Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 22608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
There's something about him that's different—-
Something...that I no longer have the time to figure out, now that someone's started banging loudly on the door.
"Alysse? Are you in there? Answer me!"
My gaze flies back and forth between the door and the stranger who has yet to say a word.
"Alysse! What's going on? Open the door!"
And that's when I realize I have it all wrong, oh God.
"I'm going to look for someone...oh God, Alysse, please be okay."
There are two voices outside the room now.
My boyfriend Jamieson, who sounds furious, and Rebecca, whose tone is distraught.
It's all I can manage to absorb since 99% of my attention is still trained on him.
Who apparently is no dream.
Oh God, I think I'm going to be sick.
"W-Who are you?"
Hearing the panic threading through my voice only makes me feel hysterical-—
"I could ask you the same thing myself."
—-and even more so when the stranger answers me so, so calmly.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
I think Jamieson's trying to kick the door down or something.
"Hang in there, Lys!"
My dazed gaze flies back to the stranger, but his expression remains impassive.
I don't understand.
My mom loved reading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to me when I was a kid. I was named after her, actually, and Mom used to say that it was her greatest wish that my life would be just as crazy wonderful as Alice's.
I used to wish that, too.
Until reality proved otherwise, and all I've ever wanted since then was safety and predictability—-
"I've got it," I hear Rebecca cry out.
And that's why I just don't get how I ended up in bed with a stranger.
Is this really not a dream?
The door flies open—-
Please let this be a dream!
And the next thing I know, Rebecca is rushing inside the room before halting in her tracks with a cry.
"Oh God, Alysse! What have you done?"
And Jamieson is right behind her.
"What the fuck—-"
My boyfriend charges forward.
"Not another step."
And all of us freeze the moment we see the stranger holding a gun.
Chapter Two
I THINK I'M IN SHOCK.
Or maybe this is delayed shock kicking in since I did waste a couple of minutes thinking I was dreaming.
"You."
I feel like laughing again at how calm he sounds.
He doesn't even seem to care he's just as naked as I am.
Doesn't even seem to notice the way Jamieson is shooting daggers in his direction.
He's just so, so calm...even as he turns to Rebecca and casually trains his gun at her.
"Is this your room?"
"Y-Yes," Rebecca stammer out.
"And have you any idea how I ended up here?"
"I d-don't know. But maybe she does?" Rebecca looks at me helplessly. "You were so drunk last night."
Was I?
"And you borrowed my room key because you didn't want to sleep in your room alone."
Did I?
"I thought you meant...you wanted us to be roommates or something, but I didn't know you meant...this."
Jamieson's face turns red with rage as soon as Rebecca's meaning becomes clear. "You fucking whore."
I want to say something in my defense, but I don't know if I have the right to.
Because I can't remember a thing from last night.
"Is this why you've said no to me?" Jamieson spats. "Because you didn't want me to know you've been a fucking whore from the start?"
He charges towards me with his fist raised as if he were about to punch me, and I instinctively raise my arms to protect myself.
But nothing happens.
Because the next thing I know, I hear the sound of a gun cocking.
And the stranger saying—-
"Out."
"Who the fuck—-"
"Now."
When I open my eyes, it's to see a tearful Rebecca tugging at the back of Jamieson's shirt. "Let's just go, Jamieson," she pleads.
Since when did she start calling him by his name?
"Please."
My boyfriend is still staring at me with hatred in his eyes.
I really think he'd kill me if not for the gun that's now pointed straight at his head.
Rebecca cups Jamieson's face. "I'm so sorry this happened. You don't deserve this. But we can't stay here. Let's just go. Please."
Jamieson takes a step towards me.
"One more step," the stranger warns in his unbelievably calm voice, "and I'll blow a hole in your kneecap."
"I'm sorry," I choke out. "I don't know—-"
But Jamieson's already spun away, and my heart shatters into pieces as I watch him leave with Rebecca by his side.
Is this real?
I don't understand.
This can't be real.
The door slams shut behind them, and a hysterical laugh escapes me.
Six impossible things are only supposed to happen before breakfast if you're in Wonderland, but this...
This is real.
We're in the real world, so how is it that everything's that happened so far is completely impossible?
Me waking naked in another person's room.
(One)
Next to a stranger who's also naked.
(Two)
Because Rebecca thinks I had a drunken one-night stand with him.
(Three)
While Jamieson accuses me of leading a double life as a whore.
(Four)
And then the two of them walking out on me like I'm the villain in my own story.