Four Hunters and four Jacks stood just inside the gates of Wonderland. In front of them was a raised circular platform full of sculpted animals. Rafferty didn't like their static expressions, like they were frozen in mid-growl. Gus would tell her later that it was supposed to spin and play music, like a ridable version of her record player. Rafferty thought that if it had suddenly started to do those things, she probably would have screamed.

Spread amongst the animals sculptures were things that looked like benches. On one of the benches was a dead coyote, eyes wide open, and its back legs bent at unnatural angles. Rafferty thought it was looked like it was staring right at her. She shivered, just a bit, and hoped no one noticed.

"Well, this place is creepy," deadpanned Oscar.

"Scared?" asked Lena. Those two never really got along.

"You wish," said Oscar, hefting a bag onto his shoulder.

"I'm scared," piped Cody. Colin moved up next to her, protectively.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

To Rafferty's right there was a sign, about as tall as she was. There was a picture of the bear on it, the same bear that towered over this place. There were words painted on the sign, inside a big white bubble. Rafferty thought it was supposed to look like the bear was talking.

Hey there, Benson-Buddies! Welcome to Wonderland, the most wonderful place there is! Just remember, Wonderland is an awfully big place, so it can be an awfully big adventure! So be sure to stick with your group, or you might get lost. And that would be unBEARable! Get it?

"All right. Blaspheme and I will go left. Cody and Rafferty can go right. We'll meet back here and see if we've found anyone," said Sheridan.

"You realize we're directly contradicting the bear, right?" asked Blaspheme.

"This place is huge. If anybody is here, we need to search it fast before they know we're here. If nobody's here, we need to finish up and move on," Sheridan said.

No one argued the point. The Jacks discussed timelines and emergency signals, and then the two groups went their separate ways. Rafferty wondered if Sheridan had put her with Cody because things between Rafferty and Blaspheme were tense lately, or because Sheridan was sick of Cody's phobia of this place.

Probably both.

Rafferty walked ahead, taking the lead. Trevor fell back to the rear, often walking backwards.

It wasn't long before Trevor spoke up from the back.

"We should check in here," he said.

"Uh-uh," said Cody.

"We have to be thorough," said Colin. All Jacks thought pretty much alike.

"Uh-uh," said Cody.

Rafferty glanced back at the building in question. The building had a name.

Albino Annie's Very Scary Laboratory

Above those words was a white snake head, with big red fangs.

Rafferty walked over to Cody and took her by the arm.

"Come on, Cody. Stick with your group." she said, as she stepped toward the entrance.