Twenty-Nine
The Red Chord
Alice woke up. Her wrists burned. The side of her head ached. A mix of brown, gray, and flesh-colored tones filled her fuzzy vision. When she focused, she saw a room full of people before her. They stood in darkness, though there were a few spotlights above her. She glanced around and saw a wide wooden floor beneath her and concrete walls off to the side. A stage. She looked down at her arms, which were bound. So were her legs. Alice sat in a chair. She struggled, her wrists twisting against her binds.
“Took you long enough to wake up,” Chibi’s voice entered her ears, “Where’s Lawrence?”
Alice turned her head to see Chibi, Lucius and Ren emerge from behind the stage. Chibi held the shock baton with a grin.
“I-I don’t know… please, I want to help him, too…”
“
