Another note.75Please respect copyright.PENANAObTmHm6cwY
Achlys led the group to a hotel and somehow managed to get into the penthouse suite. With cash.75Please respect copyright.PENANAjlCXLXK6mO
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANAMMCkAYRZsx
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANACqXGt179hb
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANAbfLrEA8G5t
After the last confidential message he received, Abyss was afraid to open it .75Please respect copyright.PENANA7E44WEOITt
Still, curiosity killed the cat, and Abyss slowly ripped the seal.75Please respect copyright.PENANARyGR2psVbN
His eyes glazed over the note which read:75Please respect copyright.PENANASsdpvMWB6a
Abyssal,75Please respect copyright.PENANAW4C6f6q7hF
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANA1M2s5rFIHL
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?75Please respect copyright.PENANAFcSFqIJwgl
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANA4imtIBmYae
Thank you for your time and understanding. I can only hope you respond soon.75Please respect copyright.PENANA2OPkpoOZl4
Your friend,75Please respect copyright.PENANA2BPOyIgaII
Nedi75Please respect copyright.PENANAoLqjMIfFny
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 Nedi75Please respect copyright.PENANAE5HOPcEkWF
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANAjIBzYUaDsu
He pocketed the letter deciding to ask Achlys her opinions later, but the time never came.75Please respect copyright.PENANAj8tsDXz99m
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANAwCvKCD04P2
That is until Achlys was gone for about two hours.75Please respect copyright.PENANAD93r2nHHyI
Abyss went back to his room for a while and after a nap, Abyss saw the letter slipped out from his pocket.75Please respect copyright.PENANAm9K9y0Q537
He pulled up the piece of parchment and searched for a blank piece of paper of his own.75Please respect copyright.PENANAY2JRhgUbUl
After a little while, Abyss was able to start writing.75Please respect copyright.PENANApZObIfWeFR
Nedi,75Please respect copyright.PENANAy4KWkE4cKF
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANATOTsvHgCXB
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANAQRjQNZlNJ0
Whatever, it’s stupid. I shouldn’t be upset anymore. I destroyed PISTOL.75Please respect copyright.PENANAUJ27f7Bsr2
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANArmbZPcdlMV
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?75Please respect copyright.PENANArc75vsusuS
* * *
A new letter came 8 days later.
Abyss,75Please respect copyright.PENANAfcqmuNeCMb
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANAO240Ix62oW
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANAKhb7Ry2mVb
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANAvTnVvUfKcR
Hopefully we can keep in touch.75Please respect copyright.PENANA8aMZHYf4rF
-Nedi75Please respect copyright.PENANARKP1fZkTE2
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANALTDQ6yju4Z
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANAijyl80bwfw
Still, Abyss took anything he could get.75Please respect copyright.PENANAHhgj5afTS7
* * *
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANALNIfFbKnze
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”.75Please respect copyright.PENANAhLEmZ5ULBr
Eventually, Abyss sent a message to Nedi.75Please respect copyright.PENANAOt7NN6LshZ
Does this work?75Please respect copyright.PENANANtthYr0Cmm
-Abyssal75Please respect copyright.PENANAHlUOo9lwCM
It only took 13 minutes for Nedito respond this time.75Please respect copyright.PENANAp4wBeuQVNA
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANAn3XzkwCbY6
Abyss stared at the message on the screen in bewilderment.75Please respect copyright.PENANAS6jtd6Mp89
How can I be happy? Are you okay? Where are you?75Please respect copyright.PENANAwwB89Bt5kC
Abyss waited a long time for Nedito respond. He waited 13 minutes, then 19 more.75Please respect copyright.PENANAY2dkfMA1KY
Are you ignoring me?75Please respect copyright.PENANAquIWlSrGaS
Abyss aggressively hit the send button on this message. An almost instant reply.75Please respect copyright.PENANADSpWFDTPaW
I can’t talk right now, and I couldn’t answer your questions anyway. It isn’t safe anymore. I have to go.75Please respect copyright.PENANAXzcuKD2IcT
Go where?!75Please respect copyright.PENANAMS4mnbfqio
Stay where you are, don’t message me anymore.75Please respect copyright.PENANAECbMRLliCd
This was the last straw. Nediwas being unreasonable. He couldn’t just say he was in danger and demand Abyss stayed in place.75Please respect copyright.PENANAjhpS6X0Iwv
Abyss rushed out his bedroom door without even closing the laptop.75Please respect copyright.PENANAL6uW8dmS6o
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANAWp28ZAD6ev
“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-”75Please respect copyright.PENANA1N82lXqmbW
“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.”75Please respect copyright.PENANAX5F9ZykB9Y
The elevator dinged open, and Abyss walked in. The spirits of everyone else in the room fell.75Please respect copyright.PENANAdFZVPONIhS
“Where are you going?” the large man called out in desperation. “Achlys said you were in charge.”75Please respect copyright.PENANA6wqTINCn0P
“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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