Wonder

So it’s possible, Mrs. Tock. “I need to go back to yesterday to save a few friends from dying.”

“Every fool’s wish.”

“What do you mean?”

“Everyone thinks if they go back in time, they can change the future. It never works. Whatever you do, time will find a way to stay on course—a few casualties and tiny changes might occur.”

Tiny changes. Like Jack staying alive? I’d like that. Also, I’d like to know what happened on the bus. “I’ll take whatever time gives me.”

“Time is sneaky and unreliable, I must warn you. Besides, if you’re from the future like you said, you’re going to die either way.” She eyes me. “I see you already know that. How long do you have?”

“Ten hours. Give or take.”

“Then I’d advise you to spend them messing with people’s minds here. You’re doomed, crippled girl.”

“Unless I find my Wonder in the past.”

Mrs. Tock laughs, throwing her head back. She raps on the table and addresses her husband. “Did you hear what she just said, Mr. Tick?”

“She wants to find her Wonder so she stays alive,” Mr. Tick says, sipping his tea and reading tomorrow’s news. A special Tick Tock edition.

“What’s wrong with finding my Wonder?” I say.

“You know what that even is?” Mrs. Tock snickers.

“The one thing we do in our lives and are forever proud of—or something like that?”

“You know how long me and Mrs. Tock have been alive?” Mr. Tick says. “We’ve never known what our Wonder is.”

That’s because you’re two mad morons, obsessed with the misery of others. “Leave that part to me. Just send me back in time.”

“Are you sure?” Mrs. Tock says. “Sometimes it’s better not to go back to yesterday.” She points at the tattoo on my hand. “Sometimes it’s better not to know.”

“I know the worst about me already. I don’t think it gets worse than that.”

“Send the poor girl back, Mrs. Tock,” Mr. Tick suggests. “At least she’d enjoy not being a cripple for the next few hours. Or were you a cripple yesterday, too?” he asks me.

“No, I wasn’t.”

“As you wish, my lovely husband.” Mrs. Tock rubs her hand on my eyes. “Now close your eyes and count to seven. Can’t guarantee you’ll wake in heaven.”

Chapter 64

THE PAST: ALICE’S HOUSE IN OXFORD, A DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT

The best thing about the past is that I’m not crippled. I wake up in a bed in a room I now remember well. The room on the second floor of the house where I’ve spent most of my adult life with my foster family.

The sun outside is shining brightly. There are no hints of the possibility of rain or greying skies. It looks like a beautiful day — unfortunately, the day I will kill my classmates.

I take a moment in front of the mirror, admiring my seventeen-year-old look. It boggles my mind how i

I dress up for school and descend the stairs.

“Alice, darling,” my mother addresses me, fixing me sandwiches in the kitchen. Either I managed to fool her into thinking I’m i

“Thanks.” I take it and then slowly say, “Mum?”

She kisses me on the cheek. “Please forgive your sisters,” she says. “They’re horrible. One day they will know your worth.”

“Forgive them?”

“For what they did yesterday, locking you in the basement. Don’t you remember?”

“Ah, that.” I wonder if I should confront her with the knowledge that they’re not my sisters, and that she isn’t my mother. But what’s the point, really?

I need to ask practical questions. “Did you see Jack?” She must know him at this point — or doesn’t she know about my relationships at this time?

“What about Jack?” Lorina descends the stairs.

“I wonder where I can find him.”

“Why?” She snatches my sandwich and tucks it into her bag. “Tuna. Yuck!”

“Do you know where he is or not?”

“You better stay away from Jack, Alice.” Edith arrives.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Jack is mine,” Lorina says. “All mine.”

“And you’ve been looming for some time,” Edith says.

I thought we were a couple by now.

“It boggles my mind why you think he’d be interested in you,” Lorina says. “He is mine.”

“Not yet,” Edith reminds her.

“I always get what I want,” Lorina says, chin up.

I don’t have time for this nonsense.

“And what’s with the thi

I comb my head with hands. No time to be embarrassed about it. My mother has already disappeared somewhere.

“We shouldn’t lock her in the basement too often,” Lorina says. “It looks like rats are ripping out her hair.”

“Looks better that way,” Edith says. “She looks mad. To the point.”

The sisters giggle.

I need to know where to find Jack, couple or no couple. Or should I just stay away from him? If we’re not a couple, why would he get on the bus with me later? I’m confused here.

“I know he’s yours,” I tell Lorina. “Can’t you just tell me where I can find him? I need to return a pen I borrowed.”

“A pen? Such a lame excuse.”

Why can’t I just be the Bad Alice and choke both of them right now?

“Tell you what,” Edith says. “I’m suggesting you forget about school today.”

“Yeah,” Lorina says. “I’m seducing Jack into kissing me today. Better find something else to do.”

“Like what?”

“Like your favorite mad professor at Oxford University.” Edith giggles. Lorina giggles back.

“Mad professor?”

“The one whom you trust over everyone else,” Lorina says. “The one you think understands you.”

“Aren’t you too young for him?” Edith laughs.

“Who are you talking about?”

“Don’t pretend you’re naive.” Lorina waves her hand, dismissing me. “Go to him. Professor Carter Pillar, who believes that Wonderland exists, like you do.”

I am speechless.

“Honestly, it’s a joke,” Edith says to Lorina. “You won’t believe how many young girls attend his free lectures, escaping school. Each one of them believes she is Alice.”

They both laugh and walk away.

In my mind, I think that finding the Pillar isn’t a bad idea. He always has a way out in these situations. I follow them out. Going to Oxford University wouldn’t be a problem.

Chapter 65

THE PAST: LECTURE ROOM, OXFORD UNIVERSITY

The girls swarming outside the lecture hall are all teenagers. Most of them are certified nerds. A few pigtails here, thick glasses there, and of course they all carry an Alice in Wonderland gadget. Several goth-like girls are also present, loud talkers and jokers, wearing silver piercings and black tattoos, hair dyed in pink and dressed like rock stars, and wearing t-shirts about an evil Alice. Last but not least are the girls in costumes. All Wonderlastic masks, disguised as the Hatter, the Rabbit, and Queen of Hearts, and more.

Oxford University has turned into a simple Comic Con, waiting for Professor Carter Pillar. What can I say? It’s the Pillar. Always influential and doing what he likes to celebrate madness.

I walk among them, hugging my books and strapping on my backpack. The girls talk about their crushes on the professor. His free spirit, and the fact that he understands them.

“I hope you don’t end up in an asylum,” I mumble, chugging through.

“You know Alice is real?” a girl suggests to her friends. “Professor Pillar says so. There is a Wonderland War coming.”