The night felt heavier than usual. The silence of the streets seemed to hide something ready to unfold, and Alice, standing near Rose, Ruby, and Natalie, couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.
That was when the shadow emerged, gliding through the mist until it stopped before them. The mysterious figure stepped forward slowly, and his face finally came into view: cold eyes, a stern expression, an upright posture.
"Albert…" Alice murmured, her voice carrying surprise and a touch of disdain.
Albert inclined his head slightly, acknowledging their presence but giving no weight to the emotional tension of that moment. His imposing aura made the air around them feel heavier.
"The Council is already aware of your forbidden relationship, Alice."
His deep voice echoed firmly, leaving no room for misinterpretation.
"And they will not allow the breach of the code to stand."
Alice's heart clenched. She knew this day would come, but not so soon, not like this.
"What… what do you mean?" she asked, trying to maintain control.
Albert stepped closer, staring directly at her.
"You and Kara have been summoned to appear at the Council's headquarters. They want to discuss… and issue a final verdict on your future."
A shiver ran down Alice's spine. She clenched her fists, holding back the urge to explode, forcing herself to breathe. She couldn't show weakness in front of him.
Rose, Ruby, and Natalie remained frozen, stunned. Ruby was the first to speak:
"What? That's insane! They can't just decide your fate like that!"
Rose, in shock, stared at her sister. Part of her wanted to run to Alice, hug her, tell her everything would be okay, but the tension between them made that impossible.
Alice turned her gaze to Rose, and her expression shifted into a mix of hurt and accusation.
"Congratulations, Rose… you got what you wanted."
Her voice trembled, not with fear, but with disappointment.
"You always wanted me away from Kara, didn't you?"
"No, Alice, I never—" Rose began, but Alice had already turned away.
Without looking back, she walked off into the shadows, and Albert vanished into the darkness of the street. Ruby tried to go after her, but Rose held her back, murmuring:
"Let her go… she needs this moment."
The silence among the three remained, heavy, painful.
At the apartment, Kara was sorting through some papers, distracted, when she heard the door burst open. Alice entered with quick steps, her eyes still burning with anger and fear.
"Alice? What happened?"
Kara dropped everything and rushed to her, holding her by the arms.
"And? What did you find out about Natalie?"
Alice took a deep breath, searching for the right words.
"Kara… we're going to have to travel. The Council… they know about us. They've summoned us."
Kara froze. Her eyes widened in panic.
"The Council…?" her voice trembled.
"This can't be real… they… they're going to separate us!"
Alice held Kara's hands tightly, pulling her close.
"No."
Her tone was firm, though her own voice trembled inside.
"I won't let that happen. Whatever the judgment is, I'll do everything I can to make sure we stay together. I promise."
Kara swallowed hard, feeling the weight of Alice's words, but also the hidden strength within them. She wrapped her arms around Alice, holding her tightly, as if the whole world were against them.
And maybe… it was.