The Lost One in Alices' Garden
ARC 03 Snow Island
Chapter 19 Unexpected Reunion
The danger has gone, but the reason why they survived is so frustrating, even to people like Wu Ming, who are normally apathetic to such things. He is frustrated by how it looks like they were spared, much more to think that they were spared because they are weak.
"You don't have time to be troubled by such a trivial thing." No one retorts to Caterpillar's cold statement; even Hatter has no voice for the first time. The half-human atop the mushroom has exhaled another round of nicotine before turning back to them. "Instead of dwelling on your weaknesses, isn't it about time you all leave and go?"
"What will be Caterpillar's suggestion?" Black Rabbit asks energetically, like a real rabbit.
Caterpillar narrows his eyes at her and sighs, "You know too well where."
"It'll be nice and sound more convincing if it comes from you directly." No one sees it, other than the certain rabbit maiden who is smiling slyly. Caterpillar's brows twitch in annoyance; he sighs.
"Snow Island, the territory of merchants."
"Territory?"
"It's an island where merchants from all over the world gather to sell items. You can find various things there that you can only find in some specific places."
"Can you live there even if you are not a merchant?" Wu Ming asks.
"Well, you can, as long as you can pay," Black Rabbit answered. "Unlike here in Clover Forest, where you can plant vegetables or anything edible, or you can hunt. There, you have to find a way to earn currency and pay for everything you'll need. Why do you ask? Wanna live there?"
"No. Just curious." Black Rabbit and those who were actually listening know that the question isn't really out of curiosity.
"Whatever your aim, at least you have a reason to go there."
"Is it safe there?"
"Much safer than here," confidence could be heard from Cheshire.
With no more words but goodbye, the gang left Caterpillar's place, striding along the path towards Snow Island, led by Black Rabbit and Cheshire.
It is a quiet travel; the scenery is the same as when they entered—nothing different, just that their number has increased. From the corner of her sight, Wu Ming could see the twins that annoyed them, hiding behind the bushes. They don't like to come at them, and they look more wary of their group; but it doesn't matter to Wu Ming as long as they won't annoy them again.
Not even halfway through their path towards the border of Clover Forest, they halt in their steps, mostly Hatter and Wu Ming; the others just stopped after them. In front, coughing and having a hard time breathing, is the familiar member of the Muds—a guy who is much blacker than their black rabbit maiden. From his hair to his shoes, everything is black, although one can make out some fine white embroidery of snowflakes, lines of pockets, collar, and the ends of the sleeves.
"Woah..." Hatter sounds sarcastic.
"Ain't he..."
Maybe, just maybe, White thought that Wu Ming was being apathetic again, but now with Hatter, White got worried and ran, asking the two who remained unmoving in their spot.
"Hm?" Wu Ming and the rest were amazed by White's kindness, but it didn't take long for some of them, mainly Wu Ming, to realize this side of him since she had already witnessed it several times before.
"My~ look at him~ what a kind boy he is," Black Rabbit commented.
"He interrupted Cheshire's hanging because of the same kindness."
"Aah~ that's really bad, you know! When he interrupted me, I was already in paradise!"
"Don't complain when he saved your sorry ass!"
"But... isn't that an unnecessary kindness? He saved Cheshire after all."
"Green Rabbit!" Cheshire called with a high-pitched voice, "You understand me!"
Wu Ming's lips were lopsided, and her eyes were narrow. Meanwhile, Hatter rolled his eyes and scowled. Black Rabbit giggled almost quietly, while White caressed Black's back, helping to ease the coughing fit.
"That kindness is so amazing, especially what he really is," Black Rabbit commented in a soft voice. She didn't need to make it clear; everyone had already grasped what she meant.
"Too kind if you ask me, but it's not bad at all."
Finally reaching the end of his suffering, Black took a deep breath. "Don't breathe so much; you might—" White was cut off when Black began coughing again.
"Cheshire, you've told me once that illness doesn't exist here. Black's condition contradicts that."
"Illness really doesn't exist here," Cheshire said, sweat dropping from his cheek. From the look on his face, one could tell that he also wasn't sure what was going on.
"Illness really doesn't exist here." Black Rabbit repeated, "Unless they came here with it."
"What do..." From that statement, it became clear to Wu Ming what the situation was.
The only ones that could 'come' are those from another world. The people that were not created, but rather those who created them: The Alices!
Her eyes land on the guy who is still coughing; her lips purse and frown. She has complicated feelings inside her; there's a side of her that is happy to find one Alice so easily, but there's also a side of her that makes her feel bad.
