Hospital Days ~ A Sinking Wonderland

[Alice]

---Love Taps---

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Downtown Chicago Hospital Ward ~ Intensive Care Unit
======================

.........
... Loveless... can you hear me..
.....
H- hey... wake up...
..... Nnn..
.. We're alive.....
..... Speak for yourself.. I need a drink...
Ha.. hah... good luck.. we're not going anywhere for a bit..
.. Where are we Alice....
We're in the hospital...

"Your sister sustained massive blood loss. If she hadn't been found when she did, there is a great likelihood-"

The words drift in and out from audible sight. Her eyes closed firmly, it hurt to even acknowledge their existence. The sound of doctors writing things down, the hospital lights buzzing and moving around electricity. Everything just hurt.

... Melwasul saved us.
Mellie nearly killed us Loveless.... what you did in that place went to far... you saw her..
Indee... indeed I did... I saw a thing of beauty that moonlit night...
B- beauty?... She could have killed us..
It was raw... it was primal.. the white... hot fury.... mmmm
... H- hey..... you can't get us worked up right now..

"-that depends on if she can rest up for a while. She needs to heal, we've stabilized her for now but if she keeps this kind of activity up..."

... Who is he talking too..
Probably Ana... she's been here a while for us..
You mean for you Alice.
She cares you know....
Yeah... family..

"Is there anyway I can talk to her right now? I know it's really soon but-"

"I'm sorry Ms. Amherst but, for the time being the best thing you can do for your sister is give her rest. A lot of rest."

".. I understand....."

... She sounds so sad....

Her fingertips move softly against the sheets below, it would be far to much effort to even raise them. The sound of her distraught sister leaving the room nearly breaks her heart. The doctors walk around, checking tubes and vital statistics. Alice can do nothing but lay softly and soundly in her bed. Her body nearly torn apart by the Red Queen and her fury. The coming days... would be nothing but hospitalization....

[Alice]

How many hours do you think it's been...
I don't want to think about that Alice.
We've probably been in here at least a day... I can't tell..
If it's only been a day then we have more time to spend in this -hell-

The mental strain and fatigue were starting to set in, hurting more than the physical brutality she'd absorbed fore sure. Alice breathes shallow, quick and deep. The light shining down hurts her eyelids, she squints and groans.

What do you think they're doing...
They're probably running tests on us like lab rats.
... You don't.. think they could find out... about you I mean.. right?
I don't recall having a CAT scan in the last twenty four hours. We should be alright.
... What's that... ?
It's bad news for someone like us is what it is Alice.

"I think she should be able to move around shortly. Would you mind passing me those files for a second."

"What are all these strange marks on the papers anyway?"

"Those are black marks. They're stricken down whenever information is considered classified about a patient."

Shit.
.. Huh?

Alice lifts her left arm slowly, her elbow popping before she can move it around. The gasp of amazement hits her ear drums. She clenches her fist slowly before opening her mouth. Her lips dry and cracked.

"....I thought certain files were out of your legal reach.."

".. Alice! You're awake..."

".. Interesting. Your recovery speed is something else my dear. Your sister has been worried sick you know."

H- hey... what's going on.. ?
Someone knows I'm here.
What... ? What are you talking about..

".. You should really.... focus on your job.. and not your career... doctor."

"... Alice what are you saying, I think you're still-"

"Nurse. Go get us some water, she needs to be hydrated, and maybe something from the cafeteria. I'm sure she's hungry."

"Ah.. yes."

The sound of the woman leaving the room echos. Alice slowly opens her eyes, the light breaks down onto her. Pain shoots through her face and skull. A gasp and wheeze, she cranks her neck down, staring at the man sitting past the foot of the bed.

".... Which one of them.."

"... I've not a clue what you're talking about Alice."

... Loveless what's-
SHUT UP! This is dangerous.
.. H- hey you need to calm down.... our body is steal weak..
This guy is not looking out for our well being, TRUST ME Alice!

".. If you hurt Alice.... you know I'll kill you.."

"...... Hm."

The nurse comes back into the room, delighted to see Alice's eyes open. Alice continues to glare at the -doctor-. She breathes in once deeply before huffing out in anger. Slowly laying her head back down on the pillow.

Hey.. hey! What just happened...
T - chhh... this is so not going to end well.
Loveless! Would you just explain it for on-
Don't you get it? If he was a normal doctor, would -THAT- of been his reaction to me saying "if you hurt Alice I'll kill you"?
.... ?
.. Ugh. I'm in your body Alice. So what I just told him would be proof -ALICE- isn't talking. Yet he didn't seem shocked or upset or anything.
... That's.. right..... then what does that mean... ?
..... It means we're in serious.. serious, trouble.

