Alice yelped as she was suddenly dropped into an empty room. She glared at them as the two guards walked away, leaving her all alone. She looked around the room to see if there was any way to escape. Her yellow eyes glowed brightly in the dark room, serving as the sole source of light. There wasn't. The white walls were filthy as the floor.
Are you okay? They didn't do anything to you when I was still asleep, did they? Khai-Ja asked softly.
"I'm fine."
That's good... WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!? Scarab shouted at her, causing her headache. Alice blinked in confusion; it was the first time she had ever heard her friend yell.
"What?"
What made you think it was a good idea to tell him your real name? Were you under the influence of some kind of sedative my sensors failed to detect?
"Wait a minute, why were you sleeping in the first place?!"
I put you into a fake state of coma, which meant I was also putting myself into the same state. We share one body, remember?
Or would you rather remain sedated?
Alice groaned, rubbing her face, "Can we defend ourselves here? Is everything working fine with your toys?"
Affirmative. I do not detect any damage.
"Good, Mission Impossible begins!"
Khai-Ja groaned. I truly dislike this name. The mission is not impossible; it has a 92% chance of success.
'Quiet, it was your idea to name the mission. But that's not important, we have teenagers to save.'
Be careful. I may not be able to assist you at all times. If anything happens to you, you will have to deal with it on your own.
Her eyes widened, "It dosen't matter what happens to me. As long as I can bring those kids back, that's all that matters to me."
Don't say that.
She stopped listening to her.
I do care about you, I can. More than you know. You may not have anyone right now, but you have me. The guards seem to not like you very much, and they'll harm you. If they do, I'll find a way for that not to happen.
She sighs, "You know, if you had a body of your own, I would definitely crush you in a hug right now." She narrowed her eyes in determination.
"I just need to confirm that the children are here; then, please call the authorities." She murmured.
Understood.
.
.
.
"BREAKING NEWS!"
Jack Morrison was in the middle of finishing some documents when his computer suddenly turned on the news. The screen caught his attention, causing him to look up from his work as papers fell to the floor.
"What the-" He frowned before seeing the headline.
Stephanie Miller reported missing last night.
His eyes widened as he reached for his phone, shaking his head in disbelief. It wasn't their agent who was supposed to be taken as a bait for them to track the kidnappers. He noticed several calls from Himari Ito.
When did they even manage to do that? This is getting too serious.
Before he was able to make another call, someone had knocked on his door. Instinctively, he reached for his gun under the table, but relaxed when he saw his friend.
.
.
.
"Do you think they are worried for me?" Alice asked, lying on the floor, and looked at the door.
Unable to answer the question at this time.
They have been in the room for a few hours and so far, nothing has happened. Khai-Ja has been sending braille codes to the police station about the situation and when no one answered, Khai-Ja began to send the same thing to the Overwatch organization. But so far, it was too quiet.
Alice sighed, not seeming worried at all. If anything goes really bad, she trusts Khai-Ja to get us out. She flinched as she heard the doorbell ring and stepped back into the corner. The same two guards walked in; one was holding a tray of food, while the other held a torn mattress.
Alice eye's twitched, 'Seriously?'
The guard with a busted nose glared at her before dropping the torn and tattered mattress onto the floor. The other guard was kind and placed the tray of food gently on the ground. Without a word, they left.
Alice sighed and then rubbed her head before she flopped down onto the ground once again. She sat without making any movements, she stared at the food. She lifted her hand uncertainly towards it.
I wouldn't do that. It's poisoned.
She narrowed her eyes at the tray. That was true; she could smell the arsenic in the food from where she sat. She chuckled, realizing that they'll do whatever they want to get rid of her for being scolded by the doctor.
Alice didn't get a wink of sleep, already getting used to staying up for hours. She sighed, then stood up and began stretching. She has yet to find a way to search for the teens. If they were here.
Just as she finished the door rang loudly. The door opened showing the nice guard. "Breakfast." The busted nose guard stomped inside and grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the room. Alice did not struggle to get away; instead, she observed her surroundings.
Just as she thought, there were several other rooms next to hers. She glanced up and noticed cameras in every doorway. She grunts as the ugly guard shoved her into a large room. The door closed with a bang. Her eyes widened to see not many children eating in a cafeteria. It was quiet. Some were whimpering and holding each other. Alice's eyes softened, she ignored the food and walked towards the kids. She looked around, trying to find Tommy, but her eyes stopped on the blond boy she had saved earlier.
Carlos was whimpering, refusing to eat his food. As she neared him, she looked over his shoulder at the food. It didn't look healthy at all. Just soggy chile.
