Insane

“So, are you sure?” Old man with unhealthy greenish pale skin and with tall black hat slowly turned to the girl. “You are so young, so pure, so innocent!” his chapped lips smacked every word, “You sure this is the only option, little fifteen?”

“I have no choice. This… or The Shard (rem. of the author - The Shard is the tallest building in London, 306 m.)” sharply said the girl, surveying the room. It felt sinister, with rotting dry walls and cracked concrete with red stains of an unknown origin. The room was empty, except for two black and white armchairs with a hypnotizing pattern. Her body unwillingly jerked when she caught the sight of two guards that had led her here. They stood near the door like toy soldiers - blank faces, same clothes. Only they were fatter than the toy soldiers.

“That’s the right thing… Relax, and have the most wonderful meal of your life!” The old man grinned, revealing his yellow, decaying teeth, and handed her a greasy piece of cake with some mold growing on it and stinky spoiled juice in a cracked glass. The girl sighed and stared with disgust on the food but begun eating it. She closed her eyes and held her breath as not to smell anything and quickly wolfed down the cake, following it up with the juice, which she drank in one gulp. The old man leaned towards her, resting his arms on his knees.

“Do you feel it yet?,” quickly and enthusiastically whispered he, “The madness, the magnificence of being insane! My, it took me a lot of time to find all the drugs needed to prepare this! Believe, my child, it won’t be long until you realize that this is everything you had ever wanted. The bliss of craziness… Join me in my game, Alice!”

A man in the cat mask entered the room, carrying an old radio with him. It played high-pitched psychedelic music. She tried to block her ears, but she couldn’t move her arms. The girl’s pale skin was slowly turning to red and her terrified wide open eyes were filling up with blood. Her breathing became harsh and frequent and veins on her neck were pulsing. One of the guards came closer to the girl and with one quick movement of the knife, her gorgeous shiny black locks fell on the floor.

“Your mother will never hit you again, your boyfriend will never dump you, your friend will never betray you…” continued the man grabbing the girl’s shoulder and shaking her violently. Her mouth filled with foam. Finally, her head and body went limp. After a minute, her eyes opened wide.

She found herself in the beautiful garden with marvelous flowers and grass, sitting on the throne in a fantastic dress with golden locks lying on her shoulders. The air smelled of strawberries and tea. Opposite her there sat a gentleman in a tall black hat and a fine costume, behind him there was an enormous cat and jazz was playing in the background. Mad Hatter took her tiny hands and solemnly proclaimed, “Welcome to the Wonderland, Alice!”