Chapter 13:
Alice
D3 Protocol
Once upon a time, on the faded streets of a small city, a lone kitten wandered. She was small, hungry, and desperate to cling to life.
Yet, even in her struggle, there was something unusual—something special—about her.
Her little head tilted to the side at an odd angle, making survival even harder.People found her unsettling.
Some glanced with disdain. Others went further—kicking, striking, sometimes trying to end her existence. Why? To them, she was helpless, weak, and, above all, an inconvenience.
One day, as the kitten’s strength faded and her tiny body could hardly move, a girl appeared before her. She looked about ten or twelve, clutching a faded sack and wearing a huge, old tank top that hung nearly to her knees.
The kitten thought her time had come. She tensed, hoping that if she pretended to be dead, the girl would lose interest and leave. But the girl knelt down instead, extending her hand.
She scattered breadcrumbs in front of the kitten, her eyes gentle and curious.“What’s the matter? Why are you staring? Just eat already—this bread cost me 20 rupees, you know!” the girl huffed, her tone oddly warm.
The kitten, not understanding the words but feeling the kindness, gave in and nibbled at the bread. It was dry and crumbly—not the best meal, but she devoured every bite.
Pleased, the girl smiled. “Ha! I thought cats didn’t eat bread. Guess you’re different.”Suddenly, she scooped up the kitten, sack still in one hand. It was the first time the kitten had ever been held.
the kitten wondered in curiousity as the world sped past—the cramped alley she called home, the harsh rush of the main road full of blaring vehicles, the unfamiliar chaos of the city.
After a long walk, the pair entered a park. They passed a group of adults gathered around a teenage boy.
“Don’t come to this park, pervert!”one shouted.“Why don’t you just disappear?” another spat.A woman sneered, “Why are you even wandering here?”
The boy remained silent, enduring the parade of harsh words.
The girl holding the kitten glanced at the scene and frowned. “Weird,” she murmured. “Why are they calling him a pervert? He helped me when I tripped the other day. He seemed nervous and his voice shook, but he was nice to me.”She squeezed the kitten a little tighter and hurried away.
Finally, after nearly an hour, they reached a place called Jhopadpatti—a maze of makeshift huts, each cobbled together from tin, wood, and tarps.The girl stopped in front of one hut, set the kitten down, and emptied her sack—plastic bottles tumbling out with a clatter. The kitten watched, curiosity shining in her wide eyes.
The girl squatted beside her. “Look, cat, this is my life. I’m heading out to collect more bottles. If you want to run, you can go. Okay?” She smiled softly, her words barely above a whisper.
“Sigh… not that you can understand me, huh?” With that, she hefted her empty sack and headed off again. The kitten stayed put, watching her go, not knowing what to do.
Evening crept over the slum.
girl returned with the usual despair in her eyes, the kitten was no longer there.she walked to the pile of plastic bottles.Emptied her sack.And sat besides the place where kitten was sitting earlier.
“So, you ran away too, huh?” she muttered with a broken smile. “Not surprising. Mama and Papa did the same. ”She let out a shaky laugh. “Why would anyone stay with me?” She was about to cry when a sudden crash rang out from inside the hut.
What was that?
She stepped inside cautiously—just as a box tumbled from a shelf. There was a soft noise.
Meow.
It was the kitten.
“You scared me.” she burst out laughing, relief and joy mixing in her eyes.
“Come here, you little troublemaker.”She carried the kitten outside, cradling her close as they both looked up at the stars glittering beyond the city haze.
“My name’s Maya,” she said softly. “From now on, I’ll call you Alice. I heard that name in a movie once.”
They were both small, hungry, desperate to live. But beneath the fading daylight, they weren’t alone anymore.
— END OF THE CHAPTER —
Author’s Note: Sorry for the late upload! Exams are finally over, and here’s the chapter. If it feels out of context, don’t worry—it’s an important part. Just trust your little author!
Yet, even in her struggle, there was something unusual—something special—about her.
Her little head tilted to the side at an odd angle, making survival even harder.People found her unsettling.
Some glanced with disdain. Others went further—kicking, striking, sometimes trying to end her existence. Why? To them, she was helpless, weak, and, above all, an inconvenience.
One day, as the kitten’s strength faded and her tiny body could hardly move, a girl appeared before her. She looked about ten or twelve, clutching a faded sack and wearing a huge, old tank top that hung nearly to her knees.
The kitten thought her time had come. She tensed, hoping that if she pretended to be dead, the girl would lose interest and leave. But the girl knelt down instead, extending her hand.
She scattered breadcrumbs in front of the kitten, her eyes gentle and curious.“What’s the matter? Why are you staring? Just eat already—this bread cost me 20 rupees, you know!” the girl huffed, her tone oddly warm.
The kitten, not understanding the words but feeling the kindness, gave in and nibbled at the bread. It was dry and crumbly—not the best meal, but she devoured every bite.
Pleased, the girl smiled. “Ha! I thought cats didn’t eat bread. Guess you’re different.”Suddenly, she scooped up the kitten, sack still in one hand. It was the first time the kitten had ever been held.
the kitten wondered in curiousity as the world sped past—the cramped alley she called home, the harsh rush of the main road full of blaring vehicles, the unfamiliar chaos of the city.
After a long walk, the pair entered a park. They passed a group of adults gathered around a teenage boy.
“Don’t come to this park, pervert!”one shouted.“Why don’t you just disappear?” another spat.A woman sneered, “Why are you even wandering here?”
The boy remained silent, enduring the parade of harsh words.
The girl holding the kitten glanced at the scene and frowned. “Weird,” she murmured. “Why are they calling him a pervert? He helped me when I tripped the other day. He seemed nervous and his voice shook, but he was nice to me.”She squeezed the kitten a little tighter and hurried away.
Finally, after nearly an hour, they reached a place called Jhopadpatti—a maze of makeshift huts, each cobbled together from tin, wood, and tarps.The girl stopped in front of one hut, set the kitten down, and emptied her sack—plastic bottles tumbling out with a clatter. The kitten watched, curiosity shining in her wide eyes.
The girl squatted beside her. “Look, cat, this is my life. I’m heading out to collect more bottles. If you want to run, you can go. Okay?” She smiled softly, her words barely above a whisper.
“Sigh… not that you can understand me, huh?” With that, she hefted her empty sack and headed off again. The kitten stayed put, watching her go, not knowing what to do.
Evening crept over the slum.
girl returned with the usual despair in her eyes, the kitten was no longer there.she walked to the pile of plastic bottles.Emptied her sack.And sat besides the place where kitten was sitting earlier.
“So, you ran away too, huh?” she muttered with a broken smile. “Not surprising. Mama and Papa did the same. ”She let out a shaky laugh. “Why would anyone stay with me?” She was about to cry when a sudden crash rang out from inside the hut.
What was that?
She stepped inside cautiously—just as a box tumbled from a shelf. There was a soft noise.
Meow.
It was the kitten.
“You scared me.” she burst out laughing, relief and joy mixing in her eyes.
“Come here, you little troublemaker.”She carried the kitten outside, cradling her close as they both looked up at the stars glittering beyond the city haze.
“My name’s Maya,” she said softly. “From now on, I’ll call you Alice. I heard that name in a movie once.”
They were both small, hungry, desperate to live. But beneath the fading daylight, they weren’t alone anymore.
— END OF THE CHAPTER —
Author’s Note: Sorry for the late upload! Exams are finally over, and here’s the chapter. If it feels out of context, don’t worry—it’s an important part. Just trust your little author!
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