Alice in Reality

“Good evening, this is Doctor Hightopp, how can I help you?”

“Yes, hello Doctor. This is the chief of police, Bill Gryphon. I’m calling on behalf of one of your patients, a Ms. Alice Liddell.”

“Yes, what about her?”

“Well, I’m so sorry to inform you, she has committed murder. She’s not making any sense when we try to question her and she’s demanding to speak with you. Is there a chance you could come down to the University Observatory Tower?”

“Oh my goodness! Yes, of course, I’ll be right there.” Doctor Hightopp hung up the phone before quickly grabbing his jacket and keys and heading out the door. He almost forgot to lock up as he left the building and headed out to his car.

It was sprinkling and the sun was setting behind the cloudy sky. Doctor Hightopp shivered as he shook away the feeling of the ominous setting. He tried to imagine what could have possibly happened. He knew Alice wasn’t well, but she had never been violent. Her delusions had never hurt anyone but herself. Doctor Hightopp drove as quickly as he dared in the dark, dangerous weather. He didn’t bother to lock his car as he pulled up the school and started walking towards the tower. He mentally kicked himself for not discouraging her delusions and her choice of classes. He had thought she was making progress, but clearly, she was much further gone than he realized.

There were police and news crews all over the area as he approached. He started to feel a deep sense of dread deep inside. He wandered up to the yellow tape and waited for someone to acknowledge him.

“Hello, I’m Doctor Hightopp, Chief Gryphon called me?”

“Ah, yes, he’s expecting you. Come on in,” the officer answered, lifting the yellow tape for him to duck under. Doctor Hightopp clung tighter to his bag and tried to keep his eyes focused on the door in front of him. “I’m sorry to say but it’s not a pretty sight in here. I guess the two teachers were having an affair in the tower. The girl walked in on them in kind of a crazy fit.”

Doctor Hightopp glanced at the officer out of the side of his eye when he mentioned Alice. He couldn’t help but feel guilty like his last proposal to help set her straight was the final straw that set her off the deep end. The officer pushed open the door to reveal more police officers and forensic specialists inside. Alice was sitting with a blanket and handcuffs on the stairs. There was a body covered with a white sheet that was slowly melting into red. There were pools of blood spilling out from it, soaking up the romantic scene of flowers and paper hearts. The Doctor could tell that her head had been the first thing to hit the ground.

“You must be Doctor Hightopp,” the Chief stated, moving over to shake his hand.

“Doctor Hightopp! I did it!” Alice cried out when she saw him standing there. Her smile was wide and she was glowing with pride. She threw off her blanket and stumbled over to him holding her hands out as if highlighting the cuffs she was wearing.

“I’m sorry, Alice. What exactly do you think you did?”

“I killed the Red Queen. I saved the Knave. He’s there, you have to believe me now! The Caterpillar and Cheshire Cat told me I’d find them here. They are all here because of the melting place but now that the Queen is dead we can all go home!”

“As far as we can tell from her ramblings ‘the Caterpillar’ is a man named Chenille who runs a Hookah bar downtown and the Cheshire Cat is a drug dealer she used to frequent before she got charged last time,” the Chief clarified.

The Doctor glanced back and forth between the chief and Alice. She looked so desperate for his approval, for him to see that she had succeeded. He forced a weak smile at her.

“Who is this?” the Doctor whispered, pointing to the woman under the sheet.

“Her name is Genevieve Hart, she was one of the theater teachers here. This is Jack Card, the astronomy professor.” The Chief gestured to the broken man in the corner, crying hysterically and doing his best to answer the questions from the police surrounding him. “Obviously, Ms. Liddell is… not all there. We were hoping you’d have a facility to hold her until her trial when we can put her in a proper institute.”

“Yes, I’ll take her, thank you. Though, if it’s not too much trouble, I’d like a police escort. I never imagined her to be dangerous, but now I’d rather not take that risk, I'm sure you understand.”

“Of course, Doctor. I have a police officer follow you home and watch your house tonight,” Chief Gryphon answered. Doctor Hightopp turned back to Alice and did his best to form a smile despite the sheer terror he was feeling.

“Come, Alice, it’s time to go.” He held out an arm for her and she grabbed it as well as she could with her hands still bound in the manacles.

“I knew I could do it, thank you for giving me the chance to prove it!” Alice whispered to him as he led her back over to his car. Two police officers trailed behind them.

“You really did, Alice. It was quite … something,” he answered, trying to keep his voice from cracking.

As he put her in the car and drove to the nearby hospital with an open lockdown space for Alice, he listened to her retell her wild story of voices, winking flowers, and impossible characters. He realized allowing her to seek out this place, released the last hold reality had on her mind. She had given in completely to the delusions she had been experiencing but at least she finally looked happy and at peace - heading to her magical realm as far as she knew.

When Doctor Hightopp pulled up to the hospital, the police officers got out as well but stayed a safe distance behind them. He went to the receptionist's desk and checked in.

“Good evening, can I help you, Doctor?”

“Yes, I have a serious emergency. She is critical and dangerous, awaiting trial. I need a place to hold her.”

The nurse scanned Alice up and down, probably feeling just as Hightopp had only a few hours ago.

“Right this way, Doctor.” The nurse walked with him down to the guarded ward. Alice continued to smile widely and happily.

“Are we going to another melting place? Are you coming with me to see it?” She whispered to him.

“We are going to another melting place, yes. You finally get to go back but I’m sorry I can’t join you. This nurse is going to take you to the place and there we must say goodbye. I can’t help you anymore,” the Doctor answered, trying to hide the sadness in his face.

“I will miss you, Hatter,” Alice whispered. The Doctor frowned in confusion.

“Here we are, we’ll take her and clean her up before sending her to room 118. You are welcome to visit her tomorrow if you’d like,” the nurse answered, taking Alice from Doctor Hightopp.

“Thank you,” he whispered. “If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to just wait while she gets settled.”

“Of course.”

Doctor Hightopp took a seat in the waiting room and absentmindedly fiddled with his thumbs. He couldn’t imagine how things had turned out so poorly. He felt so guilty and as if he failed Alice. It was his risky choice that led to that poor woman’s death and Alice’s ultimate demise. Doctor Hightopp wiped a small tear from his cheek and did his best to harden his face.

He wasn’t sure how long he sat there, burning a hole in the chair across from him with his stare. But he jumped when the nurse came back and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Doctor Hightopp, you can see her now if you’d like.” He looked up to see the nurse was gesturing for him to follow her. He stood up quickly and walked with her down to the padded cells. They stopped in front of her room and he glanced quickly through the window.

She was sitting peacefully in the center of the room, whispering and talking to imaginary people in the room with her. In her mind, she was having a tea party and it was a delightful time. Her mind had found a way to send her back after all.

“So what happened?” the nurse asked, curiously keeping her eyes on Alice. Doctor Hightopp sighed as he looked on at Alice’s state.

“Alice didn’t want to be saved from Wonderland. She wanted to live amongst the lost, mad and imaginary. I suppose she got her wish.”