Chapter 13 “Bed Neck”
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The ocean’s unfathomable depths had always harbored considerable fear and apprehension. Duncan, who had a peculiar connection with Alice, an eerily lifelike doll, could sense her emotions. He felt her discomfort and distinct aversion to the seemingly limitless ocean in front of them, particularly towards the unspecified creatures lurking beneath its surface. These creatures’ presence was suggested but never confirmed. Duncan’s experiences in an otherworldly dimension and his confrontations on the fringes of their known world deepened his understanding of the dread hidden within the vast expanse of water.
Despite their apprehensions, they embarked on a journey across the Boundless Sea aboard their vessel, the Vanished, mirroring a similar journey they had previously undertaken on a mechanized ship in the ethereal plane.
These experiences led Duncan to ponder the more remote and enigmatic aspects of their world. He wondered about the terrestrial landscape and whether conventional land even existed in this realm.
However, Alice, standing before him, could not provide any definitive answers, as most of her memories were trapped in a murky, dreamlike state due to some form of suppression imposed on her.
His thoughts returned to the time the Vanished encountered the mechanical vessel. He remembered the mysterious symbols, the religious insignia, and the markings on Alice’s “casket,” suggesting a common theme: this “cursed doll” was a focal point of profound fear within their so-called “civilized society.”
He looked at the doll-like woman who, despite her unsettling calmness, met his gaze thoughtfully.
“I just need to understand,” Duncan began cautiously, “you don’t have any memories of your origins or previous experiences, correct?”
“I cannot remember,” Alice responded truthfully. “Since the moment I became conscious, I have been confined within this enormous box. I am unsure why, but I have always been surrounded by anxious individuals, terrified at the thought of me escaping. They have used various methods to keep the box sealed. Reflecting on it now, the nails you drove into the lid of my box seem somewhat kind… Although you later added eight cannonballs, you at least refrained from using lead, right?”
Duncan chose not to react to Alice’s attempted humor. Persisting, he asked, “So, how did you get your name? Who gave it to you? If you’ve been continuously confined within this box, devoid of human interaction, how did you come to have a name? Did you give it to yourself?”
Alice appeared visibly taken aback. A palpable wave of bewilderment washed over her, and she remained disoriented for a few moments. As the pause stretched uncomfortably long, Duncan began to worry if the doll was experiencing a malfunction. Just as he was about to express his concern, Alice stammered, “I… I can’t remember. I’ve always known myself as Alice, but I didn’t give myself this name. I…”
Clearly perplexed, she instinctively clutched her head with both hands, a physical manifestation of her inner turmoil. Seeing her distress, Duncan’s eyebrows furrowed with concern, and he quickly interrupted, “Alright, if the memory is elusive, we can let it be. There’s no need to exert yourself to such an extent…”
Following this, Duncan bombarded Alice with a torrent of questions, but his efforts were mostly met with silence or uncertainty.
As Alice delved deeper into the details of her existence, it became evident that most of her sentient life had been spent in a hazy, liminal state within her “casket.” Her understanding of the world beyond was notably limited, pieced together from fragments of overheard conversations during her sporadic periods of wakefulness outside her coffin. Yet, these disjointed bits of information were insufficient for Duncan to form a comprehensive image of their universe.
However, Duncan’s interaction with Alice was not entirely fruitless. He managed to glean a handful of crucial insights from their discussion:
This world operated under a hierarchical system known as “city-states”—a concept that frequently punctuated Alice’s narrative and seemed to frame her entire journey. Her initial point of departure had been a city-state named “Pland.”
Pland was depicted as a thriving city-state, well-known among seafarers for its strategic location along various trade routes.
Moreover, Alice was officially designated “Anomaly 099,” suggesting the existence of an organized societal structure. The name “Alice,” however, was a nickname used solely between her and Duncan—it held no recognition among others.
Additionally, Alice had been frequently transferred from one city-state to another, indicating that she wasn’t the only “anomaly” being moved around. During these relocations, she overheard her handlers discussing “other seals.”
With these revelations, Duncan proposed a bold hypothesis: the constant movement of these “anomalies” might be a compulsory protocol established to maintain their seals and prevent potential breakout attempts.
It appeared that the team assigned to transport Anomaly 099 had run into a significant obstacle due to the unexpected appearance of the Vanished. The “doll” they were supposed to guard had managed to slip away from their control.
