Chapter 5-4 Alice Winters

Alice waited for a few more minutes, making sure he was actually gone. She opened the locker door and fell back into the room. Her heartbeat was trying to slow down as she feared nearly being captured. Thankfully she managed to outsmart him and get away, but for how long she had to ask herself. At least she was almost out, if she could escape the factory then hopefully that metal maniac wouldn't try anything. She headed out the double doors he went through and was brought to the scale of the factory with convebelts and dim lights. The Winters recognized this area well, then turned to the left and noticed the familiar elevator. She headed over and saw the Duke who was at his station reading a book. Alice walked into the small space, wanting some shelter after what she had to deal with.

The man looked up from his pages and smiled. "Well, it appears you have met the last Lord of the Village."

"Yeah… he's just as you and Hilda described him." Alice admitted.

The Duke seemed to be amused by her remark. "I do hope he made a good first impression."

Alice sighed as she thought back to the conversation she had with him. Even though it was a short one, it did leave some kind of impact. Heisenberg wasn't threatening like Dimitrescu, nor was he cryptic or creepy as Donna. Definitely not pitiful or sympathetic like Moreau. If anything, he seemed confident in his speech, although he did seem surprised by some information she knew. Overall, Alice could only answer with: "Well, it was an unforgettable impression, I'll give him that."

The Duke mused. "Well, at least you managed to outmaneuver him."

"At the cost of some of my equipment." Alice sighed.

"Apologizes for that. At least you still have some weapons on you. And it isn't like you plan on taking him down, anyways." The Duke wasn't wrong about that. Now that she switched power to the other Generator, she should be able to get up the Grinder Shaft and make her way to the second floor. Once there, Alice should be able to find a way to get to the exit. "In the meantime, how about you pursue some other items?" He gestured to his stash. Alice figured she could at least sell the stuff she had on her in terms of treasure and maybe get some new ammunition. All she managed to get were a bundle of arrows for her crossbow, a few other explosive bottles, and health items. Not a lot but hopefully it would be enough until she made it out. She thanked the only ally she had in this world of machine and metal and began to continue her escape.

She would have to head back to the Mineshaft and take the same path she did the first time around. At least she knew where to go, and headed there on fast feet. Exiting the west side of the elevator, Alice climbed up the ladder, taking a few turns on the walkway and ramp onto another ladder before being in the familiar earth-based tunnels. The Winters headed through, back to the area where the Megamycete root was and took the vent back to the corridor where the Shaft was. As she walked onto the grates, she looked up to see the blades were no longer spinning, instead they appeared more like steps now. Alice had a victorious grin as she now managed to progress.

That was until she heard the humming of engines and the jet armored Soldats came towards her. Stepping back, Alice grunted as the two enemies tried to get to her. Part of her wanted to just turn them to scrap right there, but given her current inventory, it would take a lot of skill and luck just to take them down with what she had. "Sorry boys, but I have other things to do and can't play with either of you." Alice smirked, grabbing her grappling hook and aimed it at some of the higher railings. She hated the idea of running away, but couldn't waste anymore time in this factory.

Launching the claw, it stuck to the higher grate and she pulled herself up. She flew past the Jets and made it to a ladder, leading her up on top of the blades of the Grinder. Alice used the turbine as stairs, walking up a circle until she was at the top, away from any enemies for the time being. Her eyes looked around, trying to figure out where to head to next. After some searching, they found a double door on the east, which she went through and was taken to a staircase on the left. Walking up the steps, she found herself in a small room with a few lights above the ceiling. It didn't have too much in terms of materials, though Alice still scouted around for any resources. To her surprise, she did see two pieces of paper with some pictures of the Soldats on a desk. Curiosity got the better of her and she decided to read what was printed.

"Soldat Enchantment: Soldat Jet. Attached a jet pack and head stabilizers to a Soldat. Greatly improves mobility. Experiments prove limited flight capabilities. No long distance flight, but now possible to navigate rugged terrain.

