Nyx was sitting on her chair in her room, looking outside, and in the same room with a distance there was the cage Ash was in. Nyx gave him a blanket since he's cold and uncomfortable. Ash was just staring at Nyx, wondering if she'll do anything.

  Suddenly Nyx turned to Ash angrily, "This isn't fair! Nobody told me something like this!" Ash, with a tired voice, said, "I doubt they knew it at all."

  When Nyx heard this, she turned to the wall. "I thought everything was perfect, that I knew my place. I never thought anything could be different." Ash understood her disappointment. "I didn't ask for this either... But maybe we can figure this out together." Nyx turned to Ash, not believing what he just said. "But... we aren't the same kind."

  She turned back to the window quickly. "I mean you... what did you call it?" Ash, "Humans." Nyx, "Ah, you humans are scared of us creatures, even though we are better than you can be." Ash "Oh come on, you guys have four eyes, wings and tails!"

  Nyx, turning back to him, ""What’s your point? You think we’re scary because of the way we look?" "No... it’s not that. It’s just... you guys have powers, abilities, things we could only dream of. But... it doesn’t make you better. It just makes you different. Maybe... maybe that’s all we are, really. Different."

  Nyx looked at him intently, studying his face for any sign of mockery. But there was none. "I don’t need your sympathy, Ash." Her voice softened for a second, betraying a hint of vulnerability.

  "I don’t need to be reminded of how alone I am in this world. I thought everything was clear, but now... you’ve shattered that." Ash paused, unsure how to respond. "I’m not trying to make you feel bad. I just... I get it. Things aren’t as they seem. Maybe we both have more to learn about each other than we thought."

  He lowered his voice, almost as if talking to himself. "And maybe it’s not all bad... finding out you’re not alone."

  There was a long silence, both of them contemplating their circumstances. Nyx turned back to the window, watching the red light of the sea flicker under the pale moonlight. "I still don’t trust you," she muttered, her eyes focused on the horizon.

  "But... maybe you’re right. Maybe it’s time we find out what this all means." She stood up, walking toward the cage. She opened the cage and let Ash out, yet still making sure he doesn't try to run.

  " Follow me.", Nyx said and she started to walk. Behind her back, "At least give me something to wear, you illiterate!"

  Nyx ignored him so Ash had nothing to do but to follow her to the other room. Nyx stopped and pointed the room, "This is the room you'll sleep in."

  Ash, shocked, "You expect me to sleep here! Oh nah, your crazy." Just as Ash turned back to go away, Nyx hold him from the blanket he was covering himself with. "You have no choice."

  She then let go of him as he turned to her. Nyx goes, "I'm a merciful monster, the people outside wouldn't hesitate to kill you at the moment they see you."

  Ash stared at her, somehow... adoring? "So, if you want to stay alive, better stay here." Nyx said as she turned to her room's door.

  Then, she turned back to Ash, "Hurting you won't fix me, i need you to learn the truth. At least, for now." Nyx turned to the door again, "Good night."

  And she entered the room. Ash, smitten, "Good night..." even though he knew Nyx is gone to her room. Ash also entered his room and went to sleep, even though it doesn't feel right, he someway trusted, and maybe even... loved her?

  Ash's Dream

  The sound of waves crashing echoed through Ash’s mind as he drifted into sleep. But this wasn’t like the restless sleep he’d experienced before, no. This felt different, unnatural, yet strangely familiar.He found himself standing on the edge of the red light sea, the same one he’d seen outside Nyx’s room. The moon hung heavy in the sky, its pale light casting eerie shadows across the sand. The air smelled thick, like salt and something... metal.

  Nyx stood a few paces away, her back turned to him. Her red wings that she normally doesn’t have, stretched out, shimmering like ethereal shadows in the moonlight. But she looked strange, she got light brown hair with blonde parts. Her one eye was fully black and the other was normal. The eye that’s on her chest was gone, instead there was a big cut on her chest, she had devil horns, shaper teeth. He wanted to call out to her, but the words stuck in his throat. Something about the scene felt off, almost like a memory, but not quite his own.He stepped closer, and the sea began to ripple as if responding to his movements. The water turned a deeper shade of red, swirling violently beneath his feet. Nyx didn’t move, her expression unreadable. The distant sound of whispers filled the air, low and insistent, like a thousand voices calling out in unison.“Ash…” The whisper came from behind him, so soft it felt like it was inside his head.

  “Do you understand now?” He turned, but there was no one there, just the dark horizon and the red waves. His heart raced, fear creeping up his spine. Was this a warning? Or something more?Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Nyx’s eyes, three of them, glowing faintly in the dim light. She looked at him, her gaze piercing, searching for something.“Find the truth, protect me and your yourselves.” she said, her voice distant, like a ghost’s echo. “Before it’s too late.”

