Why is everyone being so cryptic lately?24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4X3YNCYfQ5
Abyss had gotten 3 notes in the last week. Achlys etched a note in the ground telling Abyss to wait for further instructions and to not tell anyone about her.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMVjYmYsBY
This was followed by an infuriating letter from his brother , telling Abyss he was leaving after everything24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbcsiInf4s
Abyss didn’t know what to do anymore! He felt like the one person he could trust in the world abandoned him without so much as a goodbye.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkT5YUJE4WB
That same night, he got a letter from Achlys saying she was getting settled and gathering information. As if he cared!24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPepNjJHxnL
Now, 13 days after Volt left, the commander had a pained expression and silently handed Abyss a letter.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfE8TTEl8mB
He didn’t want to open it.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatK8AMPUlU
He was fed up with cryptic notes, and this time, he could tell something was seriously wrong. A week ago, a pit fell in his stomach and since then, all he could think of was Volt.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzMnW0W7Dt
When he finally willed himself to read the note, his worst fears were realized.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfxvzV9i5Q
Volt was... dead.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuQfZLXvx3
...24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaGEwEk9Vv
How is this possible?24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIcZ90NHPv
...24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIDl5M7vCs
No. Volt’s okay.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoGH3nwCPV
...24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSONZuGhr6a
It can’t be true. They’re lying.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1E8inNbiN
Abyssal’s heart felt like it was about to explode as his breathing quickened. From inside the confines of his room, Abyss realized he was alone in the world.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwc9aHO791
After a long moment of painful silence, he let out an angry, agonized yell.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvbLMfSqhJ
* * *
Abyss didn’t leave his room for two days after that, not even for a meal. He didn’t shower; he didn’t sleep. The most he did was walk from his bed to the toilet and stare into the void that consumed his soul.
But then, she came.
“Why the doom and gloom, Sol?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANZUsiLhMM
For a moment, his wishful mind played her voice as his brother’s. He looked up; at the window quickly, but his expression turned sour when he saw the dark hair and strip of green.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRVqMBmtJx
“You don’t get to call me that. Nobody calls me that...”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLwetDNr89
“That’s what your brother called you just last week, wasn’t it?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWQVcTh3OW
Abyss felt his fists clench as he ground his teeth together and squeezed his eyes shut. He just wanted to shut her out.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ANPJ3pkUY
“Volt is gone,” he said, voice breaking.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISn5FhWdiz
A long moment of agonizing silence. He thought for a moment that she did leave.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PrXF9MOHE
“Is there a way I can help? You need to get out of this Tartarus. ”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5ZZsLUKTz
Abyss shook his head. “There’s nothing to be done,” Abyss whispered. “He can’t be brought back.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrqJbYLk6W
“Who knows? There might be. There are a lot of cartridge holders out there nowadays, aren’t there? A few are wandering around here thinking they were given gifts from aliens. They might be part of Kronos’s grand scheme, but like I said, destroying the cartridge holders isn’t out top priority. There might be one out there who can bring him back.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZ8xtxldpo
“Don’t get my hopes up.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWr4Ycx77r
“But without hope you can never move on. Do you really want to be stuck here like this?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAFdItix0f
Abyss didn’t respond. Everything she said seemed so strange coming from her.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdY91AAft4
“Why are you here?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe67v89OC4H
“Because it’s time to carry out the plan.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1HA3JqFbk
Right... that... “I don’t feel like it.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3B8jYM96M
“What do you feel like? Moping like a looser?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbxG6zaLap
“I didn’t stop him.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6m6pSYZAJ
“You wouldn’t have been able to.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKz6ZxK2iz
Abyssal’s heart stopped. He knew that was true, but it was so much easier to blame himself than to just let Volt go. He gripped the telegram in his pocket, crumpling it. “You don’t know that.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSiEZ4Zumo
“Do you know where you are? I mean, really. They held me for a decade and nobody came looking. If they did, they never found me. PISTOL is an underhanded group of self-righteous rebels. They wouldn’t have even let him leave a note if they weren’t confident, they could still depart him without issue. They’re too cautious for that. If they have a plan, they’ll go through with it. And they have plans that will ruin ours.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHXEkIBL86
“You mean yours.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUELxHRTHi
“They’re going to kill the queen.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKfHOc30GR
“I know.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRkVUw9gjU
“You don’t understand, do you?” This caught Abyss off-guard.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3ioNQ5TOv
“Why does it matter? I don’t care.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8v2PrfK7A
“I’ll tell you why it matters and why you should care, darling.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53bpQHje6u
Wait, what did she just-24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2HfCf2sQT
“For starters, if they kill the queen, it will get in the way of our plans.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxyM0I7w0S
“I thought you wanted to go after the queen.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4KsjgIBqY
“So that we can utilize her power. They want to destroy it, and she has a power that I’m not even sure could be replaced. The reason for her ascension to the throne was vague. Did King Herold die? Did he run away? Did he commit suicide? Nobody seems to know. He’s just gone.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIhfeCXQnG
