I look up to the night sky. It was an unfamiliar sight yet felt so familiar. I have seen this red bloody sky before. However, it seem to register quite late into my mind. Where on earth have I saw one like this? I kept on pondering.


    “AH!”


    I covered my mouth with both of my hands, shaking my head while glancing left and right to my surrounding.


    I could not help but to let out a soft mumble beneath my palm, “how could this happen?”


    The dark crimson dyed the sky as the moon shined brighter than the fresh pool of blood. Dark grayish cloud drifted through the sky as if a mad thunder was about to lay bare it’s roar.


    It was just a speculation on my part. Wishing it was not the truth. Even though deep inside my heart, I was elated with the thought I would be able to see my beloved.


    Looking at my surrounding, I seem to have woken up in the middle of a dark alley, with nothing but dumpsters full of foul stench.


    A little rat standing on it’s two little feet staring into my eyes. My heart felt unsettled when the two small and round onyx looking at me as if it was waiting to devour it’s prey.


    With a shriek, it leaped onto my feet.


    I’ll say this. My heart was really about to jump off my mouth. There was no time to scream. “Get! Off!” I gritted my teeth as I flailed my feet, hoping the rat would be nice to excuse itself, while my hands searching for anything I could use.


    I would say my luck was in the better when I grabbed a rusty yet heavy crow bar few inches from my side. With one quick swoop, the rat squeal as it’s back hit the wall.


    Tears welled up in my eyes when I realized not a scratch on it’s body. So, it seem it was not enough for it to die. My grip tighten as I lifted my butt from the ground. There were only a few marks on my hands, and few torn on my dress, without further detriment on my body. I sighed.


    I have read of such kind of books, where the main protagonist discovered themselves being in another universe, or in a parallel world. Usually, wouldn’t they became the main character and have the whole universe on their side? How come I found myself stranded in a dirty alley with nothing but a piece of clothes on myself.


    I came back to my sense as the screeching melody from the rat pierced into my eardrums.


    “I bet you received tons of dislike for your singing,” I said as I swung the crow bar.


    No matter how I tried to end it’s life, it would dodged and be on defense, prolonging it’s own lifespan, or maybe, mine. I can see it was smarter than me, because it make me dance like a fool in the middle of the night.


    ‘BANG! BANG! BANG!’


    The rat fell on the ground. How easy. With three shots, it laid there, lifeless. With my hand still clutching on the crow bar, I turned around to see a woman in her late twenty winked her eye toward me.


    “Pretty brave, young lady. To use a crow bar against a mutated rat,” she said, sneering as she took a glimpsed at my appearance.


    She added, “I know Wanderers had been the hot, but that doesn’t mean mutated animals were tamed either.”


    “I didn’t know that yet…” my soft spoken whisper attracted her attention.


    “Hmm?”


    “Nothing!” I waved my hands, said, “um, miss, do you, by any chance, knew a lodging I could stay for today?”


    “I knew you were not a resident here, but to think you knew nothing about N109 Zone… you must be a pretty reckless young lady,” she commented as she size me up.


    “I… just, forgot to look up for some lodging before I arrived.”


    “Where did a spoiled young lady such as yourself came from? You did not knew about the mutated animal, nor any lodging in the city. You seem to have no idea about N109 Zone, yet here you are. Could it be…” her face inched closer to mine, “…were you a product?”


    “Excuse me?”


    From the game, I knew for sure there were lots of illegal business going on in this place. However, to be misunderstood as a product would be the last thing I would ever wanted. I read enough novels and comics to understand what happen to a ‘product’, albeit it was fictional fact.


    “You were not? Then, how did you end up here?” she asked, lifting her eyebrow in confusion.


    If there was anything I was good at, it would be bluffing my way out of trouble. That’s right. In other word, I’m a good liar.


    “I was supposed to come here with my friends. They were the one who handle everything, from our tickets, lodging, even transport. But… we got separated somehow, and before I knew it, I was already here.”


    “Young lady… That friends of yours. You better cut all ties with them. N109 Zone was no place for vacation.”


    “I… didn’t knew we were coming to N109 Zone.”


    She scoffed. “You bet. If you knew, you wouldn’t even dare to come,” after few second pausing and staring at her shoes, she continued, “follow me.”


    “Yes?”


    “I thought you want a place to sleep for the night?”


    Sure enough, there were still good people even in a place full of wickedness. I trotted my way toward her, closing the gap of our distance. As I took a little peek on the woman, I could see a scar on her eyebrows.


    Unlike some women who prefer either short hair or tying their hair during their battle mode, the woman in front of me let her long wavy brown hair loose. Her hair would fluttered with the current of the wind.


    Now that I think about it, I have not yet gotten her name. But, she doesn’t asked mine either, thus, I could only stay silent.


    “I’m Mira. What’s yours?”


    I was quite baffled, to be honest. Could she read my mind, perhaps? “Alissa,” I replied regardless.


    “Alissa…” she mumbled my name few times, and suddenly snapped her fingers, “then I’ll called you Alice!”