"Soldat Enchantment: Soldat Panzer. Attached aluminum alloy shielding to a Soldat to protect chest reactor and exposed flesh. Experimentation proves he is invincible against regular firearms. Armor doesn't hold up against strong blasts. Further development needed."

It seemed Heisenberg was still adamant about creating an ideal soldier. Something about the way he was developing their bodies without the Cadou made her question just how loyal he was to Miranda's cause. How would modifying the body help create a better vessel for Eva? Come to think of it, wasn't Heisenberg surprised that she knew what Miranda's experiment truly was? Was Alice not supposed to know about that? Something didn't add up, mainly with how the relationship between Heisenberg and Miranda seemed. He did call her a witch after their phone call ended… so, were these experiments for Miranda's benefit… or his?

Alice set the sheets down and pressed forward. She found a staircase on the west side of the room, since it appeared that was where she had to go next. She headed up the first flight, then took a second where she could see a glowing red light ahead. When she made it to the top, she saw said bulb next to an open door. Why was it spinning like that, Alice wondered. She looked ahead to the other room, noticing a wind current that was so strong, her eyes were able to see it. Alice wasn't thinking as she stepped out, only to feel her body being pulled from the right. She held onto the frame of the door, looking down to see a propeller spinning on that side. She grunted as she lost her grip, slipping and falling towards the blades. Acting quickly, Alice used her grappling hook to hold onto one of the railings. She spun around on the line, while the strength of the wind was trying to pull her closer. She had to act quickly, using her might to take out her crossbow, and aimed the arrow right at the light in the center. With a clear shot, she fired and watched the sharp head collide with the light, cracking it as the suction ceased. Alice let go of her grappling hook and fell to the floor with her tool.

She looked up from the ground as flames burned the center while the blades slowed down. Sparks flew as the propeller spun backwards. The acceleration became excessive, making the turbine rip itself from the confinement. Alice kept her head down as the fan flew above her, going across the hallway only to fall in a flaming wheel at the end of the Ventilation Shaft. After taking a few breaths, she got up on her feet and dusted herself off. "That was close… if I ended up in those blades, I would have become a Winters Smoothie." Jokes aside, Alice looked over at the small fire in the center where the turbine was. She noticed a pathway where the blades were, and figured that would be her next location. Heading north, she walked up to the small section. She peered down through the smoke and darkness, only seeing a large hole for her to fall. The only stable walkway was a large pipe circling the edge of the hole. It may not have been the safest, but Alice had to take a chance.

Balancing evenly, she walked down the pipe while holding her arms out for extra measure. Once she was on the other side, she saw handles going upwards, acting as a ladder. At the top, a green light was below a hatch, so she had to turn a wheel just to open it and crawl through the other side. "How can anyone get around in this place without losing their limbs?" Alice questioned, searching the small room for another pathway. She did see an elevator on the west side of the room, and it appeared to be in operating condition. Lucky her. She went over to the platform, pressed the red button on the panel and waited as the lift was slowly rising upwards. Just when Alice thought she could have a moment of peace, a familiar voice spoke on the intercom.

"Looks like you're making your way quite steadily." Heisenberg called out to her. "I knew that your brother had been through a lot in Louisiana, but I never would have figured his little sister would match up. I have to admit, I'm becoming quite a fan. But I doubt even you have what it takes to stop Miranda and her plans. For now, keep running Winters. For soon, your luck will run out. And once I find you… we'll have plenty of fun."

When he was done, Alice managed to get to the next floor, keeping her guard up as she exited the lift. "You'll have to catch me first, you rusted man." Alice mocked him, heading down a brick narrow corridor and went to her left, being taken to a room. She was nearly there, and so far no sign of the metal man anywhere. Hopefully she could get out of here without having another run-in. Though that would be wishful thinking, especially when the other three Lords didn't go down so easily. Alice headed out of the room through the double door and was taken to the outside where she saw the conveyor belts of Soldats going from one building to another.

