Lucien watched, dumbfounded as the group of elderly people gathered around Alicia for a few minutes. But they soon dispersed and, under their eyes, everyone disappeared.
Lucien was still being carried by Den when the barrier disappeared. Lucien decisively jumped down and ran towards Alicia.
He grasped his shoulders and looked into her eyes.
Alicia slightly looked up to meet his eyes.
After a few seconds of silence, Alicia opened her mouth and speak, "I can hear him. He's calling my name again. Can you hear him?"
Lucien gave a slight sound of acknowledgment, shook his head before speaking, "I don't."
"Have I really been here before?" The soft naive voice was full of doubts, anxiety, and nervousness.
Lucien's heart went soft hearing Alicia speak these words. He knew Alicia have been through a lot but she was still willing to trust him and to express her feelings openly to him. Like a little sister depending on her older brother.