The smile on Melissa’s face froze on her exquisite features. Deep within her eyes, that cloying gentleness was tainted with a trace of displeased coldness.
“Number Nine… is it?”
“You like her that much? My little Alice?”
She leaned down, moving even closer until she could almost feel the girl’s faint breath. Her fingertips continued gently stroking the girl’s cheek, though the motion was slower than before.
Her voice dropped lower, almost a whisper.
“Compared to that irrelevant child, Little Alice should like Mommy more, shouldn’t you? Otherwise… Mommy might get jealous.”
Little Alice simply stared at her quietly. Her ruby-like eyes still held almost no emotion, only a deep stillness.
She seemed not to understand the subtle shift in “Mommy’s” tone and stubbornly repeated her request.
“I want… to see Tesia.”
Melissa remained silent for a few seconds before her smile bloomed once again.
“Tesia… is very busy right now.” Her tone was light as she explained.
“She has very, very important work to do. She can’t come disturb our Little Alice’s game time.”
She took Little Alice’s hand, her grip tightening slightly. It was no longer a simple guide but carried an unmistakable sense of refusal to be denied.
“Besides, Little Alice performed so well today. How could Mommy let you end the day with disappointment? Today’s game will be even more interesting than yesterday’s. Wouldn’t you… want to try it?”
Her pink eyes locked tightly onto Little Alice’s, trying to spark interest in the girl.
“After today’s game is over, if Little Alice still really wants to see her, Mommy can… consider it. Okay?”
“Mm.”
Little Alice nodded in agreement. She was then led by that gentle yet firmly unyielding hand toward the deeper experimental area on the other side of the room.
They arrived at a dimly lit chamber. The floor and walls were lined with white metal. In the center stood a metal operating table.
Surrounding it were various precision instruments gleaming with sharp, cold light.
On both sides stood adult women also wearing white lab coats. They held syringes and scalpels, turning their gazes toward Little Alice. Their eyes contained no warmth—only the cold indifference of looking at an object.
Melissa led Little Alice to the side of the metal table, her sweet smile still in place. In this icy environment, it looked even more eerie.
She released her hand and instructed the girl to lie down.
“Come on, Little Alice. Lie down properly. Today we’re going to play a little game… about testing your vision.” Her voice echoed in the spacious metal room, carrying a feigned mysterious excitement.
“You’ll feel a little… special warmth. Just like when Mommy hugs you.”
Little Alice said nothing. She lay on the operating table, staring up at the huge shadowless lamp overhead that cast a blinding halo of light. Together with the surrounding cold and darkness, it eroded her thoughts and soul.
Seeing the girl lie down, the women on both sides moved closer, but they were stopped by one cold glare from Melissa.
“No one is to touch her until I say to begin.”
The sickly-sweet facade peeled away in that instant. Her eyes swept over the white-coated figures on either side, causing them to immediately lower their heads and take half a step back. The syringes and scalpels in their hands were unconsciously lowered.
“Don’t be afraid, darling.” She gently combed through the silver hair on Little Alice’s forehead with her fingers. Leaning down close to the girl’s pale cheek, her pink eyes reflected the empty ruby pupils.
Then, extremely gently, she kissed the corner of Little Alice’s lips.
There was no warmth, no emotion—only a chilling intimacy.
“Good girl… Mommy loves you. So, for Mommy’s sake, make sure you properly feel the gift that’s coming, hmm~”
“Mm.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Little Alice’s vision was instantly swallowed by darkness.
Unlike before, one hour later, Little Alice was led out of the room by Melissa. Her right eye was now wrapped and covered with clean white bandages, leaving only her small nose bridge visible. The emptiness in her uncovered left eye seemed even deeper than before.
Melissa walked beside her, the sweet smile back on her face.
She spoke cheerfully, generously praising the girl.
“Little Alice was Mommy’s best baby today. Although there was a tiny little accident, you were so good the entire time. You’re really amazing, hehe~”
She turned her head and looked lovingly at Little Alice’s bandaged eye with her pink gaze.
“Don’t worry, it’s just a temporary adjustment period.”
As she spoke, she took out a round red candy from her pocket and handed it to Little Alice.
“As usual, this is your reward. Once Mommy finishes analyzing the data, I might even give you a better gift.”
Little Alice took the candy. She opened her mouth, her hoarse voice carrying a slight pleading tone.
“Then… can Little Alice… see… Tesia now…”
The smile on Melissa’s face remained, but threads of displeasure grew in her eyes.
Still, she narrowed her eyes and smiled as she agreed. “Of course.”
She led Little Alice toward the end of the corridor. The passing lab personnel walked quickly, all in a hurry. This was a sight Alice frequently saw in this castle surrounded by cold white metal.
However, even in their haste, when they saw Melissa they would still respectfully lower their heads and address her as “Dr. Melissa.” Though “Mommy” never bothered to acknowledge them.
They stopped in front of a heavy white door. Fully armed guards stood on both sides.
Although their faces were covered by masks, Alice could still sense the contempt, disgust, and… fear in the eyes that were faintly visible.
“Open the door.” Melissa ordered indifferently.
The guards exchanged glances, then spoke somewhat awkwardly.
“But Doctor, we’ve been told many times already that she cannot be allowed further contact…”
“Do I need to repeat myself a second time? Or do you believe the orders from above are more important than my personal request here?”
“Whatever happens, tell them it was my order. Now, open the door!”
Her tone left no room for refusal.
The two guards no longer dared to hesitate. They hurriedly lowered their heads and began operating the password panel beside the door.
The heavy white door slid open slowly to both sides, revealing a narrow passage leading downward.
Melissa led Little Alice down. As they descended, the air did not grow colder. Instead, it became warmer and carried a faint pleasant fragrance.
Soon, a bright and spacious white room came into view.
Inside the room was a single bed with a soft mattress, a fixed small desk and chair, and even a separate bathroom with a simple shower.
Beside the bed was a storage box full of toys. In one corner, another girl about the same age as Alice, also wearing white clothes, sat hugging her knees.
The moment she noticed the people at the door, excitement—nearly wild joy—burst into her blood-red eyes.
She cried out urgently.
“Alice!”