"Carlos." Alice whispered to the boy.
The boy flinched and looked at her. His eyes widened in recognition, and he tackled her in a hug.
"It's you! They took you too and-" The other teens heard a shout and their eyes widened to see the new girl with them, some of them recognized her from the shelter. They cried and ran over to see her. Alice was stuck with them but Carlos stepped in front of her. She began counting all the kids and sighed in relief. They are all here.
however two are missing.
"Stephanie is here too! This is bad!" One of the girls cried. Alice quickly recognized her as Izabella, the girl she had played chess with.
Another girl, about 15, snatched Alice's wrist and looked her over. She frowned and grabbed her other hand too. Her eyes saddened.
"What?" Alice turned to her.
The girl turned to the rest of the teens and showed their wrists. Alice's eyes widened in disbelief. Numerical symbols were craved on their skin. Her hand instinctively reached toward her stomach where the dragon symbol was craved.
"The doctor... he did that to us." A 13-year-old boy said.
Alice's eyes darkened, placing her hands on their shoulders. "Did they do something else to you?"
They shook their heads expect one, "They keep calling for each of us and they leave for hours before coming back with shorter hair."
This is worse than she thought. "Did any of you go with him? How long has this been going on?"
"We've only been here a few days and nothing extreme happened. Tommy went with him few days ago but still hasn't come back yet."
Alice eyes widened, "Do you know where they took him?"
Most kids shook their heads unsure but one, "Probably to the same room they take the others who disobey or try to escape. It's like a punishment for us." The boy who looked almost the same age as her said.
"And you are... Kenji, right?" He looked at her confused, "How did you know that?"
"I know almost everyone in the shelter, including those who do not leave their rooms." She shrugged.
'Khai-Ja, how's the situation?'
This place is blocking all electronic signals. I have managed to reach the nearest police station and the main Overwatch base, although I am not sure if they will be able to decipher the code.
"So, what now?" One of them whispered.
"Don't worry everyone, I have already informed police about the location. It's only a matter of time before they will track us down."
"How can you be so sure?" Kenji spoke up, she looked at him. The boy was clearly exhausted and she noticed the small scars on his lips.
"Do you trust me?"
He blinked, "What?"
"I said do you trust me? I'm going to make sure that everyone gets out of here safely. You have my word."
Their conversation was put to a stop as the door banged open. The ugly guard was grabbing a girl by her hair as she cried. He shoved her to the ground, making her fall harshly with smack.
"You bitch, slap me again and I'll-"
"Back away from her." Alice stepped in front of the girl.
The guard's eyes found Alice's in seething rage and grabbed her collar. Kenji immediately rushed over and grabbed her wrist, pulling her away from him.
"Don't touch her," He growls.
Alice's eyes stay focused on the adult in front of her. The guard snarls and swung his hand at him but Alice was faster and gripped his wrist, pushing it to his back and kicking him down. He screamed in pain, trying to move away but Alice glared at him and shoved his shoulder back, hearing a crack.
"AARGH."
Nice. Scarab whistled.
"Touch him again, and I will snap you like a twig." She spat.
Kenji pulled her back protectivly. An irk Mark grew on guy's temple and roared, running for them when clapping echoed in the room. They all stopped and saw as the doctor walked in, smirking at Alice and Kenji. More specifically at Alice.
"Bravo, Miss Smith." He walked in front of the couple. "I must say, I have never seen Alex so frantic. You have my full attention. But playtime is over, It's time for your appointment."
Kenji tightened his hold on Alice, glaring at the doctor. The doctor wasn't phased at it and only smiled at Alice.
"She's not going anywhere with you." He spat.
The doctor chuckled now staring at Kenji. "I don't recall asking." He snapped his fingers and the guard grabbed Alice. He tried to get her back but the next thing he knew, he was on the floor holding his stink on his cheek.
Alice's eyes widened as the doctor rubbed his hands with hand sanitizer after slapping the boy to the ground. "You kids are wasting my time. Let's go."
Alice stared blankly at him. She slowly noddes to the doctor and smiled as she and the guard left.
The trip was long, really long. You can tell that Alex was getting exhausted from all this twenty-minute walking. But Alice knew what the doctor was doing. He's trying to confuse her in case she gets lost.
She glanced up at the doctor who walked in front of them.
"Where's the other guy?"
The doctor glanced back amusedly. "Hmm?"
"The other guard?"
He hummed before turning forward, "Resting after what L122H put him through."
