Deep Sea Embers

Oh, there’s also the three Enders sitting across from her in the vessel, but that’s unimportant since they’re tied up like dumplings at the moment.

From her view, these are very bad people, the worst of the worst. Alice didn’t know any humans so far, but if she did, Miss Doll most certainly wouldn’t want to be friends with these folks.

“Are you afraid?” After holding back for a decent amount of time, Alice finally couldn’t resist starting a conversation. She’s really uncomfortable sitting here by herself without anyone to talk to. Although she knew this was a “safety test” that had to be done before she operated in the human city, it’s still unsettling to be off the Vanished parked not far away in the distance.

“Stupid filth, clumsy shell…” One of the Enders responded to the puppet’s voice, his thin skeleton-like head slowly raised and stared into Alice’s eyes, “Your soul is pale and empty, and subspace will not take in…”

Alice was stunned by the rude response and took a moment to react: “Hey, don’t be rude to others!”

Unfazed, the Ender on the opposite side only let out a mirth of hoarse and ugly laughter that frightened Miss Doll even further.

Sulking at being disrespected, Alice shook her head to get rid of the bad mood: “I’m not angry anymore.”

This caused the second Ender to glance up inquiringly.

“I shouldn’t be angry since you can only protest like this. After all, it is you who is tied up and not me, and it is you who have to do this head-dropping test, not me. Captain said, one mustn’t get carried away when you are riding the wind, otherwise you will capsize in the end…”

Despite the Enders acting all quiet and indifferent, the doll still managed to catch the subtle changes in their body language – they were exchanging silent looks and moving their necks from time to time.

This gives the impression that they’re wondering why their heads are still intact. At least in Alice’s eyes, that’s how they were behaving.

“Actually, I am a little afraid,” Alice said suddenly. “I’m afraid your heads will suddenly fall off. Captain said I could decapitate people, which startled me because humans don’t have the same ability as me. Their heads can’t go back on afterward…”

Suddenly, the sound of flapping wings came from above and caught Alice’s eye. She could tell its Ai who had come to check on her. Next thing the doll knew, Ai had dropped a gorgeous wooden box next to the boat.

“My box!” Alice cried out in surprise and immediately imagined the picture of being swept out of her home. However, she quickly noticed a small note sticking to the top.

(The guillotine ability may also be related to your wooden box. Sent it for resting. Also, stop imagining you’re going to be kicked off the ship again)

Alice flipped the note up and down and couldn’t understand what’s written there.

She’s illiterate…

But soon, she saw something else on the back of the note, a scrawled stick figure of her rowing back to the Vanished with a smiling face at the end. That she understood.

At ease now, Alice casually fished the wooden box out of the water with her hand and threw it next to herself. Then turning to face the cultists sitting across from herself: “Are you hungry?”

Naturally, Miss Doll didn’t expect a response and only asked out of courtesy: “Although Captain said that you are people that deserve to die, he also said that he won’t kill you if you can complete the test. He will instead send you back to the city-state, and then… what’s it called?”

The puppet lady was a little stuck as she tried to recall the wording: “Oh, to show the concern of an enthusiastic citizen worried for the city’s safety… He said you’re worth at least seven bikes. What is a bicycle?”

“Subspace will feed us… Subspace will give us peace… Subspace will bless the perished after all life comes to the promised end…” One of the Enders muttered randomly as if to answer Alice’s rambling. “We are walkers of the end, abandoning our cursed flesh and blood for the promise. Our minds are open and await the new world…”

“Huh?” That confused Alice, “What are you talking about?”

No response came though, only a boring one-person conversation between Alice and her box. She couldn’t be any happier when dawn finally came. Best of all, she didn’t behead anyone!

“YAAA! It’s dawn! You are still alive! We can go back now!”

The celebratory words didn’t affect the three captives, but the glimmer of light did. They looked up and made a creepy grin.

“Oh, our day is over…” the madman sighed softly and slowly turned his head to meet Alice’s perfect jewel eyes. “Doll, we will meet again someday.”

“Huh?” Alice was stunned, “What do you mean by that? You can’t just escape into thin air…”

Unfortunately, Miss Doll had spoken too soon. As the morning glow spread, the Enders bodies were silently disappearing, fading into nothingness like phantoms of yester years.

“…” Alice popped her eyes in literal bafflement, “Did they really just escape into thin air?”