Why is everyone being so cryptic lately?112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEn7bKh9sG
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xUwdwDn5A
This was followed by an infuriating letter from his brother , telling Abyss he was leaving after everything112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hwJSNzEZj
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yYJJv2ATt
That same night, he got a letter from Achlys saying she was getting settled and gathering information. As if he cared!112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRB8TqTkVys
Now, 13 days after Volt left, the commander had a pained expression and silently handed Abyss a letter.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38OENqukwt
He didn’t want to open it.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW36cIyDKz8
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBn6FqYj1PJ
When he finally willed himself to read the note, his worst fears were realized.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHATQ5krlrE
Volt was... dead.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRQFeNiihN
...112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6O9HzOdJj
How is this possible?112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSzsiuSXa4
...112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02929jkhi9
No. Volt’s okay.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHRuJr5GA3
...112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdChNWfdb5
It can’t be true. They’re lying.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxMhjgctDT
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FOa5XUZqy
After a long moment of painful silence, he let out an angry, agonized yell.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFmfUp9fKD
* * *
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?”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvfboZhwpV
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSiMKlFEdR
“You don’t get to call me that. Nobody calls me that...”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLtrCNOWVa
“That’s what your brother called you just last week, wasn’t it?”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjuuHN2M4b
Abyss felt his fists clench as he ground his teeth together and squeezed his eyes shut. He just wanted to shut her out.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOJxASS7UM
“Volt is gone,” he said, voice breaking.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzeosHyI8s
A long moment of agonizing silence. He thought for a moment that she did leave.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRT3WFV07Z
“Is there a way I can help? You need to get out of this Tartarus. ”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj65VXRuTFu
Abyss shook his head. “There’s nothing to be done,” Abyss whispered. “He can’t be brought back.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1Ffd019ou
“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.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyO8tdVruG
“Don’t get my hopes up.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZGhvDcnk2
“But without hope you can never move on. Do you really want to be stuck here like this?”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pm9InYAEf
Abyss didn’t respond. Everything she said seemed so strange coming from her.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj56EBnyj0Q
“Why are you here?”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlPGx1qtTR
“Because it’s time to carry out the plan.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdZyDKb3kv
Right... that... “I don’t feel like it.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡol7XQTf9c6
“What do you feel like? Moping like a looser?”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJg4h2gi3CF
“I didn’t stop him.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBYLyVSfgn
“You wouldn’t have been able to.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PsIHGUlUz
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.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8S5jUxufs3
“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.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfy4a07nEE
“You mean yours.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ekZWAl91m
“They’re going to kill the queen.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Uv173zJy0
“I know.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxwcoK21Vd
“You don’t understand, do you?” This caught Abyss off-guard.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMgEVCyMCS
“Why does it matter? I don’t care.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPG0i9Tb4z
“I’ll tell you why it matters and why you should care, darling.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGHLPirycA
Wait, what did she just-112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLundGEDNxJ
“For starters, if they kill the queen, it will get in the way of our plans.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBjm109g61
“I thought you wanted to go after the queen.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91LtMv5Goq
“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.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8xqituiPG
“And you think Helios is Herold?”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ028DJ6o3GH
“I’m certain of it. All these fake names are painstakingly obvious. The rosork don’t seem to know much about human names.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVnjngJbaR
“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?”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2ac6CMqip
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8v2cQxwxkG
“Unless? There’s an unless, right?”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAa2P7mSVKy
“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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVufWBfLRd
“I know there’s no going back, but if there’s a chance, I could see him again-”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgg0OCSDRN
“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? ”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Xwps948oS
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.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUByt3K7Xr
“If we found it, you could use it to bring him back. And I might know where to look.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73m8BIw0Ek
“Do you?”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nKQeuEKUz
“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.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8OTbbtINQ
Abyssal’s expression hardened. “You’re certain?”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDcT0XLFqJ
“If nothing else, you can get revenge on the people who killed him.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WfVIdvhID
Abyssal’s eyes widened.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdGXbmKTPF
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNGcqjCU0W
Their last exchange...112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkd5ZqeK8EU
Abyss told Volt he didn’t care about the lives at stake or the control Kronos had on him.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡki2PACDfEz
Volt cared more than anyone.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwMWtBqJNZ
Abyss still knew nothing about what PISTOL was making Volt do. All he knew is that it killed him.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPuMvnQ0Sv
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VCYBr3Tyz
“Okay,” Abyss said quietly.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdIWr7las2
“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.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhMoKqYDEd
Abyss nodded. “I’m leaving PISTOL. You’re my only master. What now?”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAyraM9dyP
Achlys smirked as she felt a surge of pride and power burn in her chest. “Now? Make sure you go out with a bang.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWsbmcJq7V
She touched his hand, “share my immunity, watch and learn. All we need is a little Chlorine. ”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhbfwzhrNY
“Chlorine?”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCHFJ2d4h7
“You’ll see. Got a light?”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfTdQN15Qw
“What?”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwTYOAHVr2
* * *
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMHihN9xjF
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAaVDaELz5
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzc3vo475h
People began to run out, flooding the halls glancing around until they registered the source.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4RST7omlR
A couple men ran forward to restrain Abyss, but he channeled his energy, eyes turning black as he absorbed their lifeforce.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6wiUOXQd0
They screamed in agony and Abyss almost stopped, but he continued forward.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHUEVUqSJP
This was revenge, and even if these men weren’t directly responsible, they were getting in the way of his revenge.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOnyAcI8lC
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnjO9a3Pzk
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTPFXcpdqK
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZtbne0Kdr
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVWsszRUw0
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JHZAOtckn
Eventually, the crowd separated, and people began to stay close to the walls, allowing Abyss the clearance he needed to get to the elevator.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aWnV4z2TZ
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUVa4hKZmN
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyLXHHjScL
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtMz3SRK1D
Abyss craved more. 112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxVOVDyYFr
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG19P4NEaFt
Abyss had significant time to move down into the halls he’d seen Volt fear on their first day.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzK4smBlqfp
The holding chambers.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDQ0DRgGmz
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywsl0e0XwL
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 .112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvEswmT9NA
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrMfXq9Q2e
The elevator opened to reveal Hades.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4R5OoZFHmy
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMHIKcq9O4
The elevator closed behind the match.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUreysWEC9
A loud explosion shook the elevator, denting the door and snapping the cables.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrdCz2YsO6
“So, you chose betrayal,” Commander H stated. It wasn’t a question, “and you plan to kill us all at once.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJX3Vv4WnY
Abyss didn’t answer.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjBBs4hKrX
“I can only assume this is because of your brother.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QekWJWr0O
Why is he still talking? Does he think he can salvage the alliance, or does he simply hope to save his own neck?112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdM89dvt6Ro
“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?”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYgxmhzgi3
“Why do you sound like my father?”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofwYRyKKvW
“You knew your father? I supposed you were Kronos’ slave for as long as you can remember.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NhwBCCp7C
“I know some things, not that it’s any of your-”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvHcAFxneq
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqbY87MpMV
Abyss pushed away the moment their feet touched the ground.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MXzPPtgti
Did he just save me? Abyss was unsure whether to be grateful or offended.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3ysltEBhX
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2g4L2XTqy
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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJjXzbvij4
“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.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGbpc7V3ty
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
