Outside the clinic, Alea sat in the waiting room, her hands covering her face. Her body was shaking.
"What should I do? I don't even have a reasonable explanation," she whispered softly.
The darkest thoughts crossed her mind.
Maybe I should get rid of this baby?
Fear, the pressures of life, thoughts of Elton—it all made her head spin. But as soon as that thought crossed her mind, her chest suddenly felt a warm, aching pain, as if something was resisting.
Alea was shocked. Tears immediately fell from her eyes.
"N-no... why do I feel like I can't
do this?"
She pressed her chest, her breathing trembling.
There was a strange feeling, like a gentle push.
Like a whisper.
Don't leave me.
The voice seemed to beg her.
Alea quickly wiped her tears.
"I'm crazy... I must be crazy... but why do I feel... like I have to protect this baby?"
Alea slowly got up.
A new fear arose.
"How am I going to hide this pregnancy from Elton? From Soraya? From everyone?" Alea held her still flat stomach.
"No one can know... at least not yet."
She walked home with unsteady steps, holding her stomach as if protecting something very fragile.
The sky was getting dark as Alea walked home. The street lights turned on one by one, casting long shadows on the sidewalk. Her hand was still on her stomach, as if a new instinct had emerged, the instinct to protect.
"I have to be strong," Alea muttered softly.
A car stopped not far behind her. Its engine roared softly, following Alea's footsteps without her noticing.
Behind the wheel, a man gripped the steering wheel with eyes full of hatred. His lips were twisted into a sneer.
"I have to get rid of you."
Alea crossed the street slowly, her mind still reeling from the thought of her pregnancy. That was when the car's headlights suddenly flashed brightly in her direction.
Alea blinked.
"Huh? A car...?"
BRAK!!
The engine roared loudly. The car sped towards her.
Alea froze.
"No...!"
Just as the car was about to hit her, the air around her shook.
IN THE WORLD OF ARZENIO
In the middle of a magnificent ritual room, the elders stood surrounding Arzenio. The light from ancient crystals illuminated his body as he prepared to be crowned heir to the throne.
"His Majesty Arzenio, stand up. Starting tonight—."
Arzenio suddenly staggered.
His green irises widened.
There was something like a powerful jolt from within his chest.
Like a soft scream.
Like Alea's breath.
Like a small heartbeat.
"No..." Arzenio clutched his chest. "Alea... she... is in danger."
The Grand Elder stared at him sharply.
"Your Highness, the ritual cannot be stopped," he said firmly.
Arzenio turned sharply, his face fierce.
"I don't care about any title."
His low voice rumbled like thunder. He turned and ran, his wolf-like strength causing the wind in the room to swirl.
"Your Majesty—!!!"
The voices of the elders echoed, but he ignored them all.
BACK TO THE WORLD OF ALEA
The car was only a few inches away from Alea's body.
Alea closed her eyes, resigned.
Suddenly
CRASH!!!
A powerful energy hit the car from the side.
The car bounced off, crashing into the road barrier with a loud bang.
The headlights shattered. Thin smoke rose from the hood, and the car alarm blared loudly in the middle of the empty road.
Alea was pushed by a strong gust of wind, but before her body fell, a strong hand grabbed her waist, pulling her into a warm embrace.
Alea's breath caught.
Before her eyes stood a figure she recognized in human form.
A tall body, silver hair, and bright green irises that reflected the light from the street lamps.
Alea was transfixed.
"Ar... Arzenio?"
Arzenio stared at her without blinking.
His chest rose and fell, as if he had just run through two dimensions at once.
"I'm late," he muttered, his voice deep and trembling with anger.
"But I won't let anyone touch you, or our child."
Alea swallowed hard.
"I-I—" Alea choked.
"I know." Arzenio cupped her face, his fingers warm.
"Your heart was screaming for me."
Alea turned her face away, confused, afraid, and relieved all at once.
From behind the wrecked car, the silhouette of a driver could be seen opening the door unsteadily, trying to escape. The man covered his face with a mask, a hat covering most of his head.
Arzenio glanced at the car. His gaze turned sharp, full of hunting instinct.
Alea quickly grabbed his arm.
"No... please... don't hurt anyone."
Arzenio held back, his jaw tightening.
"Okay. But I won't let that guy get away next time."
The man quickly fled into the darkness, taking advantage of the chaos to remain unidentified.
Alea was still shivering, slumping weakly until she could only hold on because Arzenio was supporting her body.
"I'm scared..." she whispered softly.
Arzenio pulled her into a tighter embrace. An embrace that made Alea's body as warm as velvet.
"From now on," Arzenio whispered in her ear, "you don't need to be afraid anymore. I'm here."
Alea clutched her shirt, her eyes watering.
"How did you get here?"
Arzenio smiled faintly, a little bitterly.
"Don't ask too many questions yet."
Alea looked down.
There was a warmth piercing her chest.
There was a small flutter in her stomach.
There was a man who shouldn't have been in her world. Yet, now he had chosen to be by her side.
Alea closed her eyes.
"Arzenio," Alea whispered. But before she could say anything else, police sirens began to sound in the distance.
Arzenio looked at her with a tense expression.
"Do you want to stay here? Or do you want me to take you away?"
Alea was silent, and amid the noise of the sirens and flashing lights, her body trembled.
The police sirens were getting closer.
Alea stared at the red and blue lights with blurred vision.
"I... feel dizzy..." she whispered.
Arzenio immediately caught Alea's body before she fell completely.
"Alea?" he said in a panic, his breath catching in his throat.
Alea's body went limp in his arms.
Alea fainted.
Arzenio lifted his face toward the approaching sirens, his gaze darkening.
"No... I can't let them take you away like this."
Without hesitation, he lifted Alea's body into his arms.
With a light leap, he disappeared into the darkness of the side alley, moving as fast as a shadow.
AT ALEA'S APARTMENT
The door to the simple apartment opened slowly.
Arzenio entered carrying Alea, looking around the small room in confusion.
"What kind of place is this...?"
The walls were thin, books were scattered around, there was an unwashed coffee mug, and a small bed with a shifted blanket.
Arzenio sighed.
"Why are you living alone in a place like this, Alea?"
He laid Alea on the bed very carefully, as if she were made of glass.
Alea was still unconscious, her breathing slow but steady.
Arzenio touched her forehead. "Fever?"
When he touched Alea's skin, her body seemed to shiver slightly.
Arzenio sat on the edge of the bed, took off the coat he was wearing. It was a thick fabric from his world, and he covered Alea with it.
"Your body will be warm," whispered Arzenio.
He stared at Alea's face for a long time. He felt guilt, longing, and anger towards himself.
"I shouldn't have let you come back alone," Arzenio's voice was barely audible.
Outside, the human world sounded foreign to him.
The sound of car horns, raindrops on the asphalt, the flashing neon lights. But his gaze was focused on only one thing.
Alea.