Chapter 169 “Stepping into the Curtain”
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In the early dawn of the day, Duncan was meticulously instructing Alice on the finer points of frying potatoes. Standing in the kitchen, he explained, “Look closely, Alice. You want to fry the potatoes just like this. It’s a straightforward process. But be mindful – you don’t want to overcook them till they’re too crispy, nor undercook them so they’re soggy. And for heaven’s sake, there’s no need to get too close to the boiling oil or taste it, alright?”
Alice was completely engrossed, her focus unwavering as she studied the boiling pot of oil. Her anticipation was palpable. “I’ve got this… I’ve got this,” she muttered to herself. In her heightened state of concentration, she clutched a kitchen knife, seemingly ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice.
Duncan glanced between the simmering oil and the doll-like figure beside him. Noticing the gleaming knife in Alice’s grasp, he cautioned, “Alice, maybe put the knife down for now? There’s no reason to hold onto it unless you’re planning on chopping something.”
The scene was almost surreal: a cursed puppet-like figure, brandishing a knife, looking as if it had murderous intentions for the innocent potatoes. Duncan couldn’t shake off the eeriness of the situation. It felt like a scene from a horror movie, just missing eerie background music to complete the chilling tableau.
Snapping out of her trance-like state, Alice quickly concealed the knife behind her back. With a cheerful wave, she assured the concerned sea captain, “It’s alright, Captain! I’ve got the hang of it now. You and Ai will be dining in no time!”
Duncan hesitated, his eyes fixed on Alice, contemplating whether he should really leave her alone with boiling oil. He thought of the potential hazards, envisioning a pot exploding in flames. But, realizing he had to trust her at some point, he sighed, offered a reassuring wave, and left for the ship’s deck, thinking, “Finally, we might have a chance at a proper meal on this ship.”
Elsewhere, on the second floor of an antique store, Nina observed her uncle Duncan, a cooling medicinal bag pressed against her forehead. Her curiosity got the better of her, “Uncle, I’ve been meaning to ask: why do you often look so worried in the mornings? Just a moment ago, you seemed so tense, and then suddenly, you appeared relieved.”
Caught off guard, Duncan responded, “Oh? Was I showing that much emotion? I wasn’t even aware.” He quickly masked his concerns with a smile, reassuring his niece, “It’s nothing major. I was just thinking about some discrepancies in the account books. All sorted now.”
“Ah, I see,” Nina responded with understanding, her head bobbing in agreement. “So it was about the accounts.”
Duncan chose not to elaborate further. He was taken aback by how perceptive Nina had grown, and he opted for discretion rather than risking any further disclosures.
As they both stood in the room, Nina’s gaze shifted towards the window, her voice slightly wistful as she remarked, “Shirley didn’t come by today.”
There was a brief pause before Duncan responded, almost chuckling at Nina’s transparency. “People have their own homes and places to be,” he noted. The underlying message in Nina’s statement was evident to him: she missed Shirley’s company. Trying to divert her attention, he added, “Besides, you have classes today. How would you manage to meet up with friends in between?”
With a hint of regret in her voice, Nina said, “I should have asked for her address. That way, I could possibly visit her instead of just waiting for her to come over.”
The idea caught Duncan slightly off guard. Attempting to bridge the gap between them, he gently inquired, “You’ve grown quite fond of Shirley in a short span, haven’t you?”
Without hesitation, Nina responded, “Shirley has been really kind. She even saved me at the museum once, and…” she trailed off, searching for the right words.
Duncan prodded gently, “And?”
Taking a deep breath, Nina continued, “I talked to Dog one night about where Shirley lives and the conditions there. She’s in a cramped alley within the slums. The streets are dark at night without any lamps, and her house leaks when it pours. I can’t help but feel…”
Duncan interrupted her, his tone becoming stern and cautionary, “Nina, we cannot forge friendships based on pity, especially with someone like Shirley.”
Nina looked up, startled by his sudden intensity. She pondered on his words for a moment, then countered, “Uncle, why have you been so reflective lately?”
Caught off guard, Duncan could only manage a wordless stare.
With her characteristic blend of candor and sensitivity, Nina continued, “I admit, after learning about her circumstances, I did feel sympathy for Shirley. But my wish for her to lead a better life isn’t solely based on that. Even though she seemed anxious during her stay with us, I sensed her genuine happiness. Is it wrong for me to make such assumptions about her feelings?”
Duncan was momentarily speechless, genuinely surprised by the depth of Nina’s insight and compassion. Collecting his thoughts, he finally responded, “It’s not for us to make judgments about her life. But, the next time Shirley drops by, we can ask her more about herself. For now, you should wrap up your breakfast. You don’t want to be late for school.”