[Alice]

I don't really like hospital food...
I've grown used to it.
You've been in hospitals a lot before?..
I've been in and out of places like this - and worse, most of my life until I met you.
Hey... how did we meet anyway.. ? I don't.. remember it... one day I just woke up, and you were here..
That's good Alice. Memories are like knives, if you hold them to dear... clutch them too tightly - they can hurt you.

"It's good to see you're doing okay today Alice. We were really worried about you. Is there anything I can do for you right now? You need anymore food or anything?"

".... Mmm.. I should be alright for now..." Alice smiles weakly, sheepishly. She scrapes the bottom of the hospital tray, the food was only going down because her body needed to be filled. If there was the choice of starvation she'd of probably picked it to be frank. ".. I'm sorry I'm so much trouble... I didn't want to be such a bother while I'm here...."

Good lord...
What? It's true..
You're seriously lucky your nature is so disturbingly childish.
Huh... wh.. what does that mean?...
It means if it wasn't for me you'd probably be shackled up in some white supremacists basement with a ball - gag in your mouth and drooling like a drugged up prom chick from every possible hole.
... You're a very mean and graphic person Loveless.....
Why, thank you Alice. I didn't get you anything.

"Don't be silly sweetie. You're a wonderful patient, in fact I kind of feel bad that you haven't asked for much. It's almost like you're trying to be on your best behavior. You know Alice it's our job to take care of you while you're here. You're allowed to be a little needy."

The nurse smiles happily, Alice in unison. She looks down at the tray of disturbing food, how did they expect people to get better off of this kind of stuff... eating a tray or two might put you back in ICU... "Umm... is it possible for me to get a drink.... something not filtered.. maybe a can of soda or something...." Alice looks up hopefully, the tried and true puppy dog face or guilt trips.

"Of course it is sweetie. I'll be right back, Coke okay?"

".. That's fine.... thank you." Alice smiles at the nurse before she leaves the room. Slowly putting the tray down on the side table, a long sigh as she slumps her back. Most of the blood loss had been taken care of. Oddly enough, the original encounter with Lessien - The Autograph. Was still the largest injury. ".... Wonder when we're gonna get out of here......"

It shouldn't be too much longer.
I hope not... I never thought I'd say it but, I miss the hotel room... I even miss the way Ana wakes us up...
... And I'm the mentally unstable one.
Hey... you were the one who provoked Mellie...
For the -LAST TIME-! Melwasul -SAVED- us! You should be thankful Alice.
T- ... thankful... if it wasn't for her.. our life in Chicago would be-...
Boring. As a damn political press conference. She's exactly what we need, what -I- need.
... Suddenly I feel sick again..

Oooooohhhhhh Aaaaallllliceeeeee~~

".... Huh.. ?" Alice looks around the room, a blank and confused stare. She manages to raise her head up on an angle, turning around somewhat in her bed. She could have sworn... "... Is someone there.... ?.. H- hey...." Alice grips the sheets below her body tightly, fingers curled as she swallows hard and deep. She definitely heard something...

... H- hey.... what was that... ?
.... I don't know.
.. I.. it didn't sound like the nurse..... or any of the doctors we've seen... ri-... right?..
.. Calm down Alice-
B... but!...

Hehe he... that's sooooooooo cute. I knew she'd be cute~

..... Loveless... what's-

LOVELESS?! HA! Oh.. oh that's rich..... is that what you told her?.. Oh dear, that's a high treason BLASPHEMY!

.... Wh.. what's going on.... my head... I..
Alice! Calm down, if you concentrate to muc----
H... h-ey... what's... I can't... the noise... why is there so...

Time stops for no one pretty thing~ You didn't think she was the only one did you?! HA! +ONE+ Loveless... that's ADORABLE!

.. W- wha.... what is.. what is she tal...
... T-chhh..... now I get it.. you finally found me...
F-.. found you?... Hey... s- someone... he... lp...

And THIS TIME? This time... I found a body +all+ my own! I'll be seeing +you+, real soon... mwah~

"............" Her fingers clutch at her temples, Alice shakes and shivers in her bed. Her knees firmly pressed up against her chest. Her teeth grinding. The noise, it was all too much noise. She digs her fingernails against the side of her head... tears roll down her cheeks. Fear fills her heart. The nurse finally returns, moments far to late. She notices Alice's confusing condition and hits the on call button. Alice simply couldn't hear anything past that. "....." Not the rushing of carts or footsteps. Not the calls from the nurse, nothing... nothing but her own mind...

..... Loveless...
.. Alice.... you need to-
Who was she.... who was that voice.. why did it hurt so much....
Look.. I'll explain-
YOU'LL EXPLAIN IT NOW LOVELESS!! THIS IS MY BODY, THIS IS MY MIND!!! YOU CAN'T JUST BRING SOME OLD FRIEND IN AT YOUR PLEASURE! MY MIND ISN'T A GOD DAMNED HOSTEL FOR PSYCHOSIS!!!!
..... Alright.. alright.... I get it.. I'll... explain everything.... from the start....

