X No Sekai

o9; Long, Past Memory

† 

A loud sound and crash was heard. The 2nd ALICE had broken some “soft” part of the dungeon’s wall when they had a change. Quickly, the ALICEs, as well as Oz, ducked and ran towards the Xland. Turning back, the 6th ALICE grew big, fat and powerful creeping vines to block the hole.

It wasn’t long before Oz and the ALICEs were out of the doomed castle. They made it out safely and miraculously. Oz thought that they were going to be locked up in the dungeon of that twisted and weird kingdom. Oz felt a bit relieved to see the normal black sky and purple-ish clouds of the Xland. They were finally back.

“I can’t believe…we made it,” Oz said softly, afraid to say that his words aren’t coming true. He nearly fell on his knees and almost smiled.

He glanced behind him. The ALICEs had been looking at him, telling him that they have a long way to go. They should ask Mr. Rabbit or anyone else on what to do next. Oz stood up and dusted himself. “Where are we going next?” he asked.

To this question, the 3rd ALICE looked around, then behind them. Where the palace stands. Then he pointed at it. The 3rd ALICE was skilled for directions. “What do you mean, there? We just got out there! And there’s no way I’m going back to the dungeon again.” Oz complained in disbelief.

Hoping that the 3rd ALICE would change his direction, his pointing finger was still pointed at the palace. Because nobody moved, Oz grabbed the 2nd and the 5th ALICE’s wrists and pulled them towards the trial to the woods again. “I suggest let’s go back to where Mr. Rabbit was and ask him for the correct direction.”

The rest of the ALICEs followed. Walking back through their trail and remembering their adventures, Oz shivered. But mostly, he shivered out of a frightening thought. Just what is the truth that lies onto the ALICEs?

When Oz felt they were in the middle of the woods, he decided to stop and rest. His legs were starting to ache and he hadn’t been drinking water ever since he was sucked in the big hole and to Xland. As he rested his head on the trunk of the tree, the 1st ALICE looked at him intently. When Oz noticed this, the 1st ALICE looked away and sat beside him.

The other ALICEs have wandered on their own. The 2nd ALICE was resting on top of the branch to where Oz and the 1st ALICE were resting. Ever since the 2nd ALICE parted from his own world, he already missed climbing and playing with trees. Playing with the wilted and stray roses, the 6th ALICE had made a rose necklace, raising it in the air to adore her work emotionless. She, too, missed being free from her land to create cute stuffs as she’d like.

The 3rd and 5th ALICEs were currently getting along. As they were trying to catch the stray and strange black rabbit scampering about the field. It left without notice; the 4th ALICE had wandered off on his own. A bit farther away from the place the others rested.

He sat on the trunk of the tree and noticed that something was gleaming beside him. Thinking, he quickly grasped for it. But he was a bit disappointed when he learned it was only a dew drop from the leaves. He sighed softly and closing his eyes, he remembered nostalgic memories – his past memory when he was still a normal boy; a normal human.

~

…It was the day when it was his 10th birthday back then. There were a lot of preparations for his birthday party, since the 4th ALICE was from a wealthy family. Everyone were working hard, but was happy for their first son to be having a birthday party.

The 4th ALICE had been waiting all of his life for his birthdays. He always loved getting guests, not just the food and the gifts. And mostly, he loved it when his young sister gives him the finest rose that grew in their garden. His young sister’s garden.