Page 20 of Madness

How could I live without the other half of me?

We dress in matching outfits again, and I smile, remembering the chaos we caused as children. We have only the slightest differences, and people rarely can tell us apart, but I don’t mind.

Some of my favourite memories are with Des as we swap roles, him being me and me being him.

“Ready?” I ask my brother.

“Let’s go.”

We make our way to the cafeteria, the smells wafting through the hallways, eliciting a growl of hunger from my stomach.

Rows of tables greet us, laden with an assortment of food and teapots, and I can feel my tastebuds salivating at all the choices.

The rabbit hole provided us with three meals a day, but we were never given a choice, and I was sometimes too drugged up to eat.

There are a few groups surrounding tables, but I spot a free one by the window, and I take the chance to see the outside for the first time in months.

Desmond follows me through the room, ignoring the stares from others, and we take our seats at the window.

We pile food onto our plates and fill the provided cups with tea.

“It’s like a fucked up tea party,” Desmond snarks, stuffing a whole pancake into his mouth, dry.

“I don’t care. I just want to eat actual food,” I say, stabbing a piece of bacon and shoving it into my mouth.

“No room! No room!” a very familiar voice shouts, and I smile at Hare as he sprints towards our table.

Three figures follow him, exchanging worried glances, but I don’t spare them a glance as I focus on the one little speck of light Des and I got down in the rabbit hole.

We know enough that Hare is allowed to move between levels and wants to make friends with everyone. From what I gathered from Hare when he told me stories about his adventures in Wonderland, he’s somehow managed to befriend the most terrifying patient in solitary and the Jabberwocky who guards us.

He even goes as far as leaving toys in his room for when he wants to go down and see him.

“Hey stranger,” I greet him.

“Strange. Strange,” Hare repeats, and my brow furrows.

“Hare?” Des says, and Hare pauses, staring at us both.

“Friends. Look, friends. Lots of friends!” he exclaims loudly, grabbing onto one of the figure’s hands and bouncing on his feet.

“Yeah, buddy. Are these your new friends?” the woman asks, smiling softly at him.

“No. Not new,” Hare says, shaking his head.

“Then how do you know them?” she asks him, directing him to come sit down with us.

The other two join us, and I see the blonde one shaking his head and muttering under his breath.

Great, we’re having breakfast with crazy, mad, and bonkers.

“How di yi know Hare?” The ginger one says, his crazy hair peeking out from under the beanie on top of his head. His green eyes swing between my twin and me, and I hope that we get to play with them all a bit.

I miss the games we played when we were younger.

“We met down the rabbit hole,” I say, stuffing a piece of waffle into my mouth.

I ignore the sharp inhale from the pretty woman with bright red hair and focus on my food, not knowing what could happen in this place.

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