“And you think Helios is Herold?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ki4b67ph1
“I’m certain of it. All these fake names are painstakingly obvious. The rosork don’t seem to know much about human names.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8qCWknZBj
“I get it, but I still don’t really care. All I can do is think about how I wasn’t there for Volt. I’ve failed him as a brother. I don’t even know how he died. If Greek Mythology is real, do you think I could see Volt again if I followed him?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalKp0rDBlJ
Achlys drew in a sharp breath. “We only know that certain symbols are similar. There’s no way to know what’s beyond the grave...” It seemed like there was more to what she was about to say, so Abyss pushed for it.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIQZqZQSrD
“Unless? There’s an unless, right?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNvpzxfojl
“Unless you did what can never truly be undone,” she whispered. There seemed to be another meaning beneath her tone. It wasn’t threatening like it was. It seemed to almost resonate with Abyss felt now.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYS5aQB8p9
“I know there’s no going back, but if there’s a chance, I could see him again-”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtzsKCKc8r
“Then that time will come when it comes. You’re so broken by his death; would he want you dead?” Her tone was harsh. “Or would he want you to live life to the fullest in his place? ”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6qqLWClDi
Abyss thought for a long time. He didn’t think it would be possible to live life to the fullest with this hole in his heart. “But you said there might be an ability to bring him back.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIsCseFdbm
“If we found it, you could use it to bring him back. And I might know where to look.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1O5MEwsax
“Do you?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjNk045N9F
“One way to find out. Come with me, swear yourself to me completely. We’ll find a way, and we can live the rest of our lives with the people and things that matter most. We’ll carry out the plan together, and Kronos will have nothing left to fight for. We’ll have won.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphpMYtGa9n
Abyssal’s expression hardened. “You’re certain?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2KBQbvEY3
“If nothing else, you can get revenge on the people who killed him.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZB1JG5oDU
Abyssal’s eyes widened.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjp9Q4qFPD
PISTOL... PISTOL killed him. If they hadn’t sent Volt on a dangerous mission by himself, Volt might still be alive. If PISTOL didn’t continuously try to separate them... Volt said something about how PISTOL wouldn’t let him go searching for Abyss when Achlys was released. They took Volt away before they could ever make up for their fight.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltRgziWJQE
Their last exchange...24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdq28uoyEL
Abyss told Volt he didn’t care about the lives at stake or the control Kronos had on him.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpt5FZ2vYEv
Volt cared more than anyone.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkRm7N27uk
Abyss still knew nothing about what PISTOL was making Volt do. All he knew is that it killed him.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZl4By5VX5X
Achlys could have killed them both multiple times, but she only seemed to want to help. She wanted to save the universe even if it meant sacrificing more than anyone else could bare to.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxJMbHUIjz
“Okay,” Abyss said quietly.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuPcVsqV7s
“See? All you need is a push in the right direction. I’ll be your guide. All you have to do is listen to me and everything will be okay.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeAenTAe46
Abyss nodded. “I’m leaving PISTOL. You’re my only master. What now?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIRON4PSut
Achlys smirked as she felt a surge of pride and power burn in her chest. “Now? Make sure you go out with a bang.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6nvjiYf4C
She touched his hand, “share my immunity, watch and learn. All we need is a little Chlorine. ”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSwujnwF0N
“Chlorine?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5tWJZvv2q
“You’ll see. Got a light?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0WZInwsub
“What?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgOD3NUPSq
* * *
Achlys was gone by the time his room was filled; Chlorine Trifluoride. She said to be cautious; her power wouldn’t protect him from the explosion, just the effects of breathing in the gas. He had to act fast either way. His ability wouldn’t hold another’s power for long. If there was a cartridge the power could return to within range , it would slowly leak back to the source after he broke contact.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsJzI92gnu
She came back around halfway to hand him a box of matches, so Abyss quickly escaped the room, carefully pushed aside just enough of the blanket sealing the crack as he needed, struck a match, tossed under and made a break for it as the room blew up, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the building.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbguLb3mwRv
Abyss was blown forward several paces and all he could hear was ringing. His vision was temporarily blurred, but he was able to see that the two adjacent rooms were also half destroyed, leaving the occupants half alive, buried in rubble.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEXF30F9C7
People began to run out, flooding the halls glancing around until they registered the source.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVIvl5mIYe
A couple men ran forward to restrain Abyss, but he channeled his energy, eyes turning black as he absorbed their lifeforce.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPQG2hTVPj
They screamed in agony and Abyss almost stopped, but he continued forward.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rk1twWWmd
This was revenge, and even if these men weren’t directly responsible, they were getting in the way of his revenge.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjB9UFUGoKT
After they collapsed on the ground, their screams continued to echo in Abyssal’s mind for the next five minutes. Or maybe it was the hordes of soldiers fighting to get away from Abyss after watching their comrades fall.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8b44OHVfd
