**Chapter 6: Down the Rabbit Hole**

As Sol stepped through the doorway, she felt a rush of excitement mixed with trepidation. The warm, golden light enveloped her, and she blinked, her eyes adjusting to the sudden change. The air was filled with the sweet scent of flowers and the soft chirping of birds, a stark contrast to the musty smell of decay and neglect that had permeated the abandoned corridors of Rutledge Asylum. Sol found herself in a long, winding tunnel, the walls of which seemed to be made of a swirling, iridescent mist. The ground beneath her feet was soft and spongy, like a thick layer of moss. Alec's hand was still clasped in hers, and she felt a jolt of electricity run through her veins as he squeezed her fingers. "Whoa!" Alec exclaimed, his eyes wide with wonder. "We're really doing this, Sol! We're going down the rabbit hole!" Sol's laughter was lost in the rush of the tunnel's energy. The misty walls seemed to be moving, swirling around them like a living entity. She felt a sense of weightlessness, as if she were floating down the tunnel rather than walking. As they tumbled through the mist, Sol caught glimpses of strange, glowing plants and towering, crystalline formations that seemed to defy gravity. The air was filled with a constant, gentle music, like the soft chiming of tiny bells. The tunnel began to narrow, and the mist grew thicker, until Sol felt like she was walking through a dense fog. Alec's hand was still clasped in hers, but she couldn't see him anymore. Suddenly, the mist parted, and Sol found herself in a vast, open landscape. The sky above was a deep, burning purple, and the ground beneath her feet was covered in a soft, velvety moss. Alec's laughter echoed through the landscape, and Sol turned to see him standing a few feet away, his eyes shining with excitement. "Welcome to Wonderland!" he exclaimed, sweeping his arm wide to encompass the fantastical landscape. Sol's breath caught in her throat as she took in the sights and sounds of this strange new world. There were towering, crystalline spires that seemed to defy gravity, and strange, glowing plants that seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy. As she looked around, Sol felt a sense of wonder and curiosity wash over her. This was a world unlike any she had ever seen, and she was eager to explore it. Alec's eyes locked onto hers, and Sol felt a jolt of electricity run through her veins. "What do you think?" he asked, his voice barely audible over the gentle music of the landscape. Sol's smile was lost in the wonder of it all. "I think it's amazing," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. As they stood there, taking in the sights and sounds of Wonderland, Sol felt a sense of connection to Alec that she had never felt before. They were in this together, and she was determined to see it through. But as they began to explore the landscape, Sol couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. She glanced around, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Alec's eyes seemed to gleam with a mischievous intensity, and Sol felt a shiver run down her spine. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Alec's grin was infectious. "Nothing's wrong," he said, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Everything's just beginning." As they walked, the landscape shifted and changed around them. Sol saw strange creatures flitting through the underbrush, and towering, crystalline formations that seemed to defy gravity. She felt like she was trapped in a dream, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to wake up. But as they walked, Sol began to notice that the landscape was changing. The crystalline formations were becoming more frequent, and the creatures were becoming more bizarre. She glanced at Alec, and saw that he was watching her with a keen eye. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low and concerned. Sol nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "Yeah, I'm fine," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. But as they continued to walk, Sol couldn't shake the feeling that they were being led somewhere. She didn't know where, or why, but she felt a sense of inevitability that was both thrilling and terrifying. And then, in the distance, Sol saw a glint of water. It was a river, winding its way through the landscape like a shimmering, silver snake. Alec's eyes locked onto hers, and Sol felt a jolt of electricity run through her veins. "Riddle River," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the gentle music of the landscape. Sol's heart skipped a beat as she gazed out at the river. She felt a sense of wonder and curiosity wash over her, and she knew that their journey was far from over.