Alice: Book 4 Chapter 4

## Verse 1

Now it's time for the news at six.

In Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and other metropolitan areas, in connection with the ongoing **disruptions**, early this morning the government announced that the attacks are being spearheaded by multiple **terrorists** with **unexplained powers** during a presentation of facts from the official investigation.

During the same report, the police released photographs of the suspected terrorists, confirming that many of them do, in fact, appear to be **minors**.

The police revealed that the decision to be open with he public had been taken due to the **danger** surrounding these cases, and in the hopes of quickly **restoring calm**, but that if any member of the public were to see one of the suspects, they were to avoid interacting and leave the scene, quickly **informing authorities**.

They ask that citizens cooperate in spreading the word.

 Cutting down the creatures of darkness as screams echo in my ears...

 I've realized something.

 This world pushes us all towards malice.

 It forces all of us to tread upon others in order to survive.

 That's why even this, even this disaster... is no doubt part of the guilt we bear.

 A punishment we must accept.

## Verse 2

The large scale conflagration which engulfed most of

Tokyo's Shinjuku district has lead to more than

50 confirmed deaths,

and rescue operations by the JSDF are ongoing.

## Verse 3

Vigilantes have started patrolling the city center,

near Shibuya Station, site of many reported incidents of looting.

The shattered display windows

of the area's clothing stores stands testament

to the looters' activities.

## Verse 4

Cars attempting to evacuate the area of the capital continue to pile up,

clogging the central roads to impassibility and leading to serious car crashes all over the city.

The police have called on everyone to observe safe driving practices.

## Verse 5

Metropolitan areas such as Tokyo and Osaka have seen their citizens

gatherin large numbers at supermarkets and other food stores,

fuelling the panic and unrest. Many stores have been forced

to take measures including limiting sales per customer.

## Verse 6

This afternoon, the Mayor of Osaka released

to the public a map highlighting the known danger zones

in the city, including the areas with

the highest number of reported attacks

from the creatures of darkness.

Citizens are warned to avoid these areas.

## Verse 7

In the wake of the attacks, the stock market has plummeted

to the lowest numbers on record, and in an unusual move,

the chairs of multiple companies

have called on the government to intervene.

## Verse 8

Still in the grip of large scale power outages, Tokyo continues

to be plagued by a lack of cellular service, and local area governments are

accelerating efforts to share information with the public through

community message boards and other means.

## Verse 9

The various financial institutions,

starting with the banks, find themselves

in dire straights as well, and many have instituted

withdrawal limits of no more than 10,000 yen,

leading to ongoing chaos at ATMs and

tellers' windows over the past two days.

## Verse 10

*Before*

This must be a gift **from god**, an unlooked for chance.

There must be some sort of **reason** why I survived.

When I think of things that way, the path in front of me seems to open up, to brighten.

I have **a second chance** to fix things. For the person I've always **loved**. The feeling I've **never doubted**.

I know I can do this. And what will I say, when we meet? Will I be able to find the words at all? What if... What if, reuniting at last, I'm overcome with joy?

**What if I kill the one I love, without meaning to**?

Tears streaming down my cheeks, **smile** wide and brittle as an icicle.

**Pupils** blown wide. As I thought it, my laughter turned to **screaming**.

 I think... I'm happy, now.

 Soon. Soon, we'll meet again.

 That thought alone warms me, heart and soul.

 I have faith, more so than anyone else.

 But... if I were to be rejected...

 I would... I would take my sword in hand and...

*After*

Only another 200 meters.

Another 100 meters.

She fought her way through endless monsters, to the home of the one she loved. She'd made it, and though she tried not to get her hopes up, she failed, sprinting forward excitedly.

Over the cracked pedestrian crossing, towards the road by the park and then a turn, and just up ahead, a building. Within it a tidy little studio apartment, cheerfully decorated.

This was it, this was where...

She stopped as she turned the corner, staring in horror at the unbroken wall of rubble and flame that had once been an apartment building.

Nearly nothing remained to hint at its former shape, jagged lumps of concrete piled high into the night as sparks rose from the fire. And at the very top of its macabre bulk, stood a single girl in a blue uniform.

The girl at the top turned, and the girl at the bottom looked up, and each felt as if she looked into a mirror.

## Discordant Poem

The city is in flames.

The girls' viscous power dances in the air.

The world of the Library is a higher concept, encompassing everything.

Unifying everything. This was all in service to that great purpose.

A reality marching to the beat of an illusion.

A girl drowning in her own mad visions.

Which is the more unfortunate? Which the greater tragedy?

Do you even have the courage to set them on the scales?

You seem to have gotten the wrong idea.

Don't know how you

thought this world actually

cared about you.

*Related Pages*
Main Story
Next
Book 1: Act of Impulse
* Alice: Book 1 Chapter 1
* Alice: Book 1 Chapter 2
* Alice: Book 1 Chapter 3 (crossover with Snow White)
* Alice: Book 1 Chapter 4
* Book 1 Chapter 5

Book 2: Act of Hatred
* Alice: Book 2 Chapter 1
* Alice: Book 2 Chapter 2
* Alice: Book 2 Chapter 3 (crossover with Kaguya)
* Alice: Book 2 Chapter 4 (crossover with Pinocchio)
* Book 2 Chapter 5

Book 3: Act of Reality
* Alice: Book 3 Chapter 1
* Alice: Book 3 Chapter 2 (crossover with Little Mermaid)
* Alice: Book 3 Chapter 3
* Alice: Book 3 Chapter 4
* Book 3 Chapter 5

Book 4: Act of Fusion
* Alice: Book 4 Chapter 1
* Alice: Book 4 Chapter 2
* Alice: Book 4 Chapter 3 (crossover with Sleeping Beauty)
* **Alice: Book 4 Chapter 4**
* Book 4 Chapter 5

Book 5: Act of Elimination
* Alice: Book 5 Chapter 1
* Alice: Book 5 Chapter 2 (crossover with Sleeping Beauty)
* Alice: Book 5 Chapter 3 (crossover with Cinderella)
* Alice: Book 5 Chapter 4 (crossover with Dorothy and Snow White)
* Book 5 Chapter 5