Another note.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BQ1QsiHM1
Achlys led the group to a hotel and somehow managed to get into the penthouse suite. With cash.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81tbfalXYM
The lady at the desk reached for the phone during check-in, but Abyss figured Achlys found a work around. He couldn’t remember. In fact, nobody could.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsY312VAbs9
He probably would have dwelt on the bizarre circumstance had it not been for room service coming at the crack of dawn with a letter to Abyss. No one was awake yet. Abyss was trained to be an early riser by the Rosork, and apparently it worked. He was up by 5. The letter came around an hour and a half later.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCeWxSeEJq
Abyss looked down at the enclosed envelope. He didn’t know why notes kept coming. He didn’t recognize the name, Mark or why the return address seemed to be coordinates, (38, -97), but here was a confidential stamp on it. Abyss didn’t quite understand how or why this letter found its way here and could contain anything confidential.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRsRzN0hOU
After the last confidential message he received, Abyss was afraid to open it .38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrrUfoenrH
Still, curiosity killed the cat, and Abyss slowly ripped the seal.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxXddhzO5F
His eyes glazed over the note which read:38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjM4WBYHQuJ
Abyssal,38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0HZPq2JcF
I hope this letter finds you well, I only really have a hunch where you could be. I read about the “attack” on a rebel base, and through some digging, I discovered you were behind it.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXfT7Y1PO8
As a curious outsider, I would like to hear your side of the story. No one will know about this contact. I want to know if this was a planned attack or just you lashing out, if there was anyone else involved, maybe the entire article is a rouse to cover something else up. Was there a reason behind all this that you could tell me about?38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtj4VxABqIJ
I should probably introduce myself. Nedi The name on the envelope is different because I don’t want the police to track me. With such a unique name, it probably wouldn’t be hard.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzulFYCxdF
Thank you for your time and understanding. I can only hope you respond soon.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzF4Sg6vY82
Your friend,38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHu721L0j1
Nedi38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kLFcTSp9T
Abyss stared at the letter with utter confusion. Friend? This person was already calling themself a friend of Abyss? Even Achlys didn’t feel that way to Abyss yet. And what kind of name is Nedi38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPSSRlD2iz
Abyss wasn’t sure if he should respond part of him was somewhat relieved for whatever reason. He wouldn’t figure out that it was being given the opportunity to talk that made Abyss appreciate the letter despite how strange it was.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0Rta1naIo
He pocketed the letter deciding to ask Achlys her opinions later, but the time never came.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlojQNav0P
Achlys left saying she would be back with Queen Ember a week or two later to advance her plans to stage two. She advised everyone to stay here, much to Abyssal’s annoyance. The other guys shared this annoyance, meanwhile, the lady and Lucy were more than willing to stay in the suite to process current events and unwind. Lucy was just scared to do anything, which tugged at his heart. He shook off the thought but was now properly distracted from the letter.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmg6eXsPkip
That is until Achlys was gone for about two hours.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFcMys896j
Abyss went back to his room for a while and after a nap, Abyss saw the letter slipped out from his pocket.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XEOv4pwhj
He pulled up the piece of parchment and searched for a blank piece of paper of his own.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGv4ABDdyWd
After a little while, Abyss was able to start writing.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vbZXzdq5e
Nedi,38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69R6uULViR
Your letter found me. I don’t know how. The truth is, earlier today, I wasn’t sure if I should trust you. Then I figured that I could share some things with you. Achlys left for a while, so you’re the only person I could think of who isn’t afraid of me. Besides, even if we just met in a letter, I think I trust you more than Achlys’ allies. I can’t explain it.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHeVK2Wucq
The truth is, I was upset. PISTOL sent my brother to die, and I wasn’t there with him. Achlys says it isn’t my fault. I have a hard time believing her.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkHFgt4w2i
Whatever, it’s stupid. I shouldn’t be upset anymore. I destroyed PISTOL.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalV3B47V1l
Abyss marked the send address with the coordinates and hoped the letter would find its way back. He addressed it to... Mark. If an uncommon name would have exposed Nedi he wouldn’t be having that problem with a name like this false one.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YSjhn6BAN
Abyss gave it to one of the people who worked at the hotel and retreated to his room to think. He thought about Volt, Mirio, Merry, and he couldn’t stop thinking about Achlys. He wondered if she was alright. He didn’t know why she asked for so much time for her mission. Did she know something he didn’t? Did she expect something bad to happen?38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFNoURcWl4
* * *
A new letter came 8 days later.
