(Narrator: Young girl)
I can't recall the moment I've started walking through this dark forest. I don't even know why I'm walking through this place.
Is it to escape something or someone? Is it to prove that I’m a brave girl? Is it just a bet made at school? Am I just out camping? I do not know.
Anyways, I have to keep moving.
Suddenly, I see the light of a campfire in the distance. I get closer, imagining that getting warmer will make me feel good. There is a young red-haired girl sitting by the fire. It is difficult for me to see her green eyes in the faint glow of the fire, but they seem to be staring at the ground.
Willing to break the ice, I greet her. She doesn't answer. I start thinking that she is deaf, until she suddenly answers.
Alice Lorange : I am Alice Lorange. You know… like an orange.
I remain silent and my reaction seems to surprise her.
Alice Lorange : You don't seem to be laughing… Why?
I remain silent. This strange girl fascinates me. Her face seems frozen in total neutrality.
Alice Lorange : The Others always laugh.
She barely even whispered that last sentence, as if she was afraid of retaliation.
Alice Lorange : Anyway, my name is Alice Lorange.
She already told me that. When understanding her mistake, Alice apologizes right away. She then proceeds to tell me she's 16 years old and that she's from Quebec.
Alice Lorange : Say... Would you like to hear my story?
This time, I must answer her.
??? : A story?
Alice Lorange : Yes. I tell it to everyone I meet in this forest, but nobody believes me.
??? : It is a true story, then.
Alice seems to hesitate, but then answers 'yes'. What should I do?
??? : All right, Alice. I'll listen to your story.
Alice Lorange : Ah… Thank you!!!
(Narrator : Alice)
My story starts as I wake up in a bedroom. That bedroom isn't my own. The bed sheets are burning my skin.
***
??? : 'Burning'? What?
Alice Lorange : It is a manner of speech. May I continue?
??? : Of course!
***
So 'Irritating' would be a better word, but to me it feels as painful as putting my hand into a fire. The walls hhave an awful color. A bright orange. I do not like it. The furniture is old and covered in dust. I hate dust. It spreads everywhere, and no matter how much you work at removing it, it keeps coming back. And besides, the mere thought of touching it… NO WAY!
***
??? : Why?
Alice Lorange : It's DISGUSTING! Anyway, where was I? Oh yes.
***
I don't stay in bed very long because of my burning skin, but I quickly start having a headache. For a simple reason. I am not in my bedroom. I am in some stranger's bedroom.
I am in the Unknown. The Unknown, the great and powerful Unknown. It knows how to make me suffer. I believe, with all my heart, that we will always be at war. I want to curb my headache, thus I do the first thing that comes to my mind. I call mom and dad.
I know. It sounds stupid, but their presence always reassured me and it drove the Unknown away. No answer though. I try again. Still nothing.
My headache becomes unbearable. Tears come to my eyes and I start crying. I can't help it.
Voice : Hey!
Suddenly I hear a feminine voice. It comes from outside the room.
Girl’s Voice : Are you ok? Can I come in?
I don't know what to answer. I don't want her to see me like this, crying like a baby. After all, she's an Other.
***
??? : An 'Other'? I don't understand.
Alice Lorange : ...
***
Girl’s Voice : Uh... I'm coming in, ok?
Before I can even reply, the door opens and a blonde girl enters the bedroom. She has tiny blue eyes. I have never seen eyes that small before.
I look at her and I hold back my tears.There is no way I'll let her make fun of me! The blue-eyed girl looks younger than me. I wonder how old she is? While I wipe my teary eyes, I ask her.
Alice Lorange : May I ask how old are you?
Girl : What a strange question! And in such a polite manner!
Great. I spoke too soon! She'll mock me. I'm sure of it! Strangely, the girl does not mock me. I cannot understand why.
Girl : It's rare to find such well-mannered teens. I'm 14 years old. What's your name?
I remain quiet for a while. There always seemed to be a gap between the moment I want to speak and the moment I actually speak. I never understood why. It always takes me a while to answer someone.
Alice Lorange : Alice.
Girl : Alice... who?
Another pause.
Alice Lorange : Alice Lorange. Come on, you may laugh now.
Girl : Huh? Why would I laugh?
Strange. The Others laugh all the time, so... why...?
Girl : It's a cute name, Alice. As for Lorange, it fits your hair color quite well.
I answer right away this time. This occurs very rarely.
Alice Lorange : Fits with my hair? How so?
Girl : No, no! It's an idiom.
I feel foolish. Idioms, sentences with a figurative meaning, non-vocal communication… They are all mysteries for me, like an unsolvable puzzle. I had to learn several by heart, but there are still many that I don't get. Even though I know several of them, it does not mean that I understand them all. Still, I like some, like the ones that involve food.
Alice D : I'm also called Alice. Alice D.
Alice Lorange : D? For Denton?
Alice D : No, only D. It's incredible! Four Alices!
Alice Lorange : Four Alices?
So there is two other girls. It wakes my interest up.
Alice D : Yes, Alice Brown and Alice Kurosawa. Moreover, we address ourselves with our last names, in the Japanese way, to avoid confusion.
Lorange : It's a great idea, so I'm Lorange.
D : True, and I'm D. If you want, I can...
Suddenly, a mysterious creature appears. It looks like a purple ghost with bright eyes.
D : OH NO! Another one of those things!
Creature : E…eat… soul…
D : Lorange, it cannot be defeated. It’s invincible. We must flee!
Lorange : All right, let's get out of here!
D and I flee the bedroom with orange walls.
We are now in a corridor with several doors. Strangely, there is a word written on each door. 'Alice' with a large colored circle. The orange bedroom has an 'Alice' and an orange circle.
