Harley's Choice (20 page)

The clock read eight-twenty, it was dark out
as fall nights come around seven now, so when the tall,
well-dressed man walked in I was surprised. “Hi welcome to the
Library. Is there something I can help you find?”

“No, thank you. I think I know where it is.”
His voice was low and sounded almost condescending, but it was nice
nonetheless. He walked straight passed me, blessing me with a musky
fragrance that was part woody and part spicy, but all male. I took
a deep breath after he was out of sight to try to catch another
hint of his cologne.

But this time I smelt a flowery undertone
that had me jumping to my feet. It was Marcy’s perfume. I had
bought it for her on our eighteenth birthday. She swore that night
that she would never wear another fragrance.

I grabbed the almost empty book cart and
pushed it around putting books back as I went until I reached the
man. “Oh goodness! I’m so sorry; please excuse I seem to need to be
right where you are.”

“No problem, I’ve found what I needed.” He
said then headed out of the aisle. I didn’t see what book he
grabbed but the he was in the 398.2 Dewey Decimal area – meaning
he’d found a fairy tale.

I followed him out, but the trace scent of
Marcy’s body spray was gone. I watched as he checked out then
headed out.

I sat back behind my desk and for the life of
me I could recall a single detail of the man. I remember he wore a
white shirt and dark slacks, but other than that I couldn’t
remember anything else.

I looked at the clocked and jumped up – it
displayed a time of ten pm. “What the hell?”

I grabbed my stuff and headed out shutting
lights off and locking the door as I went. The parking lot was dark
so the stark white car stuck out like a sore thumb. I paused at my
own car and wondered who would be parking at the library.

Deciding that I liked my life as it was, I
opted not to check on the suspicious car and got into mine and
drove off.

The ride home was quiet, as my radio had
broken a couple of months ago and no longer played anything…which
sucked horribly! I attempted to fix it myself, but it disagreed
with me, and I with it. I was working toward getting a new radio,
but I have yet to do it.

As I drove through town I passed the newest
club downtown, it was all black glass all the way around and always
had a line out the door. I’ve yet to see the doors actually opened.
It’s like they never admit anyone but there was always people
there, dressed in costumes, waiting to get in.

Its name alone conjured thoughts of fancy –
Wonderland.

I always smiled when I passed the building,
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
was my favorite book, my
favorite movie. I ate up anything even remotely
Alice
related. I’ve seen about all of the movies or TV shows, read every
book I could find that that dealt with the theme of Alice.

I suppose it may have something to do with my
name, but who am I to deny fate.

I drove on home and was pleasantly surprised
to find a hot meal on the table for me. “Oh yum!” I dropped my
purse and sat immediately at the table and began eating a French
dip sandwich.

“Where have you been?” Matt asked as he came
into the kitchen.

“I got caught up at work?” I questioned as to
why I was late home from work.

“Are you sure?” Matt laughed at my confused
face.

“Yeah…there’s something that tickles my brain
and from some strange reason I can’t remember why.” This statement
made Matt stand up straight and walk toward me. I lifted my head
and looked at him even more confused and a bit scared, he has never
approached me this way. “Matt, what are you doing?”

“Marcy said things like that before she went
missing?” he looked at me, I guess making sure I was alright.

“You’ve never said that before.” I watched
him watching me.

“It’s something that I have forgotten until
now.” Matt sat at the table next to me, “she would go to her new
job and come home late, then she couldn’t remember why she was late
but then everything evened out.”

“Well I had a whole cart of books to put
away, so that’s a plausible reason.” I said reaching for a reason I
was late.

“But you’ve already said that you couldn’t
remember why you were late.” He pointed out.

“Yes, but I’m sure it was due to the books I
had to put away.” He just looked at me with skepticism in his
eyes.

“Alright but if this happens again you will
tell me right?”

“Absolutely!” Matt snatched a fry off my
plate and laughed as I missed smacking his hand.

He stood and stretched, yawning as he did so,
“I’m heading back to bed. There’s mail in your box.”

“Thanks bro.”