Alice's eyes darkened, clenching her fists. "She has a name. It's Masa. She's not an object."
"Yes. I'm aware. Unfortunately, I tend to forget people's names so I give them a new one."
"Why bringing omnic here? I get it that you want money from his family, but why not keeping him around other children." She asked. "And how long do we have to keep walking? Alex here looks like he is about to have stroke."
Alex glared at her before thightening his hold on her arm.
"Omnic... ah, that robot. You're pretty smart, Ali. But it's not just about the money. You see, Omnics aren't born like humans; they're created. They don't have free will - they really think, but everything they do is dictated by their programming. The thing with these 'kid' Omnics is that they have a special part in them, allowing them to act and learn like human children. This part is unique to them, and only them. And as you can see, I needed that part, not just money."
She frowned. What did he mean by that?
They were put to a stop in front of a door. He used his ID and scanned, opening the door. He waited for Alice to enter first and she did. Her eyes widened in shock to see large beakers to fit a person with sharp tools on a table. The guard shoved her into the room as he and the doctor entered. The doctor walked over to her and gently cupped her cheek. She glared at him and took a step back. He was unaffected and chuckled, observing the girl more.
"What are you going to do with me?" Alice stood more alert.
"Don't worry, I just need someone with a pain tolerance." He said while getting a syringe with a blue substance inside. Alice flinched as Khai-Ja's senses alerted her. But she can't discover herself and her plan. Not yet. Not until the police arrive.
"That omnic, It's not really worth my time. Omnic parts are commonly sold in black markets as in normal shops."
"What are you talking about?"
Instead of smiling, the doctor smirked maliciously before grabbing her wrist and pulling her to him. "The machine's heart, why would I waste my time and money on buying one when I can get myself one for free. The money is just a bonus."
She felt her senses going haywire as the syringe was plunged into her neck, knocking the lights out of the girl. The only thing she can remember was the scarab's system fighting off the sedatives and then shutting down.
FzKt... unknown... weapon... *CHk*... systems... compen--
...Re-- Reboo--
.
.
.
"Alice what are you doing?!"
"Hi Ha--" A black haired teen ran over to the wall where his sister somehow got on top of.
The sound of someone laughing in the background could be heard. A black character-like shadow with white eyes watched the scenery.
What is that noise?
"Calm down yourself brother, she's is doing no harm to anyone-" A sudden thud on the ground made the boys snap their neck over to the right. There their sister lay on the ground face first.
Whose... hand is this? The black shadows thought to itself as it stared at it's glitching hand.
Ah... It's mine.
"SISTER!" Both teenagers ran towards her.
The character squinted their eyes the loud noise.
Too loud. Don't like it.
The older brother lifted the little girl up and began to check for wounds. "Do not do that agan!" He yelled as he stared into her green eyes while cupping her face. The girl laughed lightly, making both of them confused.
Who's... that?
"You should have seen your face!" She laughed even more.
Me...
That's me?
The green-haired teen joined in the laughter as well. "That's true! You looked like your father whenever he's mad!"
Is that really me? Those eyes, that nose, that mouth. I was in there... No what am I anyway?
Wanting to be needed by someone... Why did I want that?
I'm only aware of being "me."
"Oh, now your all under the dirt and mud. Better get you home and clean up that." The green-haired teen said while ruffling her black hair.
The shadow gripped its throat as its whole body began glitching. It hurts. A black substance began dropping out from its throat, leaving behind a white scar.
S-stop it-
Everyone began to shake and rot.
Stop.
The shadow tried to scream but nothing came out of it's mouth.
As the world was sucked into darkness, the white eyes of the shadow landed on the bright blue feather lying on the dark, watery ground, making it the sole source of light.
The character tried to grab the little feather but It's hands kept glitching, making it impossible and painfull.
Trying to quiver HeR fear, she shook her head and tried to stabilize her breathing. She closed her eyes, taking three slow breathes. It wasn't helping.
She was cold, scared and exhausted.
Black goo still dripping from her neck although calmer.
She had to open her eyes, she had to see what's going on and what just happened.
She has to understand.
But fear is paralyzing.
"Open them." A quiet voice said, making her flinch at such sound.
She shook her head in refusal.
"Why not?"
That voice, why does it sounds so familiar?
Should I?
'I can't speak-'
"I can hear you."
'I'm... sorry, am I supposed to know you?' She thought.
"Oh? I am offended that you don't recognize me." The voice snickered. "I'm your 'Buddy.'