D : Each circle on the bedroom door matches the color of our hair. I have the yellow one, you have the orange one, Brown has the brown one, Kurosawa has the black one. There's also the bathroom. There is nothing written on that door. Oh, and the attic too. But let's not waste any more time, let's hide in Brown's bedroom!
She goes to the door with the brown circle. I follow her closely and we enter the room. We barely have the time to close the door behind us that a loud voice raises.
Voice : OUT OF MY ROOM!!!
D : Brown, hush! It musn't hear us!
Brown : OUT OF... What?
D : One of those... ghost creatures. It appeared in the orange room and...
Brown : Ok, ok, no more talking!
We remain silent for a while. I take this opportunity to look at this other Alice. Alice Brown is a little girl with brown hair and dark skin. She mustn't be no younger than 8 and no older than 10 years old.
After a long waiting time, Brown starts talking.
Brown : It must be gone now.
D : I hope so.
Brown : Now, GET OUT OF MY ROOM!
D : Brown!!!
Lorange : Uh... forgive me, but… Why should we leave...?
Brown : OUT, OUT, OUT!!!
Lorange : Is this place... your Zone?
Brown : I SAID... Zone? What kind of zone?
Lorange : Your Zone. Your Sanctuary. Your Shelter. Your Protection. Your Save Poi... GAH!
Brown : Ha ha ha! Save point! You're a gamer?
***
??? : You're one?
Lorange : Yes, it is my great passion.
***
Lorange : Yes, ha ha! I also have a Zone. It's my own bedroom. When I was little, I wanted no one to come inside, even my parents! So I understand your anger. D, we should leave her alone.
D : …
Brown : Wait!!! You... You are...?
Lorange : Lorange, Alice Lorange.
Brown : Lorange. You can stay... in my Zone.
D can't believe what she was hearing.
D : No way! She always chases me out and you… YOU!!!
I remain silent for a few seconds - my good old answering gap - then I ask Brown if D can stay as well.
Brown : For you, Lorange... She can stay.
By looking more carefully at the room, I find out it's as horrible as 'mine'. The walls have a dull brown tint. The bed is in a bad state of repair. There is hardly any furniture.
Lorange : So Brown... like milk chocolate?
Brown : Yeah!
Lorange : Is that why your name appears in brown in the text?
D : In the text?
Brown : What are you...?
Lorange : Oh it's NOTHING, nothing at all! I... I am from Quebec (Canada)... and you Brown?
Brown : From somewhere in the United States.
Lorange : D?
D : Somewhere in Russia.
Lorange : Russia...
***
???: One moment! A Russian and an American. They should not speak in French…
(Author's note : The story was originally written in French. Also, Alice Lorange is a Quebec French speaker.)
Lorange : Absolutely.
??? : But then, how did you communicate with them?
Lorange : The explanations are coming.
***
Lorange : One second! Do you speak Quebec Frenc... I mean standard French?
Brown and D both answer 'no' at the same time.
Lorange : But I spoke in French from the very beginning! How did you manage to understand me?
Brown : It's... the house.
Lorange : The house?
Brown : It brought us here.
I did not understand what Brown meant by that. D explains the meaning of her words.
This house is very strange. In the first place, the two Alices woke up here, without knowing why and how. Secondly, even though they don't speak the same language - American English and Russian - they always manage to understand each other, without any rational explanation. Lastly, Kurosawa has already tried to get out of the house but never succeeded.
Lorange : WHAT!? We're trapped inside!
My head hurts again and my body begins to tremble. I must remain calm.
Brown : Yes. Kurosawa... She tried everything.
D : We should go see her, Lorange. She can tell you more.
Lorange : Alright and, with luck, we won't meet one of these creatures again.
Brown : Good luck!
Lorange : Brown, do you want to come with us?
Brown : No. I'd rather stay here.
Lorange : …
I leave the brown room with D and she brings me in front of Kurosawa’s bedroom. She knocks at the door. No answer.
D : She must be on the first floor.
We go down the stairs to get there. No creature shows up in our way.
D explains that the first floor has a bathroom, a kitchen, a living room, a lobby and a door leading to the cellar. I ask her if there is any room in the cellar.
D : Yeah. Another bedroom, another bathroom and a mysterious door. I don't like to go there. It creeps me out.
Lorange : Why? I do not understand.
D : Well... The other bedroom has books about black magic. The bathroom has blood everywhere. The mysterious door is locked with big black chains. It reminds me of the chain door in that horror video game, so I REALLY don't like going there.
Lorange : I understand you. That seems scary.
D : Anyway, Kurosawa cannot be very far. MISS KUROSAWA?
Kurosawa’s Voice : YES?
D : THIS IS D. COULD YOU COME HERE FOR A MINUTE?
Kurosawa’s Voice : OF COURSE.
A very beautiful Japanese woman, with a distinguished air, arrives. She must be in her thirties, although her face makes her look younger.
Kurosawa : What is it, Miss D?
D : I wanted to introduce Alice Lorange. She just arrived.
Lorange : N...Nice to m...m...meet... y...you.
I can't help it, but I am VERY nervous. Such a beautiful woman... Compared to her, I am NOTHING.
***
??? : 'I am NOTHING.' How can you think such a thing!? You are VERY pretty!
Lorange : ...Thanks...
***
Kurosawa : It is an honor to meet you, Fourth Alice.
Lorange : 'Fourth Alice'?
Kurosawa : Yes, you are the Fourth Alice who arrived at this place. Since there are only four bedrooms, I do not think that other Alices will be coming.
Lorange : If I am the Fourth, you are...?
Kurosawa : I am the First Alice. D is the Second and Brown is the Third.
Strangely, Kurosawa still has her black eyes focused on the ground while she speaks to me. Is she shy? Or....
