Alice snapped awake from a nightmare in her bed, but she didn't pour it into her notebook or try to calm herself down. She just sat up and stared into the darkness.
When the blurry room finally came into focus, she saw the time on the wall clock and hurried out of bed—she was late.
As she pulled on her pants, she wondered why her alarm hadn't woken her up, but she got her answer quickly.
A red-haired naked girl was lying in her bed, holding Alice's alarm clock in her hands. She'd probably turned it off herself—so that was why Alice had overslept.
The girl started waking up too, turned toward Alice, and wished her good morning.
Alice tried to remember last night, but she only had their performance. Everything after that was a blank.
— Morning… uh…
— Lily. — the girl said with a grin. — My name's Lily.
— Ah, right… So, Lily… could you go home? Like, right now? I can call you a taxi if you need.
Lily crawled across the bed on all fours toward Alice, who was sitting on the edge, pulling on her T-shirt.
Lily ran thin fingers along Alice's stomach.
— I thought you'd keep me a little longer… — she whispered into her ear.
Alice stood up abruptly, turned around, her whole body tense.
— Listen… Lily… looks like you turned off my alarm, and now I'm going to be really fucking late, so I don't have time for this. Please get dressed fast and leave.
Lily pouted—she'd been hoping for something else—but she started getting dressed anyway.
When they were both ready to leave, Alice opened the door for her. Lily didn't ask for a taxi; she didn't live far.
— Still, that was a pretty good night. Let's do it again. — she said, looking Alice in the eyes with a wicked smile.
— We'll see. — Alice shut the door, then ran down the stairs, passing Lily on the way.
Alice sprinted to the bus stop and jumped onto a route she barely managed not to miss.
Through the bus window she could still see the red-haired girl walking down the street—the girl she didn't remember at all. And maybe it was better that way.
***
A brutal headache hit Alice as she dropped coins into the hospital coffee machine, so she started massaging her forehead with one hand.
Fragments of the night began to return. She'd drunk a lot—way too much—then the others had left, and she'd stayed behind with that red-haired girl.
She took the two hot drinks and went back to the hospital room where her sister was staying.
Lucy looked much better than last time. The treatments finally seemed to be working. She wasn't pale anymore, not as weak, but she still wasn't allowed to move much, so she was sitting in bed.
Alice handed her the hot chocolate, blowing on it quickly first.
Lucy said something, but a sharp pain stabbed through Alice's head and she didn't catch a word of it.
Images flashed from the night: the taste of vodka, a dark apartment, a kiss.
— So? — Lucy asked.
— Sorry… — Alice held her head. — What did you say?
— I said you brought me the wrong homework last time, but whatever. You look like shit.
— Hey, watch your mouth.
— Learned it from you. — Lucy grinned. — Was the concert good?
— Yeah, it went well, I just think… after that I might've overdone it a bit. And I'm sorry I was late.
— You were only late by an hour. Relax. I'm always here, but I'm really bored…
— The doctor says they might let you out soon, and then I'll show you my place. You'll like it. Your room will be the prettiest and the biggest.
Lucy's face darkened a little.
— Dad says I shouldn't move in with you…
— Dad doesn't really get a vote. — Alice snapped.
— He said if I go home, everything will be different… He said he'll take care of me.
— He can't even take care of himself. He shouldn't try to the play father after all these years. You want to live with me, right?
— Yes, but… we shouldn't leave Dad alone.
— If he wants to see us, he knows where to find us. I told you—if he's sober, he's welcome anytime. But if he's drunk, I don't want to see that bastard.
Lucy went quiet. She didn't know what to add, and she could see how angry her sister was. She didn't want to push her.
— Sorry, my princess… — Alice softened. — I'm more irritated than I should be. I just want you living with me. Then you won't have to keep asking the neighbors to help drag Dad into the building. It would be better with just the two of us, don't you think?
— Yeah… it would. — Lucy answered, subdued.
— Listen, I'll talk to the landlord, and then we can paint your room any color you want. Deal?
— Even red?
— Even red.
— With black stripes and huge flaming unicorns with skeleton warriors riding them!
— Wow, your imagination ran wild. I'm not exactly a painter, but I'll do what I can.