Picking up her feet, she headed down the walkway until she spotted a ladder leading up. She climbed it, being taken to another level. "How much more do I have to go through?" She complained, ready to be done with this factory. She went over a ramp, being taken to an area where the Duke's elevator was, and a large double door with a Signal Modulator panel next to it. She looked down at the panel, seeing that it required the tool to be set to the 'MUFF' setting. She grabbed the Signal Modulator and pressed the buttons to that setting. Then, she turned the dials so that the separate frequencies would overlap with one another on the bigger screen. Once that was complete, she placed it in the panel and waited. The light turned green, as the outer bars of the door slid into the walls, followed by the locked pipes, revealing another hallway for her.

Alice headed down the dirty hallway of scrape and pipes, keeping her crossbow out as it was the only effective weapon on hand. She walked down the hall until she saw a door in front of her, opening it to be taken to another room. She checked it out, hoping for some ammo she could use. Most of it was just scrape, but at least they were craft-able for her to create some items. The Winters also noticed another piece of paper resting on a desk, taking the time to check it over in case it revealed more about Heisenberg and his experiments.

"Prototype: Sturm. Used a cheap turboprop engine, but he's impossible to control. All he does is charge. Too much power output from the reactor? Completely invincible head on. But the dumbass managed to chop his own damn arms off on the propeller. Also issues with overheating from running for long periods of time. Conclusion: A complete failure."

Sturm, huh? From the paper alone, he wasn't just an upgraded Soldat. Rather a separate experiment, though despite how powerful he sounded it was just as the records say: A failure. Alice tried to imagine what he could look like, but remembered what the Duke warned her about. How some parts of the human imagination are better left alone. She decided to take his own advice and head back out to the hallway and went to the east. The corridors were much tighter, but Alice didn't care. She took a left until she opened a door, walking into a room that seemed labyrinth based with how many wall structures there were. She walked ahead, took a right then left after coming to a dead end and another right after a few feet. She saw the two large doors before her, as she was more than ready to head out. Only the solid foundation seemed to be blocked by an iron bar gate.

Alice sighed in frustration. "I don't have time for this! Why does every door in this place have to be blocked?" She started to grow impatient. She knew freedom was on the other side, but as far as she knew, there was no key to open this gate. She looked around, trying to find out her next move. Maybe she could go back outside and find another route? It was worth a shot as she went back to where the entrance was. Just as she was only a few feet away from the entrance, the doors automatically shut her inside. The Winters jumped, seeing them close and lock on their own.

"You really are a tough one." Heisenberg commented from the speakers above. "But I'm getting tired of this runaround chase of ours."

"At least we can agree on one thing." Alice told him. Her response proved to be against her as the ears picked up the sound of whistling from around her. White steam started to pour from small holes within the pipes on the walls. It looked harmless, but she knew better than to trust it.

"That gas will fill the room within three minutes. The more you inhale, the more drowsy you will get until your body will be rendered motionless. Then, you will be easy picking."

Alice covered her mouth with her arm, trying to stay away from the fumes. "You really need to get a hobby." She said in a muffled accent.

"Don't worry, I'll give you a fighting chance. If you can manage to get the gate open by operating the three panels in the room." Heisenberg chuckled, as he was no doubt watching from afar and getting his sick kicks. Alice looked around, he mentioned there were three panels that could open the door. If she could get to them and make them work, she would have a chance to get out.

She started to search, keeping her eyes opened and her mouth and nose covered. From the entrance, she went up and took a right, trying to figure out where the panels would be. They were probably hidden in the room behind some of the walls, she figured. Which meant it was time for some demolition. Her eyes scanned around, in the hopes to find some clue on where she had to go next. The sign turned out to be a hole within the structure of the corner wall she was staring at. It was the only lead she had, and Alice was willing to take it. She grabbed one of her makeshift bomb and lite it up, tossing it towards the wall. The moment it made contact with the material, brick and foundation crumbled as there was a larger gap for her to walk through. The Winters dashed into the passage, taking a right until she was at the south east corner of the room where she saw one of the panels. Kneeling down, she looked to see what she had to do. First, Alice set the Signal Modulator to OSS, since that was what the panel required. Once she matched the two frequencies together, she placed the device in the bracket and watched the red light on top turn green. One down, two to go!

