Alice in Borderland | Transmigration

Chapter 17

You realise now that it doesn't matter in the face of true despair. This massacre wasn't something you had watched with rapt attention through a screen, feeling indifferent and internally criticising people that had lost their chance to escape, but real death, real anguish.

You had killed someone.

Today, a little bit of your humanity had chipped away, and you mourned the loss of that missing piece.

It was becoming hard to cry now, every inhale interrupted by harsh coughing. Your stomach seized, a painful ache as you choked again.

Thumping your head against the wall, you watched as shadows flickered against the orange backdrop. You could barely feel your arm anymore, and you sat in a pool of your own blood wondering if you would still be conscious by the time the flames caught up to you.

Your eyelids drooped, but a movement in the corner of your eye made you keep your eyes open. You frowned, a silhouette appeared amongst the smoke, and you pondered the possibility that this was a hallucination.

The silhouette got closer, you fought to keep conscious.

"Hey. Hey. Are you alright?"

You couldn't move your mouth.

"Hey, let's get you up, okay?"

Gentle arms cradled your waist, a grunt as they tried to manoeuvre you onto their back. You were desperate to help, so with the last of your energy, you used your legs to push yourself upwards.

"Sorry...sorry," they muttered as they shoved your arm over their shoulders. You winced in anguish.

You felt yourself lift off the ground and a second later they had started moving. You were splayed carelessly across their back, and you tightened your hold as they moved faster. The jostling hurt, but you pulled through, unable to forgive yourself if you died on this caring person's back.

Slowly, you noticed breathing became easier, and you never noticed how difficult breathing was before you moved away from the smokey place. You could see better now, fumes and tears not clouding your vision.

The person carrying you had black hair, and a familiar blue shirt. It couldn't be...

"Tatta?" You croaked out, voice so raspy you didn't think he heard it at all.

Nevertheless, he tilted his head to the side, making his face slightly distinguishable, "yes? Are you okay?"

You took a shaky breath, glad to see that you haven't choked and the air didn't make you cough uncontrollably.

"Yes."

You were getting closer to the lobby now, recognising this specific hallway.

You managed to breath out a 'thank you', but you don't think he heard it as he didn't reply and focused on moving you to a safe place.

"Do it! Shoot me!"

Aguni's booming voice could be heard as you entered the lobby. Tatta was quick to drop you off against a wall, delicately laying you onto the ground. No one had noticed your arrival, eyes all pinned onto the scene happening in the middle.

Aguni had five guns aimed at him, each shaky in their own right.

Arisu was sprawled on the floor, blood streaming down his nose and his lip was busted. His shoulders were shaking, but there was a look of determination on his face that made you know that it wasn't the end just yet.

Usagi seemed to know as well, since she did nothing but tenderly pat him on the back.

Karube was also on the floor, a bright bruise covering half his face. He looked angry, but made no move as he watched Aguni pressed his head into the guns.

Your eyes flickered to Tatta who was scanning the room for someone. You noticed the way his face seemed to drop in their absence. He glanced back at you, worried yet apprehensive.

At his silent question, you nodded and mouthed 'go'. He wasted no time in rushing off back into the flames.

"Aguni is not the witch!" Arisu gasped from the floor, the attention was immediately on him.

"This is a ten of hearts game! A game that toys with people's feelings. It's not a game where you win by killing Aguni!"

Aguni turned around, cold, detached as he stared at Arisu panting from the ground.

"You're not the witch! So why?"

Your head lolled, not having the energy to hold itself up anymore. Your gaze landed on something, and you blinked. Was this a hallucination?

A few feet to your left lay a phone. Unused.

You regret telling Tatta to go.

You knew you had to get to it in order to survive. You would never forgive yourself if you died because you didn't register yourself into the game that'll eventually get cleared.

You flopped to your side, luckily it was your left, you don't think you would be able to pull off the same action if it was on your right. You reached out, fingers clutching the rectangular electronic.

Unable to move back up, you opted to just lay there like a doll snapped in half.

Bringing the phone closer, you watched in bated breath.

'Facial recognition in progress. Please wait.'

The relief you felt after successfully being registered had your whole body slumping even further. You eyed the scene still unfolding before you, only now everything was twisted at an awkward angle.

A flash of white had your eyes widening, and you looked up to see Chishiya gazing down into the lobby with slight amusement painting his features.

As if sensing he was being watched, his eyes flickered to yours. Disinterested met desperate. He blinked, gaze roaming over your state and you managed a weak smile. He had a slight furrow in his brow, eyes inspecting the bullet wound in your arm which had luckily stopped gushing out blood.

Looking exasperated, he glanced back at you, mouthing a single word.

'Stupid.'