Sarah couldn't believe what just happened. She had been inches away from Alex's face, and he still didn't recognize her. She felt a mix of disappointment and relief. She didn't want Alex to know she was Shadow, but she also felt hurt that he didn't seem to see her as anything more than a friend.
Sarah decided to take the rest of the night off and go to bed early. She was too tired and emotionally drained to deal with anything else. As she lay in bed, she couldn't stop thinking about Alex. She knew she had feelings for him, but she also knew that she couldn't act on them.
The next morning, Sarah woke up feeling better. She had a plan to keep her feelings in check and focus on being a better villain. She got dressed and headed out to meet her henchmen at their hideout.
When she arrived, she was surprised to find Alex already there, sitting at the table with her henchmen. They all seemed to be chatting like old friends.
"Hey, Sarah," Alex said, standing up to greet her. "I hope you don't mind, but your henchmen invited me over for breakfast."
Sarah forced a smile. "No, of course not. I'm glad you could join us."
As they sat down to eat, Sarah couldn't help but feel a strange sense of happiness. She had always kept her superhero and villain lives separate, but now they were starting to merge. She didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing, but for now, she was just going to enjoy it.
As they finished breakfast, Sarah's henchmen started to leave, leaving her and Alex alone in the hideout.
"Listen, Sarah," Alex said, his tone serious. "I need to talk to you about something."
Sarah's heart raced. She didn't know what Alex wanted to talk about, but she had a feeling it was something important.
"I don't know how to say this," Alex continued, "but I think I know who you are."
Sarah's eyes widened in shock. "What? What are you talking about?"
"I mean, I don't know for sure," Alex said, "but I have a feeling that you might be Shadow."
Sarah's mind raced. She didn't know what to say or how to react. She had never been in this situation before. She was used to being the one in control, but now she felt vulnerable and exposed.
"I don't know what to say," Sarah finally managed to say. "I mean, it's not like I can confirm or deny anything."
"I know," Alex said, "but I just wanted you to know that if it is true, it doesn't change anything between us. You're still my friend, and I'll still have your back."
Sarah felt a wave of relief wash over her. She didn't have to hide her feelings anymore. She could be herself around Alex, and he would still accept her.
"Thank you," Sarah said, smiling. "That means a lot to me."
As they sat there in silence, Sarah realized that maybe being unmasked wasn't such a bad thing after all. Maybe it was the first step towards a new beginning.