Chapter 1: Introduction
Alice awoke to find herself feeling more awakened than usual – not merely because it was another day dawning in the world outside her home, but rather due to something stirring deep within her own being. Gingerly opening her eyes, she peered towards the window, only to see rays of golden light penetrating the dawn's gloom. She yawned widely, stretching her arms above her head with exaggerated slowness. For the first time in what felt like forever, she noticed the weightiness of her limbs as they slid downwards along the sheets.