ALICE WON'T DIE

Prologue

Crunch.

There was a sensation that she couldn't give words to.

Crunch.

As Alice's trembling eyes looked up with much difficulty, she found her companion, Raphaela, staring down at her. Raphaela's eyes curved up like crescent moons, her gaze a mix of scorn, contempt...and glee. The smile pulling up her lips could barely contain itself from bliss, trembling. Her whole expression seemed to scream, "Serves you right!"

Ah, will someone else decide on my death as well?

Alice couldn't help but dryly think, her thought almost robotic, as if giving up all hope. Will I never be in control of my own life? Am I going down like this? Is this the end?

Her eyes wanted to close, her body and mind giving up.

Crunch.

She could barely hear the crunching noise, the sound of her flesh and bones being eaten by monsters, as her ears rang from shock and pain. Her vision was dotted by grey spots as she began to lose consciousness.

Only the pain was a constant.

Time seemed to stop as she looked up at that smile once more. The second stretched on as scenes flashed in her mind. Instead of her whole life flashing before her eyes, she seemed to only see regrets.

She had always been pretty, with soft pink hair reminiscent of cotton candy. Her big blue eyes seemed to reflect the ocean, a light hue that always seemed to sparkle. With a gentle smile that never discriminated and was nice to everyone, she was always meek and cute. Men naturally wanted to protect her and would do anything for her. Even other girls were protective, and so Alice found herself always following others.

Even if in her mind she were certain of something, other people always seemed even more certain. Whenever she tried expressing herself, it always came out hesitant and lacking any confidence. Her voice was soft, and many times she went unheard. She quickly agreed with the majority, and gave up on her own thoughts, even when internally she was pretty sure she was right.

She generally was.

Many times, she was proved right, but she never gained confidence, never said "I told you so."

She couldn't even say no.

She was a coward.

Thoughts of the monster attack streamed into her mind. Their large grotesque figures as they smashed through buildings, picking up people like ragdolls that they pierced with sharp fangs. Back then, humanity didn't know much about the monsters, their types, levels and weaknesses. They were completely unprepared.

Alice had been a simple office-worker when it happened. Without being able to say no, she had taken on the work of her co-workers, and ended up staying late into the night at work.

She had been all alone on that floor.

The sound of the window smashing into pieces rang in her mind with the memory. A monster had jumped through, eyes hungrily scanning for prey.

Alice clearly remembered seeing the pale blue dot placed under its jaw, near the throat. She clearly remembered thinking, Ah, if I pierce that, it will die?

So, why hadn't she picked up that scattered piece of glass and stabbed it there? Why did she run instead towards someone she knew? Why did she beg for help?

Why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why...The thought repeated itself in her failing mind.

Although no one else could see that pale blue dot, it had later been found to be that specific monster type's weakness. It wasn't even one of the stronger ones. Why did she run?