Chapter 41: Unmasked
Alice ran out toward the main street where the climax of the fight was unfolding, her boots skidding on the asphalt as she cleared the side of Tom's tank.
She saw the blood painting the road. She saw whatever Tony had become, standing perfectly still while violently gripping Hopeless's extended forearm. Then, she witnessed the twist. A sickening crunch echoed through the alley, and Alice's eyes widened in sheer horror at the brutal display of strength.
Before she could even process it, Grey Girl scrambled to her feet and rushed to intercept the beast's retaliation. Right before Alice's eyes, Grey Girl's form shifted-the vibrant, kaleidoscopic colors of the stained-glass gown illuminating the dark street. It was so breathtakingly beautiful that Alice's breath hitched in her throat.
Then came the barrier, the sudden pop of overcharged kinetic energy, and the absolute destruction redirected back at Hopeless with interest. Finally, the dark portal flickered, swallowing the broken knight whole before snapping shut.
For a long moment, Alice just stood there, watching the two of them rise and fall with heavy, ragged breaths. Breaking out of her trance, she sprinted forward. "Tony!!"
Light Pink turned her head, her blood-red eyes blinking in surprise. She was still tightly gripping her heavily bleeding shoulder, but her expression remained completely, unnervingly composed despite the agony. "Alice?"
Alice threw herself in front of the fusion, tears welling in her eyes.
Light Pink offered a sweet, soft smile. "I can feel your concern radiating off of you like heat... I'm okay. Truly."
As Alice's tears began to spill, a sudden, warm light radiated from her own body, washing over the intersection. The comforting magic brushed against Grey Girl, and with a soft gasp, Grey Girl's transformation suddenly broke.
The intricate stained glass slowly dissolved into glittering mist, and she collapsed weakly onto the pavement.
The girl sitting in front of them was not the sleepy, mysterious magical girl they had grown used to seeing. Her civilian hair was messy and completely unkempt. Deep, dark purple bags weighed heavily under her eyes, and she was swallowed up by an oversized, faded T-shirt and baggy sweatpants. She looked entirely hollowed out, as if her life force had been completely drained away.
Light Pink stared at the fragile, broken girl on the ground. Instantly, her red eyes narrowed to razor-thin slits, her posture stiffening as she clenched her fists so hard her knuckles turned white.
"What... happened...?" Light Pink's voice dropped into a terrifying, resonant growl that shook the air. "Who did this to you...?"
Grey Girl flinched, pulling her knees tightly to her chest as she looked away, refusing to meet their eyes. "Please..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "Don't..."