Lorange : So the 'D' is for 'Deuxième'? ('Second' in French.)
D : NO! My last name is D and only D!
Lorange : I am so sorry.
Kurosawa : I am sure you have many questions about this strange house.
Indeed, I have several.
Lorange : Is it true that it is impossible to go outside?
Kurosawa : Unfortunately, yes. Whatever method I've used. The windows... The lobby door... Every time I try to go out, my body plunges into darkness and I find myself back into my bedroom, the black room.
Lorange : This is nuts!
D : Yet, she tells you the truth. I tried myself and the same thing happened to me.
For a moment, I remain lost in thought. I also realize that Kurosawa's body is very tense.
Lorange : Right now, are you talking to me in Japanese?
***
??? : It’s obvious. She is Japanese, so she must speak in this language.
Lorange : ...
***
Kurosawa : Yes. I am talking to you in Japanese.
Lorange : But I hear French on a fluent level.
Kurosawa : This is another unexplained phenomenon of this house. The written and spoken languages are automatically translated to be understood by all. From my point of view, I hear very polite Japanese from you.
Lorange : Also, is there something to eat?
It’s better to be careful. Who knows how long we're going to have to stay here? Beside, I am sure to have missed breakfast at my usual hour! My routine... it's a di-sas-ter!
Kurosawa : Yes, and the fridge never seems to get empty.
D also tells me, without being able to explain it, that the house seems to be frozen in time. She is sure to have arrived here several days ago, but she is never tired. Also, there is no clock. It is therefore impossible to know the time and the sun shines eternally outside of the windows.
Lorange : It's really odd. So, to sum up, we are trapped in a house where time seems frozen... but why?
Kurosawa : It is a mystery that I wish to solve. I have already looked in the attic, but everything is messy. A real DISGRACE! There are also books in the cellar bedroom, but I have barely even flipped through those.
Lorange : Hm. Maybe we need to look deeper in the attic and take the time to read the books in the cellar?
Kurosawa : I agree, but I have to do everything on my own.
Surprised, I ask Kurosawa why she should do it all alone and D explains that Brown does not like to go to the attic. She also completely refuses to go to the cellar.
Lorange : I get it, but what about you D?
D : Uh... I... I... I do not like it.
***
??? : I do not understand her.
Lorange : I did not understand her either. Do not worry, the explanations are coming.
***
Lorange : D, I don't understand.
D : Uh. T-T-The paper...
Lorange : The paper?
Suddenly, D screams, enraged.
D : I DO NOT LIKE THAT, OK!!! I REALLY WANT TO HELP YOU, BUT I CAN'T! IT HURTS WAY TOO MUCH!
Suddenly, I realize something huge and the mental shock makes me fall flat on the ground.
Kurosawa : Miss Lorange!
Lorange : You... Are you... are you all... like me?
Kurosawa : Forgive me, Miss Lorange. I do not understand.
Lorange : A...S...D...
I slowly get back up.
Lorange : I am autistic.
***
Lorange : You suspected that, didn’t you? Something is 'wrong' with me... Well, you have the answer now.
??? : …
***
Lorange : Brown is too, with her Zone. I thought D was an Other but she just confirmed that she had ASD's when mentioning the paper. You, Kuro... I mean, Miss Kurosawa. You are... Are you?
Kurosawa remains quiet for a while, then she starts telling me that 'no', she's 'normal'. I interrupt her quickly.
Lorange : You are lying!
The expression on Kurosawa's goes from being tense to mere surprise. D, angry, wants to scold me but I speak before she utters a word.
Lorange : I do not know why, but I know you are lying. If there is one thing I hate even more than the Unknown, it's lies!!!!!!!
Without understanding why, Kurosawa's eyes start humidifying. After saying she's ashamed, she starts crying.
Kurosawa : My family. It... It does not want a mons... an 'Anomaly'.
Lorange : Dear Others, you may be so cruel.
Kurosawa : 'Others'?
Lorange : That's my word for 'normal' people. It might sound offensive and a bit othering, but in my world, there are Me and the Others.
***
??? : So... I am an Other.
Lorange : You understood well.
***
Lorange : Some Others are nice, but most of them are bad.
D : 'Most of them'? Your life was not easy, eh.
I remain silent. I don't want to argue with D, but she is right. My life was not easy.
Kurosawa : I did not want to be a mons... an 'Anomaly', so I tried to act 'normal', to 'normalize' myself.
'Normalize'. I hate that word so much, and for many reasons. I cannot believe that there are people, there are Others, who would like to 'cure' us, transform us into 'normal people' by force, for reasons I can't figure! However, this doesn't mean that I am against medical and psychological therapy, but... Why change us?
Lorange : 'Normalize'! I HATE that word! What are we, monsters from a RPG?
It's Kurosawa's turn to say nothing.
Lorange : I know, I know. The Human Society has specific rules to respect. There are Behaviors to follow, especially in public. I understand that. I apply them as best as I can. Why do Others want to 'normalize' us at all costs?
***
??? : …
Lorange : You wanted to say something?
??? : No... well, yes... I… I don't know anymore.
Lorange : In that case...
***
Suddenly, Brown's voice is heard.
Brown : Perhaps they are afraid of us or they do not understand us?
Lorange : Brown!
While seeing her arrive, Kurosawa abruptly stops crying, like she had pressed an 'Off' button.
Kurosawa : Miss Brown, did you hear me?
Brown : Yes, but that's ok. We are the same.
Lorange : We are not Others. We are… We are, uh...
Brown : ASD, yeah!
Lorange : No! We need a better name, although we are all autistic.
D : Oh! Why not CAG?
Brown : CAG? What's that mean?
