Chương 7: Chapter 6: The Girl in the Dream

Alice slouched over her desk, glossing over the pages of Rayek's End. It was the story of an adventurer who sought a glorious death, only to fail at every opportunity. Once he threw himself into a lion's den and slew an entire pride with his sword. Another time, he fought a bear bare-handed and strangled it to death. There was also a point where he… She sighed, shaking her head. It was all getting very repetitive.

She found herself skipping paragraphs, reading words but not understanding, flipping through the pages without pause. After a while, it felt like she was slogging through it despite her quick pace. Sentences flashed by before her eyes, but they meant utterly nothing. I can't read like this. She shut the book, shoving it to the far end of her desk. Her nails raked down her thighs, leaving red marks upon her pale skin. I feel cold. I want to hold something… I want someone to hold me…

She crawled back into bed and latched onto the nearest pillow. Her arms tightened as she crushed its softness against her body. Her knees curled up, and she buried her face into the fluff. Are they really gonna send me away? There's no way… Mother would never agree to that. Right? She lifted her head, gazing out of the window. The streets were already darkening, the sun falling behind the city walls. But what's taking them so long to decide? It's already evening. I don't want to leave… I like it here.

I don't want to leave. It's not fair… that I don't have a say. Cynthia walked into the living room and found Jaime sitting on the couch, legs crossed with an old book in hand. He hadn't moved an inch since she left the room four hours ago. What is he even reading? How can he be so calm in a situation like this? I… I know why… it's just always unsettling to see. It's our daughter we're talking about.

"Have you decided already? We don't have much time left, Jaime," Cynthia said. Jaime flipped another page, his gaze never leaving the old book.

"It is dangerous to stay here. That much is clear."

"Then I'll start packing our things." Cynthia strode through the doorway and froze halfway. Her head snapped back to Jaime.

"We… we are leaving, right?"

"If we were to vanish, two things are sure to happen." Jaime finally lowered the book, gazing straight at her with his pale, unblinking eyes.

"The first is that we will make enemies of the Church of Death. We will find no sanctuary in any city in these lands; we would have to flee to another country. The second is that we will gain the undivided attention of the entity. I doubt the other nineteen children were as special as Alice. No. With those two things in mind, could we flee to, say, Tarsorum or the Valkoy Duchies? It would be easy if I were alone, but with the two of you… it would certainly be a struggle."

"A struggle, but not impossible."

"The chances are against us. It is too dangerous for Alice; her state is too unstable and fragile."

"Can't you… can't you fight off the Angel? I can hide Alice if I have to." A dry laugh escaped Jaime's lips. The first one she'd heard from him in years.

"Who do you think I am? We should be thankful that it hasn't shown itself outright to take Alice. Whether through incapability or by choice, I know not. Still, a third generation borders on the divine. This vessel of mine has its limitations, and I must save my strength for Alice." I don't like hearing that. He can't mean to give her away. After all of that? Has he gone mad? There must be something I'm not seeing. Cynthia gulped.

"Surely you have another plan."

"Not everything needs complicated designs. More often, the simpler it is, the better. If I send Alice to the church, she would be protected and we'd escape their suspicion. The cathedral is the direct domain of Lady Death. It will not touch her there unless it is suicidal."

"What?! It's like you're sending her off to die! Why? I don't understand. You spent all this effort hiding her from them, and now you're just going to give her away?" Cynthia clenched her fist.

"Why are you worried?" Jaime uncrossed his legs.

"She is just Alice, after all. Alice Valentine, daughter of Cynthia and Jaime Valentine, a poor girl afflicted by the awakening. In fact, she would be treated graciously there."

"And if they find out?"

"They won't." Jaime shook his head.

"I would make the necessary preparations to avoid that folly. I doubt there is a person out there that can unravel my concealment, save for the Gods themselves. And I don't think Lady Death has the time to be peeking into the souls of ordinary girls." Gods, he's serious… I'm going to send my baby away… Cynthia looked at the ground, loosening her fist.

