The Rabbit Hole's End

Mariza's eyes snapped open to a world that defied every rule she knew. Purple grass swayed beneath a lavender sky dotted with floating teacups. She sat up slowly, her black jacket dusty from whatever tumble had brought her here.

"Where am I?" she whispered, brushing turquoise streaks from her face.

A girl about her age skipped past, wearing a blue dress with a white apron. Her blonde hair bounced in perfect curls as she hummed a cheerful tune.

"Excuse me!" Mariza called out, scrambling to her feet. "What is this place?"

The girl turned, revealing curious blue eyes and a warm smile. "Why, you're in Wonderland, of course! I'm Alice. You look terribly confused."

Mariza's stomach dropped. El, Feather, and Clover—where were the three goddesses who had taken care of her? She remembered the accident, then darkness, and now... this impossible place.

"I need to get home," Mariza said, panic creeping into her voice.

Alice tilted her head thoughtfully. "Home? That sounds like quite an adventure to find."

The Baker's Warning

Alice grabbed Mariza's hand. "Come on! I know just the person who can help us find your way home."

They skipped down a winding cobblestone path lined with candy-striped lamp posts. The sweet smell of fresh bread drifted through the air.

"There!" Alice pointed to a small bakery with a spinning windmill on top. "The Mad Baker knows all the secret paths in Wonderland."

Inside, flour dusted every surface like snow. A round man with a powdered apron hummed while kneading dough. His wild gray hair stuck out in all directions.

"Alice! And a new friend!" The Baker's eyes crinkled with joy. "What brings you to my kitchen?"

"We need to find a way out of Wonderland," Alice explained.

The Baker's smile faded. He wiped his hands slowly on his apron. "Out? Child, no one leaves Wonderland. Not anymore."

Mariza's heart sank. "What do you mean?"

"The Queen sealed all the exits last week. She's terribly angry about something." The Baker leaned closer, lowering his voice. "They say she's hunting for a girl with strange powers."

Mariza's hands trembled. Blue sparks flickered between her fingers before she quickly hid them behind her back.