D : COOL AUTISTIC GIRL!
Lorange : Uuuuuuuuuh.
D : WHAT, doesn't it sound cool?
Kurosawa starts laughing discreetly, then she suggests her own idea.
Kurosawa : Why not 'KDBL'?
Lorange : By our order of arrival? Works for me!
D : WHAT? But CAG is so much easier to pronounce!
D is right, but I explain that CAG means many, many things, like the Canadian Association of Geographers.
Brown : K...D...B...L...
When hearing Brown, D sighs out of frustration, however in the end she agrees to go with this name.
Lorange : So we are not Others, we are KDBL! We must be proud of it! Now, should we start our search? We must find out why we are all here, and find a way out of this house.
Kurosawa : I am ready.
Lorange : Onward, to the attic!
Brown : The a-a-attic?
Lorange : Yes, to the attic, and you're coming with us!
Brown lets out a big 'NOOOOOOOOOOO'. Upon hearing her, I dart a green angry glance that makes the little girl jump out of fear.
Lorange : Brown! We're ALL going to the attic! The mess, the paper and the dust should better brace themselves! THIS. IS. WAR!!!
My words make D and Brown tremble. They tell me that they will help, without complaining.
On our way to the attic, a creature blocks the path.
D : NO!!!
Kurosawa : If only there was a way to defeat it...
Lorange : Are these creatures truly invincible?
Kurosawa : Yes. I have already tried to fight one. My attacks had no effect.
Brown : Hey! Look!
Another creature appeared. It begins to attack its friend. We take this opportunity to go to the attic.
In the attic, all the messy objects and the thickness of the dust make me feel sick. D makes a remark about the dust, Kurosawa says something about the mess and Brown is on fire.
Brown : THIS. IS. WAR! Am I right, Lorange?
Before I can even answer, Brown goes to a dusty box and she opens it. She tells us there are old photos inside.
Kurosawa : Old photos?
Brown : Yes. Come and see.
We go and take a look at them. The photos show a family. A man, a woman and two children.
Lorange : Are they the owners of the house?
Kurosawa : I think I saw the first names of this family in the books of the cellar, but I cannot remember them.
According to her, the people in the photo are actually the owners of the house.
In the meantime, D searches on her own and she quickly finds something. She asks us to join her and we gather near her. The blond-haired Alice holds a dusty mini notebook. On its cover, it is handwritten : 'The Traces'. D tries to open the notebook.
D : Come on. I can do this. It's... only... paper... NO, I CAN'T! MY SKIN WILL BUUUUUURN!
Lorange : From 1 to 10, how much?
D does not understand my question, so I give her an explanation.
Lorange : The 'burn' you feel when touching paper. On a scale of 1 to 10, weakest to strongest, how would you rate it? I also want Brown’s and Kurosawa’s answers.
D : 10, no, 9!
Kurosawa : 6.
Lorange : 7 for me.
Brown : 4!
I can't believe it and I quickly ask Brown if she is being serious.
Brown : Of course. The paper hurts me, but just a little bit.
***
??? : I do not understand this 'feeling' of burning.
Lorange : I have very sensitive skin.
***
Lorange : In that case, why didn't you want to go to the attic?
Brown : I hate dust and messy rooms. Then there are also the boxes. Cardboard hurts me more than paper.
Lorange : I see. Brown, since you are the least 'sensitive' in our group, could you open the notebook?
Brown : Yes, but I don't know if I will be able to read it.
She takes the notebook from D. She opens it and turns a few pages.
Brown : It talks about those creatures, the ones we saw! They are females and they are called Traces... but it's complicated. There are plenty of words.
D : 'Plenty of words'? Isn't normal for a notebook?
Brown remains silent. She seems ashamed of herself. I ask her if I can look at the notebook, even if I don't really want to do it. I feel my hands tingling.
Brown : As you wish.
I take the notebook and start reading it. Each page I turn, my skin tingles and trembles under the shock, but I hold on. I only have to stay focused on the text. That trick always helped me, especially at school where I have to write on paper all day long.
Lorange : Some parts of the text are unreadable. Let’s see.
Lorange : "The Traces are creatures summoned from [...] They feed on human souls. Energy [...] Powers. [...] In groups of four [...] first name shared [...] All sealed in a Domain. Human... consciousness possible? I have made a big mistake. I beg for forgiveness." The rest talks about chains.
Kurosawa : Chains? Those in the cellar?
Lorange : "Chains... protect..." Part of the text is erased. "The Traces can destroy..." That's all. There is nothing else.
D : It's horrible. We are trapped in a house with invincible, soul-devouring creatures!
Lorange : We need to know more. Let's go to the cellar to find the books!
Brown starts yelling that she doesn't want to go to the cellar. I dart an angry glance once again.
Lorange : BROWN! We're ALL going to the ce...!
Brown : Alright, Lorange, I get it!!!!!!
Kurosawa laughs discreetly and we go to the cellar. We have not seen the two Traces again.
D : Maybe they killed each other?
Lorange : Ha ha! It would be very funny!
The cellar.
A large room with worn walls and three doors.
One is clean, the other has blood, and the last one has the chains.
Lorange : Let me guess. The bedroom = the clean door. The bathroom = the bloody door. The mystery room = the Silent Hill's chains of horror!
D tells me that I've figured it out and that this place always freaked her out. Brown becomes quickly nervous. Kurosawa has to reassure her.
Kurosawa : Let's go to the bedroom!
The other Alices reach the place. Meanwhile, I want to take a look at the bathroom. Like D had told me, it is covered in blood. Even the toilet is filled with the red liquid.
***
??? : Like in a horror movie!
Lorange : Or a video game!