"This… this wasn't part of our agreement…" Ah… I'm so pathetic… I've no say in this.

"It is not. My word is true, but the word of the divine is truer. Still, there is no need to make haste. After all of this, I promise to give you ample time with your daughter."

"Just promise that you'll keep her safe, no matter what."

"I promise. That is the only thing that matters in the end." Only that I can trust. He'd tear the world apart to protect her… if he thinks it is best… then I have no choice but to follow.

"Bring the girl down. It is time." Cynthia hurried up the stairs and stopped in front of Alice's bedroom door. She raised her hand to knock, hesitating for a second. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. I'm doing this for her own good. Go on. Cynthia knocked, three quick raps of her knuckles on the hardwood.

"Alice? Are you awake?" A soft voice replied on the other side.

"I am… what is it, Mom?"

"Come downstairs with me."

"Alright…" Fast and tiny footsteps tiptapped on the other side. The door swung open, and Alice stood before her. The little girl tilted her head, eyes slightly red and puffy, and she said, "Are you two… done talking about it?" God, her eyes. She's been crying. Cynthia gently patted Alice's head, ruffling her hair.

"We're done."

"I don't want to leave."

"I know, dear. I know. I promise it's going to be okay." Cynthia reached down, holding Alice's right hand.

"Just follow me downstairs."

"Okay, okay." Alice nodded, wiping her eyes with her free hand. Cynthia guided Alice down the stairs, the little girl clutching her arm. She trusts me, and I'm about to give her away… Goddess, I wish I wasn't so powerless. They arrived in the living room, where Jaime was standing by the hallway, waiting. Alice hid behind Cynthia's back and peeked out. Cynthia could feel Alice's body shaking.

"Good. Come to me." Jaime nodded in approval. Cynthia released Alice's hand.

"Go on, Alice." Alice walked with her head down, as if she was afraid to meet Jaime's gaze.

"What's going to happen—" Jaime flicked his hand, and Alice fell limp. An invisible force caught her moments before she crashed into the floor. Then, with another swipe of Jaime's hand, Alice floated upward and landed straight into his arms. Don't say anything. Just listen… it's all for her own good. Jaime carried her bridal-style and strode down the hallway, turning toward the underground stairwell. Cynthia followed him into the basement, unsure if her presence was permitted there at all. But she had to try.

The least I can do is see her off. Jaime stopped before the black-iron door. Silver runic inscriptions shimmered across the surface, sprawling out from the center in all directions. The door hummed and swung open on its own. The sound of machinery rang in her ears; it was louder than when she last entered here. Jaime stepped inside, and Cynthia simply stood by the door and watched. It was like a large metal box sealed off from the outside world.

Brass machinery lined the steel walls, cogs churning, pistons pumping, and all sorts of mechanisms moving as if they had minds of their own. One of the machines was connected to a tall, empty glass vat, just large enough to fit a person. At the very center of the room was a metal chair, with ringed cuffs on the armrests. Above it lay a golden circlet adorned with metal spikes, dangling from a long metal chain from the ceiling. Jaime looked back at Cynthia and said, "This will not be a pleasant sight.

I suggest you wait upstairs. It will not be long." Cynthia's eyes widened, and she stepped back. The door hummed again and shut, sealing the chamber away. Cynthia gritted her teeth and weakly punched the wall. Goddess… how could I even call myself a mother? There was warmth in the dark. It enveloped Alice like the loving embrace of her mother. Her limbs refused to move, and her lips were seemingly glued shut. She smelled nothing. Saw nothing. Felt nothing. All that she had was her own thoughts. Where am I?

It's so dark, I can't see anything. I… I… I was with Mother earlier. We were… we were in the living room and… I don't remember what happened next. Mother… she… she… As she thought about her mother, a different name popped into her mind: Belladonna. Who… who is Belladonna? A sharp pain jolted up her right leg. The warmth vanished, and she regained feeling in her limbs one by one. She lay on something rough and stony. She gasped for air as her eyes shot wide open. A thick blanket of gray fog loomed over her.

