[https://i.quotev.com/oekpk4yfpqsa.jpg]

"Dad, how could a face be scary?" Hua stroked Eve's ears, which felt similar to a fluffy llama's. Eve was now settled down on her pudgy stomach, her broad haunches shaking as she shook her stubby, deerlike tail. Eve enjoyed the caring hands of humans, especially those that had been trained to pet.

"It...it just is, dear," Mr. Kay dusted off a scuff of grayish dirt on Eve's mask. "I don't know how to explain it; Eve shows people when they are ready to see."

"Oh, okay."

"Also, Eve, why aren't you wearing the new mask I made you?"

Eve picked up her head, her ears going straight up and curving inwards like grand devil horns. "I appreciate the details, but it is too small for my face." Eve adjusted a strap that was affixed around the base of her neck, and she rotated the intricate oni mask to the front, revealing its glimmering hooked fangs. "I wear it as a necklace now."

"I actually like it is as jewelry," Hua said, her voice hopeful and bright.

Mr. Kay smiled to her before bringing her into a strong hug, and Hua placed her chin upon his bony shoulder. Her hands wrapped around his waist and connected at the bottom on his spine, returning the embrace. White Space was silent, but there was a distant hush, as if a lagoon or aquamarine ocean was slapping upon a shoreline. Thank goodness there was some sound; absolute silence would drive humans mad. Hua disconnected from her father and faced the great beast again.

"Eve, how many ways can someone get into White Space?"

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Eve got off her knees and rose back up to her incredible twelve foot height, and she adjusted her mass upon her feet, tilting her toes this way and that to bring balance. "Entrances open randomly, my dear Hua. I do get quite a few children wandering into here because of it. These openings typically form where there is instability, making them easier to come about. It is easier to tear a rip in space-time if it is weak, is it not?"

"I guess."

Eve rubbed her front hooves together, something Mr. Kay had learned meant she found humor in something. "Yes, these openings form where there are troubled people. Children in abusive households often come here, and I help guide them to safety and give them advise. I remember my first human. He was a young child from Russia who was verbally harassed regularly by his father. I guided him through White Space to another home that gladly took him in."

"You kidnapped?"

"I rather steal a child away from their horrible home than leave them to suffer, yes?"

Hua furrowed her brown, morally torn. What right did Eve have to decide if a child is better off somewhere else? The Russian boy was obviously in a predicament, but to just take a child away and give them to another family? Hua wasn't too sure about it.

"I see you are conflicted, Hua," Eve said and flicked her tail. "And I understand. But Andrej taught me multitudes about humans. We were both scared of each other to begin with. I was disturbed by humanity's unusual gestures and appearance, but I soon came to adore your species. There is a common good in your kind even though you all don't believe it. Yes, there is so many nasty things that happen, but in the end, I have noticed the stronger good with slay the weaker evil. Your species is very confused, but that is where I come to help. I may not be able to save everyone who is hurt, but I will do what I can.

"I have helped six children, and you are my first adult, Mr. Kay. Those children taught me how to be delicate with the human soul. They taught me how your kind's mind functions. All of its strengths and faults were shown to me, and I want to use that power to heal the distraught of humanity. White Space is a brilliant realm for my work. The pained are automatically revealed to me, and they can come to this empty world. This is a place of nothing, but nothing is not bad. There is peace. It is not overwhelming. A balanced mind can be found here, and I want to balance you, Mr. Kay."