Chapter 1:The Boy Named Alice Allen
That night was cold and dark. It was to be expected, since it was only a week before Christmas. But that didn't stop David from shivering. He looked at the brown paper bag in his arms and smiled.
If the kids were happy, he was happy.
A blue cloak for Chelsey.
A set of pens for Stella.
Two new dolls for Letty.
A new purple ribbon for Rick.
The shops had been crowded, but it was worth it.
David smiled as he thought of his little charges' smiles on Christmas, and felt a warmth in his chest. That warmth had grown quite familiar in recent months.
Then he heard the sniffling.
How could he? Fathers were supposed to XXXX their sons-not hurt them!
In the cold, dark alleyway, Allen wept. He wept for all kinds of things.
Pain.
Fear.
Hunger.
Cold.
And finally, his lost innocence.
He could still hear them.
And even though he couldn't see them, he knew they were still watching him.
Cheshire and Rabbit.
They had been there for him since he was a babe, tending to his every need when his parents wouldn't. Of course, they never worked together. That just never happened.
Until now.
Cheshire and Rabbit were beings that only he could see. They told him the secrets of the universe. The meaning of life-42, which translated to ShiNi, which also translated to Death.
When he was going to die-In 50 years, give or take a decade.
And even whether he would go to Heaven or Hell-Rabbit assured him he'd go to Heaven, while Cheshire insisted that neither Heaven nor Hell existed.
Even though no one else could see them, they were very much real.
But it wasn't until a few hours ago that he'd seen just how real they were.
But no. Now was not the time to dwell on such matters.
"Easy, Alice. Someone's coming." Rabbit warned him. He could feel Cheshire's paw on his head. Then, blackness.
David followed the sniffling into a damp alleyway, coming to the end of it just as the sniffling came to an abrupt stop.
Then he saw him.
A boy with fair skin, littered with bruises and scars and open wounds, and ratty, blonde hair. His shirt was torn in some places, and he wore no trousers. His lips were already tinted blue. But the boy's shivering told him that Death had yet to lay its claim.
David removed his cloak and wrapped the boy in it. It seemed to swallow him whole.
That was hardly any good.
He lifted the boy into his arms far too easily, and began walking, the bag in his arms now resting against his chest and the child's stomach.
Joshua and Rick would certainly appreciate a new boy in the orphanage.
Allen woke up to warmth. But that was all he could recognize.
What had happened to him?
Where was he?
How did he get there?
So many questions ran rampant through his mind. But he at least had the comfort of a name.
Allen. My name is Allen.
But what else? There was more to him than that-there had to be.
His thoughts were interrupted by the creak of a wooden door.
"Oh! You're awake so soon! I'm glad you seem to be doing well."
A man with long black hair and kind brown eyes knelt down so they were at eye level, even though Allen knew he was on a bed of some sort, while the man was clearly standing.
He placed a bowl of steaming broth on the table beside him.
"I prepared some warm broth for you. Do you feel well enough to eat?"
His voice was gentle. It left a small warmth in his chest.
Allen nodded.
"Now, first things first. What is your name? I don't really like mine, so please, just call me Teacher."
Allen nodded in both understanding and affirmation.
"…Allen. My name is…Allen."