Alyssa had been raised by her three stepmothers from a young age due to her birth mother’s early


    passing.


    Naturally, their habits, such as Colene’s horse-riding, archery, and rock-climbing hobbies, assimted


    into


    her own.


    Fortunately, those hobbies were a lifesaver, as she couldn’t imagine how she would survive in her


    current


    situation without them.


    As Alyssa was about to reach the mountain trail above, there suddenly came rumbling by her feet.


    Rock


    and sand snaked past her hands. Anotherndslide wasing fast!


    “Damn it! Is this what I get for doing charity for all these years?” Alyssa yelled indignantly.


    The rock beneath her feet suddenly shifted and tumbled from its ledge at that precise moment, leaving


    her body dangling precariously.


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    “Help!” Despair and fear washed over her.


    An immeasurably long fall awaited her below. She was going to die falling, and no one would ever find


    her.


    A tear escaped her eye as she shut them tight, awaiting her fate.


    “Alyssa!”


    Suddenly, a pair of hands wrapped around her wrists and pulled her back to solid ground.


    She slowly opened her eyes.


    Jasper was staring right at her, his eyes wide and seemingly delving into her very soul. Her breathing


    hitched.


    “J-Jasper?”


    Was she dreaming right now? Or hallucinating?


    Her heart pounded violently in her chest.


    “Don’t be afraid. I’m here now!”


    Jasper saw a conflict of emotions on her face, everything from fear to joy to worry, all directed right at


    his beating heart. He pulled her up some more, his grip on her arm even quivering slightly.


    He could feel the ground beneath them slipping, the rock falling off the ledge. If they didn’t move right


    now, both of them might fall to their deaths.


    *Jasper…” Alyssa mumbled, tears falling down her cheeks. “I don’t want to die…”


    She had transcended all her limits of strength in making it so far up here on the mountain. The moment


    she saw Jasper, herst wall fell, revealing the frightened young woman within.


    Jasper couldn’t bear seeing her so upset. All he wanted was to keep her safe.


    “You can cry all you wantter. Now, just try and push yourself up!”


    Alyssa sniffled and quickly climbed back up the side of the mountain.


    “Hurry! This ledge won’t hold on much longer!” Jasper yelled.


    “I know! I’m trying!” Alyssa roared back.


    Jasper cocked his head. Her cuteness had evaporated with that yell.


    Suddenly, a lightning strike lit up their surroundings, casting Alyssa’s visage in vivid rity, as if a


    hidden


    truth had been exposed.


    A sudden headache overwhelmed Jasper. All of a sudden, Alyssa’s expression fused with that of a


    young


    girl from years ago.


    Faint yet familiar memories swam in his head.


    “What’s your name, kid?”


    “You’re not telling me? I’ll call you Alice then. You’re like Alice from Alice in Wondend, short and


    cute-


    looking.”


    There was a buzzing in Jasper’s ears as realization hit him like a truck.


    Alice… Alice White.


    Alyssa was the girl he had rescued 13 years ago.