33 Stillness (2/2)
The loud burst ensued, creating the long-awaited commotion he was seeking. Time seemed to halt as the bullet pierced the still air and subsequently wrecking the door that stood in its wake.
The light coming from the corridor lamps dispersed the room's shadows for just a second before he felt the surroundings being plunged back into darkness as the very reality seemed to shatter.
…
An annoying knocking sound raised Alice from her sleep, the door trembling slightly as to indicate the source from the noise.
”Hmm, Yes?” She drowsily muttered in a low response, refusing to leave the warm bed. ”Nobody is in, leave me alone”
She couldn't even notice the contradiction in her words as she forced herself into a slumber one more time - only for the knocking to echo once more.
”Who is it!?” She barked in annoyance. Being forcefully interrupted from her sleep was one of the things she hates the most!
”It's me.” Garett's voice sounded from the corridor, slightly lessening the annoyance in her.
'It's better to be important! Or I'll have to teach him to never interrupt a lady's sleeping time!' She murmured with a nod before reluctantly rising from the bed and stretching her bare body.
”Yeah Yeah, wait a minute. I still have to dress up.” She unhurriedly trod across the room while looking for the scattered clothes and underwear that created a trail in the ground. The knocking seemed to have stopped after her words, not sounding again even if she took a long time to dress.
”Huh, how considerate of him, I expected him to complain a lot. But what was he expecting? He wanted me to just invite him in to watch me dress?” She talked to herself while following the trail of clothes, gradually dressing herself and approaching the door.
Just as she arrived in front of the door, she heard an unfamiliar voice coming from the corridor.
”Sir, I'll have to ask you to please stop the noise. It's bothering the other guests.”
'Huh, serves you right! Your annoying behavior should have raised the whole floor!' She puffed while gloating at Garett's misfortune, perking her ears in the corridor's direction as to hear his response. She could make fun of him later about his awkward answer!
A long time passed with no response, eliciting Alice to portray a disappointed frown.
'What? Did He just nod or something? That's not fun at all!'Just as she was complaining inwardly, Garett's voice sounded once more; breaking the awkward silence.
”Alice, please open the door.” Only then did Alice notice that something was amiss! Even if she usually behaved very in a very carefree manner, she was still a veteran huntress with years of experience!
”Garett?” She muttered while stopping on her tracks, changing the course to the table at the side where she had left her gauntlets!
”Please open the door.” The stiff, repeated phrase only serves to confirm her suspicions! The thing outside obviously wasn't Garett! Her previously slow pace suddenly sped up as she almost plunged towards her gauntlets, she would only feel safe after being properly armed!
She arrived beside the table in a dash and opened the case. The steel gauntlets reflected the faint light that came from the window, and almost instinctively made her smile.
”Let's see what you made to my recruit!” She wore the gauntlets in a trained fashion that showed the familiarity that she had with her equipment!
”May the goddess bless us all.” She muttered in a prayer, causing the mists outside to faintly move in response before frantically streaming inside the room through the small gaps in the window! Her gauntlets being involved by the mists as she prepared to charge into the assailant.
Just as she was about to rush towards the door, a loud bang sounded from somewhere in the corridor!
”A gun!?” Just as Alice recognized the source of the noise, she felt the surroundings being plunged into darkness as her consciousness drifted into stillness.