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墨書 Inktalez
Alice's legs had begun to feel numb, and the air in the cave grew increasingly cold, as if it could seep into her very bones. She looked down at the winding stone path beneath her feet, which still showed no sign of an end. The surrounding darkness was deathly silent, with only the echo of her footsteps resonating in the vast cave. She dared not stop, fearing that if she did, she would never be able to move forward again.
"Fox..." she murmured, and suddenly the image of the silver-gray fox appeared before her eyes. It was her only companion, the sole source of comfort and strength she could rely on. But at that moment, the fox seemed to have vanished from this world; no matter how loudly she called, it did not respond.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself. She knew she was not lost in this cave but rather lost within the depths of her own heart. Every turn was a challenge against her fears, and every narrow path tightened around her with the unease that enveloped her.
Suddenly, a faint sound broke through the darkness ahead. Alice immediately halted, nervously scanning her surroundings. The sound grew clearer—a series of light footsteps approaching. She turned around, her eyes widening in shock as a pair of deep-set eyes stared back at her from the shadows.
"Fox!" Alice exclaimed with surprise, nearly running toward that familiar figure.
However, as she drew closer, the image of the fox vanished before her eyes. She fell to the ground, her body crashing against the hard rock, pain jolting her back to reality from her sense of loss. Looking down, she saw nothing but endless darkness beneath her.
"What did you see?" Suddenly, a voice echoed from all directions—deep and indifferent, as if it emanated from the depths of her soul.
Alice sprang to her feet, glancing around with trembling breath. "Who are you?!"
"Don't you recognize me?" The voice remained clear yet felt as though it was right beside her without any physical presence. There was a mocking tone in it, as if it reveled in her painful struggle.
Her heart raced as she felt trapped within this maze. She wanted to escape, but no matter how fast she ran, the darkness remained boundless ahead of her; the path beneath her feet grew narrower with no exit in sight.
"Who are you?" she whispered fiercely, trying to maintain her composure. But fear surged within her like a tidal wave.
"I am you." The voice paused for a moment before continuing with an undeniable calmness: "You have never truly understood yourself; you fear confronting your inner darkness and facing those unbearable memories and pains from your past."
Alice trembled, a sensation like a thunderclap coursing through her. That voice was hers, yet it sounded so foreign, so cold, filled with challenge. She took a deep breath and forced her feet to move forward again, murmuring softly, "I... I am not afraid."
"Really?" The voice echoed again, icy and mocking. "Can you face your true self? Do you dare?"
Alice halted, looking down at the darkening stone path beneath her. The fear swelling in her heart was overwhelming. Emotions long suppressed surged forth like a flood. Memories of the past flooded her mind—pain buried by time and distance. The loneliness of her childhood, the indifferent gazes of her parents, the shadows of academic failure that she could never escape—these memories detonated in her heart like ticking time bombs, nearly suffocating her.
"I never had the courage to face all of this," she whispered to herself. "Never."
Suddenly, she heard light footsteps behind her; it was the voice of the Fox. She quickly turned around, and there stood the familiar figure. The Fox watched her with a calm strength in its eyes.
"Aren't you running away from all this?" the Fox said softly. "These pains, these fears can only be faced by yourself in the end. You may have escaped this cave, but you cannot escape yourself."
Tears welled in Alice's eyes as she instinctively clenched the stone wall beside her, anxiety tightening around her throat. The Fox's gaze remained steady. "You have been avoiding those wounds you cannot face, those knots you cannot untie. You keep telling yourself that you are strong enough to handle everything. But do you know? True courage is not hiding your weaknesses; it is daring to confront them."
"I am afraid," Alice said hoarsely, her voice cracking. "I fear what I cannot face; I fear that I cannot bear it."
"Face them, Alice." The Fox stepped closer, its tone gentle yet firm. "You can only find your way out of this maze by confronting it. Avoidance will never bring relief."
Alice lowered her head silently, a flicker of determination crossing her eyes. She took a deep breath and finally turned her gaze toward the pitch-black path ahead. She understood that continuing to run would only lead to further disorientation; the only way out was to confront the painful past that haunted her.
Raising her head once more, she fixed her gaze on the darkness ahead and began to walk forward again. Each step felt heavy and uncertain, but she knew that if she did not emerge from this darkness, she would never find her true self.
She glanced back at the Fox one last time; it stood still, quietly watching her with encouragement and understanding in its eyes. Alice lifted her chin, locking onto the increasingly dark path ahead of her. Taking a deep breath, she stepped onto it without hesitation.
The stone path beneath her feet remained rugged, occasionally echoing with the rumble of falling rocks, and at times, a decaying odor filled the air. Yet, Alice did not pause. She understood that this was no ordinary road; it was a part of her inner self. Every stone and crack along this path symbolized the fears and pains she had never dared to confront.
She continued onward, each step growing more resolute. Gradually, the echoes in her ears began to fade, the oppressive atmosphere lifted, and the surrounding darkness seemed to recede, becoming less terrifying. Her heart settled, and her steps became lighter. She realized she was slowly navigating out of that labyrinth—not just a geographical maze but her Inner Maze.
At last, she reached the end. The darkness before her started to dissipate, and a faint light filtered through the crevices, casting a warm and tranquil glow on her face. She took a deep breath and smiled gently. She knew she had emerged from that maze.
Just as she was about to step out of the shadows, she glanced back. The fox still stood in place, its gaze calm, a slight smile playing at the corners of its mouth.
"You did it, Alice," the fox said, its voice gentle yet firm.
Alice's smile brightened even more; her eyes no longer reflected confusion and fear but rather determination and hope. She understood that although this path had been arduous, she had finally found her direction.
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