Alice's Looking Glass

"If She Stops Dreaming of You…"

Anomaly Story

A new circus had come to town. But Alice's mother wouldn't let her go see it, saying that the circus was a vulgar, low-class form of entertainment. Instead, Alice was made to stay in her room, practice the piano, learn math, and do all those tedious, boring things.

But Alice still wanted to see the circus. So she began to dream. In her dream, she tried to create a mirror that could transport her anywhere. She envisioned every detail, from the outside in: its wood-grain frame, its smooth and reflective surface, and so on. Alice locked herself in her room and stopped practicing the piano and studying math. She neither ate nor drank. She only dreamed. Before long, the mirror was complete in her dream. She studied it carefully, as if her reflection were studying her in return. Unable to contain her excitement, Alice climbed inside. She walked through a long, dark tunnel and emerged in the center of the circus amid a blinding flash of light.

It turned out that Mr. Rabbit had been performing a conjuring act, and Alice had appeared from an empty box. The audience erupted in applause and showered Alice onstage with flowers. Alice was overjoyed. She joined the circus and performed with the troupe.

Gradually, Alice stopped trying to wake up. All she did each day was dream. Each and every day, in her dreams, she traveled through the mirror to the circus and performed alongside the troupe.

Then one day, a familiar voice suddenly rang out from the audience, interrupting the performance. Everyone turned to look. Standing among the spectators was a girl identical to Alice, who also claimed to be Alice. The other Alice ran onto the stage and confronted the original, demanding to know why she wasn't practicing the piano or studying math.

Alice panicked and asked, "Why should I have to do such boring things?"

"Because," the other Alice claimed, "you're just another version of me that I dreamed up. I needed you to do those boring things in my dreams so I'd have time to come see the circus."

Alice froze. She realized that her body was beginning to dissolve, spilling into the pool on the stage. Alice disappeared, like a drop of water vanishing into an ocean.

"Since you can't do those boring things for me," the other Alice continued,

"I've decided to stop dreaming about you entirely."

Anomaly Characteristics

The mirror's surface produces a cloudy reflection that cannot render clear shapes.

It reflects very little light, which is one reason it cannot render clear shapes.

The mirror strongly absorbs light, presumably because of the space behind its surface.

The mirror itself cannot be shattered, and any cracks caused by damage quickly repair themselves.

The mirror's surface appears to be made of a nonlinear fluid. It becomes exceptionally hard when struck with great force, but feels like a viscous, adhesive fluid when touched lightly.

Anomaly Nexus

Find the mirror that serves as the exit

Risk Assessment

Stable

Containment Status

Following its risk assessment, the Bureau has guaranteed the anomaly for use as an amusement park attraction

Experiment Record

To explore the Anomalous Realm behind the mirror, the researchers initiated the Ariadne Project. Portions of the plan are as follows:

Researchers wear specially designed orange protective suits and explore the space in teams of four.

Everyone must carry a "Red Thread," a device that leaves marks in the form of pheromone traces. Each "Red Thread" can operate for thirty minutes.

All researchers must return to the nearest station before the "Red Thread" runs out.

The food ration consists of one raisin cake to restore energy and a serving of black tea soda to recover their sanity.

Each exploration cycle lasts seven days. After seven days, all researchers who participated in that cycle must exit the project and undergo psychological evaluations lasting from one to six months.