***
Alice didn't go home right away. First she stopped by her father's place.
He wasn't completely sober, but he was in relatively decent shape.
The apartment didn't look that filthy—still not clean either. It was obvious Alice hadn't been around in a while.
Her father invited Alice into the kitchen and poured her a fresh cup of coffee.
— Want something to eat? There's still some pizza left.
— I'm good, thanks. — she took a sip of coffee.
— You sure? It's your favorite. Four cheese.
— Maybe later. Listen, I was at the hospital recently…
— Lucy okay? I haven't been in to see her today.
— She's okay. Much better.
— Then I'll bring her pizza too. Hospital food is awful, right?
— Listen, can you explain what you think you're doing? Why did you tell Lucy she should stay with you?
— I just—
— No! — Alice cut him off. — You can't want that. You still have enough sense left to know what's best for your daughter. Or did you drink away even that?
— I'll change, I promise… — he said, miserably. — You didn't have to leave either…
— And why would I have stayed? To clean up your filth? To bring food home? To do the shit you're supposed to do?!
— No… no…
Alice couldn't take it anymore. She stood up from the table.
— If you ever tell Lucy again that she should stay with you, I swear I'll break your fucking hands. Then we'll see how you lick booze off the floor.
— Okay… alright… I won't tell her anything.
Alice headed for the front door. From the kitchen her father spoke again.
— Alice… sweetheart… Could you ever forgive me?
Alice saw the fire again: the burning wreck, the pain in her broken arm, and the fact that no matter how she begged that day, nobody helped her or her mother.
She didn't answer. She didn't want to waste any more words. She just left.
***
The next day at rehearsal Alice brought a new song and showed it to the others.
Justin was mainly interested in the sheet music, but he read the lyrics too.
— "I Hate You"? Damn. Strong song. Impulsive. I can already hear the solo in my head, but… are you okay, Alice?
— Yeah. It's just a song.
— Look, your songs are good because they come from you. And I know exactly who you wrote this one for.
— So what if I did? We all hate someone. We all love someone.
— That's not what I mean, Alice, it's just… you've been tense lately. Shut down. And you've been drinking more at parties.
— You know you can tell us anything. — Cornel added. — Is it because of Lucy? They're letting her out soon, right?
— I'm fine, I just… I wrote a song like this, that's all. And Lucy's doing much better—she'll be moving in with me soon.
They all went quiet for a moment. Alice let some of her anger dissolve. She knew they were trying to help.
— Listen… I really haven't been at my best lately, but everything's okay now. Lucy got better, I moved into my dream place, and soon we'll be releasing our first album. Everything is going as well as it possibly can. All this tension will be gone soon, alright?
— We'll wait patiently, Alice. — Justin said. — But if you need us, we're here.
— I know. And I'm grateful.
— I love you guys. — Cornel sniffled. — So much it hurts!
— What? — Justin turned to him, confused, then saw Cornel's big red eyes. — Dude, are you high?
— No… or maybe I am… I can't lie to you guys, I love you.
— Come on, man… we talked about this. No weed, no booze at rehearsal.
— I'm sorry… I didn't mean to! I swear. Some guy gave me these gummy bears in the hallway. — he pulled out colorful gummies from his pocket. — I thought it was just candy.
— Who the hell gave you those?
— A nice dreadlocked guy. You know, from that reggae band on the first floor. He was really chill. Said he likes our music too.
— Okay, that explains everything. Don't eat any more. Alright, guys, rehearsal's obviously dead, so… what now?
Alice walked over to Cornel, who could barely hold his guitar anymore. She took the gummies from him and immediately popped one into her mouth.
— I say we could use a little relaxation.
— Oh, you fucking lunatics. Fine—why not. Pass them here. — Justin said.
Once they all ate some, it took a bit, but when it kicked in, it hit hard.
They lay down side by side on the carpeted rehearsal-room floor and stared at the ceiling for a long time.
Then Ervin showed up. He didn't understand what was going on—until he got close enough to see their dilated pupils and empty stares.
— Are you alright?
— Look! The Count! Do you see him too?! — Cornel asked, grinning.
