*
The truth hit Zen like a tidal wave. Alice's words echoed in his mind: "I'm not even human." He felt like he'd been living in a dream, and the wake-up call was brutal.
As he stood there, trying to process the revelation, Alice's eyes locked onto his. He saw fear, uncertainty, and a deep sadness. She was waiting for him to react, to decide whether he'd accept her for what she was.
Zen took a step forward, his heart pounding in his chest. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Alice's gaze faltered, and she looked away. "I'm a creation of the Shadow Court," she said, her voice laced with shame. "A tool, designed to kill and obey. I don't know what my true nature is, or what I've been made to do."
The words hung in the air like a challenge. Zen felt like he was staring into the abyss, unsure what he'd find. But as he looked at Alice, he saw the same person he'd grown to care for. The same person he'd fought alongside, laughed with, and trusted.
"Does it change anything?" Alice asked, her voice trembling.
Zen hesitated, unsure of the answer. But as he looked into her eyes, he knew. "No," he said, his voice firm. "It doesn't change who you are to me, Alice. You're still the same person I've come to care about."
The words seemed to wash over Alice like a balm, soothing her fears and uncertainty. She took a step closer, her eyes shining with tears.
"Thank you, Zen," she whispered.
As they stood there, the world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them, bound together by a shared secret.
But the darkness that had created Alice still lurked, waiting to claim her. And Zen knew he'd do everything in his power to protect her, even if it meant facing the shadows head-on.
*To be continued...*