  Before he could respond, the sea erupted, waves crashing against him. He fell, his body sinking into the depths of the water. His breath caught in his throat, and just as he was about to be consumed by the darkness, he woke up—his heart pounding, his body drenched in sweat.

  Ash's Growing Feelings

  The dream lingered in Ash’s mind even as he slowly opened his eyes, the faint glow of morning peeking through the window of his room. He rubbed his face, trying to shake off the remnants of the strange vision. What did it mean? Was it a warning? A message from the strange world he’d been thrown into?

  He thought about Nyx. She was tough, cold at times, and yet... there was something about her that intrigued him. Her strength, her vulnerability hidden beneath the surface, the way she carried herself like she was always in control, but he could see the cracks. Even the way she spoke to him—aggressively, but with an undertone that suggested she didn’t quite know what to do with him. Or maybe, just maybe, she was trying to protect herself from the very feelings she didn’t want to acknowledge.Ash stood up and paced around the room. His chest tightened as he thought of her. The way she’d looked at him when she let him out of the cage—there was something in her eyes. A flicker of something soft, buried deep down. Maybe she wasn’t as immune to the idea of connection as she wanted him to believe.He couldn’t deny it, he was starting to feel something for her.

  It wasn’t love or anything, just something weird. It wasn’t just curiosity anymore. There was an ache in his chest whenever he thought of her. A longing to understand her, to peel back the layers of her carefully constructed walls. He wanted to know who Nyx really was, what made her tick, what made her hurt, what made her the powerful, terrifying creature she was.But he also knew he couldn’t rush this. She was from a world so different from his own, and yet, they shared this strange bond. He didn’t know what the future held, or if she would ever truly trust him. But, for the first time since arriving in this bizarre world, Ash felt like maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t as alone as he thought. But then Ash said, "No, she a monster! Probably ate my kind and she's just... not someone i could love! A carnival, monster and a absolute freak! She's mean, crude and brutal! I got to escape from her and this world as fast as i can."

  Meanwhile Nyx

  Nyx lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling, the weight of the night’s conversation with Ash still heavy on her mind. Her thoughts churned, twisted into knots she couldn’t undo. The way he looked at her, when he said, “Maybe we can figure this out together”, it lingered in her chest like a sharp pang of something unfamiliar. Vulnerability? Was that it?No, she shook her head, trying to push the thought away.

  She couldn’t afford to feel that way. Not about him. Ash was human. She’d seen the fear in his eyes when she first captured him, heard the desperation in his voice when he begged her not to hurt him. She was a monster to him—an alien, a freak from a world that was nothing like his. He probably hated her and wondered when she’ll kill him. She’d always known her place in this world—feared, revered, and powerful. But when she looked at Ash, everything felt... different.

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  For the first time in her life, she questioned her own place in this bizarre, strange world.She rolled over and stared out the window at the red light sea, its ominous glow casting an eerie light over the landscape. The whispers from the dream still echoed in her mind, urging her to find the truth. What truth? What was she supposed to do with someone like him, someone who was so different, so fragile in comparison to the people of her world?

  But something in her... couldn’t shake the connection. It was like a magnetic pull she couldn’t resist, no matter how much she tried to convince herself that she should.“I’m a monster,” she whispered to herself, sitting up and pulling her knees to her chest. “And yet... he’s still here.”

  Her voice caught in her throat as she finally admitted what had been lurking beneath her defenses for so long. She didn’t want to admit him there. She didn’t want to trust him. He was human. And she was from a world where humans were nothing but distant creatures of folklore.But... maybe, just maybe, she could trust him. Or at least, she had to. Because what if there was something bigger happening here, something that neither of them understood?

  What if everything about her world, and even his, was a lie? With a sigh, Nyx buried her face in her hands, trying to shake off the conflict that swirled in her mind. She was a monster to him. That was all she could ever be to him, right? But why... why did her heart race every time she thought of his soft voice, his piercing eyes, and his defiance?

