Chapter 2: Judgement

*Beep…beep…beep*

Her eyes opened groggily to the sight of a white ceiling and blue lights circulating the room.

"Where…am I?"

She couldn't remember much else past the flashing lights, beeping monitors, and tubes that were stuck into her as she was dragged away after they exited the vehicle. All that she could recall was the woman with the halo, apparently called Celestia, had told her they were part of the Sentinels and were taking her to zone 2. She raised her arms in front of her, examining the three tubes that stuck into her skin.

"Safe huh."

She looked around, watching as people in white clothing attended to the other beds around her. They all had the same symbol that she had seen on the truck on their shoulders. Adults and children alike were lying on them, some with bandages wrapped around them, and others like her. 

"Wait, where's Rei?"

Her breath became shallow and frantic as she shot up from the bed, scanning the room. 

"Rei!"

The monitors beside her began to beep loudly, flashing with static and sparks as she stumbled over the side of the bed. Turning off and on rapidly, the lights in the room began to flicker as she grabbed the irritating tubes that attached to her skin. Getting ready to pull them out ,a handful of white coats rushed to restrain her, pulling back her arms as she shouted out her brother's name.

"Where's my brother?!" she screamed, lashing out at the doctors as they struggled to pin her down. 

And then, she stopped. Just barely through the head mirror of one of the doctors, she could see herself in them. Zeta looked into the reflection of the glass, gasping in horror as her hands began to tremble. What stared back at her was not her. Her hair was now a dark violet and her eyes were now yellow with red rings that made it look like a target. What had happened to her?

A loud hiss followed by a release of pressure sounded as a pair of doors opened. 

"Let her go."

Entering the room, she recognized Celestia's halo, but she also looked down at the pair of wings that extended behind her. She looked like an angel, her comforting smile reliving some of the despair in her chest. The lights and monitors stopped blinking.

"Celestia…"

Celestia smiled warmly at her.

"Hello again my child, welcome to Sentinels HQ," she sat beside her bed, "I'm happy to see you are recovering smoothly."

So many questions lingered in Zeta's throat, but before she could get them out, Celestia held out her hand in front of her.

"I know that you have many questions, but first I must tell you that a difficult choice concerning you lies ahead.

"Me?" Zeta pointed at herself confused.

"Come with me," Celestia offered her hand.

Zeta starred as they ascended from the glass elevator. She could see all of zone 2 and the entirety of the Sentinel Headquarters below her.

"It almost looks like a crown doesn't it?" Celestia said, pointing down below them.

Now that she mentioned it, the headquarters did almost look like a crown with the circular building and triangular buildings sticking out of it. Rays of light reflected from the tips of the triangles making the crown seem to glow. 

"I'm sorry we couldn't save your brother," Celestia said, "by the time we got to you we were already overrun."

Zeta clenched her fist, remembering Alia's words, "I know my brother's alive, that girl said she would make us a part of her family."

She examined herself in the mirror, tracing the rings around her eyes. It made her knees feel weak, like she was back at the bakery staring into Alia's eyes.

Celestia sighed, "It's all The Fool's handiwork, your DNA, the composition of your body, she started a transformative process that had almost turned you into some monster like her."

Zeta stared at her hands. There was something that felt off, like a sporadic tinge of energy zipping through her body.

"Listen," Celestia placed her hand softly on Zeta's shoulder, "You have been cursed or possibly blessed with a power that we still do not understand yet. I will do everything in my power to help you, but you must prove to him that strength still runs deeply within you."

"Prove to who?"

A flash of light erupted, blinding her eyes as a gateway of light ignited. Dressed in a white suit with hints of gold, a man with glasses stood before her, his hand resting on the handle of a cane that stood at his side. Maybe it was the light behind him or the way he stood imposingly before her, but she felt as if some radiant energy emitted off him. Similar to Celestia, angelic wings spread from behind him.

"Master Diviner," Celestia bowed, "I have brought the girl as requested."

Zeta looked slightly down as his narrow gaze flicked towards her.

"Hmph…innocent for now, but the infection has already taken its hold on her. Come with me."

