Philrain informed the men on the train of the situation, and approval to disembark was surprisingly smooth and easy. They told her to be back in an hour, but after being cooped up in the cramped quarters of the train for so long, Alice landed on the unshaken ground and exhaled heavily.
Although it was underground, it was a neatly maintained facility. Like the shelter Jack and the others had occupied, each area was enclosed by white walls and connected by passageways. It was like an ant's nest.
"It's not dim at all."
Alice started pacing along with Philrain.
She replied with a smile. "There's a vast amount of permanent light embedded in the ceiling. And it's air-conditioned, so there ought to be no inconvenience."
"Is this place also isolated from the outside world?"
"Yes. We can't be exposed to the outside air in the flesh…"
After saying that, she held up the key card she was in possession of before the door that was likely the gate. There was a light electronic sound and the door slowly opened. The two of them and along with a single animal passed through it and entered the market.
Apparently, vendors from all over the world were congregating there. According to Philrain, there were plenty of people, but the number of stalls was sparse.
Most of the stalls were selling solid foodstuffs. Not a single fresh food item was available. From one of the stalls, Philrain purchased a gunny sack of solid soup, which she carried on her shoulders and paid the shopkeeper.
"Oh, Phil, it's been a long time."
When she called out to her, Phil lifted her face and widened her eyes.
"Oh! I didn't know you still had your store here!"
"It's been about three months. You've grown. Is the girl behind you a friend of yours?"
Upon being asked, Alice cast a perplexed look at Philrain. Laughing lightly, Philrain took Alice's hand and nodded.
"Yes!"
"I see, I see. Hold on a second, I'll give you a freebie."
The woman retreated to the back and eventually brought out candy on a stick. She handed them to Alice and Philrain.
"I've heard that Nightmare attacks are intense these days. Be extra careful."
The citizens of the previous shelter were scorched and collapsing under the flames, and Alice's memory flashed back to them. As she held the candy, her hands trembled slightly. It was spontaneous. Looking at it sideways, Philrain bowed to the woman and walked off with Alice's hand in hers.
"Angel, is everything well?"
She asked with concern, and Alice looked at her with a start. Then she nodded several times.
"Yes… yes, I'm fine…"
"The candy is valuable, so let's eat it before we head back to the train," Philrain remarked with a grin. While eating the candy, the two girls began browsing at the accessory shops, while Raffi stood there watching them with an inexplicable expression. Eventually, the two girls, wearing identical white ribbons on their heads, probably bought by Philrain, came back to Raffi, who was yawning on the side.
"Look, Raffi. Aren't they lovely?" Alice said, her expression brightening slightly. Raffi looked up at them disinterestedly…. Then, the black cat and Philrain simultaneously turned around like a bullet.
With a mechanical motion not unlike that of a girl, Philrain caught Alice by the arm and sheltered her behind herself. Then, from the sleeve of her other dress, a long needle shot out with a metallic sound.
"W-What's wrong…? You two are…" Alice uttered a small voice as if she was intimidated.
Raffi did not answer her, but said in a stifled voice, gritting his teeth. "It's here…"
"Yes. I caught a glimpse earlier." Philrain noted, scanning the surroundings with her red eyes.
Alice muttered under her breath. "Could it be a… Nightmare…?"
"If it's a Nightmare that can defy the barrier of a shelter, it's certainly an Original. Even the sensors aren't responding… What's going on…?"
When Raffi mentioned it, Philrain continued, backing away and pushing Alice behind her, against the wall of the corridor.
"Let the angel escape to the train. Cat, please run with the Angel."
"I'm not a cat…" Venomously speaking, Raffi glanced up at Alice. "Let's go, Alice. I can smell the Original nearby. The sooner we get out of here, the better."
"B-But Phil…"
She reached out and lightly squeezed Alice's hand back, and Philrain gave a smile.
"I'll be fine. I'll catch up with you soon."
"No way…"
In the back of her head, she thought she heard the Hatter's high-pitched laughter. Those horrifying monsters, brimming with madness. Her own self being dismembered. As she envisioned Philrain's face being devoured, Alice shook her head vigorously.
"No! Let's flee, together!"
She gripped Philrain's hand and yanked firmly.
"Angel!"
"Not without you! Come on, let's run!"
"I regret to say… but that's not going to happen. You guys are on your way to being killed here."
Then a calm, quiet voice struck Alice and the others' ears. Her heart went stiff as if something had seized it.
She opened her eyes and raised her head. Beyond the crowds in the marketplace… on the tent roof of a stall a short distance away, there was "something".
It was an object shaped like a human-sized egg… It wore a stylish silk hat and a tuxedo over its egg-shaped torso. From the sides of the body, there were small arms and oddly large legs protruding.
It had a mouth. There were eyes. What resembled the skin of a human face was sewn onto the part of the egg shell.
The eyes darted around and met Alice's. Her mouth dropped open as if it were about to split apart. After all, it seemed that the people around him were unable to perceive him.
"Humpty Dumpty…" Raffi muttered through gritted teeth. The egg-shaped "thing" referred to as Humpty Dumpty pulled a cigar out of his pocket, bit off the end with his teeth, and lit it with a match. Then, with a whoosh, he exhaled and landed softly on the market ground. Glancing around with weightless movements, Humpty narrowed his glazed eyes and smiled.
"Unfortunately, I hate wastage. I could kill all the people here like the Hatter, but… that would be a little too graceful. It's also a waste of sweat. Therefore, I've come to kill you smartly."
"…"
Alice shivered briefly in the presence of the eerie monster.
"Anyway, should I say it's been a long time…? Alice." Holding his hands out to his sides where his fingers were, "that" continued in a low male voice. "Do you mind if I ask a couple of… questions?"