***
I am planning on getting back to the other KDBL when a Trace appears. I want to flee but I can't move. An invisible force paralyzes me. Unable to do anything else, I start yelling.
D, when hearing my cry for help, comes back to see what is going on.
D : LORANGE!
Lorange : I... I cannot move!
Trace : S…soul… E... eat... Eat... Soul...
The Trace creeps closer.
Trace : EAT!
Lorange : N-No...
D : I REFUSE to let you die! I've suffered enough... ...Blood between my legs...
Before I can yell at her to leave me behind, D rushes towards the Trace in order to fight her. Unfortunately, the creature kills her. I see the bloody corpse of D tumbling and hitting the ground. I am suddenly able to move. Without wasting time, I flee to find Brown and Kurosawa in the bedroom with books.
Brown : Lorange? Are you ok?
Lorange : The 'D'... it was for Dead. No, it is not the time to be joking around! ALICE D IS DEAD!
Brown : NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Kurosawa : D-Dead?
Lorange : In the bathroom... A Trace… D, she's…
Kurosawa, after asking us to stay here, leaves the bedroom. Brown, panicking, asks me what to do.
Lorange : I do not know what to do. Wait for Kurosawa, maybe?
Brown stops talking and I keep asking her.
Lorange : I see that there are some books opened... Have you found any information about the Traces? Like 'how to beat them'? Why are we here, in this house?
Brown : Yes and no. I have not found a way to destroy them. However...
It would seem that it was the master of the house, Alarie, who summoned the Traces, after the death of his wife, Alya, and his children, Amandine and Anicet.
I am surprised by how fast and efficient Brown and Kurosawa have been. I was only gone to the bathroom for a few minutes after all. I tell Brown about it and she finds it strange. According to her, the two Alices have been searching for hours. That is very odd.
Lorange : This man, Alarie... I bet he summoned the Traces with black magic.
Brown : Absolutely.
Lorange : That's so CLICHÉ!
It reminds me of that little RPG I discovered five days ago. This video game features magical girls as the main characters.
Lorange : Anyway, let me guess the rest of Alarie's story with the notebook fragments.
In my opinion, Alarie understood that the creatures were dangerous because they tried to devour his soul or one of another person. He then tried to destroy or to exorcise them, but he failed. To prevent them from leaving his house and invading the world - his world, not ours on Earth - Alarie has performed a ritual to seal them all in a Domain. Then, either he committed suicide, or the Traces ate him.
The Domain is the house we are in, isolated from the outside world, but the Traces are still alive and they must feed to survive. They - even though the process is still unclear to me - summon groups of people to take their souls. The groups are always made up of four people that share the same first name.
Brown : You have guessed everything! Kurosawa also read that the Domain adapts itself to its tenants. This explains the 'Alice' bedrooms and the automatic languages translation. Lorange... I'm afraid. Kurosawa has not returned yet.
I ask her if she wants me to go to the bathroom.
Brown : Yes! No!
Lorange : Yes or no?
Brown : I don't know!!!
I plan on going there anyway, let my fear be damned!, however it is the moment Kurosawa chooses to come back.
Brown : KUROSAWA! You are ok!
I am also glad to see her again, safe and sound, but my body remains tensed. I feel something is wrong with the Japanese woman. Her eyes. They have changed. They were black and now they are yellow. I've played enough video games to know that this is not a good sign.
Lorange : Kuro-Kurosawa.
Kurosawa? : Yes?
Lorange : Oh, it's nothing.
I don't find the courage to ask her what happened to her eyes.
Brown : Is Alice Dead... no D, is she really dead?
Kurosawa? : The blonde girl? Yes, I saw her corpse vanishing with the Trace that devoured her soul.
Brown : No... We cannot stay here.
Lorange : You are right. Another Trace could come.
Brown and I immediately leave the bedroom and head up to the first floor. Kurosawa (?) remains at the same spot, motionless. I call her and ask her to come. She proceeds in taking her time before joining me.
Our group is on the first floor, and has lost one member. Although I'm very sad for Alice Dead, no, for Alice D, I do not want to let myself be broken by this ordeal. I have a very strange idea to help easing the tensed atmosphere.
Lorange : Why don't we take a bite?
Brown : A bite? On me? Where?
She does not know the popular idiom? I thought it was a popular idiom.
Lorange : I mean why don't we eat something?
Brown : I'm not hungry.
Neither am I. How is it possible? I should be hungry by now! I ask Brown if she is sure of her answer. She doesn't answer. Suddenly, Kurosawa (?) asks us if we are going to rest.
Brown : Rest? Like sleeping?
***
??? : What a strange idea. The Traces could kill you while you are all asleep!
Lorange : I was thinking the same thing.
***
Kurosawa? : Sometimes sleep makes us understand things better.
Brown answers with an 'ok' and I find it weird. She then says she's going to bed and she leaves us for her bedroom. Kurosawa (?) stares at me in a strange way. I feel that an invisible force is pushing me to go sleep. I hesitatingly say that I'm going to bed, and I go back to my bedroom.
I go to bed – my skin burns! – and I try to fall asleep quickly.
When I open my eyes, I quickly notice that the furniture in the bedroom had disappeared. There's a big hole in the wall. While wondering if I'm dreaming, I approach the mysterious hole. I try to see what's through it, but I only see darkness. Wow! Is it the white rabbit hole? If I go inside will I end up in Wonderland?
Suddenly Brown comes into my bedroom, but she has changed. Instead of being in her usual clothes, she wears a blue and white uniform - from her school? - and she has white rabbit ears on her head. The white rabbit... I must be dreaming. I expect Brown to yell that she is late, like in the tale of 'Alice in Wonderland', but she simply go into the hole.