'Buddy...' Her eyes immediately shoot open but closed at the blinding white light. She blinked twice before opening them fully again. A glowing white orb that was so bright that it almost seemed as if it were on fire. The thing that was circling the girl was neither human nor animal. Something stronger than any kind of weapon humanity has ever created. It was old, very old. As old as the beginnig of the whole universe, existing before the genesis of such concepts as life and death.
"Do not be frightened by me, I am not here to harm you." It spoke in a calm voice.
'It's you... It's really you.'
She shook her head as her eyes darkened.
'Get out.' She said in a angry tone.
'Get out of my head, I don't want you here.'
"But It's so comfy in here, I like this place. All that free space, It's mine."
The white orb stopped in front of her, "It's been so long, no 'I miss you' or 'I'm happy to see you?' It hummed.
'You left me...'
"I did not silly. It was your mind that tried to get rid of me as I was some parasite." It growled the last words.
"But it was 8 years ago, just look at you! You've grown so much!." The white energy was back in circling the girl around. It stopped abruptly behind her. "Oh my, what is that?"
Alice flinched as she felt something touch the centre of her back, exact place where Khai-Ja's body is.
"I don't recall you having something like this on your back in your child years. Did something happen after your consciousness locked me here, deep in your mind?" Alice almost jumped as something kept poking her back.
'Stop doing that!' She backs away from the light. 'I can feel it!'
The light stares at her for a second as it was in a deep thought.
"Do you know what that is?"
She nodded.
It sighed, "This thing, It's not from this world, and I don't mean just Earth but the whole universe. It must have been transfered from the neighboring universe to ours."
"Do you realize what you had done?" It almost whispered in horror.
Alice frowned not understanding completely what is that light talking about. "I know what this is, I almost lost my life because of it. I'm not sure it is capable of... we're still learning."
The light shaked a little. She felt as if it was staring at her in pity. "Taking an object from one universe to another can cause the balance to tilt. Now, having that scarab inside you has already caused so much damage to the balance."
'Is it... killing me?"
"Huh? Of course not, they are programmed to protect its host at all cost, not to kill them."
Alice was about to say something but stiffened and fell to the ground. Her eyes shut tightly as she held her abdomen in pain. She can feel her body somehow detaching and attaching to itself.
'...What is happening-'
"You can't be here for too long with that thing stuck to your back, It's destroying the balance in this world that I'm trying so hard to maintain."
Alice wasn't even able to think straight anymore, the pain was simply too much.
The light flew towards her, the pain seemed to cease but still was there.
"Look, I know we are not in the best terms right now, but it was my only chance to communicate with you. I would love to stay here with you and chat but you are clearly dying and we can't have that, I still need you. See you soon." Everything went bright as the light grew more and more bright, swallowing the girl inside it.
Alice groggily opened her eyes. She squinted at the light for a moment before everything came to a focus. She winced as she felt her body was burning itself alive. She couldn't move.
She was back in the room. But what happened? Her eyes slowly moved towards her left hand and widened in horror.
S005H
The carving was fresh, bloodied marks over her arm.
She noticed her fingers glitching a little but there was no pain. Shaking her head to clear her mind, Alice slowly tried to pull herself into a sitting position. She groaned as her body didn't want to cooperate, she managed to sit after three attempts. She gritted her teeth and glared at the wall in pure rage. She made her decision. If she's going to bring the children to safetly, she's going to beat that smirk off that doctor's face and break him... slowly.
Alice immediately stood up and marched over to the door. She wasn't able to make it far as she suddenly slip and fall to her knees. She huffed and whimpered in pain as her body started to burn all of a sudden. She gasps as her vision was becoming disoriented. She tried to call Khai-Ja, but nothing comes out of her mouth, no words just sobs. Patting the ground, she felt it wet. Wet? Now that she thinks about it, her clothes were clinging to her tightly.
She stopped. What was that flash just now? Water? Where did that come from? She looked down at her wrist seeing the carving. Her eyes wandered to her arms and spotted new scars. Fresh ones.
They looked like lightning strike scars she had read about.
Her pupils shrunk as she looked at the ground. There were drops of water and blood everywhere. She shook her head in disbelief as she stood up and took a better look around. There were scratches on the wall.
What's going on? Why can't she hear her friend? Why is her heart pulsing so loudly? Why is her body burning? She glanced down at her fingers and saw that each tip had dried blood on them. Her nails were covered in melted golden substance that was absorbing back into her skin.
'No... what happened to me?'
She started gasping for air in desperation as everything was coming back. She was back in that room. She was awake for some moments. She was on the water but she kept banging on the glass, not being able to breath.