— Our vampire manager! He came to suck our blood. — Justin said.
— No way! For real?! — Cornel panicked, but he couldn't get up to run, so he started crying. — Please don't hurt me, Ervin! I love you!
— I have no intention of hurting you. I only wished to take Pinky — Count Dracula is taking the maiden! — Justin said, and started laughing too.
— Sorry, Pinky, we tried everything, but the floor… floor… "bun-pancake" won't let us go. — Alice said.
Ervin helped Pinky up from the floor.
— Oh no, guys! They're taking me! — Pinky shouted, laughing loudly.
They all burst into loud laughter at Alice's nonsense—except Cornel, who took it seriously and started to freak out.
To calm him down, they rolled closer and hugged him from both sides.
— Relax, man, we've got you. — Justin said.
— Yeah, we won't abandon you. I'll protect you with my body if I have to. — Alice added, grinning.
— You guys are the best.
Rehearsal didn't happen, but at least they learned Cornel couldn't handle more than just alcohol—he couldn't handle anything like that.
***
That evening Alice got a phone call saying her sister's condition had become life-threatening, so she rushed straight to the hospital.
By the time she arrived, Lucy was no longer in immediate danger—but she was exhausted and asleep.
At the doctor's suggestion, Alice didn't go in. She only looked into the room and let her rest.
Even from a distance it was obvious Lucy wasn't well. She was much paler.
— We tried to contact the father as well, but he didn't pick up after multiple calls. — said the stocky, balding doctor.
— What happened? Yesterday she was fine.
— I'm sorry, but that was only temporary. It's too early to draw hard conclusions before the results, but I've seen a few similar cases, and I would say… this might get much worse.
— Worse? What do you mean, worse?
The doctor looked at Alice with pity.
— Listen, dear… you need to be strong. Let's wait for the results first, alright? Until then, I don't want to say more.
— Can I stay? With her?
— Well… alright. Bring in a chair, but keep quiet. She needs to rest.
The doctor left. Alice brought a chair from the hallway into the room, set it down in a corner, sat, and waited.
In the dark hospital room she listened to her little sister's weak breathing, the machines' sounds, and although she was terrified, she eventually drifted off too—much later, near dawn.
Morning came, and little Lucy started waking in the bed.
When Alice saw her come to, she rushed over immediately to check on her.
Lucy was happy to see her sister, but she didn't feel good. Her breathing was heavy and she couldn't move. She tried to sit up, but couldn't.
— Don't… — Alice placed a hand gently on her chest. — Don't move. Just stay still. If you need anything, I'll bring it to you.
— Alice… — Lucy began, her voice fading. — It really… hurts.
Alice felt sick. She never wanted to see her sister like this. It hurt more than anything.
Lucy started crying. Alice stayed strong—swallowed her own tears—and hugged her little sister.
— It's going to be okay, my princess… I promise…
A nurse and the doctor came in. The doctor asked Alice to step into the hallway.
Alice didn't want to let go of her sister's tiny hand—there was barely any strength in it. Lucy tried to squeeze back, but couldn't.
It was clear Lucy didn't want Alice to leave her, but the doctor promised it would only take a few minutes, so Alice went with him.
Outside, the doctor's face hardened. It was obvious he'd come with bad news.
— Listen carefully… unfortunately, it's what I feared. Your little sister is very sick, and I'm afraid there's nothing we can do for her. We can only ease her pain now…
— What are you talking about? She's just a kid… She's never had anything wrong with her before!
— Sadly, this disgusting thing doesn't choose. It doesn't care how old someone is. It doesn't care how innocent… Lucy doesn't have much time left. We'll give you every support we can, but her life… we can't save it.
— This… this… it doesn't make sense! She can't die! — Alice broke. — No. No…
Alice stared at the doctor's pitying eyes, then at the walls, the door, the ticking clock.
And then everything caught fire.
The walls burned, the doors, the rooms, the coffee machine, the hospital beds. The nurses became charred skeletons, black smoke pouring from them. The doctor's gaze turned demonic—he became a fork-tongued creature with flaming horns.
Alice felt herself falling—down into a bottomless pit where there was nothing but fire.
All-consuming, scorching fire.