I follow Brown and I go into the hole. I crawl into the darkness and, after what seems like an eternity, I see a light at the end of the tunnel. I head towards the light, feeling quite strange. Am I suddenly wearing much more fabric or is it just me?
Leaving the hole behind, I discover a totally new world. A flowery meadow, a beautiful blue sky and a radiant sun. Rather than being happy to see the sun again, my stomach tightens and my head becomes heavy. The Unknown. The great and powerful Unknown. It never gives up! I must think of something else, fast!
To accomplish this, I look at myself and realize that my outfit has changed. I'm now in a cosplay of Alice, from Alice in Wonderland. Wow! It's so cool! Besides, my skin does not feel like it's burning. It must be cotton made. Cotton is the only fabric I can wear. My skin does not tolerate synthetic fibers, such as spandex or rayon, and wool always makes me sweat.
***
??? : It's impossible.
Lorange : What is?
??? : To be only able to wear cotton.
Lorange : But I am telling you the truth.
***
I keep looking at every detail of my new outfit when Brown comes to me.
Rabbit : Alice! I'm so glad you're here! You must help me or the Queen will cut my head off!
I am quite surprised to hear her speak in such a manner. Brown, talking in the masculine form and mentioning me by my first name? Strange, and what Queen is she talking about?
(Author’s note : The 'masculine form' references the French version of the story where Brown, as the Rabbit, speaks in this manner, like if she was a man.)
Rabbit : It's the Cat. He became madder than the Hatter.
Alice : Is it a bad thing?
Rabbit : The Hatter, at least, does not harm anyone. The Cat... He kills.
Alice : He kills? I don't understand.
Rabbit : He has already eaten the Mouse, the Duck, and the poor Duchess. His next target: the Queen!
I ask her if she talks about the Queen of Heart and she tells me she does not know that queen.
Alice : Huh? Aren't you the doe... I mean, the White Rabbit?
Rabbit : No, I'm only the Rabbit, and the Cat is the Cat.
Weird and weirder. I ask her if I am in Wonderland.
Rabbit : No, you are on the Queen's lands, in Abnormaland.
Abnormaland? Kurosawa has already called herself an Anomaly. She would be the Queen? Then the Cat could be Dead... no, D. An alive and dangerous Alice D.
Rabbit : Anyway, Alice, you must help me. The Queen will cut my head off if the Cat is not eliminated.
Alice : Eliminated! You mean 'killed'?
Rabbit : Of course. He's a threat to us all. I'm counting on you to take care of him.
Alice : But...!
Rabbit : You have only to go forward, forward, forward, forward, forward, forward, forward, forward, forward, forward and you are going to find him.
I can't even ask for more explanations, as Brown sprang away, while repeatedly shouting that she was late. This dream is not making any sense! Anyways, it looks like I just have to go forward. I start walking ahead for a long time, which feels like an eternity, when I finally see her. Alice D, alive, but monstrous.
Her hair is a mess. She has black holes instead of her eyes. Purple blood flows from her mouth. She wears cat ears and she also has a tail. Her new outfit, a simple t-shirt and jeans it seemed, was in tatters. I can even see her underwear. Her legs look bloodied in purple. Suddenly I remember her last words, before she fought the Trace in the bathroom.
D : I REFUSE to let you die! I've suffered enough... ...Blood between my legs...
By the gods, was she raped here and in real life?
Alice : D! What happened to you?
She remains quiet.
Alice : D!!! Alice D?
Suddenly she speaks to me, but her voice sounds strange. It's distorted.
Cat : PrEttY FlEsH. CuTe fAcE. StUpiD, stUpiD, stUpiD gIrl!
Alice : I-I'm sorry?
Cat : YoU'rE nOt NorMaL. YoU sHoUlDn'T LivE, yEt yoU eXiSt. Do yoU KnOw whY tHat mAn ChOsE yOu? BeCaUsE yOu sHoUlD noT bE AliVe.
Alice : I do NOT understand!
Cat : BlOoD... FlOwIng blOoD... DeFileD... MuSt iGnOrE... MuSt AgreE... MuSt acT aS If nOthIng hAppEneD... ...shOulD noT bE bOrn... MUST EAT! EAT EVERYTHING! If EverYthInG Is eAteN, tHe OthErs WilL StaY. ThE OthErs WilL Be HappY.
My eyes widened. How could D say such things?
Cat : MusT eAt thE QueeN! ThE QueeN WisHeS To BecOme An OtHeR. WhAT A FoOliSh DreAm. ThE... WorLd... DoEsn'T wAnt... AbNorMalS…
I scream, telling her she's lying, and I explain to her that I did not have an easy life.
Alice : I was always intimidated at school. As for my parents, even though they wanted to help me, I felt like a burden to them. Nevertheless, the world needs us!
Cat : ThE OtHerS...
Alice : The Others may be pricks... Yes, I said it! BUT they are humans beings, like you and I. Exterminating us, the autistic, will not make them happier.
Cat : NOOoooooOOOO! I... MuSt... EAT...!
Alice : We are KDBL! We must be proud of ourselves!
Suddenly, D lets out a horrible screech and her body crumbles into stardust. Before I could manage to grasp what happened, the scenery changes.
The meadow disappears and a heavily decorated room takes its place. Brown, still in Rabbit Mode, comes to speak to me.
Rabbit : Alice, congratulations! The Cat won't be able to harm anyone anymore! Her Majesty the Queen will come very soon to speak to you. Mind your manners or else she will cut your head off!
I thank her, then ask her what she is doing here.
Rabbit : I came to congratulate you, nothing more.
Alice : This bedroom belongs to the Queen, am I right?
Rabbit : Yes.
Then I tell her that I have some questions about the Cat.