White is an orphan who was abused.
And now, here's Black, who hasn't even gotten free from such an illness.
"Wait... Aren't Alices... 'Black Rabbit, the Alice, could create their own world here, but they cannot remove their illness?'"
"There are some Alices that cannot; after all, there's a limit to what they can do. Like those Alices, they have focused their power on creating their world and poured every single drop of it into their special ability, totally neglecting their own selves."
"You know a lot~" Cheshire commented, which doesn't sound like a compliment coming from him.
"I am~" Might be trying to hit a switch, Black Rabbit proudly takes it as a compliment.
She feels like there are two Cheshires here. Hatter feels the same, but instead of uttering a comment about it, he just clicks his tongue and strides towards the two.
"What a sorry ass you are, Black."
"Hatter..." Who knows, maybe thanks to White's hand that keeps caressing his back nonstop, the coughs have finally eased. He turns to White, thanking him. "What are you still doing here anyway, Black? Didn't you say that you were going to return to your hometown?" Wu Ming, with Black Rabbit, followed by Green Rabbit and Cheshire, walks near them.
"Hometown?"
"Black is from Snow Island."
"Whoa! What a coincidence!" Black Rabbit exclaimed, clapping her hands together. "We were on our way there too!" Her eyes narrow with a mysterious smile that might be reaching her eyes, but it brings unexplained feelings to others. "Would you like to join us?" Wu Ming heaved a deep breath before sighing, "Since we are already going there."
Black narrows his eyes at the rabbit maiden. Undecided, troubled, and hesitant, however, before he could even respond, he was already being dragged by Hatter.
"Ahh! Be careful, Hatter! He just finished his coughing fit a moment ago!" White reminded, as he followed them, worried.
"Hatter, I can walk on my own." Accepting his fate, Black told his puller, which Hatter quickly granted. Letting him go, Black brushed his clothes while White walked next to him.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes. I'm already used to Hatter's strong personality."
'What a way to put it.'
"That's no good, Black!" Cheshire speaks up, going to Black, holding his shoulder with both hands, whispering sweet nothings in his ear.
"Be careful. Don't let him manipulate you."
Cheshire's manipulation is worse than Hatter's forceful approach.
Everyone knew better, what's good for themselves.
Reaching the border and renting a good-sized boat has been easier with Cheshire and Black Rabbit.
"They both look annoying," Black commented, which made Wu Ming and White laugh awkwardly. Hatter clicks his tongue, while Green Rabbit sighs, all agreeing on how awfully correct he is.
Black and White sit next to each other; Green Rabbit is with Hatter to prevent another quarrel from brewing between the cat and the hatter. Black Rabbit claims her place next to Wu Ming, while Cheshire is alone at the back with the boat driver behind him.
"I'm sorry, Wu Ming," the Eleventh Alice peered at her side. "This boat may be small, but this is what we need."
"I don't see any reason why you have to apologize. I'm already relieved that I get to travel with ease, rather than getting stuck just because I don't know how this world runs."
"You've always been cool about things. Even when I pounced on you, you remained calm. Even with... Blue Winged-Knight."
"Yours is fine, but..."
"But?"
In all honesty, Wu Ming is bothered by that knight. He clearly wants to get rid of her and White, but... why? Why did he leave? It is so obvious that he has the upper hand against them—against Hatter and White—and yet...
"Don't dwell so much on things that will burden you, things that still don't make any sense. Everything will eventually fall into your hands before you even know it."
Wu Ming blinks, staring at the girl beside him, and sighs in agreement.
"By the way, Black," the called teen turns his head to Hatter, who is sitting just behind him; White does the same, curious. "Why are you in the Black Country?" His question piques the interest of everyone in the boat. Seeing all the curious eyes on him, Hatter explains, "Black has just been forced to join the Madz a little while before we met Wu Ming for the first time."
"What are the Muds anyway?"
"Madz is a gang of rebellious teenagers who are going through puberty."
"Excuse me. I may not be really fond of my gang, but insulting it is not nice."
"But it's true."
Hatter no longer says a thing; it wasn't like he had the intention of defending his former gang, anyway.
Surprisingly, Cheshire is awfully quiet behind.
"I went to Black Country after I heard that the Nefarious Man-Eating Tiger has gotten free."
"What will you do if you ever meet Bandersnatch?"
"The earlier it'll be disposed of, the better."
A cold shiver climbs up White's spine upon hearing Black's purpose. While all the girls feel sorry for him, Hatter gives White a side glance.