She remembers very clearly. The doctor's malicious grin as he pressed something in front of her. The next thing happened, Khai-Ja's panicked voice, then her body pulsed as her body was being burned by electricity. She couldn't hold back and scream in pain, two different voices screams muffled as the water was being swallowed into her lungs.
She felt it being repeated for who knows how long. They would make her choke out the water before being put in that container and electrifying her in the wanter again.
She remembered screaming out in a plea for someone. But it was always muffled. She felt small and heavy with every strike.
After it was done, she can feel hands on her arms pinning them on a cold metal table before feeling more agonizing pain in her wrist. She shrieked but a hand would cover it, almost breaking her teeth. The bloody tears burned her eyes as she cried in pain.
She was dropped in the room but the scarab's senses were alerting her more, taking the assumption that she was in more danger and attacked everything around her. The armor glitching.
She ignored the adult screams as she punched a body to the ground before being sedated.
.
.
.
"Are you sure the kids are here?" Morrison grabbed his jacket as the officers started wearing armor and heading to the vans.
A man wearing a black cap nodded, heading to his car. Looking through his phone he noticed another encrypted message.
The police cars fronted the streets while in the back three black cars followed behind.
He frowned as his phone decoded the message. Whoever has been sending them these messages has been offline for a 6 hours. For a moment they thought that it was just another prank and were about to ignore the call. But then the they have sent a file full of pictures of the facility and what was happening inside.
Whoever that person was, was also stuck there, probably one of the kids that got kidnapped. But what kid knows how to write in braille code?
Help..
.
.
.
Alice wasn't sure how long she had been here. There was no clock to check the time and whenever she tried to ask Khai-Ja, the scarab would speak in It's orginal language but for some reason she couldn't understand it. One time she managed to break the door and cause a little chaos, but it wasn't enough, she's still here and the police has not arrived. She didn't want to think about it, but there is a possibility that the they might think that someone is making fun of them, sending fake informations.
After weeks in here, the hope she had was crushed, no one is coming. But she isn't going to give up, she gave them her word and she's not planning on abandoning them. She still has to find Tommy and the omnic.
Little did they know that every single night, she mapped out the entirety of this place. She memorized their faces, voices, body types, mannerisms, tricks. Everything that was displayed in front of her was recorded into the memory data. When they were out or asleep, she quietly searched through the building for both kids but found nothing yet.
It was a horrible and lonely existence.
ΛᄂIᄃΣ ƧMIƬΉ, I ΛM ƧƬIᄂᄂ ЩIƬΉ YӨЦ.
"Whatever that means..." I mumbled. "I still need you, Khai-Ja."
ΛƧ I ПΣΣD YӨЦ ƬӨ KΣΣP FIGΉƬIПG. ƧƬΛY ƧƬЯӨПG.
"I don't know how long I can keep doing this." I confess. "I'm supposed to be strong, tough. But even a moutain can be eroded away with time. That doctor... douchebag are wearing me down. I think It's been a week, maybe more. The pain is blurring the days together. I'm losing track. I'm losing my mind."
I ΛM ПӨƬ ᄂΣΛVIПG YӨЦЯ ƧIDΣ. I ЩӨП'Ƭ ΣΛVΣ YӨЦ ΛᄂӨПΣ, ПΣVΣЯ ΛGΛIП.
Her eyes dimmed as she ran her fingers over the scar on her throat. She wondered if the scar was always there.
I ΉΛVΣ ΛᄃᄃΣƧƧΣD ƬΉΣ FIЯΣ ΛᄂΛЯM ƧYƧƬΣM. ΛᄂIᄃΣ ƧMIƬΉ, ƬΉΣ PᄂΛП ƧΉӨЦᄂD BΣ PЦƬ IПƬӨ MӨƬIӨП.
"I don't understand you-" Her eyes widened in confusion as the lights turned off in the room and lit up red. The cell door slid open, Alice walked forward to check. There was no one there. All the other children confusedly got out of their rooms and looked around. They only heard sirens outside the building.
'They're here.'
Seeing as everyone got out of their rooms, Alice spoke up. "Everybody! Listen up!"
Everyone turned to her in question, afraid of what's going on. Is this another test?
"I called the police, they're already here! I need everyone to follow me, we're going to get out of here. I'll protect you, do not seperate. Stay close!"
"Why should we believe you?" One of them asked, she recognized the boy's voice as Kenji's.
"I have memorized the whole building, I know where the exits are. You want to stay here and die or escape and be free?" She stepped forward.
The teenagers were still unsure. They hardly know her.