Stepping into the light, a grand hall of monitors, bookshelves, and floating sparkles appeared before her. She squinted her eyes, realizing the sparkles seemed to be small creatures. They were like fairies, their small white wings glittering as they flew around. He motioned the two of them to a pair of chairs as he sat behind his cluttered desk.

"Young girl," he said, "I will make this quick and simple, you are a danger to yourself and everyone around you. As the head of the Sentinel Agency, it is my duty to ensure the plague known as The Nihility is eradicated."

"You," he pointed, his face expressionless, "have been inflicted with this plague by The Fool and therefore stand as a risk to humanity. I, unfortunately, must inform you that by the guidelines of this agency…we must put you down."

Zeta stared at his words. In many ways she felt like death was always a possibility, but she never thought hearing those words would hit her as hard.

"I…"

"Master Diviner," Celestia spoke up, seeming to expect this response, "If I may…"

"Enough Celestia!" he warned, giving her a stern glance, as if also expecting her interjection, "This is not a negotiation, but merely my duty to inform what has been decided by the council."

"But is it not our duty to save those from the darkness," she retorted, her wings stretching, "How can we do that if we can't even save one inflicted by it?"

He struck his cane against the ground. "I will not let personal matters interfere with this judgment. You know The Nihility's temptations are strong, too unpredictable for us to let slide."

"This girl is different though, she is the only one to have been only partially converted. I can sense her light containing the darkness."

She kneeled to the ground, "Please Levi…test her."

Levi sighed heavily, taking off his glasses as he sat down at his desk, leaning his head against his cane. A second later, he opened a drawer, pulling out a wooden box. Dust stained the tips of his white gloves as he blew on it. The latches on the box clicked, revealing a set of blank white cards outlined in gold. 

"These cards will determine your judgment, tell me what you see and I will make the final judgment. I will tolerate no more," he said.

Zeta looked towards Celestia who nodded at her.

"What do you see?" he began, holding up the card in front of her.

It was blank at first, but suddenly she could see the white background slowly begin to bleed into color, melting and curling until an image took form.

"A butterfly," she answered.

"Next one."

"An Angel."

"Again."

"A swan."

"Last one."

Her body froze in place, her fingers curling. A creeping sensation crawled up her skin as she watched the paint turn to ink, almost like it would spill to the ground as it flowed down. But it didn't, it just continued to flow just before the edge of the card. She could hear it though, the chilling laugh, the madness, it was all coming back to her. 

"Alia"

Levi's eyes hardened at the name.

"It seems this judgment is clear, although your mental constitution is only a bit below marginal, The Nihility still possesses parts of you," Levi spoke, putting the cards away.

Zeta turned towards Celestia who would not meet her gaze.

"Please, my brother needs me. I know he's out there back in zone 10!" she started forward, gripping the edge of his desk.

"Zone 10 is a death zone," he rose, "it's now a territory of The Nihility that has taken too many lives already. I will not risk the lives of many for one child."

"Then send me!" 

A heavy silence filled the air. She could feel Celestia's gaze on her, almost pushing her to take the final step. She had to take it.

"If you won't help me, then let me decide how I die. I'll go back to zone 10 with the comfort knowing I tried."

Her legs shook with those words as she stared into his cold eyes. She feared death, but she feared losing Rei even more, he was the only family she had left. Levi tapped his finger on the desk, pressing his lips as he let out a heavy sigh.

"As The Harbinger of Light, Lunaria, states in the duties of her cardinals, we must always give water and food to those who embark on grave journeys."

He rose from his seat, tapping his cane, "Thus I give you permission for 3 months of training here and minimal supplies on the day of your journey, all of course under the guidelines and protection of the Sentinel Agency."

"But I warn you now," he raised his hand, "any missteps or signs of The Nihility, and your execution will be swift."

Tears flooded her eyes as she looked back at Celestia who gave her a nod. Even if signs of death laid across her path, there was still a glimmer of hope at the end. Levi pressed the tips of his fingers to his forehead.

"May The Harbinger of Light bless you on your journey, and forever shine light upon thy shadows.