Page 2 of Escaping Wonderland

Whywas she here?

The gurney stopped.

“Strip her,” the woman ordered.

The orderlies finally released Alice’s limbs to instead grab at her clothing. They tugged off her shoes, her pants, her shirt, bra, and underwear, their predatory, invasive touches sparking fresh flares of discomfort across her too-cold skin and panic in her chest. Their fingers seemed to touch every inch of her body in the process. She screamed inside her mind, unable to move, unable to fight, unable to cry for help—not that anyone would come for her. Tears of anger and helplessness dripped from the corners of her eyes.

They left her naked and vulnerable atop the gurney. The air settled with odd weight over her bare skin, and she couldfeelthe orderlies’ gazes raking over her. At any moment, she expected their hands to return to her body—to her breasts, her thighs, and between her legs rather than her wrists and ankles.

“Get her in a gown. I want her under as quickly as possible. It’s going to take a little time to build her profile. She is a rush job,” the woman said.

“Come on, Doc. Just a littlefun?” one of the men asked.

A shadowy figure moved beside the gurney, and a rough hand settled on Alice’s upper thigh.

This isn’t real. This isn’t real. It’s just a dream. I’ll wake up and it’ll all go away.

“She’s not for you,” another man said—anewman, his deep, smooth voice somehow even colder than the woman’s.

“Shit! I mean, sorry! Sorry, Director Koenig,” the first man replied, yanking his hand away from Alice and retreating.

Heavy footsteps approached the gurney. A moment later, Alice’s vision was blocked by another dark figure looming over her. Director Koenig. Her eyes strained as she struggled to take in the newcomer’s appearance, but all she could tell for sure was that he wore a dark, expensive suit.

“Alice,” the director said as he brushed some of her hair back from her cheek. “You’re as beautiful as they promised. And suchspirit.”

Something about his touch was unsettling enough to help Alice find her voice.

“Please,” she rasped. “Jon…athan. My…” Getting those few words out left her lungs burning with exertion.

The director leaned closed, placing his mouth next to her ear. “Who do you think sent you here, pretty girl?”

Her heart skipped a beat. “No… He wouldn’t?—"

“But hedid. You’re mine now, Alice.”

No! Why would Jonathon do this? Why?

But hewouldn’tdo this. I’m his sister, we grew up together. There’s no way…

Director Koenig chuckled. “How long will it take to get her loaded into the simulation, Doctor Kade?”

“As soon as she’s under, sir, it should take two or three hours to construct her profile and spawn her in,” the woman replied.

“Good. It’s going to take me some time to finalize the adjustments to the simulation, anyway. Have her brought to Winters for her…orientation.”

“Are you sure, Victor?” the doctor asked. “As you said, she’s…spirited, and Winters has something of a temper. If you’re making the proposed changes?—”

“He knows better than to defy me,” the director said firmly. “Finish up here, Doctor Kade. I expect her to be ready as soon as possible.” He stroked the tip of his finger along Alice’s lower lip. “Alice…I’ll check on you soon to make sure you’re assimilating.”

Alice poured as much rage as she could into her eyes as she stared up at the director’s shadowy visage.

The director chuckled and moved away from the gurney, his heavy footsteps sounding toward the door; they were quickly drowned out by Alice’s pounding heart.

“Don’t just stand there slack-jawed,” Doctor Kade snapped. “Get her dressed. We don’t have all day.”

The dark forms of two orderlies appeared on the sides of the gurney. They were even less gentle than before as they took hold of Alice’s upper arms and dragged her into a sitting position. Her head lolled forward and her hair fell into her face, fully obscuring her view, as the orderlies tugged a garment over her extended arms. She swayed helplessly while they pulled the fabric into place and tied it along her back.

“Now get her into the immersion chamber,” the doctor said.

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