    “Alice? Why?”


    “Because… you reminded me of that one old fairy tale about a girl that had bizarre journey in a fantasy land, or rather adventurous I would say.”


    “You mean Alice in Wonderland?”


    “Yes, yes! That one. Also, your name… Don’t you think if you shorten just the first four word of your name, you will get Alis, which similar sound with Alice.”Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    “I could see that…”


    “Well… Who knows. Perhaps, when you woke up from your sleep, it will all turned out to be a dream.”


    “What will?”


    “Coming here.”


    “If this was all a dream, I would not feel pain, wouldn’t I?”


    “That was just an idea to comfort you.”


    “Me?”


    “Your face. You looked exactly similar to that one bunny I almost hunt for dinner. Fear. Anxious,” she shrugged her shoulders.


    “Anyone would be. When facing situation unfamiliar to them.”


    “Let’s just say that is true. We’re here.”


    After some excruciating walk, we finally arrived in front of an old apartment building. To say them old was quite an understatement. The dark red paint had lost it luster, yet there was not a mold, but a bit of water stain, perhaps, remnants of rain water.


    We ascended the stairs to the third floor and was greeted by a dark brown painted door on our left. She took out the key from her pocket and twisted the knob, before we entered.


    I watch every of her step carefully. Perhaps, deep down in my heart, I could not help but to stay cautious. This is N109 Zone, after all.


    “Come in,” she beckoned, as she step aside, leaving a space for me to go through into her house.


    “Pardon my intrusion,” I said as I step in, leaving my shoes at the doorway.


    “Just sit… anywhere you like.”


    I sat on the red leather couch, staring into the abyss, not knowing what to do. My awkwardness earned me a chuckle from Mira.


    “Coffee? Tea?”


    “Just water is fine,” I answered.


    “Make yourself at home,” she said with a smirk on her face.


    “I didn’t expect you would bring me to your house.”


    “Can’t just leave an abandon young lady in the middle of tiger’s den. You wouldn’t want to be eaten, right?”


    “Thank you.”


    “Mira!”


    The door flung open and a man in a black sweater stormed in. I turned around and met with his eyes. Something about him make me want to hide in a corner of the room.


    “How many time have I told you, don’t just barged into my house whenever you like!” Mira punched him in the stomach with her fist.


    The man whimpered on the ground holding his stomach. “But…”


    “There is no but!”


    “Sorry, Mira. I had told him to knock on the door first. He just wouldn’t listen.”


    Another man came in. He wore a black hoodie, almost similar design with the other man. Perhaps, it was their preference to look almost the same. I mean, their face were identical already. Albeit one of them were scarred, they still held similarities.


    “Ran, would you just… grabbed Lu and get out of my house?” Mira crossed her arms before her chest. She looked annoyed. I bet this was not the first time they done this.


    The man called Ran scratched his head. “We already here either way…” he glanced at my direction when he noticed my staring, “…anyway, why not introduced us? Who’s this? Never seen her before.”


    Mira sighed. “Right… It’s better if you knew them. Alice, meet Kieran, and the one on the ground, Luke. As you can see, they were twin. Identical on top of that.”


    Luke rose from the ground, “hi, I’m Luke!” he said cheerfully as if he had never whimpered like a child earlier.


    “I’m Kieran.”


    “Alissa,” I said with a small nod, “I don’t mind if you called me Alice like Mira did.”


    Luke lunged forward, leaving only few centimeter between his face and mine. “You know… Your left eye truly, exquisitely beautiful. When I see it closer, there was a hint of purple in those blue, you know. It’s weird how the other side seem a bit mismatched. Like a fake blue.”


    I took a step back, away from Luke. He hit where it’s hurt. When I was about to open my mouth, Mira slapped Luke from the back of his head.


    “What did you even came here for, you blockhead!”


    “Ouch! Why would you hit my head? What if I became a fool? I won’t be able to provide for you anymore if that happen!”


    “Still have a gut to joke around?” Mira kicked him at his shin.


    “Why would you resorted to violence every time you open your pretty little lips?”


    Mira ignored Luke and looked at me, “sorry. This two were an acquaintances of mine. They had always been like this. Luke doesn’t mean to—”


    “It’s okay!” I cut her off, before she could even apologized. It was not her fault.


    “Please let me apologized on behalf of my brother,” Kieran step forward, “with this.” He shook lightly the plastic bag he was holding, bringing the attention to the plastic bag.


    The moment he spoke up, the air was filled with a smell so seductive and enthralling. Enough to forget what just happen.


    “Whole fried chicken, and beef stew, for five people! How’s that sound?”


    Mira and I gave a thumbs up. We looked at each other and burst out laughing. The night passed with my first meeting with Mira who saved my pitiful self, and chaotic Luke and Kieran, who will soon become my friends.


    ***


    I sprawled on the soft bed, staring into the ceiling. Today was already hectic for me, then suddenly I found myself in the middle of nowhere. I wonder what actually happen.


