473. Burning Memories

473. Burning Memories

“This place isn’t showing you what it really is!” Revy shouted as the footsteps grew tenfold.

She dragged Alice by the hand through a field of colorful reeds. The haze became unbearably thick, clouding the girl’s eyes. Luckily for her, Revy had the keen senses of a feline, expertly weaving her way through the field until they arrived at a large, wooden house.

It was spotless and appeared newly built. Surrounding it were similar homes, but nowhere near in the same condition as it. A red river colored brightly like candy flowed between, and a forest could be seen in the distance. The smoke came from its direction.

“Inside!” Revy exclaimed, barging through before barricading the door with whatever furniture she found. “… There’s so many bodies in this place too.” She grumbled, staring at the many stuffed animals around.

Alice was confused.

“Bodies?”

“I… It’s better if I stop talking. Look. J-Just stick with me.” Revy had a strange, red card on her body.

It was the same card that was used to dispel illusions by the Golden Index. The item worked even in this place much to Revy’s surprise, although a part of her wished she remained as ignorant as Alice. However, it was not like she wasn’t used to the sight.

Alice on the other hand? It was better to spare her from the horrors.

“All this world shifting reminds me of a dream or a fairytale. I can’t tell if this is real anymore.” Alice trembled, no longer able to separate the two.

“This world isn’t real. It’s a place with a bunch of evil monsters wanting to eat us.” Revy said plainly, hearing the footsteps outside. She took Alice to move towards the top floor, where a balcony overlooked the foyer.

She peered out from the window, her ears flattened to not give herself away. Before that, she ensured that they were swathed in darkness. A mob carrying torches entered the village. Unlike the usual stuffed toys or those with giant animal heads, they were regular humans.

Alice saw the same thing, but the torches were giant sticks of glowing ice cream. They all wore dull, faceless masks. In their pockets was a scroll with many names, all guilty of one sin.

Revy’s heart wrenched at the sight; her eyes widening as she recognized them.

“… The 3rd Order… How does this place… Isn’t this place…?”

Revy had a stroke of realization as Alice remained ignorant to the cruel reality before them. This place, just like Alice, was too familiar for her to call a coincidence. Seeing the torches they carried, she quickly turned to Alice.

“Don’t go anywhere. I’m going to deal with them.”

“You’re going to go!?” Alice clutched onto her sleeves, paining Revy.

Long ago, Revy had a little brother before she was taken away.

In fact…

… this place was a recreation of that exact same moment.

“They’re not going to leave us alone. Those people… will do anything they can to ruin your life.” Revy couldn’t tell what face she was making right now.

All she knew was that Alice shut her mouth, her eyes wide with fear. Bloodlust filled the timid Revy. A hand clutched onto the red card as she bit her bottom lip.

“I wanted to forget it too. And this place tried to show me it like it was just a joke. I-I’ll… be back. I promise!”

Alice was reluctant, but she agreed. There was nothing she could do to say otherwise. She didn’t even feel like the girl was talking to her specifically, but to someone else. Revy armed herself with nothing but a short garden scythe and retreated through another window.

Alice quietly peered over the edge, muttering “I’m alone again…” as she watched Revy stalk the men and women through the reeds, dragging them one by one where she –

“Huh!?” She cried out in surprise.

– A pair of hands hid the bloodshed from her.

“Why do you resist it, Alice? You are afraid of it, so why do you look so intently?”

“No. Why are you showing me this!?” Alice responded, trying to pry the hands away from her face but to no avail. “Let go! Let me go! You’re a hypocrite!”

“Yet these depictions belong to you.”

“What do you want!? I didn’t do anything wrong to you or anyone!”

“Because you are perfect. You conveniently paint the world as you see fit to hide the real colors. This wonderful world will do it for you. No one will hurt you here.”

“Lies! I was… I was nearly hit with a hammer!”

“No. You were already hit with that hammer.”

“… huh…?”

Something trickled down the side of her head. She touched it and found a large gash. Her attempts became desperate now as she tried clawing herself free. The smell of smoke grew stronger, and she began to hear the voices outside.

“You’re the one who ate the apple!”

“Look at her hair!”

“She’s not even the daughter of that woman!”

“You’re a bastard child of that traitor!”

The illusion was dispelled, and Alice nearly broke down. Her tears couldn’t fall, accumulating in the palm of the White Rabbit who breathed into her ear, sweetly uttering:

“I can keep the illusions alive forever.”

“You will never have to hear them again.”

“All you have to do is listen to my voice. It is better for you that way. Because you cannot even rely on yourself.”

“NEVER!” With one final attempt, Alice managed to break free, suddenly tumbling down the full flight of stairs. Her body lay limp on the foray as smoke rose to the ceiling. Heat surrounded her, and she began to drag herself along the floors.

Broken glass littered the ground. Torn papers of precious memories were burned in a growing fire that consumed the front doors, trapping her inside.

“… People blamed me for something I didn’t do. I’m mother’s child. I know I am…” She whimpered. “… I have dad’s hair. That’s why our hair is so different… I didn’t do anything wrong…”

Pieces of memories returned to her. Her head ached like never before. Clarity filled her mind despite how dazed she was. The darkness in the corner of her eyes threatened to claim her as Alice looked absently at the flames, croaking with tears in her eyes.

“… so why did everyone hate me?”

Like the healers, people with blonde hair were heavily targeted by people in Grandis. Even following the fall of Paradise, groups of the 13th Order and the Kingdom of Puritas continued their hunt for the one who devoured the apple.

Alice’s was one of those people. It was fragment of her past she would rather keep buried and pretend that didn’t exist. The White Rabbit forced it to resurface, and then offered to hide it again.

“I was already ok being blind. Because I can’t do anything.” Alice lamented, her vision about to succumb to darkness.

Suddenly, a voice called to her as hands urgently cradled her.

“KID!” Revy shouted. “Thank goodness!”

She was genuinely thankful to see her alive. Even though they only knew each other by mere circumstances, this person was warmer to Alice than nearly everyone else in her life.

“You’re a kid too… dummy.” Alice groaned.

“Who… How did… Hold on. I’m with you! I… don’t know how to help your bleeding, but I’ll do my best! First we gotta get out of here! The 3rd Order…”

“… Is this your memory?” Alice wondered, seeing something dangle from Revy’s waist.

Items like a comb, hairclip and glasses were kept close to her. They were mementos belonging to her long lost family. Revy didn’t know it herself, but she was mentally strong. Alice saw the determination and despair in her eyes, and yet Revy stood defiantly in the face of her worst memory.

“… it is. This is my fault. All of it. I’m sorry.”

“… Hero…”

“Huh?”

“Hero.” Alice affirmed with a soft smile.

Revy could only smile in response as she carried Alice. Revy wasn’t that much bigger than her, nor older for that matter. But she was incredibly strong.

“Moon.” She thought about the triplets and Ignis. Revy was surprised she knew she was a Moon, but she didn’t want Alice to waste her breath and nodded with affection.

“Yep. The First Aspiring Moon of the Amalgam.” She said, bringing her away to safety. The two went on foot to escape the burning village. Alice could only watch as everything burned down.

The illusion was still ever present. But it was also equally as visceral as reality itself. Her thoughts were still clouded, and Alice had to wonder if there was a meaning behind all of this.

Would a drink fix this all? She wondered about that.

Perhaps drinking things to drown one’s sorrow was not the best course of action after all.