Nevertheless, the exact threat that this peculiar cursed doll posed, along with the potential chaos her escape could cause, remained shrouded in mystery.
After all, she seemed relatively harmless aboard the Vanished.
Initially, Duncan had hoped to uncover a wealth of insights that could shed light on the enigmatic world they inhabited. However, he soon realized that the occupant of the coffin was as perplexed as he was, if not more so.
Yet, as he looked at Alice, who sat quietly atop the wooden box that had once confined her, his wave of disappointment began to fade.
At the very least, he now had a companion aboard the Vanished—despite her eerily doll-like appearance, the horrific sight of her dismembered head, the arcane secrets she undoubtedly possessed, and her sporadic bouts of incoherent babbling.
In Duncan’s view, she was a more agreeable companion than the bothersome wooden sculpture character.
Given the mysterious phenomena and potential dangers lurking within the Boundless Sea, the anomalous nature of the Vanished, and the peculiar events occurring on this vessel, one might wonder: can any of these elements be considered truly safe?
To an outside observer, it might seem that the most intimidating presence on the Boundless Sea was none other than its captain, known simply as “Duncan.”
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Exhaling deeply, Duncan’s typically stern expression unintentionally softened. In a more jovial tone than usual, he posed a hypothetical question, “What would you do if I decided to throw you overboard again?”
Caught off guard by his question, Alice replied with a hint of surprise, “Would you weigh me down with cannonballs this time?”
“No.”
“Then, would you nail me shut?”
“Er… no.”
“Perhaps fill me with lead?”
“No… What I’m trying to say is, if I decided not to keep you on board…”
“I would row myself back,” Alice interjected, maintaining her composure. “I have no desire to become one with this infinite body of water. At least on your ship, I have some semblance of refuge.”
Surprised by Alice’s apparent indifference, Duncan found himself unsure whether her detachment was genuine or just a façade of bravery. After a moment’s thought, he finally responded, “You could have put that more diplomatically…”
“Nevertheless, you already knew what my answer would be, didn’t you?” Alice retorted, a mischievous smirk playing on her face. “However, upon my return, I might consider hiding somewhere within the cabin, somewhere you’re unlikely to find me. My periods of wakefulness have been brief, and I haven’t thoroughly examined the area in my previous efforts, but now I’ve gathered some experience…”
Before she could continue, Duncan interjected. “My awareness permeates every corner of this ship. I can even pinpoint the exact location of every wave that crashes against the hull.”
Alice was momentarily taken aback. “Oh…”
Maintaining his stoic demeanor, Duncan continued, “Moreover, I could also choose to annihilate you entirely, using a more effective strategy to prevent further disruptions to my tranquility and the smooth operation of my vessel.”
This was a possibility the doll-like woman hadn’t considered before. She instinctively widened her eyes as a distinctive click echoed from her neck area…
The headless doll scrambled to gather her own head and frantically attempted to reattach it to her neck. This bizarre spectacle caused Duncan to heave a resigned sigh. He patiently waited for Alice to properly secure her head before continuing, “However, I’ve just considered that perhaps having an additional crew member might not be as disadvantageous as I previously thought—if you can guarantee good conduct, I might just find a place for you.”
“You should have stated that upfront! I nearly lost my head again!”
In the end, Duncan couldn’t help but twitch slightly. “So, what exactly is the problem with your neck?”
Alice’s face was the epitome of cluelessness as she responded, “I honestly have no idea! Considering the rare occasions I’m allowed to ‘awake’, how could I possibly know what’s wrong with my physical structure…”
Duncan silently evaluated Alice for a moment, his gaze contemplative. Finally, he remarked candidly, “It seems that the extended periods of immobility are causing some deterioration in your neck.”
This left Alice momentarily speechless.
As he observed the astounded doll-like woman, a hint of a smile flickered at the edges of Duncan’s mouth. His mood seemed to improve slightly.
“Well, it appears that the Vanished is about to welcome a new member to its crew—follow me, and I’ll show you to your quarters.”
Thanks for the chapter!
Thank you for the Chapter!
Holy fuck I love these guys
Okay new crew member is joined
Crew member:+1
Disposition: slightly weird.
Lmao, perfect
“If anything, she seemed to be a complete coward.”
Captain intelligence:-1
Lol, “slightly”
this is like one piece bit the tressure for our mc is going home, i guess.