You’ll be safe. I’ll protect you.

In the dark room, Alice was lying on her bed, her back facing the entrance. After Jack knocked on the door, he entered the room, reached for the light switch but then stopped himself from turning it on. Then he stepped closer and approached Alice.

When Alice heard his footsteps, she jerked but made no attempt to look back. Sitting down on the chair by the bed, Jack began to speak.

"I'm glad you're safe, Alice. Does your body hurt in any way?"

At the sound of his quiet tone, Alice grew silent momentarily before turning her back and answering in a small voice, "I'm fine."

"I see…"

"The Bandersnatch is amazing. I suppose that's why your wounds heal so fast… It's unbelievable."

"…"

"The stitches are all closed up now… Nothing in your body hurts… I think you're going to be okay…"

Jack was about to reach out his hand and pat Alice on the head, but decided against it and stopped his motion. His face scrunched up in distress for a short while, and then he withdrew his hand.

"… Hey, Alice. This shelter is going to be abandoned."

"…"

"The Nightmare is about to invade. The plan is to fight them off using the shelter itself."

"I… have to battle again?"

She asked in a low voice, and Jack shook his head.

"…No. Not really."

"…"

"I told you. I'll protect you. So if you don't want to fight anymore, Alice, you don't have to."

"…"

"Soon the citizens will be evacuated by train. You can take the train to the destination and evacuate first."

For the first time, Alice presented her exhausted countenance to Jack. Jack shut his mouth at the sight of her tear-stained face.

"… But I think it's the same thing even if I don't fight."

The simple murmur seemed to wrench at Jack's heart. He gazed down briefly, then drew a breath and pulled a small box of medicine from his pocket.

"It's okay. I have a trump card."

"…?"

Alice eyed it curiously, and Jack resumed.

"It's a cure for the collapse disease. I ingested it and contracted the disease myself. I can now perceive the… nightmare."

Alice's eyes widened as she absorbed these silent words. Then she raised her body and glanced at Jack.

"What…?"

"I don't know how long I have left to live, but… I can handle the weapon that the White Knight had, the Nightmare you slew earlier, to a certain extent. So…" Jack flashed a grin at Alice. "You no longer need to fight. Let me handle this, and you can escape."

"…"

Alice reached out her shivering hands. Then she wrapped one of Jack's hands in both of hers and remained quiet for a while. Turning over, she began to shake slightly.

"…"

Alice cast a faint voice at Jack, who kept his voice down.

"Why…? The collapse disease is… not curable…"

"…"

"Jack, you're going to die…? Why…?"

This world.

Either way, it's over.

–It's going to perish.

Alice was unable to carry on with those words. She bit her lip and closed her eyes; tears flowed down her eyes.

"I can't, I can't do anything… Even to help you or save anyone else… I can't even get up on my feet… I am…"

"…"

"I don't want to be here… I shouldn't be here… Maybe…"

Jack watched her momentarily, and then extended his hand and gently embraced her slim body. He stroked her head slowly.

"Listen, Alice. Listen to me very carefully."

"…"

Hugging Alice, who clung to his clothes, Jack continued.

"If you don't want to be here, then run away. Run anywhere and everywhere you can."

"…"

"You're entitled to do that."

"…"

"It's up to you to decide. If you don't have a place to escape to, I'll create one. So you don't have to worry about it anymore. You don't have to suffer. Just run." Jack said calmly to Alice, who was trembling, unable to respond to his words. "The first train leaves in an hour from now. I'll bring you there."

"… But, Jack…"

Alice stammered and kept her mouth shut. Then she gritted her teeth and squeezed Jack's clothes even tighter.

"Let's escape too, Jack…? Together…"

Jack smiled and patted Alice on the head.

"I can't do that… someone has to stall the Nightmare from attacking here."

"… Why you, Jack…? Couldn't someone else do it? Jack, you're suffering from the collapse disease…"

When Alice had said that much, Jack held her firmly. He then enveloped her in his warmth for a few seconds as she stiffened in wonder.

"… Goodbye, Alice. Run away. You'll be safe. I'll protect you."

"Jack…"

The sound of a push was made. Jack had injected a small air-operated syringe into Alice's neck, where she stopped in a daze. The liquid contained within was gone, having been infused into her body.

"Eh…?"

"Go back to sleep. I'll carry you to the train." Jack smiled as he lifted Alice's small body in his arms. "I'll take care of the terrifying enemies."

"No… way…"

Thereupon, Alice's consciousness plunged into an abrupt, dark abyss of despair.