"Show us your hand, please."
The words were spoken quietly, but they pierced through the silence. All eyes were on the pair, standing in the middle of the circular crowd.
Alice turned slightly and saw the sea of faces watching her. The looked back at her with empty eyes and she suddenly felt very alone on this crowded street.
"Miss, show me your hand." The guard next to her edged closer, gripping the sword handle tighter. She took a step back from the approaching figure and held her hands on her chest. This wasn’t turning out to be such a great day for her, she thought. She felt the hostility emanating from those around her, but, more importantly, from the lady in front of her. She took another step back and tried to shrink away. Spring, who had up until now been keeping out of trouble sniffing at something in a basket, moved quickly in front of her. He stood in front of Alice, and growled at the advancing woman.
"For the last time! Show me your left hand, and if you don’t call off your damned dog I’ll run him straight through!" She was definitely angry now, and this time the crowd drew back from her as she drew her sword. Advancing, step by step, the distance between them closed.
The dog leapt forward, in an attempt to tackle her, but was kicked away with surprising speed. He hit the ground with a thud and whimpered, laying there like a toy tossed aside.
Alice stood there, staring aghast at the scene. Her breathing became shallow and rapid and her eyes fixated themselves on the approaching guard. She drew closer and closer with every step and Alice felt even more terrified with each step. She didn’t know why this was happening, or what was going on, but more then anything she wanted to run away, but her legs would not move.
She almost didn’t notice the hand grabbing her wrist and pulling her arm out roughly, the shock of it was too much. She thought she vaguely heard a voice going, "Wha-", when a bell tolled from overheard.
It came from the sound of the clock towers in the middle of the city chiming out noon, and it caused her to snap back to reality, still fearful, but aware of the now shocked face of the guard holding her hand.
Suddenly a there was a faint thump from behind her, almost inaudible through the bells. She and the guard turned their heads around to face the wall. They never had a chance wonder about though, as with a loud bang and a bright flash of light, the wall exploded.
Bricks and mortar flew over the watching crowd with shouts and screams and a large cloud of dust had been kicked up, obscured the street. Alice and the guard, who had been standing right next to it, were blown over and flung to the other side of the street. The guard was thumped into a wall on the opposite side and crumpled down with a dull ‘clang’ and Alice was pushed over onto her back.
The words were spoken quietly, but they pierced through the silence. All eyes were on the pair, standing in the middle of the circular crowd.
Alice turned slightly and saw the sea of faces watching her. The looked back at her with empty eyes and she suddenly felt very alone on this crowded street.
"Miss, show me your hand." The guard next to her edged closer, gripping the sword handle tighter. She took a step back from the approaching figure and held her hands on her chest. This wasn’t turning out to be such a great day for her, she thought. She felt the hostility emanating from those around her, but, more importantly, from the lady in front of her. She took another step back and tried to shrink away. Spring, who had up until now been keeping out of trouble sniffing at something in a basket, moved quickly in front of her. He stood in front of Alice, and growled at the advancing woman.
"For the last time! Show me your left hand, and if you don’t call off your damned dog I’ll run him straight through!" She was definitely angry now, and this time the crowd drew back from her as she drew her sword. Advancing, step by step, the distance between them closed.
The dog leapt forward, in an attempt to tackle her, but was kicked away with surprising speed. He hit the ground with a thud and whimpered, laying there like a toy tossed aside.
Alice stood there, staring aghast at the scene. Her breathing became shallow and rapid and her eyes fixated themselves on the approaching guard. She drew closer and closer with every step and Alice felt even more terrified with each step. She didn’t know why this was happening, or what was going on, but more then anything she wanted to run away, but her legs would not move.
She almost didn’t notice the hand grabbing her wrist and pulling her arm out roughly, the shock of it was too much. She thought she vaguely heard a voice going, "Wha-", when a bell tolled from overheard.
It came from the sound of the clock towers in the middle of the city chiming out noon, and it caused her to snap back to reality, still fearful, but aware of the now shocked face of the guard holding her hand.
Suddenly a there was a faint thump from behind her, almost inaudible through the bells. She and the guard turned their heads around to face the wall. They never had a chance wonder about though, as with a loud bang and a bright flash of light, the wall exploded.
Bricks and mortar flew over the watching crowd with shouts and screams and a large cloud of dust had been kicked up, obscured the street. Alice and the guard, who had been standing right next to it, were blown over and flung to the other side of the street. The guard was thumped into a wall on the opposite side and crumpled down with a dull ‘clang’ and Alice was pushed over onto her back.
