The Lost One in Alices' Garden
ARC 01 Black Country
Chapter 01 In the middle of Ghost Town, A Corpse were Found?!

“Wake up—” A gentle beautiful voice rings in the darkness, echoing from nothing, reaching for someone.

“Time to wake up—” eyelids flutters lightly, a slight movement of fisted hands.

“There are more areas that needs beautification!” a person lying in the wooden floor slowly pushes itself off, the eyes are still close.

“Hurry up—”

Finally in sitting position, the person opens its eyelids revealing beautiful pair of ashes eyes, the eyelids blinks once, twice, and thrice all for the sake of clearing the blurry sight.

When the blurry sight clears, the person look on surroundings, wooden walls with various gardening tools either hanging into the walls or lay down at the wooden floor. Ceiling that made of wood, blocking the cold air from entering, as well blocking the sight of someone who wants to see the sky. There are small gaps at the slits in all corners letting small light from moon lighting the place.

Shack. The person definitely slept inside a shack which actually not in good condition but neither in bad shape for temporary stay.

The person rouse on its feet, and walk towards the door, opening it revealing the quiet empty town being bless by moonlight’s dew. The wondering person take a step outside and turn its heads to the sides, and indeed, there no other people in these town.

The person quickly understands why, there are maybe houses but its all in dilapidate state, maybe still useable for temporary stay but not safe to live permanently even if someone would try to renovate them.

At the very least the shack that the person stayed at is actually much better than those houses.

Closing the door behind, the person takes a tour in the empty town.

The heels on the person’s shoes made sound as it is hitting the pavement road, looking down the person sees how small grasses spurting out on the gaps between the blocks, as if trying to prolong their life till sunrise.

The person looks up once again and sees stalls but surely its all empty and no one could figure whatever their display. The stalls are barely standing that if someone gives it a light poke it will surely fall down completely.

The person continues its journey to the empty quiet town, it can see that the town has been abandoned already for many years, maybe even centuries.

Vines are already climbed and permanently stayed at most of the buildings. Totally, no one come there to take care the place.

Entering an establishment that has lines of tables and chairs, a counter bar and a door towards that seems to be kitchen, the person could tell that it is a former restaurant. Just like the outside, various pots could be seen everywhere, one could clearly imagine the original look of the place. It must be popular as well, seeing how big it is.

But all the person’s can see is rotten wood pillars, ceiling that has huge hole where the moonlight is entering, which allowing the guest to see most of the inside.

Its feet stop, as the person turn up its head and narrow its eyes at the sight that could make everyone scream in fear, but for some reason the person feels annoyed at the unusual and totally not fit on the establishment to call as a display.

Is anyone even sees or visit a restaurant with a corpse hanging with a rope on its neck and tied at the beam that supposedly supporting the ceiling. What a sight! But the person neither fear nor need to scream, just feel annoy.

With one last glance of its narrowed eyes, the person turn its heels and was about to leave but—sigh in exasperated annoyance, the place has already in saddening state, and with corpse hanging in the center it making more sad. The person turns here and there, before sighing again. Gathering and stacking tables about three and then climb on it, luckily the person found a rusty knife inside the kitchen and sitting on the highest peak of her stacked tables, the person annoyingly, exhaustedly, and slowly sawn the thick rope.

While sawing, the person noticed that the rope is actually new and seeing the corpse aren’t smelly, the person conclude that it might be new, probably it just an hour or half since it was hanged or hanged himself.

Suicide… the person sigh, “If you want to kill yourself then do it somewhere else, not here. Even it is already abandoned, a restaurant is still a restaurant, don’t disrespect it just because no one would retaliate.” The person with beautiful quiet voice said, and finally after two to three minutes of sawing the rope, the rusty knife cuts the last string, letting the corpse to hit the floor.

The person was about to get down when it heard a low growl from below, specifically coming from the corpse.

“THAT HURTS!!!” The corpse cried as it rouses into his feet, “IT’S A GOOD THING I’VE LANDED PERFECTLY!!! BUT IT IS STILL HURT! I HATE PAIN AFTER ALL!”

The quiet town has fills with the corpse—formerly corpse cries.

The person watches from atop the corpse getting back to life, and screams atop of his lungs, complaining about pain nonstop. It made the person frowns in annoyance and now irritation, a thought rush on the person’s head as it grips the rusty knife on its hand. ‘I want to stab him…’ it menacingly glares at the whining guy.

As if feeling the glare and thought, the corpse—former corpse looks up and finally sees pair of grey eyes and silhouette of a small person.

The guy smiles still looking up, “Are you the one who interrupted my hanging?”

“Can you see someone else here?” annoyance could be heard from the person’s voice, which confuses the other.

“Why won’t you go down first miss?”

Miss, yes, the person has been a Miss all this time, and that Miss has annoyingly climb down the stack tables, while the other person is trying to give some help.

“No need.” She firmly said, still knitting her eyebrows, making the other retract his hands and raise in surrender.

The Miss crosses her arms in her chest glaring annoyingly at him. With moonlight shining inside the restaurant, she could see his appearance now.

Standing now side by side clearly tells her that the guy is much taller than her around 35 cm. He’s handsome with mild wavy, shaggy style hair, his bangs frame his face while some are gathered at the center of his forehead with highlights of violet strands on each sides and shining in the dim darkness are pair of crimson-colored eyes.