[Alice]

It was... a while ago now.....

============================
X Number Of Years Ago ~ Thule Society Research Lab
============================

... What's the Thule Society?...
Supposedly, it's some occult faction Adolf Hitler -created- in order to win his Genocidal War.
... Oh.. but... but that was a long, long time ago Loveless.... what does this-
... You'll understand soon Alice.

"Where is Lamia? She keeps running wild around the grounds."

"She should be with Olivia, she seems to have taken a shine to that one. They usually can be found out over the grid."

"Little bitches."

The footsteps get louder and louder, unlocking of large doors. Rusted and solid. The cries of the horns raid inside the compound walls. Echo, bouncing from side to side.

What's that sound....
.. Those were the raid sirens. Whenever those went off.... it usually meant..
... Meant?...
......

"Vespana! Why are you all the way outside of the grid?! You know the rules! You will come back with me at ONCE!"

The burly fingers wrap around the smooth flesh. A grunt and depleted sigh as the girl is slowly dragged back, against the cold hard ground. Her clothes ragged and ripped, torn and faded.

... Who are all of these people.... what's going on..
..... Lamia, Olivia, Vespana.... they're.. old friends.....

"Where are the others?"

"Already in the main hall, we're ready now."

"Good, gather the lot of them."

.. I'm confused... what's-
There were eight of us...

"Lamia. Olivia. Vespana. Elizabeth. Litany. Erica. Sakura. Samantha. They are all here."

"Good good... today, today is a special day girls-"

......
... H- hey wait.... that..
Spells... L.O.V.E.L.E.S.S.....
.. Wait.... so your name.. and that other voice... that's what she meant by -only one Loveless-...
... We were.... never meant to..
... ?

"Did you already prepare everything?"

"Yes, all we need to do is finish off the batch."

The eight bodies lined up. Heads hung low, fists balled up in rage and fear. None of them more then but ten years old. Collars around their necks, shackles around their bodies connecting to one another. The men gather round the girls, cases filled with needles - medical so called devices. Experimental Hell.

.. What are they doing to them....
......
... H- hey..
There was a man there... some kind of, sadistic scientist... he believed that humanity could possess the illusion of Immortality through certain scientific means.
But... that's just science fiction.. no one lives forever...
You're right. He however didn't believe that, or wouldn't accept that fact. So... he found a way to.. prolong the human lifespan...
.. W- what?.... That's not possi-

"Make sure the body is ready for transference. We don't want to screw this up."

"Right away."

Trans... what.. ?
.... Science is a evil tool when used incorrectly. The man realized that.. if you use a certain kind of technology.... certain kind of frequency... all brain activity, is not that different..
... So? What does that mean... not that different.. ?
If the frequency isn't that different... then replacing it.... isn't that hard.. now is it?
..... Y.. you don't..

The sound of electricity hits the airwaves, blasting over head. A scene from Frankenstein would be fitting here but I can't be fucked to link or encode anything. Yelping... cries of human agony and pain.. suffering. All in the name of -science-. Evil creation. The room falls silent, the seven remaining girls stare over in a mix of horror, confusion, worry and even anger. The men laugh, a victory in their eyes. Rounds of clapping and team effort win the day...

The change had been completed.

.... What..
Loveless... it was a sect that was designed to... take over, other people..
.. I'm sorry... you're gonna have to explain that again.
..... Someone like me, is sent to... invade another's mind, like yours. In time, my mind's frequency will meld with yours. When that happens.... it's possible for me to forcibly shut down, your neural net.
.... W-..
In short, Alice.... L.O.V.E.L.E.S.S.... was created to let us, the.. experiment, take over the bodies of whomever we would.... infest. We're.... like mental parasites... Alice.
..... I..
.. You don't have to worry. I'm not going to try and force your brain to shut down....
.........

============================
Present Day ~ Chicago Hospital Intensive Care Unit
============================

... Alice.... are you okay.
.... I'm.. not sure what to say.... where's your original body.... how old is your mind... how did they change your brains to be able to do this.... why.. I-
I know, I know. You have many questions. I'll answer them all when you're better okay?
Yeah...

"......" Alice snuggles her head against her pillow. Confused, scared, confused.... scared. Clutching the sheets tightly. She closes her eyes, the pain of her body was in comparison... faaaaaaar in the past now. She swallows hard, trying to huddle up under her blanket. The information she had just retained.... it was.. painful. She didn't know if it was her pain.... or the pain of Loveless, and her memories...

... Hey....
Yes Alice?
.. Which one were you.... what's your real name..
.... I was the last.. my name's Samantha.... Samantha Loveless.
.. Nice to meet you.... Samantha..
..... It's nice to meet you too... Alice.