  The next morning, Nyx woke up to some weird sounds. When she got out of the room in her pajamas and walked to the kitchen, she saw Ash cooking. "What are you doing?!" Ash didn't notice her there, so he screamed. Then Ash said, "Hey, creep! You scared me!" Nyx, while walking in and yawning, said, "Sorry, sorry." She then sat down to one of the chairs. "So what are you doing? And how did you went to the kitchen?" Ash, turned to her, "You know maybe i'm a human but yet i still have legs." Nyx, rolling her eyes, "Yeah, yeah." Ash sat next to her which made Nyx's heart beat faster and faster. "I made breakfast by the way." Nyx, "You what?! No you didn't. You don't know where is where, or what is what!" Ash grinned, clearly amused by her reaction. "Well, I do now. You'd be surprised what a guy can learn when he’s got nothing else to do but stare at a bunch of random ingredients." He motioned to the stove, where something that almost resembled a breakfast was sizzling away—burnt edges and all. Nyx raised an eyebrow, eyeing the meal. “You’re kidding, right?” She didn’t know whether to laugh or get up and push him out of the way.

  But before she could say anything else, Ash’s voice softened, “I know it’s probably not perfect... but I figured I’d do something. Since you’ve been so kind to me, even if you are a monster.” He didn’t quite meet her gaze, his words trailing off awkwardly. Nyx blinked, caught off guard by his vulnerability. She wasn’t used to hearing such honesty from him. He’d always been sarcastic, a little rude, and clearly afraid of her. But now? There was something different, something... almost human in the way he was acting.

  She exhaled slowly, a soft, incredulous smile tugging at her lips. “I don’t need you to cook for me, Ash. But... thanks.” Ash tilted his head, still looking at her with that strange mixture of defiance and something softer. “Guess I could’ve just thrown the food at you, huh?” he teased, but there was no bite to his words. Nyx snorted, leaning back in her chair. “Don’t even think about it.” But as she spoke, she noticed her heart was beating faster than usual.

  Why? It wasn’t like her to be caught off guard by someone like him. He was still... Ash. The annoying, sarcastic Earthling who had stumbled into her world and thrown everything into chaos. “Hey,” Ash said suddenly, his tone more serious, “I just... I’m trying, okay? I don’t know what’s going on, but I can at least try to be useful.” Nyx nodded slowly, her gaze flicking to him. There was something in the way he said it that felt different—like he meant it. And for a moment, she wondered if... just maybe, things could be better between them. But she quickly pushed that thought aside. “Fine, then,” she said, her voice sharp but not as cold as it usually was.

  “But you’re still a pain in my side.” Ash chuckled at her response, clearly relieved that the tension between them wasn’t as thick as it had been before. He turned back to the stove, and for a moment, they sat in silence, the strange, awkward peace between them lingering.

  Nyx couldn't stop herself from glancing at him again, feeling her heart race just a little faster. She hated how much of a fool she felt for being so affected by him, but she couldn't help it. Nyx leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed, trying to appear indifferent. But inside, her thoughts were swirling. She had always been so used to being in control, to holding her distance from everyone, even the creatures from her world. But Ash, Ash was different. And it was starting to mess with her head. As she watched him fuss over the food, even if it was a disaster in the making, something stirred inside her.

  His words,“I’m trying”, had struck a chord. Why does it matter? she asked herself. He’s human. He’s a prisoner here. He’s not my responsibility. Yet, her gaze stayed on him, and she didn’t know why her chest felt tight. He was a puzzle, one she didn’t have the answers to, and she was so used to knowing everything around her. But Ash? He didn’t fit into any of her neatly arranged categories. She cleared her throat and tried to dismiss the feelings bubbling up.

  "So, when did you become a chef?" she asked, her voice trying to sound unaffected. Ash gave her a sideways glance, a small grin tugging at his lips. "When I realized there was more to life than being locked up and waiting for you to throw a tantrum."

  Nyx shot him a glare, but this time it wasn’t with her usual venom. She was still mad—still wary—but it wasn’t quite the same anger anymore. Ash served the burnt meal onto two plates, unbothered by the charred edges.

  "Bon appétit," he said, presenting her with a plate like he was some kind of professional. Nyx stared at the food, her stomach growling in protest. She was starving, but the idea of eating something so... imperfect felt wrong. Still, she couldn’t keep acting like she was above it all. She picked up the fork, cautiously taking a bite. To her surprise, it wasn’t that bad. It was definitely burnt, but somehow, it wasn’t as terrible as it looked. Maybe, just maybe, she could get used to this kind of strange... companionship.

  "You know, it's not awful," she admitted, lowering the fork with a hesitant smile. "But next time, try not to set the kitchen on fire." Ash's grin widened at her reluctant praise, but his expression softened after a moment. “You’re not so bad, Nyx,” he muttered, almost to himself. "Not as bad as I thought, at least."

  Nyx froze mid-bite, the words hitting her like a wave. Her heart skipped, and she quickly swallowed, feeling heat rush to her face. She felt the butterflys over her stomach. She fought the urge to glance away, but she couldn’t help it. “I’m still a monster, Ash. You know that, right?”