She went back out from the hole she entered and looked around, wondering where to head next. She knew that the best course of action was to find any wall with a hole in it, since that was where the panels were hidden. The Winters headed upwards where the exit was, but took a left until she came to a small dead-end with another tiny opening. Once more, she destroyed the wall with her equipment and walked through the passage she created. After some time, she headed right and noticed another crack on the wall to her left, which she blew up. Once she headed in, she found herself at the north west corner where the second of the three panels were. She had to set the Signal Modulator to URF, then match the different wavelengths before placing it into the slot. Upon the light turning green, she was nearly done.

There was just one more, but she had to hurry. Her throat began to cough as the smoke was being infused to the fabric, making her inhale the gas. Green eyes looked around, trying to locate the last panel for her to open the exit. She was so close, and with her limited clean air, she needed to be quicker. The younger of the Winters noticed the wall to her left was broken, showing a peek of the other side. Picking her feet up, she rushed over there and threw a bomb halfway. Once there was an opening, she walked through it and looked around. To her right on the south west corner, she saw it. Her coughing was getting more intense, but she had to press on. She had to set the Modulator to the AWF setting and turn the dials before placing it into the slot. With the last light green, Alice knew she could leave.

Taking the Signal Modulator, Alice kept hacking as her pacing was slower. The fumes were rising, nearly filling the room at this point. The blond was finding it difficult to even function, but she had to keep going, already halfway there as she went past the second panel, back to the center of the room and up to the north east corner where the door was. Her limbs were shaky, and her throat was parched. But the moment she saw the double doors open up, she stumbled into the new room and had a coughing fit. It lasted for a while, but at least she could breathe now. "I really hate escape rooms." Alice sighed.

Hopefully that was the last puzzle she would need to solve in this god forsaken factory. She looked over to her right, where a window was above control panels. Lights beamed from outside, where Alice could see a large cargo bay below her. These kinds of rooms were usually on ground level, which meant she must be close to the exit. Heading back towards the other end, there was a desk located in the corner. A lit camping lantern stood over the surface for light, along with an ashtray holding a large Cuban cigar. Guess this meant Heisenberg was a smoker… not that Alice was surprised. He did seem the type.

She also noticed some parchments and even an open journal. Even though the outside was so close, Alice wanted to know what Heisenberg's thoughts were. After all, based on the phone call with Miranda, she could only imagine how he truly felt about his mother figure. She looked at the pages and started to read.

"Miranda is abominable. Her deceit knows no bounds. We're merely a bunch of failed Cadou experiments to her. I was just lucky I had more affinity to the stuff than the other poor schmucks in the village. So she still calls me her "son". What a joke, I'll never forgive her for what she did to me. That crazy bitch has never been right in the head. She can't see a difference between "experiment" and "family". Miranda didn't just change my body, she took my dignity. If I don't kill her then my life will never be my own. Still, she may be crazy, but she's also powerful. Not only does she have the most control over the Megamycete, she can also turn into anyone using it. It's too bad that brat Rose doesn't have access to any of her powers yet. If she did, I could use them to maybe take her down. Given the kid's father, Ethan, and his interesting abilities. Though it makes me wonder, if Miranda wasn't going to use Rose for her final experiment… Was she trying to use the other kid? The one hanging around Ethan's sister? I have to admit, that female Winters has a unique personality as well."

Alice shuddered a bit as he commented about her in his journal entry. What exactly did he mean by personality? Did she want to know? At least this proved that he really despised Miranda, and wanted to be the one to kill her. That might explain the Soldats and his army, it wasn't for Miranda's experiments, it was for her downfall. Perhaps Heisenberg did have more humanity in him than she first thought. Though, the mention of Rose and Ethan having powers and abilities… What did he mean by that? Ethan and Rose didn't have any powers… none that Alice was aware at least.