He is wearing a long dark violet trench coat, with belt: untied. Under his coat, the Miss could barely make out of purple hue dress shirt. She blinks when finally realized how out-of-place the pendant’s orange color in his bolo tie, since he has over all in violet get up.

Her eyes narrows and all curious with those pairs of furry cat ears and that tail that swaying behind him.

‘Costume?’ The Miss didn’t entertain her curiosity, so she set it aside, probably will be buried in the depths of her mind and never be dig out again.

“Your name?” The cat man asked in all curiosity, still has smile that decorating his face, which the Miss is trying to figure out if those are real or faux.

“Why should I tell you?” she answers in cold tone.

“Ehhh~ are you, by any chance, actually mad at me?”

She only tilts her head, not even try to change her expression, at least now she’s no longer harboring any menace towards him.

“I’m called the wonderful Cat!”

‘Lies…’ she finds it rather stupid to say it aloud, so she just keeps it inside, and didn’t give any reaction, much to disappointment.

“Ahh… ah…” He sighed, and spoke in serious tone he could manage, “It’s Cheshire.”

Still, she didn’t response on his question earlier, but right now thinking to leave the place instead.

Again, Cheshire sighs, “Alright I won’t ask anymore, but—at least tell me why you do that?!”

Do what?

And Cheshire starts showering her with complaints, some he spurts are nothing but nonsense, at least she could tell that he commits suicide, unfortunately she found him and choice to bring him down.

“Well sorry about that…” she finally spoke, but anyone could hint sarcasm on her tone, “You should have put a note on you, so you won’t be interrupted. And please, choose some remote place rather than inside of an establishment.”

“But Ghost Town is literally a remote place!” he pouts.

“Ghost Town?”

“Oh, don’t you know? This place is called Ghost Town.”

She didn’t ask any further, understanding why the place is called like that, and actually thinks how fitting the name to the town. A deserted place, with no living human nor animal around, indeed a town for ghost.

They left the establishment together, one didn’t mind and the other just keep smiling.

“Centuries ago, this town is known as Hibiscus Town. It’s a beautiful town which part of Flower Country. As you can tell the people here loves flowers, more specifically Hibiscus, but can also see Kennedia, Laburnum, Lady’s slipper, Lilac, Mallow, Night blooming cereus, Orchid, Burgandy rose and many flowers that meanings are “Beauty”, but their main flower is Hibiscus. When the Lord of Flower Country disappeared one day, these town was most affected, and people fled to other countries.”

Silence… Cheshire decided to continue, his hands clap behind him, “No one knows what happen to the lord, but with his disappearance the lives of every creature has started to dwell down and soon some towns has deserted just like this one.”

“Why are you saying this? I never ask.”

“Well let me, it’s been a long time since someone shows interest in this place but not seeking me. Consider it a payment for interrupting my attempt.”

“You don't need to pay at all. Just go and resume your attempt." She advised, “But at least not in this town, it’s already saddening that it is abandoned, don’t make it any worst.”

“Are you the lord of this town?” This statement made her stop walking and turn to him, “You shows so much concern.”

“That’s foolish…” she silently said, turning away from him.

That’s when they realized that they have arrived at the center of the town or better to call town circle.

What catches her attention is the still standing yet old, unkempt well—no, it’s not actually well rather a huge plant pot that sides are made of concrete bricks, vines are already spurting from gaps. Even after centuries have already passed, it still contains soil although dry.

“This is the main attraction here, despite their main flower is Hibiscus, in Flower Country all towns must centered a blooming beautiful Willow Tree, the only difference in each town are the flowers that surrounding the tree. On how the flowers and trees grow together without a problem is a wonder.”

She didn’t response as usual, while her hands are feeling the dry soil.

“What will you going to do now Miss?”

She retracted her hands and brush it together so the soil that stick on her hands would be remove, “Outta here.”

“Already?”

She continued her steps, hoping not to see him ever again, but she soon halted and turn her head a little without looking at him.

“Thank you for information.” Then walks once again, never stop again anymore.

Cheshire who is left dumbfounded, suddenly chuckles.

*****

A/N:

Hibiscus

Symbolism
Beauty and Elegance: Representing refinement, luxury, and tropical charm.
Feminine Power: Associated with goddesses, femininity, and fertility.
Love and Passion: Symbolizing romantic love, desire, and sensuality.

Cultural Significance
Hawaiian Culture: Hibiscus represents royalty, nobility, and spiritual connection.
Chinese Tradition: Symbolizes wealth, prosperity, and good fortune.
Indian Culture: Associated with goddess Kali and spiritual growth.
African Diaspora: Represents resilience, freedom, and cultural heritage.

Varieties
Tropical Hibiscus: Vibrant colors, large flowers.
Roselle: Edible calyxes, used for tea.
Hardy Hibiscus: Cold-tolerant, perennial.
Dwarf Hibiscus: Compact, smaller varieties.

Willow Tree:

Symbolism
Flexibility: Representing adaptability, resilience, and grace.
Protection: Associated with safeguarding, shelter, and refuge.
Fertility: Linked to abundance, fertility, and new beginnings.
Intuition: Connected to instinct, insight, and feminine wisdom.

Type:
Weeping Willow: Long, drooping branches.