Another note.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvJOZ86Dmo
Achlys led the group to a hotel and somehow managed to get into the penthouse suite. With cash.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtz5iBhZiwu
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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxLeDKoRHo
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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgO3a5wEGg
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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kprnIDVPq
After the last confidential message he received, Abyss was afraid to open it .32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUgbX6SbCU
Still, curiosity killed the cat, and Abyss slowly ripped the seal.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoutxgL4dVE
His eyes glazed over the note which read:32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXg58wiQzA
Abyssal,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jg0UUjU7v
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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iyrdUdC4a
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?32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGlNXzaKRt
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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pMH4bp5H0
Thank you for your time and understanding. I can only hope you respond soon.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDptmFNqws
Your friend,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEeclnsvtN
Nedi32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Bzgi6DkCY
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 Nedi32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsjhI3PpI4
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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJjZVXOP6L
He pocketed the letter deciding to ask Achlys her opinions later, but the time never came.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡot6clpDOTo
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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7xcw5pEe5
That is until Achlys was gone for about two hours.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqCQCduVUu
Abyss went back to his room for a while and after a nap, Abyss saw the letter slipped out from his pocket.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaxuDgtW7v
He pulled up the piece of parchment and searched for a blank piece of paper of his own.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOMmOFzChe
After a little while, Abyss was able to start writing.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtd03J3Br7x
Nedi,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmve9oE5Z5
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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ct6QorIOS
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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0hlX4dUAL
Whatever, it’s stupid. I shouldn’t be upset anymore. I destroyed PISTOL.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32RjquNCp2
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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IqK8sXW8K
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?32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKo35ouDiH
* * *
A new letter came 8 days later.
Abyss,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRM3X6HTc9c
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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZZvEWVK9g
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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JDe4lEsfc
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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOwoDMTIqL
Hopefully we can keep in touch.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZPWQ02POy
-Nedi32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZMeLFmLGW
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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ktDQZyTGM
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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LLLx97yfP
Still, Abyss took anything he could get.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgUII1gekK
* * *
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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlotwKZ8ms
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”.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkll0s8of3
Eventually, Abyss sent a message to Nedi.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05o9t2SDOy
Does this work?32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbryMDdOSOR
-Abyssal32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5n3DyrTCjC
It only took 13 minutes for Nedito respond this time.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DJaW7QGlX
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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLavRO1OQNi
Abyss stared at the message on the screen in bewilderment.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZYoyH4R8x
How can I be happy? Are you okay? Where are you?32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLPLXzPRbk
Abyss waited a long time for Nedito respond. He waited 13 minutes, then 19 more.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOwWCpTrFT
Are you ignoring me?32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUUwpRWpz1
Abyss aggressively hit the send button on this message. An almost instant reply.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtotTBxX2B7
I can’t talk right now, and I couldn’t answer your questions anyway. It isn’t safe anymore. I have to go.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyQnMWTgGm
Go where?!32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbUL3tBWX3
Stay where you are, don’t message me anymore.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlu1dXaGWoq
This was the last straw. Nediwas being unreasonable. He couldn’t just say he was in danger and demand Abyss stayed in place.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83rIJMzMLQ
Abyss rushed out his bedroom door without even closing the laptop.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUCWSqQliS
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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxylngU5dlY
“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-”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLpy0jRXMm
“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.”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrr0RLsCtDv
The elevator dinged open, and Abyss walked in. The spirits of everyone else in the room fell.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxhyZflOVc
“Where are you going?” the large man called out in desperation. “Achlys said you were in charge.”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lBvqvOqrk
“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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