Why is everyone being so cryptic lately?44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZmsCt2vvh
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdD4g5ps82
This was followed by an infuriating letter from his brother , telling Abyss he was leaving after everything44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRAhrpprKq
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61rp5T3B3h
That same night, he got a letter from Achlys saying she was getting settled and gathering information. As if he cared!44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Srt8Atu3M
Now, 13 days after Volt left, the commander had a pained expression and silently handed Abyss a letter.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCtfrg0Ge0
He didn’t want to open it.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tK8Kf2cEa
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ53n5jlWNy
When he finally willed himself to read the note, his worst fears were realized.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcFpdJ7nXf
Volt was... dead.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGniCXU5DyM
...44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUiPr5VAHY
How is this possible?44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡto2JHolnTY
...44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJCglaWrYg
No. Volt’s okay.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnX12BUTX0W
...44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AnkbZlN3n
It can’t be true. They’re lying.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQp26X5CUvj
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNqjU9LV1y
After a long moment of painful silence, he let out an angry, agonized yell.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAWHWpvaQn
* * *
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?”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4HsqQzRLb
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0343GIRow9
“You don’t get to call me that. Nobody calls me that...”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErtiO3OQww
“That’s what your brother called you just last week, wasn’t it?”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgAKLszQ47
Abyss felt his fists clench as he ground his teeth together and squeezed his eyes shut. He just wanted to shut her out.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6kmBTGzWz
“Volt is gone,” he said, voice breaking.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdlwSBrIrz
A long moment of agonizing silence. He thought for a moment that she did leave.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3ci89fJpU
“Is there a way I can help? You need to get out of this Tartarus. ”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq61IOUQZNn
Abyss shook his head. “There’s nothing to be done,” Abyss whispered. “He can’t be brought back.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq44TUDGzqG
“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.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyIw74U7Tk
“Don’t get my hopes up.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2syFTVolO
“But without hope you can never move on. Do you really want to be stuck here like this?”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRw2CM0NXO
Abyss didn’t respond. Everything she said seemed so strange coming from her.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoIJBcFYii
“Why are you here?”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBKOmu9p4q
“Because it’s time to carry out the plan.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuz7VyF60J
Right... that... “I don’t feel like it.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ809z0Xfc5S
“What do you feel like? Moping like a looser?”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjpl8OmHjI
“I didn’t stop him.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoxwiwTgJm
“You wouldn’t have been able to.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sm7SIFbvO
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.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmtveWcPm8
“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.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu38b4oE4GM
“You mean yours.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtlde4QYlG
“They’re going to kill the queen.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHlIey1NPe
“I know.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdT7w1iEPX
“You don’t understand, do you?” This caught Abyss off-guard.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuUvVfIG6B
“Why does it matter? I don’t care.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1fqs0MTEB
“I’ll tell you why it matters and why you should care, darling.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGl0U5QOHfz
Wait, what did she just-44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixB3zXOcGK
“For starters, if they kill the queen, it will get in the way of our plans.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdY4LkmBLH
“I thought you wanted to go after the queen.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kAUsJr5Pc
“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.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ02i2UL9NF
“And you think Helios is Herold?”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEwi8yeDX7
“I’m certain of it. All these fake names are painstakingly obvious. The rosork don’t seem to know much about human names.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7z71hxVaCR
“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?”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeeDVE4AHQ
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ka6pJ7rHA
“Unless? There’s an unless, right?”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96C95ZO628
“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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJUHfen1w2
“I know there’s no going back, but if there’s a chance, I could see him again-”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwflVlEcq7
“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? ”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHMHSvOuC2
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.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nWtJtFpw4
“If we found it, you could use it to bring him back. And I might know where to look.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxP1NZqCerj
“Do you?”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSyI5WcTbJ
“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.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ys6R7llNe
Abyssal’s expression hardened. “You’re certain?”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdu0Bu33avR
“If nothing else, you can get revenge on the people who killed him.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxMBkQ0WGb
Abyssal’s eyes widened.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqI8np5w8Ts
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyt9QRSPHx
Their last exchange...44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfhJpAtoZw
Abyss told Volt he didn’t care about the lives at stake or the control Kronos had on him.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBv9FtdnAnC
Volt cared more than anyone.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zf7fGnqdr
Abyss still knew nothing about what PISTOL was making Volt do. All he knew is that it killed him.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAi0BS9akz2
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskits882aD
“Okay,” Abyss said quietly.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJSc20Rkki
“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.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VNupExDKs
Abyss nodded. “I’m leaving PISTOL. You’re my only master. What now?”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZ5ILjRIAv
Achlys smirked as she felt a surge of pride and power burn in her chest. “Now? Make sure you go out with a bang.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3peS43gdpE
She touched his hand, “share my immunity, watch and learn. All we need is a little Chlorine. ”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofPNnfOmrl
“Chlorine?”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3Z9oXIK1D
“You’ll see. Got a light?”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ337o3BXbgg
“What?”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFKKYJ1Esc
* * *
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3whKMAva9E
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpI8haJG9gI
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gQadshoEj
People began to run out, flooding the halls glancing around until they registered the source.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dZAXymcZX
A couple men ran forward to restrain Abyss, but he channeled his energy, eyes turning black as he absorbed their lifeforce.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHNGEDqEuy
They screamed in agony and Abyss almost stopped, but he continued forward.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32zOCk2BmZ
This was revenge, and even if these men weren’t directly responsible, they were getting in the way of his revenge.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzhUvOTJxA
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCEkaRCaku
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilA7OIcp04
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32SfmqCPTL
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yLm0IXf7G
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgiXfldBsG
Eventually, the crowd separated, and people began to stay close to the walls, allowing Abyss the clearance he needed to get to the elevator.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXqmKj99t1
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUR8Kj9eEh
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTMM7QurdZ
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmdhdNOwJE
Abyss craved more. 44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsCATwEYTP
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mQ2coBLjk
Abyss had significant time to move down into the halls he’d seen Volt fear on their first day.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30EfGIay0i
The holding chambers.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7u1giaq22r
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡof04kM99CR
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 .44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobN6CeTEbK
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMD5czbQ70
The elevator opened to reveal Hades.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQdpnhLODV
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGhF4HfeMJ
The elevator closed behind the match.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCEllMLByu
A loud explosion shook the elevator, denting the door and snapping the cables.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoV0FiPTZ3
“So, you chose betrayal,” Commander H stated. It wasn’t a question, “and you plan to kill us all at once.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVq7B4gDLd
Abyss didn’t answer.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbDR7UGIDR
“I can only assume this is because of your brother.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0Blwn9Spd
Why is he still talking? Does he think he can salvage the alliance, or does he simply hope to save his own neck?44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheFAzYSNnh
“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?”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChHT5zw3Br
“Why do you sound like my father?”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrUtGCy5E8
“You knew your father? I supposed you were Kronos’ slave for as long as you can remember.”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqesIem5Qiv
“I know some things, not that it’s any of your-”44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn26zLMdr4a
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGNrr26gVy
Abyss pushed away the moment their feet touched the ground.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqnjusY2lx
Did he just save me? Abyss was unsure whether to be grateful or offended.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqI2eAEBLI
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQuuKR2W8Y
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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxVLmvLQmJ
“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.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03w1TsiiTd
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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