She lay on a beach of stones and rock. She pushed herself up and widened her eyes. A sea of silver waters sprawled before her, emerging from a thick wall of gray fog. A wave stretched across the stony beach, coursing through the gaps between her bare toes. It was warm, comforting even. Even the howling wind had a tinge of warmth. Naked as she was, she hardly felt cold. What is this place? Am I dreaming again? She turned around and beheld a steep stone cliff.

Up above, she could barely make out a tall stone pillar against the foggy backdrop. She looked to the sides, and the stony shores trailed the long cliffs, eventually twisting beyond sight. It seemed she was on a large island, in the middle of God knows where. I'm dreaming. I have to be. Tracing her gaze back, she spotted an opening in the cliffside. It was a set of intricate stairs leading upward, carved into the very earth itself. With nowhere else to go, she left the stony beach and ascended the stone steps.

Faded engravings sprawled across the smooth walls to her side, depicting figures wielding staves and battling massive beasts. The stairs twisted to the right, and she caught sight of the end. After a few more minutes of walking, she reached the top and emerged into a small clearing surrounded by a crimson forest, with a canopy that was as red as blood. The stairwell turned into a stone road, cutting a path through the dense trees ahead. She walked on with slow and steady steps.

The crimson trees arched above her, branches twisting and intertwining with each other. All was silent save for her steps and breath. A book she read once described a forest like this place as bustling with life; you could hear rustling critters and the groans of strange creatures and beasts. But here there was nothing. The stone path opened up to the cliffside. Alice stopped, brows furrowing as she looked on. A large velvet bed, a drawer, and a tall wardrobe sat near the edge of the cliff.

They were surrounded by four marble pillars arranged in a square. A bed? Of all places. Alice blinked, and a woman appeared sitting on the velvet bed, peering over the cliff. She was pale and dressed in an ornate black and red gown, her dark raven hair fluttering in the wind. A person? Where did she come from?

"He… hello?" Alice raised her voice and called out. The person turned around and stared back with a pale and empty, inhuman swirl instead of a face. Alice's eyes widened in fear, and she froze stiff in place. The faceless figure twisted her head like a dog, then she raised both her hands, revealing them to be empty. What is that thing? Calm down, it's only a dream. It… It can't do you any harm. It's only a dream, right? But it doesn't feel much like a dream. Alice gulped and approached the strange thing.

"Do you… do you know where I am?" she asked hesitantly. A screeching noise boomed inside her skull, like the scream of thunder and lightning. Alice twisted in pain and stepped back.

"Is that… you? I don't understand you…" The sounds halted, and the faceless figure looked down and shook her head in disappointment, or perhaps in apology. The faceless one then placed her hand over the swell of her chest and looked back at Alice. I'm… I'm in your chest? Alice tilted her head in confusion. The faceless one shook her head again. Heart? The screeching noise erupted again, albeit much fainter, almost like a rumble of complaint. Just… who… what are you?

The noise stopped, and the faceless one just looked at her in pure silence. Her arms fell flat along her waist, as if in pure disbelief.

"I'm sorry, that was an idiotic question." Alice approached and stared out into the distance. From here, the fog seemed thinner. Gargantuan waves rose from the sea of silver and smashed into massive glass walls past the gray fog. Cobwebs of cracks and scars adorned the glass, and it circled all around and curved upward, forming a sprawling glass dome above their heads.

"What on earth is this place?" Alice's eyes widened. She had never dreamed of something like this before. The thing placed its hand on her shoulder, and it was strangely warm, just like the silver liquid down below. A sudden lethargy overtook Alice's mind, and she stumbled backward, falling against the side of the velvet bed. She saw the thing leaning toward her in a curious, almost worried manner. Before she could speak, her eyes closed and darkness enveloped her once again.

When she opened her eyes, she was staring at the familiar gray ceiling of her room. She rose and looked out of the window to her right. The snow had finally cleared outside.