X No Sekai

o3; Chains of Abyss

They seemed to be walking for hours by now, as Oz had noted. He and the 1st ALICE had been walking for what seems like hours. He was about to ask the ALICE if they were close to the 2nd ALICE, but he remembered that the ALICEs can’t talk. Oz sighed, starting to feel a bit impatient. The silver cross lock that was stuck around his waist like a belt felt heavy on him.

“Where are we now?” Oz finally complained. He tried to break free of the belt. “Plus this thing’s heavy. Can’t we rest?”

Quick as a swift, the 1st ALICE pointed a sharp blade of scythe at Oz’s neck. Her red eyes were glowing and glaring from angriness. And the look on her face was nasty, either. Oz gulped, startled. He looked down at the 1st ALICE nervously. “J-just keep going.” He said. He doesn’t know what to do anymore. Panic was starting to creep up on him.

The ALICE jumped back, still holding the scythe in her hand. She took one last glare and then stood straight, turned around and continued walking. Oz sighed a relief. Is these ALICEs act so weird and creepy? He thought to himself disgustedly.

Much to Oz’s surprise, she quickly grabbed Oz’s wrist tightly again. She pulled him, and together they felt they were floating because they were running to fast. Up ahead, Oz can see the dark violet door with wilted and creeping plants and vines almost covering it up. When they arrived, the 1st ALICE looked at the door then at Oz. Then she took a step aside and pointed at it.

Oz nodded and opened the door. Other than seeing complete darkness and shadows, they saw more likely the world in the Xland, but only in a bit darker shade. But the weather was wrong. It was raining with loud lightning. “Where…” Oz was about to ask, but then a loud ‘plop’ was heard.

He and the 1st ALICE glanced behind them. Surely, it must have been the 2nd ALICE, for he was the only one inside there before Oz and ALICE. Oz turned and backed away, frightened and startled. But then he remembered that he and the 1st ALICE had to catch him. Without thinking, he tried to reach out but the 2nd ALICE just stifled a giggle and ran away. Oz bit his lower lip. “It’s gonna be hard. Can you help me out?” he motioned at the 1st ALICE.

The 1st ALICE tilted her head, but then she nodded and ran after the 2nd ALICE. Oz sighed. After how many minutes of trying to catch the 2nd ALICE, they failed miserably. The 2nd ALICE was already sitting on top of a very high tree, looking down – a creepy smile plastered on his face as if enjoying them very tired. Then he laughed.

Oz was already sitting on the ground, not minding how dirty it was. He was panting very fast and lots of sweat was dripping from his forehead down to his neck. He never knew it was this hard. The 1st ALICE only looked at Oz then at the laughing 2nd ALICE. Then she started climbing the tree.

The 2nd ALICE stopped laughing and gasped. He quickly jumped down and ran away through the forest. Seeing this, the 1st ALICE stopped climbing and ran after him. “Hey! Wait!” Oz cried, rising up from his feet.

Running, the 2nd ALICE looked behind. There was no sign of the 1st ALICE. He was already starting to feel relieved, he walked up to a tree and was about to laugh at it when he stopped. His eyes grew wide and his mouth was slightly open. At the roots of the tree, was a picture full of dirt. He grabbed it and looked at it. It was his family picture. His mother, father, big brother, and 2 siblings and even he – was on the picture, smiling brightly. He tried to rub the dirt off, but then the picture was raised up. As he followed the gaze, the 1st ALICE was sitting on the branches, holding the picture and looking down on the 2nd ALICE. It was all a trap.

The 1st ALICE jumped down. The 2nd ALICE backed two steps away, but not much longer, as the 2nd ALICE was backing away, the ground rumbled. Then dark and rotted chains grew from the ground. Startled, both ALICEs looked around, their mouth slightly open.

“Hey! You guys are so –” Oz said, appearing but then his expression changed. As the chains were rising up, it turned at Oz’s sound just like a human and with full-speed, attacked him. “What is that!?”

He quickly jumped away from the chains that landed hard on the ground. He stared at the chains horrified. They were huge, rusty and rotting. But other than that, the thing was so powerful and strong. The other chain darted towards him and tried to squish him under. But luckily, Oz was just fast enough.

The 1st ALICE ran in front of Oz, as if protecting him. “Who’s controlling that one?” Oz finally managed to squeak. The 1st ALICE didn’t listen to him. Her focus was on the chains. She crossed both of her hands in front of her. Then she swiped it open. There was a huge splash of water that came right out of cracks of the ground. Then rushed and drained the chains out of sight.

Oz dropped his mouth open. Did she do that all by herself? Oz thought, starting to become horrified and at the same time, a bit interested on the 1st ALICE’s powers. Then he felt something hot near his stomach. He glanced down and saw the silver cross was glowing. And it was hot. He tried to take it off, but it felt like burning flames.

As Oz glanced up, the water washed away and more and new chains darted through the 1st ALICE. She jumped in the air and landed beside the 2nd ALICE, which had been looking emotionless, the whole situation. The 1st ALICE’s face was relaxed and doesn’t have any emotions. The chains quickly changed direction and headed through the 2nd ALICE with full speed.

It was only inches away before the chains reached 2nd ALICE’s nose when suddenly his eyes glowed bright red quickly and there was loud thunder and a very bright and strong lightning hit the chains, breaking it into pieces. Still, the two ALICEs remained emotionless.

Oz dropped his mouth open in shock. Then he felt the silver cross’ heat was becoming more intense. Just like indicating that it was over, the silver cross’ glow started to fade and then it became back to normal. Oz touched it. It was still warm from the glowing.

“What are those chains?” he manages to utter.

The 2nd ALICE picked up a stick and wrote down on the dirt: “They are from the guardian of Hell, aptly named as ‘Hell Girl’. She is out to get you. Because you’re…” Before Oz could finish reading, the 1st ALICE erased it quickly using her feet. The 2nd ALICE glanced at her. She shook her head.

“Hey! What was the continuation?” Oz asked.

The 2nd ALICE shrugged. He’s lying, Oz thought, staring intently at the 2nd ALICE. Then the 1st ALICE walked up to him and touched his forehead. Then she backed away.

His eyes focused on the two ALICEs that were looking at him. Somehow, they were blurry. Oz rubbed his eyes. He felt he was already losing his energy. Was it because of what the 1st ALICE did earlier? “I…must find the 3rd…” A loud plop was heard as Oz fell on the ground, his other hand still on the silver cross and the other was rested on the ground. “ALICE.” He uttered softly before he completely drained consciousness.

The 1st and 2nd ALICE looked at each other. Still emotionless, they nodded.

†