The Hidden Continent Book 1: The City of Dystopians

Chapter 6

Panic is already setting upon her as she goes back to the places that they passed.

Where could have I lost him? That is the question that Alice has been asking to herself.

She is now back at the squat building that was the bar. Something, other than instinct, told her that she can find something in there. Ignoring the looks that she got from the passersby, she stepped inside the bar.

Surprisingly, the bouncer didn't stop her from entering. In fact she wasn't even noticed. Upon her passing the entrance, she was immediately aware of the reeking smell of alcohol.

Gosh, Alice thinks it's not even night yet. She sat on the bar and the barista approached her.

"What can I get you?" Asked the barista

"Um," Alice said, not knowing what to say "I'm not actually here for a drink. I came here to find my friend."

"Does he work here?" Asked the barista

How did you know that he's a he? Alice thought her suspicion growing. "I think so," Alice said "have you seen a boy here, about my age and height, and had blond hair."

It was faint but Alice caught it. The barista recognized the description.

"No," the barista replied "haven't seen a blonde guy work here for months now."

"Why," Alice asked, slightly uneasy "what happened to the last one?"

The barista gave a small laugh. "Kid," he starts "trust me, you don't want to know."

"Does it pain you to think about it?" Alice asks. The look in the barista's eyes were enough for an answer.

When the barista seemed like he wouldn't give a verbal answer she ordered a drink.

If Alice was good at anything it would be at detecting pain. Also on inflicting them.

Alice reminisced the first time that her ability manifested. She was five when she first, accidentally, used it. It was at the orphanage. She was just coloring her drawing just like any other five year old kid when one of the other orphans, Julie was her name, took away her crayon box, took all the crayons inside it and broke them in two. She didn't cry. She was angry.

She then imagined that Julie's fingers were also being broken in the same way as her crayons.

Oh how she relished her screams.

Of course, the volunteers of the orphanage didn't link it with Alice since Julie was a few feet away from Alice. And Julie was simply there, clutching her fingers as if in pain. It seems that the injury doesn't really happen only the pain. Ever since then, Alice made every effort to control herself so that she doesn't use it out of hand again.

But it didn't stay at bay. When she turned ten, she couldn't only inflict pain she can now sense it from a person. She would know what pains a person. And unlike her more active ability, this one is something she cannot shut down.

Of course, being around petty orphans meant that she would be sensing a lot of pain but lately she has been able to ignore them. But someone entered in the bar that she couldn't ignore.

For God's sake, Alice exclaims inwardly what is this. So much pain...

The so much pain came from a shady figure wearing a trench coat and a wide brimmed hat. The pain that she was sensing from him was quite riveting that it was even a miracle that this man was standing right. Alice could sense injections, blades cutting skin, and even decimation of limbs though the man seems whole.

Then someone else came out from the bar's inner room.

It was Thomas.

And at either side of him were women way past his age.

Thomas and his company sat down and ordered drinks, clearly not noticing an infuriated Alice staring at them.

Thomas was still talking to them when Alice approached them. "Hi," she said to Thomas, as alluring as she can. "would you mind coming with me for awhile."

The woman on his right stood up "Oh no, darling" she says "he's not going---"

The woman was cut off by Alice's hand slapping her in the face. The woman fell to the ground sideways, hitting her head at a nearby table. It seems that Alice misjudged her strength or maybe the woman wasn't really somber. The other woman stands up as if to confront Alice too. But before she could say anything Alice slams her hands into her face and hits her right in the nose. Alice feels the woman's surgically enhanced nose break.

"Sluts." Alice says bitterly, while dragging Thomas out of the bar. Not noticing the lingering gaze of the man with the wide brimmed hat.

Alice drags Thomas into a back alley. "Thomas," says Alice, in between fits of anger "what the hell were you thinking? Going off with sluts?"

Thomas stirred pathetically obviously helpless under the influence of alcohol. When he speaks his words were slurred. "WaashouldInot?" He says with his British accent. His next words came out clearer. "You weren't warming up to me and it was more than what I could take. I need some---"

"Someone to put your love on?" Alice says taunting Thomas "and you thought those sluts can reciprocate your love?" Alice was half-mad with fury and rage.

"What are you being so mad about?" Thomas says, while standing up "just a few hours ago you were ignoring me totally and---"

Thomas was cut off by Alice leaning forward and kissing him in the mouth. The kiss was sloppy as both of them are inexperienced. Alice cut it short.

"Don't you get it? Says Alice

"I do now." Replies Thomas, just before he slumps on the ground. Faint.

Alice smiles.

She might have not been very vocal about her feelings towards Thomas, but she has already known it for years. She fell in love with Thomas at the moment that he confessed to her.

And now, as she has publicly acknowledged that feeling, her elation will be cut short.

As Alice contemplates whether she should ask for help or just carry Thomas herself,when someone behind her plunged a hypodermic needle in her neck.

Then she blacked out