"I trust her."
They all glanced to the back of the group. Carlos raised his chin proudly. "She helped me once go back to my family. I know she can do it again. But this time I will help too."
Alice's eyes softened at him. She nodded to him and they all started running. With all the circles the doctor made her walk through, Alice caught up with the pattern. The red lights flashed in every corridor but everyone kept following the girl. She made sure to check every corner of any guards but the place was deserted.
And that was concerning her. Where is everyone. Where is that ugly guard or the other one?
She stopped, making everyone follow. She frowned, looking around. This is way too easy. She walked towards the nearest window and there they were.
Alice can hear the gunshots from outside and started debating if it's a good idea to bring them all outside. She looked around but couldn't see that stupid doctor there. Where is he?
She backed away from it and decided that going through the front is not going to be safe. Her eyes wandered around and found another door. Khai-Ja's senses didn't went off, so it was safe to go through.
She nods to Kenji and he understood, ushering everyone to go in. Alice looked around before entering. It was a long hallway. She didn't like it but asked everyone to go.
That's when a door slammed close behind her.
Alice turned around to see the scared and tired eyes of her missing friend on the other side in the doctor's hold.
The doctor smirked and dragged her friend away. Her eyes meet the doctor's and she heard the message. She grunts and tries to pull the handle open but her hands burned as she tried.
"Dammit, no, no, YOU BASTARD COME BACK HERE!" She yelled, scaring the kids behind her. She turned around quickly, her eyes whirled as she scanned the building again.
"Carlos!" She yelled for the boy, making him flinch. "You are the boss now. Go forward and turn left three times, there should be a seperate exit. If not, then break the window, It's the first floor you will be fine!"
The boy nodded hesistantly and called for others to follow him. She glanced back at the door but they were already gone.
"Don't look back! I will find my own exit!" She shouts as the others kept running.
.
.
.
"Let me go!" The boy shouts, squirming in the doctor's hold.
The doctor heaved, dragging the boy to his lab. That bitch! His mind driffted back to Alice. He noticed that someone was trying to hack into his computers but he managed to delete the virus. No wonder she let them take her so easily. It was a set up! If he dosen't get the money, he'll just kill that bucket of wires. He'll find the girl later. And he's going to make sure he'll use every possible tool he has. He swears on it!
"Shut up!" He threw the child in the room, closing the door and locking it.
All his hard work. All his experiments will go to waste! He's not going to let that happen. Now that he finally found someone to take in the pain, she betrays him?!
He thought that he'll keep playing with his toy, but no!
He clenched his fists and agrily threw his table across the room. He screams in anger, grabbing his chair and throwing it across the room.
The poor boy tried his best to avoid the disaster, sitting against the wall. His eyes snapped open as the doctor started laughing. He saw the man grab the broken shards on the ground and clenched it tightly, blood slowly dripping from his hand. But he didn't show anything but a malicious grin.
"Oh, Ali... you'll come to me. I'll make sure of it."
.
.
.
Alice was running through the empty hallways, because of how her hearing was sensitive, her ears were basically bleeding out from how loud the sirens were.
She tried to ignore the pain, but the feeling of blood dripping from her ears was slowly annoying her. As she ran through another corridor, she had enough.
A black tentacle covered in armor plates lunged at one of the alarms, destroying it completely. Alice didn't looked at whatever made the annoying noise go away, she didn't even glanced behind her, just kept running. The tentacle melted and came back to the body like it was never there in the first place.
'How big is this place?!' She thought passing another open door. Her vision was glitching, and she quickly grabbed the doorknob to maintain her balance. She grabbed her head with the other free hand and groaned. Not this again.
'Keep... moving.' She tried to, really, but honestly? It's not as easy as it sounds when your body was in a very sad and pathetic state. If she was still a human, it would have been long since she died.
DӨП'Ƭ DЯӨP DΣΛD YΣƬ, ΛᄂIᄃΣ ƧMIƬΉ.
She flinched at the familiar voice, although she had no idea what it was saying.
ΛDDIПG ΛDЯΣПΛᄂIПΣ.
Her sight became clearer and she felt her lost energy rushing back in. Glancing down at her carved wrist, she clenched her fists and dangerously looked forward.
"I'm coming for you, Doc."
Noticing that she was alone in the whole building, she started thinking up a plan. She can't just barge in the room throwing fists. As much as she wants to torture Doc, she'll save her friend first. Then look for the omnic.
So, she walked towards the Doc's office. He wants her? He'll have to fight for it.
.
.
.
