“I want this. I can do this. Nobody can stop me.” She stared at unblinking eyes. Hard eyes. Dark eyes. She focused so intently on those eyes that everything else seemed to fade.
The effect was ruined as a grin crept across that face.
Alice leaned toward her own reflection. “You’ve got this,” she reassured herself one more time.
She’d always known if she played her cards right she’d be in a position to make changes. Now here she was.
She squared her shoulders as she turned from the mirror, then flicked off the light and left.
Alice took the number 10 cross-town bus and walked the remaining six blocks to her destination. She was glad for a few minutes in the rain-washed air—her confidence had slipped a little as she bounced along on the less-than-pristine city bus. Staring at her own bulbous reflection in the driver’s security mirror had her questioning reality.
Her thoughts tumbled end over end as she walked, and she wished she didn’t feel like shrinking. But fear didn’t stop her. Her glossy Oxfords swung out rhythmically, followed closely by the pin stripes of her trousers. The slight reflection in the wet pavement of the sidewalk followed her precisely, clicking along at an identical energetic gait.
When she reached 1832 Duchess Avenue, she paused to again check her image in the wide brass trim beside the door. She looked warped around the edges, but not overly flushed from her walk. Good.
Alice tugged at the heavy glass entry and stepped inside. Mr. White nodded absently from behind the security desk as he tucked away his pocket watch. The affectation didn’t seem out of place considering the man’s tidy whiskers.
A green light dinged on, and she took a deep breath as she boarded the elevator. She counted the floors as they passed like a school girl reciting her lessons.
The plush carpeting of the 14th floor absorbed the sound of her footfalls when she stepped out toward T & T Enterprises. The silence tried to make her feel insubstantial, but she shook off the sensation as she approached the receptionist.
“He’s expecting me.” She didn’t wait for an answer from the mousy woman, merely turned toward the gilt-framed mirror on the wall.
She swallowed her nervousness as she eyed her reflection. There would be no going back. She turned when the door opened.
“Alice,” Lewis greeted her with a warm handshake. “You’re early.”
“I’ve made my decision,” she said as he led her past the heavy walnut door into his office.
Once they were alone she spoke in a rush, fearing that any delay might cause her to lose her nerve. “Tell Mr. Hatter I’m going, Lewis,” she said. “Through the Looking Glass. Into Wonderland. I can’t just see the other side and not act.”
From the corner of her eye, she thought she saw him smile.
“I won’t let that woman win. I need to take down the Red Queen.”
Copyright Notice: Please note that I fully assert my right to be associated as the author of this story, and while it is complete, it may not be finished. This story may be subject to alteration at the author’s discretion. Please do not copy, quote, or post this story or excerpts anywhere in any format. You are, however, free to share the link with anyone who might be interested.
Links
I hope you’ll take the time to read the other stories in this Hop. These are some great writers and wonderful people. And if you like what you read, I hope you’ll consider joining their lists too. The world is a richer place when there are more stories to tell.
- Reflected by Elizabeth McCleary **YOU ARE HERE**
- Veronica by Jessica Kruppa
- Last Stop by Erica Damon
- Jesse and Tyler by Bill Bush
- The Poisoner of Time by Karen Lynn
- New Stork Inc. by Katharina Gerlach
- Pocket Heart by Juneta Key
- Oh Baby! by J. Q. Rose
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