The first thought was pain. The second thought was the same. The third much more severe, accompanied by coughing, and choking on blood. The low gurgles ending, an orange soul shining, cracking. Taking a moment, the energy from it flowed back into its host.
Trying to remain brave, despite it all. The body twitching, writhing in the moment. Turning, and vomiting out the drowning blood. Bones pushing back into the body, by an orange light. Repairing itself with a degree of intense need, unwilling to submit to the fear found in the moment.
Filling her mind with images of her great source of comfort. Namely, in the form of the blue-eyed cat that often snuggled up with her she couldn't sleep. Valérie, sweet Valérie, what a nice kitty. The thoughts assuaged the sensations, dulled the screaming senses. The nerve endings destroyed or damaged, mending with the magic of her soul. Giving her the motivation, to stay strong, and be brave.
Even as her hair clung to the sticky blood, and the crushed withered flowers, she managed to push herself up. Shaking rather violently, even as she sat up. A bloody streak down her mouth, staining her dress. Leaving the 'armor' constructed of news paper damp, and crimson on one side.
She wasn't dead? The pain was fading, and she wasn't dead. She also wasn't sure where she was.
Looking up, she stared at the dark. Everything was dark here. Miserably so, to such an extent that her senses were rendered muted messes. Not that she could hear anything besides her beating heart. Not that she could taste anything other than her own blood. The same copper stench clogging her nostrils.
It seemed some maligned force, likely a creature in this miserable dark had come and destroyed what would otherwise have been a space padded and safe for her arrival. And while the girl was unaware of it, thankfully, no such creatures remained in this space. Her eyes wide in the quiet shadows of it all.
The sad looking girl sat for what felt like hours to her. Unable to move, unable to muster much of a thought proper. In shock at the whole of it all. Was she actually live? She wondered this.
Had she died? Her orange eyes staring up once more. Was this hell? The thought scared her. She had imagined she'd been a good girl. She wouldn't be sent to hell would she?
Her thoughts turned to her mothers words, flooding her with panic. She hadn't found a friend. That's what had done her in. She began to sob in the dark.
It was unnatural logic, but it was an unnatural situation. The child lamenting her failure, sobbing, sitting on her knees in a puddle of her own blood. The light of her soul having faded back into her person, once it was done mending her injuries.
Aliza eventually paused her crying, and fell into mild sniffles. Wearing a distinctive frown, looking around at the shadows. There was nobody coming, nobody here. But, her eyes were adjusting. She could make out pillars, walls. Her focus falling on the dim outline of a door.
"Frisk?" She asked the darkness. "Valérie?" She waited. "Pablo?"
None of them came. She doubted they could hear her. Especially if she was dead, and this was hell. It was certainly hot like hell. And it had certainly hurt, like hell. But there was no fire. Nobody had come to pierce her throat with a pitchfork as she imagined. Or lock her in the closet, like her mother had as a punishment.
No, it was just her. Aliza pondered if Hell was merely bad at attending to their new arrivals? She wondered if she could just hide here. Then again, that wasn't very brave.
No, if this was to be her new reality. She would face it head on. The child rising, despite the sniffles. A cowardly little lion in the dense dark, stepping. Her feet pattering, first splashing as she went. Leaving bloody footprints, she couldn't see. Headed towards the door, she barely perceived.
Her stained hands pulled on the handles present on the door. A double-door. Opening it, she was greeted by the flickering of torchlight ahead. In a big open room, with some sort of broken cardboard box on the floor.
Folding her hands together, nervously fidgeting with her fingers, she wandered forward. Heading over to the box, while noticing another set of doors, on a platform up some stairs. As well as some large rocks, similar to boulders around the space.
"Hello?" She asked, while looking inside.
Unlike most large cardboard boxes she had become familiar with in the city, this one had nobody living inside of it. She frowned some, and debated bringing it with her. Perhaps the owner had simply forgotten it. Then again, perhaps they would be coming home soon. And were that the case, taking it could be considered quite rude.
Step, step, step. The child headed to the staircase. Patter, patter, patter. She walked up. The closer she got to the door, the more she was able to hear something. Distinct, compared to her own thoughts.
A whisper lay beyond the threshold. Beyond this door before her. Moreover, it wasn't properly closed. Partially opened, pouring light into the dark of this place. Was that hellfire? She pondered this.
Perhaps these were the demons she had heard about. Chattering and talking about something she couldn't quite make out. She imagined they may be talking about her. Were they merely waiting for her arrival? Was she keeping them from something? That was awfully rude of her, she thought, even if it was unintentional.