Rabbit : Why? That fleabag is dead.
Alice : But...
Rabbit : He's worthless. An Abnormal who wants to destroy his own kind does not deserve to be discussed with!
Alice : How can you say that? You do not even know what might have pushed her... HIM to devour the Mouse, the Duck and the Duchess!
Rabbit : His reasons don't matter! He's dead.
I wanted to retort, however Brown shouts that she's still late. She quits the room, leaving me alone and even angrier than before. This dream is getting annoying! When will it end?
I wait a few minutes and the Queen makes her appearance.
As I had guessed, it was Kurosawa, wearing a red kimono and a crown. Her eyes are black, as they were before.
Queen : Miss Alice, I must thank you. Without your help, the Cat would have put an end to my life.
Alice : My pleasure, your Maj…
Queen : Now, I'll be able to start the GON for Abnormaland.
Alice : 'GON'? What is that?
Queen : The 'Great Operation : Normality'.
Alice : WHAT ?!?
Queen : These lands are doomed. The Others threaten to destroy us. The only way to survive is to normalize.
Alice : No way...
Queen : The Cat was against my plans, so I gave him to the Others to be 'humiliated'.
Alice : You mean raped.
Queen : But this idiot managed to flee and even got the idea to devour me and my subjects! A big mistake... Thanks to you, Miss Alice, his plan has failed and the GON will be carried out unhinged.
I reply that she is wrong and that I will stop her.
Queen : You, Miss Alice? You have no chance against me! I will cut your head off!
Alice : Would you kindly tell me... with what weapon?
Suddenly a Trace appeared and she pounces at the Queen. The creature seems to penetrate her flesh. She vaporizes and Kurosawa's eyes become yellow.
Voice : Alice... Lorange.
I immediatly ask her who I am dealing with.
Trace : I am a Trace. The only one who has managed to reach human levels of self-consciousness. Do you think all of this is a dream?
Alice : Honestly, I do not know anymore. Is it a dream?
Trace : Yes, but this dream reflects the reality of the others Alices.
Alice : I do not understand.
Trace : Since I must feed on human souls, I can feel them and discover the dark past of their bearers. Alice D, like the Cat, was a rape victim. She was only a child and her parents always prevented her to report the crime to the police.
Alice : That's horrible...
Trace : She had to learn imitating the Others in order to 'survive' in a world she considered as cruel. Meanwhile, Alice Kurosawa has always been abused by her family. The latter has never accepted her difference and have always treated her as a 'monster', an 'Anomaly'. Because of this hatred, Kurosawa began to hate autistics to the point of wanting to exterminate them, like the Queen with the GON. Alice Brown have a loving family, but she always feels rejected by the Others. Especially at school. Despite everything, she wants to guide them, as the Rabbit did with you. As for you, Alice Lorange, what is your reality?
Alice : Why are you asking me this question? You already know that!
Trace : … … …
Alice : Alright, alright! What is my reality?
Alice : I have good parents, like Brown, but I feel like I'm a burden to them. I am always intimidated at school and I wish it would stop. I am constantly at war with the Unknown. The Unknown.... how to describe It? The Unknown is the Unknown. It has no physical form. It must be given one. According to me, it's a road. An endless road, plunged in thick fog. A road that I would like to cross and never see again, but it is still here. It's always waiting for me... My routine, my Schedule that I got down to the exact minute, but it bailed out on the second I arrived in the Domain. IT'S NOT FAIR! Then there are the 'Others'. I call them Others, with what sounds like disdain. Sometimes I fear them. Sometimes I do not like them. I even admit that I sometimes feel hatred for them… Even though I want to give them love. Understanding for all, that's my dream. No stupid 'cure' or Normality by force. THIS IS MY REALITY!
Suddenly I wake up in the orange bedroom, and my outfit from before is back. It was quite the dream, but it was revealing. I get up quickly, with my skin still burning so much, and I wonder what to do now. Suddenly, Brown arrives.
Lorange : Brown? What are you doing here, in my Zone?
Brown : We have to go to the door with the chains!
Lorange : Why?
Brown : It's Kurosawa ... She's acting weird. She told me that 'the cycle of sacrifices must end' and that I must meet her there.
It is strange. Brown doesn't know that the body of Kurosawa is inhabited by a Trace, the one I talked to in my dream. That's why her eyes are yellow. Besides, is Kurosawa even alive?
Lorange : Do not worry, Brown. Everything will be alright.
Well, I wish it with all my heart. I don't want to end up like Alice Dead... I'm so sorry, D. I should not have such thoughts, but I can't help but associate your 'D' with 'Dead'!
Brown and I go to the cellar.
I see Kuro... no, Trace-Kurosawa, standing in front of the door with chains.
Trace-Kurosawa : Two Alices. Here you are.
Lorange : I have a question for you, Trace. Is Kurosawa... alive?
Trace-Kurosawa : No. I tried to save her soul, but... She didn't want me. Only one life can remain in this body. It was her or me.
Brown gets shocked when she hears us talking. I have to give her explanations.
Brown : So her eyes are different because this Trace took over her body?
Lorange : That’s right.
Brown : And Kurosawa... She's... she's dead?
Trace-Kurosawa : Yes.
Brown : YOU DIRTY MONS...!
Lorange : Brown, NO! What is done is done. Besides, she may be the one who ate Dead.
Trace-Kurosawa : No, it was one of my sisters. She was faster than me!!!
Lorange : What?
Trace-Kurosawa : At first, I wanted D's body - you call her Dead, now? - but the other Trace killed and devoured her before I arrived. I had to take Kurosawa instead.
Brown : BUT WHY...!
Trace-Kurosawa : I need a human body to stop the cycle of sacrifices!
