness that cut through the warmth of the sun. The ground beneath her felt uneven, as though something ancient stirred just below the surface. The air wasn’t sweet—no, it was thick with something darker, something that made her hesitate for just a moment.
“Welcome to Wonderland,” a voice said, startling her.
Turning, she saw a figure standing at the far side of the clearing. His features were obscured by the shadows, but his smile was unnervingly wide, stretching across his face like a wound that never quite healed.
“You’ve come,” he said. “But you should have stayed away… you really don’t know what you’re getting into Miss …