Why is everyone being so cryptic lately?113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2ih1CPpjV
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzuQUzajsa
This was followed by an infuriating letter from his brother , telling Abyss he was leaving after everything113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYdN3vRcIj
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2rOwKXvul
That same night, he got a letter from Achlys saying she was getting settled and gathering information. As if he cared!113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiODDBdmcmn
Now, 13 days after Volt left, the commander had a pained expression and silently handed Abyss a letter.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChEQLyuRUS
He didn’t want to open it.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtukJVuliQv
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIzo2TOWmW
When he finally willed himself to read the note, his worst fears were realized.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhEOtXCim6
Volt was... dead.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDGwxtDf6f
...113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXJ6lia1Y3
How is this possible?113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqbAXbWJUm
...113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1Sdm3kVZr
No. Volt’s okay.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocv9AboafL
...113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpReEG5daI
It can’t be true. They’re lying.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkosp0NUo6
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKalPdNdjK
After a long moment of painful silence, he let out an angry, agonized yell.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrq7guBFGF0
* * *
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?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡko5RBy6gVA
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZm9Z021mK
“You don’t get to call me that. Nobody calls me that...”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8fqNkOHU9
“That’s what your brother called you just last week, wasn’t it?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkbINFnlaX
Abyss felt his fists clench as he ground his teeth together and squeezed his eyes shut. He just wanted to shut her out.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejPkpGUVtk
“Volt is gone,” he said, voice breaking.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7DUTBnwE3
A long moment of agonizing silence. He thought for a moment that she did leave.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTbDFFeUR7
“Is there a way I can help? You need to get out of this Tartarus. ”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDXpR29TMQ
Abyss shook his head. “There’s nothing to be done,” Abyss whispered. “He can’t be brought back.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Gn9AzmWSH
“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.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tVBbVIwbw
“Don’t get my hopes up.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszP5btRfIa
“But without hope you can never move on. Do you really want to be stuck here like this?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYB6t6zI0r
Abyss didn’t respond. Everything she said seemed so strange coming from her.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pxDGlP8fU
“Why are you here?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZN0Fe3nYV
“Because it’s time to carry out the plan.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ464OqdaXdg
Right... that... “I don’t feel like it.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mgqs5i6Ln
“What do you feel like? Moping like a looser?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMI3vXZxXI
“I didn’t stop him.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxunZPLiEww
“You wouldn’t have been able to.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9NH0waeuS
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.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6P6o3RQM7
“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.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lp71PyR28
“You mean yours.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DOpy3t8qw
“They’re going to kill the queen.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jk4WB6cOe
“I know.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tSS8uQ7qy
“You don’t understand, do you?” This caught Abyss off-guard.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQ6zioUFSq
“Why does it matter? I don’t care.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcwxoVlbwm
“I’ll tell you why it matters and why you should care, darling.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSiN7UWEiV
Wait, what did she just-113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCWzz6JYc1
“For starters, if they kill the queen, it will get in the way of our plans.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioaYm1963G
“I thought you wanted to go after the queen.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKCRO4IVmd
“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.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJcELmKXQH
“And you think Helios is Herold?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobO3NkV5YY
“I’m certain of it. All these fake names are painstakingly obvious. The rosork don’t seem to know much about human names.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZsSQLcok4
“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?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFYIdEG9ol
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVR4n0TiWIu
“Unless? There’s an unless, right?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUhXh9oXd9
“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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZJqBMCg87
“I know there’s no going back, but if there’s a chance, I could see him again-”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxKW6LC8nC
“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? ”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNbnJn33D1
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.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9iWjCVTWW
“If we found it, you could use it to bring him back. And I might know where to look.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLP9rEBPewq
“Do you?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XdYllJlWf
“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.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUetmPKmoR
Abyssal’s expression hardened. “You’re certain?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgNiwGRC66
“If nothing else, you can get revenge on the people who killed him.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AtndeYXIu
Abyssal’s eyes widened.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAd8mE6oQd
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeD2rNXv0R9
Their last exchange...113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8nD8BQ6cJ
Abyss told Volt he didn’t care about the lives at stake or the control Kronos had on him.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZWWy8681f
Volt cared more than anyone.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Se938VB7i
Abyss still knew nothing about what PISTOL was making Volt do. All he knew is that it killed him.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfHX45ylBT
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqU8EQumSPG
“Okay,” Abyss said quietly.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbbn08Swqo
“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.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4skML3jtbY
Abyss nodded. “I’m leaving PISTOL. You’re my only master. What now?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMYBQB7NDQ
Achlys smirked as she felt a surge of pride and power burn in her chest. “Now? Make sure you go out with a bang.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzuR3KdYt2
She touched his hand, “share my immunity, watch and learn. All we need is a little Chlorine. ”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikIQmznJOt
“Chlorine?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBRXGOAxzL
“You’ll see. Got a light?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSDCQrxEyw
“What?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebcuiy2JgG
* * *
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0NDY4Ihk3
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBf6ZcfvVX
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcfzOjoO3d
People began to run out, flooding the halls glancing around until they registered the source.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndALSrLni1
A couple men ran forward to restrain Abyss, but he channeled his energy, eyes turning black as he absorbed their lifeforce.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbGxnUkTsj
They screamed in agony and Abyss almost stopped, but he continued forward.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqO3CTZzAz
This was revenge, and even if these men weren’t directly responsible, they were getting in the way of his revenge.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYMcMYD76f
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0oO8ZqXMN
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJ0LWyHz5H
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8q2McqbeC
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPC5WjuXIr
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRHHif4owL
Eventually, the crowd separated, and people began to stay close to the walls, allowing Abyss the clearance he needed to get to the elevator.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Y4D47Cqya
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjwLenfRkh
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaONxjnBONM
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDL0AeJrCIH
Abyss craved more. 113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUSjLtRaRw
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfL04zprlk
Abyss had significant time to move down into the halls he’d seen Volt fear on their first day.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EqMRbAfXW
The holding chambers.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwy3TPoIQED
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5Mlawy8vC
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 .113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SgOUbsaFd
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61doAH6AYJ
The elevator opened to reveal Hades.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyi6iMM2V7Y
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Bf1RwlZt9
The elevator closed behind the match.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3uyPUYin8
A loud explosion shook the elevator, denting the door and snapping the cables.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxbSe7jXWZ
“So, you chose betrayal,” Commander H stated. It wasn’t a question, “and you plan to kill us all at once.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZ2Bk78adA
Abyss didn’t answer.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLkuPIh993
“I can only assume this is because of your brother.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSY2OOLobw
Why is he still talking? Does he think he can salvage the alliance, or does he simply hope to save his own neck?113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNwWlNGBXX
“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?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1QzuxbJhk
“Why do you sound like my father?”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXpku84pM3
“You knew your father? I supposed you were Kronos’ slave for as long as you can remember.”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KW9OwdhJt
“I know some things, not that it’s any of your-”113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWhHZAB6ys
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHyXoGmVS2
Abyss pushed away the moment their feet touched the ground.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9ct0dxl1e
Did he just save me? Abyss was unsure whether to be grateful or offended.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0zRQebKrZ
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymUuc3pkCn
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9lnm7sryf
“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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNfWhTVhPf
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.
ns216.73.216.82da2