    If I am not mistaken, I just finished bathing, and was about to check on the document my colleague sent me. I thought of playing games for few minutes before doing my work.


    I opened the app, and suddenly fell asleep… When I opened my eyes, the red scenery awaits me. That’s all I could dug from my memories. I don’t remembered meeting with white truck. So, am I dead, or am I alive?


    “I haven’t finish my work yet… The coming exhibition… My job…”


    Perhaps all the fatigue finally catch up to me as my vision slowly turned dark. My heavy upper eyelids could not bear it weight and met with my lower eyelids.


    The sun was already wide awake when I opened my eyes. The thing about my sleeping position is that I never move around during my time floating around in my dream. I found myself still sprawling on the bed.


    I groaned as I lifted half of my body, with my right arm as support. I glance at my torn dress and dirty mud sticking on the hem of my dress. Then, I turned to see the bedsheet still completely clean, though crumpled.


    “Thank goodness,” I sighed in relief as I patted my chest, “…I wonder if there is anything I could do to earn myself a new piece of clothing?”


    Like an answer to my mumbling, Mira knocked on the door three time. She entered while holding some clothes on her hand.


    “Thought you might need a new one,” she said, as she laid the white shirt and brown pant next to me.


    “Thank you. I was just thinking to myself how to get myself out of this messy dress.”


    “Change up. I got us some breakfast,” she briefly said before she strode off into the living room, leaving me all alone in the bedroom.


    “Smells great,” I announced as I got out from the room, fresh from the oven.


    Her eyes wavered as she spot me standing beside the table. I could sense a hesitation and longing from her eyes. Maybe there was also a glimpse of guilt.


    “Anything’s wrong?” I waved my hand in front of her face.


    “N—nothing.”


    There is never nothing when you stuttered, but I let it go, thinking it was not my place to keep peering into her private life.


    “Hey, thanks for the clothes. It fit me well, surprisingly,” I commented, considering our body type that were totally different from each other. Not to mention, she was way taller than I am.


    “It was my late sisters’. Glad it found new owner rather than rot in my wardrobe… Sit”


    I took the seat at the opposite of her, facing her face while we ate. I felt it was not yet the right time to ask about her sister, seeing the solemn look on her face.


    “What is you plan now?” her voice brought me out of my daze. I look up at her.


    “My plan?”


    “Yes. I believe you would not be freeloading at my place forever, right?”


    “That— No, I won’t! I—I just… not sure where to start.”


    “You had nothing on you right now, right?”


    I nod in silence.


    “For now, give me your basic information. While I will try to search for those friends of yours, it’s better to have an identity document on yourself, so you won’t be dragged into any auction hall.”


    As I gave my thanks, Luke stormed in without a knock, again. Mira punched him first before asking the result of her request.


    “About that,” Kieran intercepted, “we have a job. Housekeeping. This much monthly.” He gestured his ten fingers.


    “10 000?” I said, a little hesitant.


    He shook his head, and a grin formed on his playful expression, “our boss might be cruel but he was not stingy.”


    “100 000? Per month?” my pitch went a bit high, surprised, my eyes wide opened, almost could not believed what I heard. “Was there anything sketchy about the job? Or maybe the place itself?”


    “Nothing’s weird. You just have to clean around the house. That’s all.”


    “That. Is. All?”


    He raised both of his hand. “That is all. Nothing sketchy, I promise.”


    “Nothing sketchier than Kieran being all kind, you know,” Luke chirped in, snickering as he glanced at both Kieran and me.


    Kieran sighed. He shrugged his shoulders. “Up to you. Wanna do it or not? We don’t have all day to laze around waiting for your answer, you know.”


    Doing something is better than nothing. “Alright, I accept. When should I start?”


    “Great. let’s go now! Idle more than this, we might actually get killed by Boss!” Kieran grabbed a piece of fruit from the table before pulling Luke’s shirt.


    “Can you drive?” Kieran turned to look at me, jingling a set of keys in front of my face.


    “Cars only, if that count.”


    “Then, get on my back,” he beckoned the empty seat on his back as he wore the black and purple helmet.


    “What about Luke?”


    Kieran motioned his head, pointing to the person behind me. Luke noticed my gaze on him and crossed his arms.


    “No! No! The seat behind me is exclusive only to Mira,” he quipped.


    “Not even interested…” I said in a jest and walked my way to Kieran. “Don’t you feel suffocated wearing those mask under the helmet?” I added in the passing by as I wore the helmet that was given to me.


    “Not at all. Don’t we look more mysterious like this?”


    Their reasoning was childish that I let out a scoff. “Yeah, sure…”


    I swore to myself that I will learn to ride a bike by myself after this. Not again. Not even once, would I wanted to ride with him again. Where was the motion sickness pill when I need it?


    “Guess Boss isn’t here yet…” Luke stated while fixing his mask.


    “This… Which building?”


    “What do you mean? Of course all of this.”


    “All of this building?”


    “Well… Yeah… Oh! This is also the Onychinus base. That the most important thing you need to remember. Don’t forget!”