The pretended expression of humility quickly turned into genuine fear as the strange voice pounded inside Alice’s skull. Hands shaking, quietly rattling the shackles that bound them, and wearing nothing but her short red dress, she felt cold, and started trembling. Just as she had thought she was a on top of the game again—a player with<i>decisions</i>to make—the reality came crushing over, numbing her mind, and reminded her that she was but a pawn to be pushed around.<br/><br/>Watching Cabiria dressing up was like watching a movie on fast-forward. Alice’s head span, and it didn’t help that the woman’s movements were swifter than those of a human. Her eyes followed the vampire around the room, but her thoughts were someplace else. She had no idea where she was, and now that she realized there were more of these creatures around than just Cabiria, the fear that she thought she had gotten over with already was back again, and she couldn’t stop the shivering of her entire  body.<br/><br/>“I feel so cold...” she mumbled, but the vampire paid no attention to her until fully dressed up. When Cabiria removed the chains, Alice didn’t feel any less shackled than before. She didn’t move, not even to shift to a more comfortable position. Then the vampire bit her wrist, which she barely noticed at that point, and felt the coldness slowly leaving her body. There was no warmth to take its place; she felt nothing, saw but a blur, and heard only the sweet, calm voice of Cabiria coming from somewhere far away.<br/><br/>“I can go now,” Alice spoke quietly when asked if she was ready. The voice mentioned clothes, and she slowly looked down at her worn dress, “Yes, can’t go out looking like this. Do you have anything in red?”<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>