With a bright smile, Nina replied, “Alright!” Her face then lit up with a new idea, “Uncle, can I ride the bike to school today?”
“Out of the question,” Duncan immediately retorted, rubbing his irritated eye for emphasis. “Haven’t you recalled the nasty spill you took just last evening?”
The memory from the previous day was still fresh in Duncan’s mind. The sheer joy in Nina’s eyes when she first spotted the shiny new bicycle was infectious. Without a second thought, she’d hopped on to give it a whirl. However, within a mere thirty seconds, disaster struck right in front of the store: Nina tumbled off the bike and hit the ground hard.
The evidence of that fall was still visible: a medicinal patch gently adhered to a bruised area on her forehead.
“I just… I assumed biking would be second nature,” Nina admitted sheepishly, her gaze dropping to the floor. “I’ve watched my classmates do it all the time…”
Duncan released a deep sigh, filled with regret.
It should have occurred to him earlier. Given that Nina’s social circle was primarily limited to the antique store’s confines, how would she have had the chance to acquire such a skill? He recognized this oversight was his responsibility.
“Today, take the bus to school and refrain from running. We’re not exactly strapped for cash anymore,” Duncan advised. Fishing out some coins from his pocket, he placed them on the table before her, adding, “Once I’m back, I promise to teach you how to bike. You’re smart; it won’t take you long to get the hang of it.”
Nina’s initial disappointment swiftly transformed into elation. She responded with a spirited cheer: “Yay!!”
A short while later, Duncan observed Nina from the upstairs window of the antique shop. He watched her briskly trotting away, soon making a turn at a nearby corner heading towards the bus stop.
The morning was undeniably beautiful. Despite the secrets and mysteries that often crept in with the night, daylight brought an undeniable vibrancy to the city. The radiant sunlight and the pulsating sounds of urban life filled Duncan’s senses, painting a lively image of a bustling metropolis under a golden canopy. Yet, as Duncan’s gaze drifted further into the distance, it landed on a specific row of houses, causing his expression to stiffen.
“Ai!” Duncan’s call echoed in the quiet room, signaling for the spectral bird from the ship. In a blink, a minuscule flare appeared in the air, morphing swiftly into the familiar form of the dove.
With a comical hiccup, Ai fluttered in a circle before landing gracefully on Duncan’s shoulder. “Hiccup… Who beckoned me… Hiccup… From the Vanished?”
With an amused yet quizzical expression, Duncan raised an eyebrow at his feathered friend: “Just how much did you gorge on aboard the Vanished?”
Puffing up her chest and fluttering her wings in a slightly exaggerated manner, Ai chirped confidently, “Feasting time has arrived… Hiccup!”
Duncan regarded his avian companion with a mixture of amusement and bafflement. His expression clearly conveyed, “Really?” He commented dryly, “It’s starting to make sense why Alice spent such an inordinate amount of time in the kitchen. Let me guess, you raided the storage, didn’t you? Well, at least you ensured none of the provisions went to waste. Given your… current state, are you sure you’re up for flying over to the Sixth Block?”
The dove, with a comically exaggerated sense of duty, responded with a forceful chirp that was unexpectedly robust for such a small bird. Ensuring she added a salute with her tiny wings, she declared, “The mission will be executed! No task is too daunting!”
In the very next moment, a blazing fireball, with the dove at its core, erupted from the tiny window. It zigzagged, somewhat unsteadily, in the direction of the sixth block.
Meanwhile, deep within the confines of the sixth block, two sleek, dark gray steam-powered cars cruised along the desolate streets. Leading the procession was Vanna, a notable figure in her own right. She was accompanied by a select group of elite guardians, specially chosen for this exploratory mission. Vanna had opted against utilizing a steam spider walker for the venture, as it would have been far too conspicuous. She’d decided that until she signaled otherwise, the primary force would remain on the perimeter of the block, awaiting her instructions.
In hindsight, Vanna realized her choice had been astute. As soon as she entered the block, an eerie sensation enveloped her. The area felt wrong on so many levels: streets unnaturally devoid of the usual hustle and bustle, residents who appeared listless and seemingly oblivious to their surroundings, and infrastructural elements visibly decaying, indicating neglect that was beyond mere oversight.
It was as if this particular block had been suspended in time, abandoned and forsaken by those who once thrived here.
Hmm, is it me or did they forget about Morris? He had said that he would pay a visit to the antique shop after noticing the broken stone from his daughter’s bracelet, he hasn’t visited yet ?
I kinda want other people to see how op the mc is like alive when she saw the fish we need more scenes of that