Chapter 9:

Author's note:

Hiiiiiii! I know it's been far too long since I updated, but I'm baaaaack. I had some troubles with school. The exams I had to make were determining if I could stay at college or not. That's why I didn't had any time to write the story. And after the exams the period was very busy. At the top of that, I had so many ideas to put into this story that I wrote every possible thing that could happen after chapter 8. Soooo, hopefully you don't mind that this chapter is somewhat shorter than normal…LI'm working on the next chapters too, so don't worry, it won't take this long to update chapter 10.

After my rambling, I would like to thank every reader who has read my story so far. I really appreciate this because this is the first fanfiction that I'm going to make it complete.

Last thing I want to say is something else. English wasn't my native language, so I understand if it's sometimes annoying to read grammar mistakes and all that kind of things. Sorry for that!

And now, thank you for actually reading all of this and enjoy!

Disclaimer; I don't own ACS, just Alice, her family and friends and everyone that's part of the LUCIUS GRUDGE

I did nothing more than staring at the ceiling. Sometimes I would drift away, just to wake up with realisation that only 10-20 minutes have passed. The grey walls weren't giving me a comfortable time either. They reminded me of the happenings during the ball. The constant coughing didn't help either. The only thing that kept me busy, was the simple yet elegant clock with almost golden curls around it. It was also the only one making a little tune. It's soothing tune of ticking in two different notes calms me and at the same time, makes my head pounding. With my right index finger up, I move it back and forth in the same rhythm. And yet it reminded me of something, but I couldn't put my finger on it. So frustratingly, but nothing I'm not used to. Remembered when I said I forget sometimes things? Well, this happens all the time when I forget something. It's like my mind is fooling around with my soul. I cannot recall the memory, but my mind give me some clues, just like that ticking noise of the clock. Sometimes I successfully remember what that specific clue was about. When it does happen, it's like my mind becomes 10 pounds lighter and the time will return to normal speed (at least, some sort of feeling do I get). It's an endless game that had been going on since I was 7. Before that age I cannot say honestly if I had these things too. Unconsciously, the memory of this morning slipped into my mind once more. It was the moment before miss Nightingale left, but had nothing to do with my struggles at the moment.

'Oh, before I go, would it be alright if I asked you something? And would you respond with a honest answer?'

I blinked my eyes several times nervously. 'Y-Y-eah, certainly.' What could this be about?

'It has been some time since you were brought here. I was wondering if you would like to eat something. I've got freshly made soup, if you'd like some.' Her cheerful voice made me smile and the instant I heard the word "soup" I would have said yes without a doubt, but someone, or rather something, answered before I could. My stomach made a rumbling noise that was loud enough to be heard by the both of us. Embarrassed by the sudden sound , I put my right hand on my stomach. My cheeks were rosy coloured by now. Nonetheless I coughed and mumbled that I would love to have some.

Miss Nightingale chuckle, but didn't make a comment. Instead she said she would return within a minute and left.

…

'Alice, can I ask you something else?'

I stopped blowing my soup and nodded. 'Certainly miss Nightingale.' Miss Nightingale sighed lightly before she spoke.

'You don't eat much do you?' It felt like I was raising my eyebrows for the twentieth time these two days. 'Ehm… well… I ho-honestly think that's not the case, actually. I do not have the feeling that I eat that less…'

'Could you kindly describe what you eat on a regular day?' I carefully thought about my answer and coughed unwillingly some more. I took a sip from my soup to ease my sore throat.

'Usually I have one slice of bread with some butter in the morning, along with a cup of thee. Throughout the day I drink plenty of water and eat a biscuit. In de evening we usually have vegetables and a small amount of meat. A forth of one piece of it. Before I go to bed I drink one glass of water.'

No this time it was miss Nightingale to blink her eyes.

Afterwards she make me swear to better look after myself if I want to recover. I swore onto that, but I cannot be certain to keep that promise. Miss Nightingale asked if I lived somewhere nearby. I said that I didn't know, but that I lived with my parents. She nodded, told me to rest and that when I would leave tomorrow that she would help me. I thanked her. Before she left she lokoed very concerned to me. I think she thought about my eating habits, but it's not something I would do on purpose.
My whole life I hold onto this diet and I'm just used to it. So much that when I get a little bit hungry, I forget one minute later that hunger. When I'm pretty occupied with work (for example, working at the factory or practising the violin) I'll be so focused on that, that everything else doesn't bother, even if I'm hungry. I'm more often thirsty.

As I lay on my back on the comfortable bed, there was one more thought that made me stay awake just a little bit longer. And there was a very specific emotion bound to that. I was about my parents, Hailey, Thom, LUCIOUS GRUDE and everyone else that was present on that day. I wondered. Were they okay? Are they alive? Where are they staying? At home, or at a hospital? The list of worries went on like that. Eventually I started to wonder about something else.

I still didn't know who had actually saved me. I didn't remember anything from it, only the moment when he appeared from the smoke. A dark shadow in dark clothes. Very useful to know, but every man in this town wore something dark. Maybe he wasn't from here? Maybe he WAS from here? Or not? Have I seen a man with the same appearance as that one?

Foolish girl, I thought. It's not like you see people coming every day from smoke.

But there was another question, what will I do if I, accidently, find the man eventually, what then? Would he remember me?

And still, a tiny voice told me without any sound that I have met him already. That it was someone who would remember me.

Author's note: I don't know exactly when precisely, but next week comes number 10.

Bye for now!

ES12