Abyssal Awakening

Drifting through her slumber, Alice found herself standing in a pool blood that restricted her movements.

The scent of iron permeated the air she breathed while the river beneath her dyed her body in crimson.

Furrowing her brows, Alice looked around to get an understanding of where she was.

*Drip~

"Hm?"

Alice turned towards the source of the noise out of curiosity only to freeze up at the sight. She could see Lilia standing in the pool of blood just like her, only with a wound in her chest and an unceasing flow of blood that created this pool.

Blinking her eyes, Lilia was now in front of her and Alice was holding a blade through Lilia's chest. The look of betrayal and shock in her eyes… The burning hatred.

Snapping her eyes open from her nightmare, Alice panted as cold sweat covered her back.

'It didn't go like that…' She thought to herself while biting her lip.

Clutching her chest, she could still feel the sensation of thrusting that sword through Lilia's chest.

'It didn't go like that?' She asked herself once more, this time unsure of her own words. She didn't know if she was trying to convince herself that she did the right thing or that it was truly what Lilia had wished for.

Regardless of the context, the truth was that Lilia died by her hand.

Clenching her fist, Alice couldn't help but wonder if the VIP had died or not. If she did, so be it. But if she somehow survived, Alice wanted to inflict the same if not more pain than what she did to Lilia.

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Holding her head, her memories of what happened before she passed out was rather blurred. She remembers a burst of crimson before everything became hazy.

'I was saved by someone. But who?' Alice furrowed her brows before looking around her.

It was only now that she realised she was sitting on something soft. She was currently sitting on a bed much better than what is afforded to a slave. The gentle embrace of the bed cover and comfort of the pillow should be out of reach.

Yet here she was sitting in one. Furrowing her brows, Alice paused when she noticed a weight missing from her body. The feeling of cold hard metal pressing against her limbs and more importantly, her neck, was now absent.

Hesitantly reached up with her hand, she tried to feel for restraints but there was nothing. She could feel her neck in its entirely with nothing blocking her hand.

Emotions welled up within her body as her hands started to shake, unable to contain herself. Scanning the room, she noticed a mirror and immediately jumped out of the bed in excitement.

Rushing in front of the mirror, she looked at her own reflection. As expected, there was no longer any restraints on her body. All she was wearing was a brand new white dress, simply yet comfortable along with some medical patches around parts of her body.

There were many questions flying through her mind yet her attention was stolen by her newfound sense of freedom.

No longer was she restrained as a prisoner of the Zenia family nor was she was slave. She was finally free.

'Now how to leave this room…' Alice thought to herself while scanning her surroundings.

While the chances that whoever helped her had no bad intentions was high, she couldn't bring herself to take it for granted. There was something they want from her and she didn't know what that was. It was better to have an escape plan than not have one.

Walking over to the window, she could see the bustling streets of the slaughter docks below. The cobbled path with water filling the gaps, large carcases of Abyss Beasts that belong in the Abyss Water hung above the streets using large hooks while workers peeled them layer by layer, salvaging any useful parts they could harvest.

Boats sailed into the docks from the distance with Abyss Beasts being restrained in cages amidst the other cargo.

Looking above the streets, Alice could see large buildings crafted from wood and stone. Rope bridges threaded the gap between buildings, forming a chaotic web. Some hung clothes off these ropes while most used them as ways to traverse different buildings.

Despite the window being shut, Alice could still hear the merchants shouting for attention towards their wares, Hunters having conflicts with one another, the bell tolls of the church and the priests trying to resolve fights.

This was the Slaughter Docks and this was her first proper view of the city.

Remembering the cost of such a sight, her excitement died down as she began looking for a route of escape. The most likely one being through the ropes and onto the rooftops.

Tapping the surface of the glass, Alice estimated that with a hard object, it wouldn't be too hard to break the thick glass window with the help of her first Sigil.

With one route in mind, she turned away from the window and looked for other options. Except for the bed, there was only a single table in the room with a metal candle holder on the tabletop while the drawers were empty.

'I can use the chair as a distraction while the candle holder works as I weapon I suppose… Better than nothing.' Alice shrugged while holding the handle holder awkwardly.

It was the type with a single long main body that split into three cups that would hold a candle each.

Giving it a swing, she figured that it'll probably work as a make shift hammer for now.

Just as she finished adjusting to her new weapon, Alice picked up on the feint sound of footsteps approaching her room.

Quickly jumping back into her bed, Alice hid the candle holder within the sheets before faking a sleeping posture while keeping one eye slightly open.

*Clack

Hearing the door open, the smell of smoke immediately assaulted the room as Alice tried her best not to react.

"You know, if you're already awake you should just sit properly. I could hear you from downstairs that's why I came up. No point jumping back into bed." A woman's voice rang out as Alice slowly sat up while narrowing her eyes towards the visitor.

Upon seeing the woman, her memories became clear as this was the same person that saved her before she passed out.

"Maybe place the candle holder back on the table too. I can still see the three candles you removed from it ya know?" Allura sighed while sitting on the chair in front of the desk. She had made sure to finish her cigarette before entering this place yet the smell of smoke still followed her in.

Hearing this, Alice clicked her tongue before slowly pulling out the candle holder from beneath the sheets and placed it back on the table.

"There we go. Now how are you feeling? Any injuries still lingering?" Allura asked while adopting a relaxed lazy posture on the chair.

"None." Shaking her head, Alice had already checked for any injuries but there were none.

"That means the blood did its job and so did the doctors. Now! I'm not sure if you remember but I'm the one who saved you yesterday. As I said yesterday, I'm sorry for being late. Had I not delayed what I planned to do, you would've been spared from performing that act." Allura apologised sincerely as her eyes were serious.

Hearing this, Alice looked down at her hands. She knows that it's not the woman's fault for arriving late, but rather an unfortunate play of events and circumstances. The one at fault is the VIP for doing such a thing to Lilia.

Lilia's condition was irreversible, but it's no excuse for wielding the blade that killed her.

"I hope you can forgive me for my tardiness and that the two of us can get to know one another properly. Honestly, I don't know how much Kaden has told you but I'm essentially your new guardian." Allura scratched her head awkwardly. She wasn't used to talking like this but this was a serious topic so she had to be serious about it.

"Kaden? Who that?" Alice tilted her head in confusion.

"Eh? He didn't tell you his name? Tsk, lazy b*stard, leaving everything to me like always." Allura broke character as she immediately rapid fired curses towards Kaden, surprising Alice who thought she was the serious type from how she talked.

"Ahem. Kaden is the one who dropped you in the middle of the Abyss. He's also the one that gave your Right eye. I'm sure you felt some of the power the eye brings from how you moved." Allura sighed.

Widening her eyes, Alice understood that Kaden was the raven man who pulled her from the Zenia family prison.

Going by the flow of this conversation, Alice had an idea on who this woman was but she wasn't 100% sure.

"Are you Allura?" Alice asked hesitantly.

"Oh! So he doesn't forget to give you MY f*cking name but forgets his own. Let me guess, he also didn't tell you jack sh*t about anything and threw you into the Abyss right?" Allura rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"But yes, I am Allura. I'm your new guardian for the time being."