Shaking her head, she figured this man was talking nonsense and walked over to the door on the southwest corner of the room. She stepped onto a catwalk and jumped down onto the ground floor. Gates and containers were stationed everywhere, so Alice had to move carefully and cautiously as she didn't believe that she was out of Heisenberg's vision yet. Alice went until she met a large cylinder with a ladder reaching up. She carefully walked through the beam on her feet, until she was on a lift with a lever. Pulling the lever down, she found the lift being raised up until she was on top of the Cargo Bay. Alice headed out of a door where there was much more light with wooden boxes, tarps, scraps and other various items. She saw double doors with a small barred window on them, to her left. Finally, she would be getting out of this factory and to her brother.

"You better still be alive, Ethan and Hilda." Alice prayed, as her hands went to the handles. She tried to pull them to get them opened, but when she did, the bars broke off from the foundation and she found them in her hands. "What?!" She dropped the handles, then noticed the poles in the windows vibrating until they were loose from their position. Alice ducked her head as they flew over her, along with the doors themselves. The solid metal pushed her against the wall, half of her body was being kept up against restraints. Despite trying to wiggling out, Alice was only able to free her left arm.

The sound of clapping came from above, as the metal debris formed a stepping pathway for the Fourth Lord to walk down, as he saw his catch. "Not bad, not bad at all Winters."

"Do you ever give up, or am I just a special case?" Alice remarked, struggling still.

Heisenberg smirked as he was still on his levitating platform, staring down at her with a gleam behind his sunglasses. "Consider yourself lucky. The others would have killed you on the spot, but I'm feeling generous to spare you and give you to Miranda. Last thing we need is you ruining her plans."

If Alice would be presented to Miranda, she would be a goner. Still, if she could get through the doors and out to the open field, she would have a chance. Alice's left arm was freed, and her grappling hook was on that side, but getting to it would take much effort. Her green eyes did take notice of a wooden box right behind the Fourth Lord, which was something he wouldn't be able to stop given the material it was made out of. If she could time it just right, then Alice would be home freed. She just had to distract Heisenberg long enough, and she had the idea how. "You say you want to help Miranda, even though you call her a witch, abominable, and deceitful?"

When he stopped walking and raised a brow her way, Alice knew he had him. She just had to keep playing along as her free hand tried to get her tool. "Bold of you to assume what I think of her with little evidence."

Alice kept that gleam in her expression. "Little evidence, huh? That phone conversation you had with her and your diary is all the evidence I need."

"Snooping around people's personal lives is a hobby that will make you meet terrible consequences." Heisenberg warned her.

"Are you saying that because you actually care, or because you're worried that I will use it against you? After all… if you bring me to Miranda, I can tell her what I heard and saw. Then she would have no choice but to discipline you, her son as she calls you." Alice explained. That made Heisenberg cross his arms over his chest while keeping his sunglasses gazing at her frame. Alice finally managed to get her arm behind her back, while searching for her grappling hook.

"You really think Miranda would believe you?" He questioned her. "You're an outsider, and you don't have any proof you could present her."

"I don't know… given how much exploration of your domain's I've been through, and the fact I was able to collect the flasks she was protecting, I think she might have the patience to listen. Even if I'm not a local." Alice retorted.

"You're empty threats don't scare me." Heisenberg declared.

Alice finally managed to grab hold of the handle, slowly digging it out of her hold. "And I'm not scared of you." She quickly whipped out her grappling hook and aimed right at the box behind Heisenberg. He dodged the line, only to see the claw grab the crate and pull it towards him. He tried to stop it, but with no metal inside the large object collided with his body, causing him to fall from his high place. With his concentration lost, Alice felt the door casing around her fall to the ground.

The Winters wasted no time as she rushed past the Fourth Lord, who was struggling to get up after the impact. She ran out of the doors and out into an open garage. Picking up her feet, she pushed open the sliding door. The metal man grunted as he watched her leave. Even though he could have gone after her, he figured he would let her have this victory, since it would be short lived anyways. He took off his glasses, watching the doors she escaped from. That smirk not escaping his slightly scarred face. "Huh… What an interesting woman."