The doctor frustratedly scratched his face, gripping onto his shard. He heaves and waits for Alice to arrive. He tied the boy to a chair. If the omnic pulls any tricks, he won't hesistant to slit the boys throat. The once white lit-up room was red. Leaving the room in ruins, including the container he used on his new favorite toy. She'll come eventually for the boy. He knew when he saw those yellow eyes, they were glaring at him but he knew better. They held so many stories in them, so many sad stories that made her dangerous. He knew from that moment that she was no ordinary girl. Even better than that little boy he got, but the kid wasn't enough strong.
After experimenting on the others for an hour each, he wasn't satisfied. They screamed in fear. But finally hearing her. He couldn't hold back and spent the whole 24 hours with her. She screamed in anger.
He loved it.
The other one, the boy. He also screamed in anger, but it wasn't that beautiful as her. And he was weak, so weak. After 3 attempts the kid was barely alive, worthless broken toy.
He wanted to hear more but the girl kept losing blood and decided to leave her for the next day but no. He wasn't successful as the girl betrayed him. How dare she. It's clear to him that it wasn't her first time experiencing such pain, her pain tolerance was almost inhuman.
He gave her all his attention and devotion and yet she threw it away for the others?! He'll never forgive her for that. She cares more for these brats more and he's tempted to end it so he can keep her for himself. But in order to do that, she has to come to him. And he'll be ready.
He sighs. He can't wait to use more of his toys.
"What's taking her so long?!" He growls, slamming his fist on the Tommy's chair.
Tommy chuckles. "She's not coming back. She's not stupid."
The doctor chuckled, walking in front of the boy and crouching near his face. Tommy only glared at him as Doc smirked.
"She's like you, but better. You haven't seen those eyes, boy. I know the eyes of a murderer when I see one."
Tommy scowled at him, "She's not a murderer."
Doc blinked owlishly and laughed loudly, slapping the boy in the head, finding it amusing. "You think that you know her so well? That you understand her? You two have been together at the shelter for what, a month?"
"You know nothing about her?"
"Do you?" Doc smirked.
"I know more than you! The Stephanie I know is not a murderer!" The doctor stared at him silently before bursting into a sick loud laugher, his eyes tearing.
"My apologises, but really? Stephanie? Is that how she introduced herself as? Oh little Lee, I can tell you haven't done your research. I looked through her files and they all seemed too real. The Stephanie as you know her, is not her real name. Unlike you, she gave me her real name in the first place, and we didn't even know each other then! She has no past history, no parents' history."
"What does it have to do with her being a murderer. Everyone in the shelter know her as Stephanie, It's her choice to tell her true name to others."
"Why forge a birth certificate if you have nothing to hide?" He smirks as Tommy's eyes widened. "Sad, really. I can tell you're close by the looks of it but you don't seem to know her at all."
Doc and Tommy's eyes widened as they hear slow, heavy steps echoying in the hallway. Tommy paled in horror. Stephanie... Alice wouldn't come here. It's the police for sure, right?
But Doc stood up straight and smirked, hiding the glass shard behind him.
The steps have become louder, getting closer and closer. Doc narrowed his eyes as a shadow stood in front of the door. He walked behind the boy and waited patiently.
As the shadow got closer, he noticed how distorted it looked, there was a pait of two long things moving behind the shadow's back, like a long cape. And the arm muscles seemed bigger, covered in something sharp, fingers ending with unnaturally thin claws.
They flinched as they heard a loud bang. It quietened before it got haste and banged on the door constantly. It was getting more and more agressive as the seconds passed. The dent was getting through the door.
Doc sweated nervously, not liking it a bit.
"Ali! It's locked! Stop the noise and I'll open it for you..."
After the last bang, it got quiet. They waited to listen to anything else but nothing. Instead, they heard scratching on the door, making them grimace at the high-pitched scratch.
Doc scowled and cautiously unlocked the door but didn't open. Instead, he stood for her. Doc screamed as the door bursts open, flying off the hinges. He managed to dodge for a little before turning to the door.
It was too dark to see anyone in the doorway, it was clearer to hear.
A loud mechanical growl echoed through the room, golden light lit through the doorway. Both narrowed their eyes at the glowing symbol on the person's chest, it resembled some sort of a bug but they didn't know which. Alice walked inside the room, two heavy objects behind her back were dragged across the floor. The doctor grinned seeing her, even with a mask on he would recognize those movements everywhere. Tommy's eyes were wide in disbelief. What the hell happened to the door and who is that?!
"You want me? Let him go." Her voice was slightly robotic, tinged with a heavy accent.
