The girl awoke, sluggishly opening her eyes, stirred awake by the crimson light of the moon that hung low in the sky, dyeing the world in it’s image. All around her the forest twisted, it’s trees warped and bent, their branches bare, stripped of their leaves. Beneath her the ground felt moist as she stretched, running her hands through the fallen leaves and soil around her. Noticing the world around her she jolted upright, rising from the earth’s warm, welcoming embrace, that was instantly replaced with a cool nothingness.

Whe-where am I!? W-what? What’s going on, she thought, spinning around in confusion, unsure of anything that surrounded her.

Where am I? What’s going on here! She thought, her mind racing.

“Don’t fret child, you are safe” echoed a voice within her mind, it’s tones soft and calming.

At this Alice jumped to her feet, spinning to face the source of the voice, her guard raised. Before her a woman dressed entirely in white stood, her features hidden by a veil that hung loosely in front of her face.

“Who are you! And what the hell is going on!?” Alice exclaimed, her voice trembling.

“A ghost? No.. a spirit.” the voice echoed in her mind once more.

“A spirit? Then where are we?”

“Heaven.. maybe hell? I am unsure, all I know is I am bound to this place. Yet in spite of this I wish to ask you a favour child.”

“A favour? What favour could a spirit ask of me?”

“I wish to place something of great value into your care.”

“Why me?” Alice questioned, her face distorted in uncertainty.

“Because I have faith in you child.”

“F-faith.. In me?”

“Yes. If it is you I can leave this child to your care.” The figure’s voice echoed as she motioned to a pool of water before her.

Alice slowly shuffled over towards the figure, bending down to peer into the murky depth of the pool. Below the surface a second figure became visible, causing Alice to recoil away in shock.

“Don’t worry child, he is merely sleeping a deep, deep sleep.”

Alice looked at her with a worried expression on her face, yet the figure in white just continued to beckon her towards the pool. Alice crawled forward towards the pool once more, peering meekly at the figure who slumbered within.

Within a young man could be seen, his eyes sealed tightly shut. His long black hair twisted and twined aimlessly within the pool, in stark contrast to his pale alabaster skin, which in places seemed almost translucent, allowing the veins and arteries to be visible beneath it. He was dressed in a raggedy shawl that draped loosely across his body. As Alice moved her gaze from his clothes she noticed his bindings. Several chains and leather straps bound his limbs together, restraining him completely.

His limbs were extremely long and he probably stood at over six and a half feet, maybe nearer to seven, she thought. After a few seconds Alice looked away from the pool and fixed her gaze upon the figure in white once more.

“Who is he?” She questioned.

“A poor, pitiful child. One with the ability to dye the world red, as he has this world. Born of love, yet cursed by ambition and hatred. A monster born of blood, death and strife. A monster without knowledge of love, who can only roar in defiance at the world. Kindred spirits, no?”

Alice’s hands grasped her clothes tightly, pulling at them in a nervous manner. Just how much does she know?

“Your answer child?” The figure asked, her voice snapping Alice back.

Alice ran her hand roughly through her hair, shying away as she did so. She bit her lip loosely before taking in a deep sigh, accepting the situation.

“Fine! I’ll take on your favour spirit... but only as I feel this one here has the power to break me free of the chains that bind me.” Alice exclaimed, a giant smirk upon her lips, her eyes shining bright in the red light of the moon.

“Then the contract is formed and I will return you from this dream.” The spirit spoke, a faint smile appearing beneath the veil.

At that moment the world began to fade to black, as if being swallowed by the shadows themselves. Alice’s eyelids became heavy and her body began to feel numb as she faded from the dream, her waking mind beginning to stir elsewhere.

As Alice faded from that world completely, the spirit turned to the figure in the water a sad expression now replacing her previous smile.

“I’m sorry I lied to her, about this place, about myself and about you. I’m sorry for the pain I’ll cause her... and I beg your forgiveness for all of it. As the goddess of this land I beg you to forgive me and to save this land. Please my child, use that power and save her and this land!”

As Alice awoke she found herself back within the grotto, complete with bird songs and flittering light that streamed between the tree canopy above. She sighed thinking of the dream she had just had, scratching her head in frustration. She rolled onto her side and before her the figure from the pool lay, sleeping peacefully upon the ground beside her.