  He didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, his eyes catching hers with a strange intensity. “Maybe. But at least you didn't eat me. Nyx opened her mouth to retort, but her words caught in her throat. The way he looked at her, the way he was so, unafraid.

  It was unsettling in a way she didn’t know how to handle. But then, Ash’s smirk returned, breaking the moment.

  "Or maybe you just need someone to teach you how to cook." She laughed, despite herself, the tension between them easing slightly. "Maybe you’re right, Ash. Maybe I do."

  There it was again—that fleeting moment of something she wasn’t sure she understood. But for once, Nyx didn’t feel the need to push it away. For the first time in a long while, she felt... human. Or at least, something close to it.

  Nyx gotthe faintest trace of a smile still playing at her lips. Her heart was still beating faster than usual, but she didn't let it show. Instead, she took another bite, trying to convince herself that she wasn’t affected by his words—or the way his eyes made her feel like the world was a little bit smaller, and a little bit more complicated. Ash, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to the shift. He was busy poking at his plate, probably checking for any more disasters that might’ve been hiding in his failed breakfast. But she could still feel his presence, like some magnetic pull that kept drawing her attention. It was distracting. Unsettling. But also... oddly comforting.

  “So,” Ash began, his voice breaking the silence, “what’s it like being... you? I mean, this whole monster thingy.”

  He gestured vaguely, as if trying to encompass everything that was Nyx’s world with a wave of his hand. Nyx stiffened at the question, her mind going blank for a moment. It wasn’t the first time someone had asked her something like that. In fact, it was a question she often avoided, even when others in her world had asked. There were so many layers to her life, and none of them were easy to explain. But something in Ash’s tone—genuine curiosity, not judgment—made her pause.

  “Well, being a ‘monster’ isn’t something you just explain in a sentence,” she said, her voice softer than usual. She took another bite, but it wasn’t for the food—it was to buy time, to figure out how to respond. “We... do things. Weird things. Things you wouldn’t understand.”

  Ash frowned slightly, clearly not satisfied with her answer, but not pressing further. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, watching her with a mixture of curiosity and caution. "I guess you're right. I wouldn't understand. But if you're going to make me stay here... You could at least tell me what kind of freaky stuff you get up to."

  Nyx raised an eyebrow at his words, an amused grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. "You have no idea, Ash. You wouldn’t last five minutes at one of the carnivals."

  "Five minutes, huh?" Ash raised an eyebrow, his tone almost challenging. "You underestimate me." The way he said it—so confident, yet somehow still not fully certain of his place—made Nyx chuckle. She was starting to think maybe Ash wasn’t so different from her after all. Both of them were trying to find a way to survive in a world that didn’t seem to care whether they did or not. "You might surprise me, honey.” Nyx said, her smile softening. “But not today. I’m not in the mood to throw you into the deep end just yet.”

  Ash grinned back, the playful challenge still there. “Guess I’ll take what I can get.”

  For a moment, they just sat there, eating—well, Ash daydreaming orexamining the room? Nyx couldn't tell. And she trying not to make a face every time she took a bite. But there was a change between them, something small but significant. She wasn’t sure when it happened, but she could feel the difference in the air around them. It wasn’t so cold anymore. That made Nyx feel safe.

  Nyx, after finishing her eating, said, "Okay, now, since we have to do something, we can't just fool around doing nothing. Let's go to the park that I always go."

  Ash, turning to her in a bit of fear, "But if the..." he turned into the window, looking outside in sadness, cause he misses the earth, and fear that comes from his feelings that shouts you will die here, "Monsters, see me?" He then turned back to Nyx, "Nyx, i'm just... worried." Nyx turned to Ash, actually understanding him, said,

  "Ash, look, I know how you feel right now. Maybe we are not the same type, not from the world or even the same universe, but yet we still share feelings." Ash, a little shocked, blushed on her words, "U-uh... yeah, I know. But I'm still in fear."

  He stands and goes to the window. "I feel like I'm trapped, not in a good way." Turning back to Nyx, "You may not be harsh to me at all, except for looking at me in a cage, but 'people' out there can do so painful and wild things to me." Nyx was unhappy about Ash, telling her people in a way that is animalistic, but she instead walked up to him without thinking twice and held his hand. Ash looked at her, shocked. Nyx then said, "I'll protect you until we learn the truth together." Looking right into his eyes, "I won't leave you alone here, even if that's me to betray my own world and people. Them staring at each other, Nyx said, "I promise." Ash stared at her with deeply feelings and with a smile on. After some seconds, Ash pulled Nyx right into his arms.