“Night sis!” He rubbed my head then walked
off leaving me sighing and fixing my hair.

I finished my sandwich then went upstairs
grabbing my mail on the way. I decided on a shower tonight so that
I can sleep in tomorrow. I was off for the next two days and
planned to do nothing.

I dropped my mail on my desk then grabbed my
robe and headed into the bathroom. I was sitting on the tub
starting the water and undressing when I realized that an envelope
that I had dropped on my desk bore the writing of my sister.

I ran out of the bathroom and picked up the
white envelope and sure enough my sister’s bubbly writing adorned
the front of it. I quickly stuffed my finger under the flap and
ripped it open.

I pulled out a blood red card that simply
read:

Ace-

You and you alone are
cordially invited into Wonderland.

Follow the white
rabbit.

Be here at midnight on
October 30
^th

Do not be late!

This invitation will not
be extended again!

I flipped the card over and over but there
was nothing else on the card.

Today was the thirtieth.

It was ten forty-five.

“Shit!” I ran quickly through the shower then
stood at my closet deciding what to wear. I looked at my clock and
saw that it was just now eleven. It was going to take me twenty
minutes to get downtown…if I didn’t run into traffic.

I dressed in the first thing I grabbed which
was a grey one shoulder dress. I paired it with six inch black
platform pumps so I was now standing at five-eight then my red
trench coat and I was ready to go. I applied some makeup and
lipstick, and then stuffed my lipstick, phone and the invitation
into my Halloween purse which was in the shape of a little bat.

I looked at myself in the mirror…it was the
best I could do with what I had. My body wasn’t too curvy, or tall,
but I had a waist and good legs from wearing heels since I was
eighteen. My brown hair was wavy on the best days and had ringlets
on the rest – today was a ringlet day. Even wet it began forming
ringlets down my back. My eyes were light brown and my lower lip
was full…other than that I was pretty average, but hey, like what
you have I always say.

I grabbed the towel again and squeezed my
hair into it one more time to get any remaining water I missed,
then declaring myself done, headed out.

I paused briefly to write a note to my
brothers in case they woke up and wondered where I went. I was
hoping to be back in a few hours with news of Marcy. I stuffed the
invitation in my purse and grabbed my keys and headed out.

I drove about half way there when a car came
out of nowhere and cut me off. I was about to lay on my horn to
tell the ass how I felt about it, but then I noticed it was a VW
Rabbit – and it was white.

It changed lanes and I followed…the car
seemed to agree with my moves and I followed the White Rabbit
downtown. We passed Wonderland then turned down the next street and
into the alley that led behind the black glass building.

The Rabbit parked and I followed suit. The
man that got out seemed familiar, and then as if every ounce of
oxygen left my body and I slumped against my car, this was the man
from the library earlier today. He was the one who smelt of Marcy.
“Oops! Gotcha luv.” He said and I realized that we was not
condescending sounding, he was British.

I stood and shook my head, “what the hell was
that?”

“It’s an effect I have…most forget me, but
when they see me again then get a bit loopy, though I’ve never had
one almost pass out.”

“You were at the library.”

“Yes I was.”

“Why?”

“That is not my question to answer.” He
flashed a smile and for the first time I took stock in the man. The
first thing I noticed is that he had a slight over bite of his two
front teeth, but other than that he was an alright looking man. His
nose was straight and his chin was strong.

Then as he walked toward to the door I
noticed he was wearing a suit that was either a light grey or
white…but I was leaning toward white, just for appeal purposes. He
was tall, at least six feet or at least that’s how it felt as he
held me up.

I followed him and he paused at a door and
gave quick three raps on the door, which was opened by a very large
man with a full beard and a set of whiskers – The walrus… “If
everybody minded their own business…” He spoke then waited; both
the rabbit and the walrus stared at me.

“I’m sorry?”

Rabbit leaned in and whispered, “You need to
finish the line – he will not repeat it.”

“Oh…” the line sounded familiar, and then I
realized where I heard it before, “…the world would go round a deal
faster than it does.”

The both smiled at me and I was granted
entry into Wonderland.