"Alice, youre here! Look at you, I knew you were special!" He stands in front of her but Alice points her dangerously sharpened talons at him. Her yellow eyes glared at him.
"To think that you would go to an extreme to bring me here, I'm touched." She sassed.
Doc chuckled, "You should be. I only want you."
"Really? You didn't have to have to take Tommy while you're at it. After all, you still owe a beating."
"I see. Well, as you know. I am a man of schedule and I was going to set up my tools earlier for us but something caught my very eye."
He went through his pockets. Alice watching his every move and didn't feel affected when he pulled his destroyed phone. On the screen was visible a small golden bug that was the virus, Khai-Ja downloaded.
"I don't know how you did it, but tha thing destroyed and stole all my life work. I would do forgive you, but you also called cops?! You betrayed me by calling them on me!"He glares.
Alice continued to blankly stare at him before pointing her talon at him.
"Let. Him. Go."
Doc sighs, shaking his head. "Ignoring me... YOU'RE MINE!"
He sliced his shard at Tommy but he was stopped and flung to the other side of the room. The boy's eyes widened more at what he just witnessed.
Alice swung her fist at the doctor. Hard. But that's not the only thing he noticed. No.
Her eyes glowed murderous yellow. She didn't seem unaffected by hurting someone. He can tell from her eyes that she has done this before. He had no words. Alice closed her eyes, and walked towards Tommy, using her talons to cut the ropes.
"Go. I'll catch up with you later."
"What did you-"
"GO!" She yelled at him, hitting a wall in the process in anger. She wanted nothing but to torture the doctor same way as he did with her and the others. Tommy is just an obstacle stopping her from doing so.
Alice blankly stared at him with dimmed eyes before facing Doc who started cackling on the ground at the discovery.
"I knew it! You wouldn't hesitate to hurt others! We're so alike It's amazing! You're irresistible! I want you even more now!"
"S-stephanie?"
She didn't reply. She glanced at her scar and thought back to Tommy's affection towards her. She walked in front of him and gave him the doctor's phone and a small pendrive on it.
"I have already send to the police everything that I could gather, but there is more to this place than just my recording. Give them this phone, please."
Turning back to the doc, "Get out." She whispered.
"What, I can't just leave you here-"
"GET OUT!" Alice grabbed his collar and threw him out of the room. He grunts as he landed hard on the ground. He snapped his head up to stare at her.
It can't be true... she can't be...
The left side of the bird mask melted away, revealing part of her face. "You're in my way! After everything, he put us through. I am not going to let him walk away. I can hear the police outside, they're close. Scream and they should hear you. So go away!" She shouts.
Tommy shook his head in disbelief. "I'm not leaving you alone! That's just insane Steph-"
"JUST LEAVE!"
He gasps in shock. He's never seen her so furious before. Her eyes were different from before. He dosen't know what to feel as her mask covered her back and she ran after Doc who ran away from the room.
Tommy lay on the floor paralyzed at what he just witnessed. She's insane!
His mind only went back to the times when Stephanie, ergh... Alice was joyous and quirky with him and his friends. She is kind and smart, she wouldn't hurt anybody so cruelly, including killing someone.
"No. I don't know her." He frowns before grabbing a random pipe lying in the corner and running towards the fight.
"Stephanie?! What are you doing?!" He yelled as the girl with no problems lifted him up with her hands. Kids around gasped in awe and started to surround her, wanting her to pick them up too.
"I told you I'm stronger than you." She laughed, throwing him lightly at the sofa.
"Who wants to go next!" She yelled and the kids started to shout, wanting to be next. Tommy watched her as she played with kids, doing the same thing. He softly smiled and quietly walked to her from behind, and wrapped his hands around her chest. The kid she was holding fell from her hands as she stumbled a bit, surprised.
"What are you doing, moron?" She asked confused as her body went limp, she wasn't used to being hugged.
"Now it's my turn!" He hummed and tried to lift her but she was too heavy.
"What are they feeding you?" He said as he struggled to lift her up.
"Hmmm? I don't know, sometimes It's beef and sometimes a cake. And what's with you? Are they even feeding you?" He punched her lightly and she started laughing, smacking his chest.
"Really! You look like a stick!"
Tommy manages to lift her up a little a barely throws her at the sofa. But before he was able to let her go she grabbed his left hand and they both fell on the floor.
She crouched down and started inspecting his body for any wounds, "Did you broke something, are your sticks still working?" She said as she grabbed his arm.
If they only knew that a certain person was watching them from cameras.