Abyss,38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq65c9CRsoU
The letter you sent me was an unexpected treasure. I am thrilled that you responded, but the response took longer than I expected. I waited a week.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FeooqqDRk
I made an account on an obscure website called Facebook. I thought this might be a faster way to communicate if you have access to the internet.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTUGQAvJSt
As for your brother, I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say. There’s so much I want to tell you, but things are crazy here. People keep talking about oncoming war with the aliens. Is that crazy? The aliens have given us so much, but it turns out that was out of greed and manipulation. Surprising, I know.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrzcLPar6X
Hopefully we can keep in touch.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRj6M8AMsC
-Nedi38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXs7b0wubZX
Abyss tore the sides of the envelope in frustration. He had to figure out how to get access to the internet and learn how to use it. The Rosork never allowed Volt and Abyss access to human technology. It was too primitive and full of distractions. Rosorken technology was efficient. Communication across 2 or 3 solar systems was normally plenty. Besides that, ships, and the cartridges, the Rosork didn’t need much. They believed entertainment was one of the reasons humans advanced so slowly.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPegiiCModh
Still, Abyss spent the rest of the day looking for a computer. He had to ask one of the employers, and they said they had an old computer Abyss could keep. The laptop was a dinosaur that barely functioned. It used something called Windows 11, which was supposed to be far outdated.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nLfpcXaXv
Still, Abyss took anything he could get.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nvZ2jSXP4
* * *
Nedi was right. His name was incredibly unique. After scrolling past some consumer protection laws crap, Abyss found the strange website named Facebook. He clicked the blue button and was taken right to Nedi’s page.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqPlHhZ1lB
It took Abyss about 40 minutes trying to figure out how to make an account. He had to work around not having a... “email” or a “phone number”.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiqMhJRq3y
Eventually, Abyss sent a message to Nedi.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4EE25vpJD
Does this work?38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zFnQwgQjg
-Abyssal38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Cmidij450
It only took 13 minutes for Nedito respond this time.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXnJcj0CnD
It works. Keep laying low. Something big is going to start any day now. You need to stay safe. Besides, your brother wouldn’t want you to take revenge on everything. He would just want you to be happy.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvfdMJhN6I
Abyss stared at the message on the screen in bewilderment.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGZ7n5gn79
How can I be happy? Are you okay? Where are you?38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBI18QoTXq
Abyss waited a long time for Nedito respond. He waited 13 minutes, then 19 more.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkWrRB6aq6
Are you ignoring me?38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PCpWZInX4
Abyss aggressively hit the send button on this message. An almost instant reply.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgXmCtuxHK
I can’t talk right now, and I couldn’t answer your questions anyway. It isn’t safe anymore. I have to go.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUBcsQKBZC
Go where?!38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1TlKGC2xF
Stay where you are, don’t message me anymore.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotdYATCvkL
This was the last straw. Nediwas being unreasonable. He couldn’t just say he was in danger and demand Abyss stayed in place.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNzR2goEQ8
Abyss rushed out his bedroom door without even closing the laptop.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GJ4xixewS
The others waiting in the lobby were talking and laughing. “Knock it off, Vivian!” Lucy giggled as the older girl ticked her. The young boy glared at the two and the larger man placed a hand on the boy’s head.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFxxgDWJIQ
“And there’s our emo teenager!” The man bellowed jovially, throwing up his arms. Abyss froze for a second before shaking his head and moving to the elevator. “What are you, deaf?” He asked, moving away from the younger boy and to Abyss. “Don’t approve of my phraseology? We all talked about the rolls we would have in our hypothetical families, see? I’d be the dad, Lillian’s the funny aunt, Antonio’s the stubborn middle child, Lucy’s the youngest, and you’re the oldest son who hides in his room all depressed. Achlys is your-”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCijm6ke97
“I don’t care,” Abyss said stubbornly, pressing the button. “I don’t even know you guys. Now if you’ll excuse me, some things are more important than playing house. Besides, my father never did crap for me. I don’t need a new one.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9IYudwioG
The elevator dinged open, and Abyss walked in. The spirits of everyone else in the room fell.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuYJmsH4M2
“Where are you going?” the large man called out in desperation. “Achlys said you were in charge.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCtZWKmm6y
“Some job I’ve done. You’re in charge now, Dad. I’m out of here.” The elevator door closed and cut off the bitter farewells.
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