Why is everyone being so cryptic lately?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsQrt2xk1L
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoecZRfW5Mn
This was followed by an infuriating letter from his brother , telling Abyss he was leaving after everything23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxVN9thkFv
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7gw57vMmP
That same night, he got a letter from Achlys saying she was getting settled and gathering information. As if he cared!23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdThRhMGlZ8
Now, 13 days after Volt left, the commander had a pained expression and silently handed Abyss a letter.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVbj4PaMnv
He didn’t want to open it.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9c7DqgjWVN
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnRErbf6k9
When he finally willed himself to read the note, his worst fears were realized.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRsxD0xnzv
Volt was... dead.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZWpJCNWsb
...23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RwrU3RHJC
How is this possible?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2UnUhg2bD
...23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nla7wI7O0
No. Volt’s okay.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsjs0zRRd8
...23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJFQSwBPqA
It can’t be true. They’re lying.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvpMcGvm03
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsbuQRjqEc
After a long moment of painful silence, he let out an angry, agonized yell.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTX88WVv5W
* * *
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?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkk0HzgWKt4
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjo4zxyl93z
“You don’t get to call me that. Nobody calls me that...”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1jbnqgVHb
“That’s what your brother called you just last week, wasn’t it?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoyiTR1cXl
Abyss felt his fists clench as he ground his teeth together and squeezed his eyes shut. He just wanted to shut her out.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BkH3eMHc8
“Volt is gone,” he said, voice breaking.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcl3bDg0en
A long moment of agonizing silence. He thought for a moment that she did leave.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLbiHHQiNZ
“Is there a way I can help? You need to get out of this Tartarus. ”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTwLb42dfq
Abyss shook his head. “There’s nothing to be done,” Abyss whispered. “He can’t be brought back.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIanFo3y1Hs
“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.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NRH3hoTl3
“Don’t get my hopes up.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RLxlyHYNM
“But without hope you can never move on. Do you really want to be stuck here like this?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRm8fkLo5U
Abyss didn’t respond. Everything she said seemed so strange coming from her.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIL15NRn9PS
“Why are you here?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0w0G2HIvWQ
“Because it’s time to carry out the plan.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZHbmud5eD
Right... that... “I don’t feel like it.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjGpPSykm0
“What do you feel like? Moping like a looser?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQuzTkVzsG
“I didn’t stop him.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgTEzKhUFv
“You wouldn’t have been able to.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwp8D49GoVF
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.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVNoRjtuOv
“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.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHOpnryBld
“You mean yours.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqla3eTxaa
“They’re going to kill the queen.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwq0GApKU3D
“I know.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOlKjQ6J0g
“You don’t understand, do you?” This caught Abyss off-guard.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWceb9zSwK3
“Why does it matter? I don’t care.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0j5KMBE7W
“I’ll tell you why it matters and why you should care, darling.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwDJuTUY9O
Wait, what did she just-23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyj36ULSd8
“For starters, if they kill the queen, it will get in the way of our plans.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiA2NU47qC
“I thought you wanted to go after the queen.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOufqdZ3DI
“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.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxkmvFl0V8
“And you think Helios is Herold?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyS3jIr1B7
“I’m certain of it. All these fake names are painstakingly obvious. The rosork don’t seem to know much about human names.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbuj9ziKXI
“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?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4DlIPgVN2
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbPM6jxGsG
“Unless? There’s an unless, right?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTKXUHLpTw
“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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5ZmxGUXwV
“I know there’s no going back, but if there’s a chance, I could see him again-”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrNOybxOao
“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? ”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBvVTbYPvC
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.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMSM37HyuL
“If we found it, you could use it to bring him back. And I might know where to look.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGr0pluasXp
“Do you?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayjv92V88R
“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.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJR9yusK1sk
Abyssal’s expression hardened. “You’re certain?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejDBWUO9x6
“If nothing else, you can get revenge on the people who killed him.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0HzdPk2HA
Abyssal’s eyes widened.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGlPAQkJ06
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjU7wNEsZq
Their last exchange...23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkw5ivSB23
Abyss told Volt he didn’t care about the lives at stake or the control Kronos had on him.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9InPiwoKxJ
Volt cared more than anyone.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojYBWTFm7V
Abyss still knew nothing about what PISTOL was making Volt do. All he knew is that it killed him.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH82FZzRaHN
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3qMn1AvUT
“Okay,” Abyss said quietly.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4e9rLmquKu
“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.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyD0U4lnxa4
Abyss nodded. “I’m leaving PISTOL. You’re my only master. What now?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeGvlJwZSO
Achlys smirked as she felt a surge of pride and power burn in her chest. “Now? Make sure you go out with a bang.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Pu4As6EGp
She touched his hand, “share my immunity, watch and learn. All we need is a little Chlorine. ”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8rdeMcpRg
“Chlorine?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Bf0WzFXcm
“You’ll see. Got a light?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzROwu4C2xS
“What?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyPYGkgW0C
* * *
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdECqbEmb2Z
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6OPQEzgtU
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNdYW6Ojze
People began to run out, flooding the halls glancing around until they registered the source.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc85ts2pB5o
A couple men ran forward to restrain Abyss, but he channeled his energy, eyes turning black as he absorbed their lifeforce.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYNqFKZqES
They screamed in agony and Abyss almost stopped, but he continued forward.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ746SBVnBq3
This was revenge, and even if these men weren’t directly responsible, they were getting in the way of his revenge.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACdMvUSfN0
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZv5b21aVnH
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNOJIBtksx
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUCm1YKtYh
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNkxC1hipj
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoH6bSFhch
Eventually, the crowd separated, and people began to stay close to the walls, allowing Abyss the clearance he needed to get to the elevator.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJOWnjIex6
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMmjUijf56
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtK4NakdsHM
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlFpPEKOkD
Abyss craved more. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NquajfmXq
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYlOikWefH
Abyss had significant time to move down into the halls he’d seen Volt fear on their first day.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWq17prg9PH
The holding chambers.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxt9islN66n
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdij7oevmS
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 .23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0exJ7GAQK
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVua14RRnE4
The elevator opened to reveal Hades.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqqClWW1SF
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nMlPfhxQk
The elevator closed behind the match.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkijR9Dzck
A loud explosion shook the elevator, denting the door and snapping the cables.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilyGxPXHtn
“So, you chose betrayal,” Commander H stated. It wasn’t a question, “and you plan to kill us all at once.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XXvVbmupA
Abyss didn’t answer.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16f3MIBunU
“I can only assume this is because of your brother.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZ643rrQA5
Why is he still talking? Does he think he can salvage the alliance, or does he simply hope to save his own neck?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DD61f0un7
“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?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMZgWlL3nl
“Why do you sound like my father?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuSWLMZ4tj
“You knew your father? I supposed you were Kronos’ slave for as long as you can remember.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsNgOHVfLC
“I know some things, not that it’s any of your-”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9rkoz6f1H
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9ccqe2E3u
Abyss pushed away the moment their feet touched the ground.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJt2qZ8Oecx
Did he just save me? Abyss was unsure whether to be grateful or offended.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzF8wmZ3Hvi
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfqjpvvm0M
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMG4ps9U4mt
“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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHgN1rKpAF
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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