X No Sekai

o14; Slaying of Gorebyss

† 

Oz backed away from the 1st ALICE and ran away, leaving her all alone in the room. He finally saw the sin they’re making and the truth they’re hiding. And it’s unforgivable, Oz thought while running throughout the hallway with tears of bitter anger. I can’t completely forgive them! I just can’t! When he turned a corner, he bumped onto the Right Guardian, much to his surprise.

“Oh, what a surprise gift,” the Right Guardian said, grabbing Oz’s hand. The Left Guardian sneaked behind Oz and covered his nose with a handkerchief. “Sleep tight, kiddo,” he snickered. When Oz sniffed it accidentally, he lost unconsciousness and fell on his knees. ALICE… he thought inside his head silently.

-

The 1st ALICE looked to where Oz had run through. Did she just hear Oz call them? She looked everywhere and took off and ran. While running, she felt there was no solid ground underneath her. When she looked down, it was a big black hole and quickly, she fell in. When she landed safely, she was in some other part of the palace. She looked around and sensed something.

The 1st ALICE reached the very end of the room when she finally sensed the aura of the 4th ALICE as a warm breeze passed her by. She followed the breeze and it led her to the weird-looking door. When she touched it, she felt a painful sting. She tried to use her powers, but it had no effect on it. Then she finally remembered the key. She fumbled through her pocket and placed the key inside the keyhole and heard a click. As soon as it was open, the rest of the ALICEs burst out.

Their expressions were really relieved and glad they were out, but their expression changed when the 1st ALICE wasn’t rejoicing with them. They finally knew why. Oz saw false scenery and ran away. The 3rd ALICE closed his eyes and traced the track of Oz’s shadow. But then after how many minutes of concentration, he shook his head miserably. Oz was missing with no track.

The 4th ALICE sniffed the air and pointed to where Oz had run to. The rest of the ALICEs ran, hoping to find Oz and they were hoping nothing bad had happened to him.

-

Oz had been running for hours in the pitch-dark room he didn’t know. He looked around and heard only his heavy panting. “ALICE?” he called out, then he remembered the eerie scenery he had seen earlier. Then he stopped calling, but his voice echoes back. Then he heard lots of laughter. He glanced up and saw the faces of the ALICEs appearing one by one, each face stiffened with a grotesquely smile. They were laughing and pointing at Oz.

“We’ll kill you, get your energy and make you the 7th ALICE,” the 2nd ALICE’s voice said in the background.

Then, followed by the 5th ALICE, “I can’t believe it. Why do you want to go home? Why won’t you stay in Xland? It’s much fun – and there’s this rule we play till eternity. No one leaves the Xland.”

“Come, play and be with us, it’s so much fun, you don’t have to worry anything,” the 6th ALICE urged. Then they came closer to Oz as he backed away, frightened. “S-stay away from me!” he screamed, turned around and ran away.

And that’s when Oz regained his consciousness and woke up. He saw he was in a very magnificent room. But something was wrong with the room – even though it looked beautiful and magnificent, it seemed like it’s very lonely and full of dark and twisted things from it. Oz looked down and saw that he was tied up as well as his feet.

“So, you’re awake?” a voice said. He looked up and saw a throne nothing but darkness, but Oz knew the voice came in from there. “Good morning, kiddo,” the Left Guardian snickered. “Slept well?” the Right Guardian added. Then both of the twins snickered and high-fived.