Sighing, she stepped closer and opened the door, more properly. But the entity within had turned in her direction sooner than she began this process. Feeling the presence, not of the girl, but of a barrier beyond her grasp. Retreating into the shadows, to skulk, and monitor this new development.
The girl cast open the door in her peculiar hell, and yet, nothing lay beyond, in terms of 'living' things she could see.
What an off distortion to her expectations. The child was rather positive that a voice, or, at least one had been coming from the gloomy hall ahead of her. With its dim flickering torchlight. And yet, it appeared by all counts, she had been mistaken.
Perhaps this was symptomatic of her special hell. She wagered this must be the case, as she began walking down the hall. It was a rather eerie concept to be faced with. Whispers from beings she might never see, always laying just beyond. It unnerved her a great deal, yet she didn't waver in her steps.
The path eventually branching into one of three directions. Left, forward, and right. Again, distant noises came from her left. Perhaps this too, was predetermined to be phantasmagorical things. Deprived of flesh and blood, haunting her. But she wished to know.
Aliza proceeded down the path on the left. Step, step, step. She found herself in a small hall, that was better lit than the last one. A noise coming from behind her. Prompting a glance over her shoulder. But the improved light had made it difficult to see back into the darker room. So, despite her check, she saw nothing.
Refocusing, she headed to a door laying forward. It had a sign etched upon it. Getting near, she frowned. It appeared to be scratched out. Her hand reaching, brushing across these odd gashes. Like someone had taken a knife, to cleave through them. Merely to leave them unreadable.
What a strangely irritating thing for someone to do, she thought. Refraining from the vocalization, she turned her focus to the sounds of music coming from within. Placing an ear against the door. It sounded as though a great many beings lay ahead.
Attempts to open the door however, were met with failure. It appeared to be locked. She wondered why that might be. Then again, perhaps it was just late, and all the devils had to sleep. She knew some of the neighbors slept with loud music below her room. Her father always hated it. Honestly, she did too.
Once more there was noise from the opposing direction. The girl turned, anticipating nothing. Yet, this time, that is not what she found.
Instead, standing in the threshold that might lead to her persisting beyond this individually pointless little hallway, was a strange individual. A sort of human looking woman. Only with a monochrome color scheme to her being. With eyes like abyssal shades, save for red rings, as the iris's.
Finding her way blocked, and the sudden appearance of this being made the girl jump. She quickly covered her mouth, muffling a noise. Her heart racing in its chest. The strange woman was merely staring, both at you, and then at her. Seeming to process the childs presence.
There was a silence, with Aliza pushing her back against the door she could not open. Nowhere to run, nowhere to go. The non-human in the doorway, smiled. It seemed like it was intended to be a comforting sort of smile, and yet, some part of the girls psyche was screaming in fear.
"Hello, sweetheart." The woman spoke. "Are you alright?"
The voice felt more familiar than not. Though Aliza couldn't place why. She desperately didn't enjoy the way out being blocked. But she had been greeted, in some aspect. Asked a question. Recalling a lesson from her mother, she knew it was rude not to answer when an adult asked a question.
"No." Aliza replied very quietly.
"Oh, you're new to the underground, aren't 'cha?" The woman made a sillier expression, while stepping forward cautiously. "Poor thing, you must be so confused." The girl nodded, the non-human having crossed half the hall. "All covered in blood. You aren't hurt, are you?"
The non-human crouched down. Seeking to be eye-level with the child. The girl had a difficult time meeting her gaze, but did her best too. She swallowed back her fear, and took a cautious step towards this odd woman.
"Am...I...dead?" Aliza managed to choke out the question that was ever-lingering.
The Non-Human let out a soft laugh. "You poor thing. No, no you're quite alive" She assured, noting Alizas hesitation "I promise I won't harm you. I've actually been helping another human lost here." She noted. "Another girl who fell down."
"A girl?" Aliza asked, gradually getting closer. "Who?"
"Her name is Chara." The Non-Human said, offering hand. "I often seek to help humans who have fallen into the underground." She explained. "To help them get home." She pondered. "Are you hungry, little one?"
"Yes." Aliza vocalized, she was actually, very hungry.
"Well. Why don't we go get you something to eat, and some new clothes?" The Non-Human offered. "There's an old shop just a short distance away." She motioned, while standing back up. "I'll take you there, if you'd like?"
In truth, the girl had few prospects in this place. Some part of her imagined this was an ill conceived concept. To trust this stranger. And yet, she didn't have many other options. And so she responded with a soft nod.