Lorange : You mentioned this 'cycle' to Brown. What is it about?
Trace-Kurosawa : As you already know, we, the Traces, must eat human souls to live. Therefore, we need 'sacrifices', humans we summon in groups of four. Each summoning is a 'cycle'. Normally, I would continue to eat souls, like my sisters, but a miracle happened. I have gained human consciousness. I soon knew that my actions were bad. I am a born killer. Although my sisters might eventually become conscious, I cannot continue to kill to live, nor always watch them devour other humans. So I made an important decision. I will stop the cycles. I will destroy all the Traces. To do this, I must get the Heart of the Domain. The Heart is behind the door with chains. The chains protect it because, if the other Traces would destroy it, the Domain would be gone and the creatures would be free to invade the world.
Lorange : Of course! The notebook. 'Chains... protect…' This means that 'The chains have the sole function to protect the Heart of the Domain.' Or at least, something like that. Then 'The Traces can destroy…' This must mean 'The Traces can destroy the chains only if they manage to control a human body.'
Trace-Kurosawa : By using the body of Kurosawa, I will be able to destroy the chains and use the Heart of the Domain. Its power will make the Traces vulnerable to human attacks. They could be defeated in battle now!
Lorange : GREAT! Wait... 'to human attacks'. Can the Traces kill one another?
Trace-Kurosawa : Uh... yes, with our Energy Powers. You have seen me earlier, in the hallway leading to the attic.
Brown : Wow... but why Alarie summon you and your sisters?
Trace-Kurosawa : I do not know. He died long before before I got my conscience. I suppose he wanted to resurrect his wife and his children...
Lorange : It's... way too cliché...
Without losing anymore time, the Trace-Kurosawa focuses and she touches the chains. They break and the door opens to reveal only darkness. In the dark shines a rainbow crystal. The brunette Alice asks the Trace if it is the Heart of the Domain. Trace-Kurosawa answers that it was indeed. She reaches for the crystal, and suddenly turns abruptly.
Trace-Kurosawa : BEHIND YOU!
Brown and I turn around at the same time. A group of Traces face us.
Brown : How did they get here?
Trace-Kurosawa : By teleporting. They must have sensed that the Heart of the Domain is free.
The Trace-Kurosawa seizes the Heart and the other Traces become agitated.
Trace-Kurosawa : NO! I need more time for the power of the Heart to work!
Suddenly, Brown stares at me deeply. She whispers that she is very afraid. I see that her eyes are lighting up with an inner flame.
Brown : You... You all need more time... I'll give you some. Lorange. It was nice to meet you.
I scream her last name as she prepares to attack them. The Traces kill her after a short fight.
Lorange : NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Suddenly, an intense light fills the room and the Traces... They are different. Their colors are all faded.
Trace-Kurosawa : That's it! The Traces are now vulnerable! Lorange, are you ready to give them a bad time?
Lorange : I am MORE than ready!
We give them the beating they deserve! Other Traces arrive, but after hours of fighting, we have destroyed them all. Suddenly everything turns white.
I find myself alone and I only see an immaculate white void. I start walking, without knowing where to go, when I finally hear a strange voice. The voice seems to be a mixture of several voices and its tones are varied, distorted. It reminds me a bit of the voice of the Cat in my dream.
Voice : AlicE LorAngE. I HaVE ErAsEd tHe eXisTenCe oF ThE DomAiN.
Lorange : Are... Are you the Trace that was inside Kurosawa's body?
Trace : YeS. ThE DoMaiN nO LoNgeR ExIsTs. ThAt'S wHy EverYthInG iS whItE. I'lL bRinG yoU BacK InTo yOur WorlD, On EaRth.
Lorange : Ok, but you...?
Trace : I WiLL gO tO My SiStErS.
Lorange : NO! Why?
Trace : To kEeP On lIviNg, I wOulD hAve To KilL HumAnS AgaIn. NeVeRMOre. AlicE LorAngE. It waS A HonOr To mEet yoU. I dOn't knOw If AnyOne EveR tolD yOu, bUt YoU ASD peOple aRe FascInAtinG.
I thank her for the compliment. I also say that I will never forget her, as well as the other Alices.
Lorange : I will tell my story to all those who will listen to me!
On that note, I lose consciousness and finally wake up in my good old bedroom. I am back on Earth, I am back home!
(Narrator: Young girl)
Alice Lorange finished her story. During all the time she was talking to me, she was still looking at the ground.
Alice Lorange : Alice Brown, Alice Dead, and Alice Kurosawa... They really existed. In the end, I found out that the 'D' was a 'DB', for Demidov Blondinka. Their families think that the three Alices are missing, but I know they are gone. Say... my story... you believe me, do you?
??? : Of course I believe you!
Alice Lorange : N...no. You are lying!
??? : No! I am not!
Alice Lorange : NO! THE OTHERS LIE! They lie to me... They wound me... it hurts so much...
??? : Alice Lorange, look at me.
Ethel : I am ETHEL, a 'Special Other' AND I BELIEVE YOU!
Alice Lorange : I... This is the first time... an Other... tell me... the truth.
Ethel : The truth?
Alice Lorange : Your words are honest. You did not say that to please me, nor to hurt me, even though I know the Others do not believe me. Thanks, thanks, THANKS! Also if... if... I had the power... to go back in time, I...
Ethel : Yes?
Alice Lorange : Oh it's nothing.
Ethel : Alice. It's getting late. I have to go home.
Alice Lorange : Of course! Come back whenever you want. I'm almost always there.
As I walk away from the red-haired teenager to go home, I realize I still did not know why I was walking in this dark forest, but it doesn't matter anymore. I will come back to see Alice Lorange again and hope that we will become friends.