**Curiosity and Cigarettes**

Sol leaned against the worn wooden railing of the Rutledge Asylum's visitor's balcony, puffing on a cigarette as she gazed out at the overcast California sky. Her hazel eyes, fringed with thick lashes, seemed to hold a perpetual hint of skepticism, as if daring the world to try and surprise her. The sweet, round face that had captivated her friends and acquaintances was, in this moment, set in a contemplative expression, her full lips pursed around the filter of her cigarette. As an anthropology and botany student, Sol had always been drawn to the intricacies of human behavior and the secrets of the natural world. Her curly, honey-brown hair, streaked with vibrant magenta highlights, was tied back in a messy bun, and her caramel-colored skin glowed with a subtle sheen, a testament to her Creole heritage. A silver stud glinted in her left nostril, and a scattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose added to her feline-esque features. Sol's mom, Dr. LeRoux, was a psychologist at Rutledge Asylum, and Sol had agreed to visit her during her break from studies. As she exhaled a plume of smoke, Sol's thoughts turned to her own research project – a study on the ethnobotany of traditional healing practices in various cultures. Fascinating stuff, but it was nice to take a break and spend some time with her mom. The sound of footsteps behind her heralded the arrival of Dr. LeRoux, a warm smile on her face. "Hey, kiddo! It's great to see you. I was thinking we could grab lunch in the cafeteria." Sol nodded, stubbing out her cigarette in the ashtray. As they walked into the asylum, Sol's eyes scanned the surroundings, taking in the sterile corridors and the soft hum of fluorescent lights. She had been here a few times before, but it still felt a bit surreal – like stepping into a different world. As they entered the cafeteria, Sol spotted him – a patient with an otherworldly aura about him. His eyes, an unsettling shade of blue, seemed to hold a deep sadness, and his dark hair was slicked back, revealing a prominent forehead. He was sitting alone at a table, his gaze fixed on some invisible point in front of him. "Who's that?" Sol asked her mom, nodding discreetly toward the mysterious patient. Dr. LeRoux followed her gaze and hesitated for a moment before responding, "That's Alec Liddell. He's one of our...more interesting cases. I've been working with him, trying to understand his...perspective." Sol's curiosity was piqued. There was something about Alec that drew her in – an enigmatic presence that seemed to whisper secrets in her ear. She felt a sudden urge to know more about him, to unravel the mysteries that seemed to shroud him like a mist. As they finished their lunch and prepared to leave, Sol caught Alec's eye, and for a fleeting moment, they simply stared at each other. Sol felt a shiver run down her spine, a sense that she was on the cusp of stumbling into something much bigger than herself. Little did she know, her life was about to take a drastic turn, down a rabbit hole of wonder and madness, where the boundaries between reality and fantasy would blur, and the secrets of Wonderland would await her.