The woman seemed pleased, and softly gestured for her to follow. While stepping with slow steps towards the exit. Glancing back to ensure the girl was following along. She was.
The woman guiding her back to the hallway. Stopping before the door in the middle path. Waiting, until Aliza caught up.
"It's alright." The Non-Human assured. "There are some scary things in this place. But rest assured, I won't do you...any harm."
Aliza placed a reluctant trust in this concept. The door to the central path being opened. The duo proceeding within. One a bit slower than the other.
It appeared to be a location dedicated to shopping in some fashion. Though most of the isles were barren. The many things that were likely once held inside, no longer present. Perhaps they were just so very enticing, the girl thought.
The Non-Human noticed the lack of response, and said. "Give me a moment. I'll get you something less...bloody to wear. Then, I'll gather you something to eat." The girl hesitantly nodded. "Please don't be afraid little one. I'm not going to hurt you. I'll prove it."
The strange woman gave a curtsy, and headed into a backroom of some kind. In truth, Aliza wasn't certain if remaining with this individual was such a wise idea. She pondered trying to leave. However she had nowhere to go. She contemplated this thought process, wagered it against her dread, and found bravery within to remain.
After a moment, the woman came back. Carrying with her a variety of things. She laid them out across the counter. The girl curiously wandering over.
"Sorry-" The Non-Human began. "I figured, it's best if you can also defend yourself." She noted. "Actually, if you wanna pick some things out, there's a changing room back there." She said, smiling some. "I'll go get you some food, okay?"
Aliza gave a nod. "Thanks."
"Of course." The woman smiled softly, whispering quieter than she could hear. "Don't follow me." A warning directed to someone unseen. How couth.
And with that the non-human stepped over. Briefly patting the girl on the head, before departing. Heading to do, who knows what, or where. Probably, honestly, getting food and drink.
Aliza for her part was looking the strange things on the counter. Labelled with little signs, to indicate what they were, and what their functions were. She was surprised at the idea of being given so many things. It was a little overwhelming, and quite generous.
There were two things marked as outfits. The first was a dress not unlike her own, with various patches across it. Mostly dyed to the same color. It was however, seemingly more designed for someone her size. So no pins that dug into her neck at times. What a nice thought.
The second appeared to be an outfit consisting of a black shirt with an orange stripe. And pants of a similar dark nature. It was an intimidating outfit, in her opinion. She wondered if mean people might find it as scary as she did. This was unlikely, but, who knows?
Admittedly, she wasn't quite fond of either outfit in itself. But that was alright, she had a wonderful little idea. And forces made possible, her decision. Taking the pants from the dark outfit, and the nice dress. There were shoes too, and she borrowed them as well.
Aliza felt like she had made some incorrect decision somehow. However a presence beyond her purview provided assurance. Inspiring comfort for her decision.
The other things she wasn't so very sure about. Marked as armor. Though, they just appeared to be jackets. The girl left debating them for some time. Unable to reach a cohesive conclusion.
With the armors, there appeared to be two things as well. The first of which was a big fluffy zip-up hoodie that was admittedly too large for her. It had soft fuzz in the hood, and felt oddly cool to the touch.
The second thing was what appeared to be a similar jacket, albeit darker. Black, with golden zipper linings. It looked just as comfortable, and had the similar cool to the touch.
They both seemed like they might be comfortable to wear. Her orange eyes looking between a number of times. Hand reaching between the two, her own indecision haunting her. The girl sighing some, as she heard the Non-Human coming back. She decided to decide shortly.
"Sorry for the delay." The Non-Human said, carrying food with her. "Are you alright?"
"Yes." Aliza smiled some. "Thank you."
"Such a polite child you are." The Non-Human smiled earnestly, noting. "Alright, sweetheart. How about you go get dressed. When you're done, we can eat. And then, if you'd permit, we can go meet up with Chara, and see about getting you home."
The idea certainly felt appearing to the child. She was surprised to have met someone friendly. And that this woman wasn't as unnerving as she had originally conceived. Giving a soft nod in response. Taking the outfit she had compiled, and one of the jackets.
With them, she started back to the changing room. Leaving the Non-Human to place the food on the counter. Sighing contently. When the girl was out of earshot, in the room, the non-human glanced at you.
"Don't you have somewhere else to be?" She asked, smiling some. "See you later...friends~"
The Non-Human wasn't wrong. And for the time, Aliza was safe in her care. Some fiendish little plot hatching in the mind of the loathsome being. No doubt morbid, no doubt a horror in itself.
But remain brave. It will all turn out okay. Probably.