The clamor attracted more attention as people shouted about the occurrence. The newcomers began to understand the situation, but in the fight to escape, they unintentionally created walls, trapping themselves and any stragglers.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVl17gTKatN
Abyssal’s face darkened. The only way through to his destination was draining their energy, at least enough that they couldn’t move for a while.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9Q0ZuABM5
He approached one of the barricades slowly. The crowd was stressful, and Abyssal was losing motivation as his own energy felt drained. Was this a side effect of his power? It felt natural, more like training. Regardless, he knew he’d draw in more energy again if he pushed through.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1KRzZ2Hal
Abyss touched several people on the necks. They screamed in pain until their legs gave out from under them. As each person fell, Abyssal stepped over them and continued forward.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfg4NVTvHy1
Eventually, the crowd separated, and people began to stay close to the walls, allowing Abyss the clearance he needed to get to the elevator.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoqPfpxTCt
Each time he used his power, the screams of the people he killed moments ago replayed overlapping with the people in the halls and the others he took away.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNaDFMmViT
Something about what Achlys said when they first met echoed in Abyssal’s mind. Draining lifeforce is different from borrowing an ability. He realized now how true that statement was.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0Qqm4v0N8
When it came to borrowing a power, it was always casual. It benefited him in a significant way. Now, he was absorbing someone’s energy to use as his own. The lives he took were like caffeine. It shocked him awake, snapped him out of the daze he’d been living in.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtiMSANXqs
Abyss craved more. 24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDs0pKlyK1c
On top of the quickly-fading energy, this lifeforce seemed to have another benefit. Though it didn’t last long, this energy seemed to act as a barrier or caulk preventing Achlys’ power from draining from his body.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ilAjz6eHL
Abyss had significant time to move down into the halls he’d seen Volt fear on their first day.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBanndJzfIS
The holding chambers.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIP1ZADvY6
Each room was designed with a one-way mirror, pure white walls, and a programmable barrier. These forcefields could be adjusted to repel certain cartridge abilities.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflA5QH08iy
Achlys’ abilities, on the other hand were not taken into consideration for these cells. So long as they didn’t have someone capable of explosive destruction, Abyss would have an easy time initiating a jail-break. The chaos would be perfect for taking down PISTOL and going out with a bang .24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiTlxuVo52
Abyss filled the room with gas before summoning the elevator. As he pressed the button, he prepared another match. Whether this worked or not, Abyss wasn’t planning to go down to watch.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMt9rXj9MW
The elevator opened to reveal Hades.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1S9DzrsHp8
Abyss stared, but he shook off the paralysis and struck the match, throwing it back while looking Hades in the eyes. Deliberate disobedience. Abyss wouldn’t bow down before some rebel leader that wanted him dead regardless of cooperation.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLvL8u4FRH
The elevator closed behind the match.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfN4qYAZJZ
A loud explosion shook the elevator, denting the door and snapping the cables.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HagVOgDTu
“So, you chose betrayal,” Commander H stated. It wasn’t a question, “and you plan to kill us all at once.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJWUXan79X
Abyss didn’t answer.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZq0ApRIWs8
“I can only assume this is because of your brother.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVOl0QkOoW
Why is he still talking? Does he think he can salvage the alliance, or does he simply hope to save his own neck?24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEaHaHMH4j
“Was there another source of influence? Perhaps a new ally, risen to destroy everything?” Now he was searching for answers; answers he would not receive from Abyss. “Was this the plan all along?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanvU0g0fpA
“Why do you sound like my father?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vlJX7VK0m
“You knew your father? I supposed you were Kronos’ slave for as long as you can remember.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAhpKZhHrp
“I know some things, not that it’s any of your-”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnbOq6uMSN
Suddenly, Commander H grabbed Abyss by his collar and jumped. The boy’s eyes widened in surprise as the elevator crashed below them. The metal box crumpled like a tin can leaving only a foot or so above the commander’s head.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMG3sbmzfee
Abyss pushed away the moment their feet touched the ground.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmmCOQKQr6
Did he just save me? Abyss was unsure whether to be grateful or offended.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyizihBvUZ
Abyss scrambled away in confusion and frustration and turned to try and pry open the broken door. He pulled at the cracked and bent metal on the door where holes were made in the sides. He was barely able to manage a couple inches of clearance until Commander H came up and reached above Abyss to grab a dent further up . The door pulled away easily.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKN74JZyA4
Abyss struggled to understand Hades’s actions but shook it off as the last remnants of Achlys’ powers were fading. Just as Abyss was kicking off to bolt, H grabbed the boy’s hand. Abyssal’s head whipped up to look at the commander’s face a foot above his own. The commander looked down at Abyss, as if thinking of something to say, but the angry and confused boy pulled his arm away the moment he noticed any hesitation in H.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8haxNtILP
“Don’t touch me!” Abyss snapped. He went to run off again with clenched teeth before stopping a few yards away. “And don’t follow me! All of this is your fault. You sent him away to die!” Abyss’s voice was so loud and angry that Alexandra and Aaron could hear him at the end of the hall.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8HGAs4HrG
As Abyss ran off again, the two began to run after him, but Commander H stepped out of the elevator and held up a halting hand as he watched Abyss run out of the building.
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