Why is everyone being so cryptic lately?274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uGliXaX4S
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42O1hD6gk7
This was followed by an infuriating letter from his brother , telling Abyss he was leaving after everything274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXLgqc5IvS
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0cXKXPNct
That same night, he got a letter from Achlys saying she was getting settled and gathering information. As if he cared!274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcczS4u5dWm
Now, 13 days after Volt left, the commander had a pained expression and silently handed Abyss a letter.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe37U2CKBBs
He didn’t want to open it.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ262KonwmCQ
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8FxgvbqJb
When he finally willed himself to read the note, his worst fears were realized.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqUqqQSjWa
Volt was... dead.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtk2Q19OtIc
...274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyy6OLmRvs
How is this possible?274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXUstaxQnr
...274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ld0J2D8QP
No. Volt’s okay.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrUeRBPzGk
...274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvnDe4Qemw
It can’t be true. They’re lying.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8F3vIpPdqj
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33Pcv0KSuU
After a long moment of painful silence, he let out an angry, agonized yell.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DX402wWjJ
* * *
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?”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xanQNtmik
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMWLYHcqxi
“You don’t get to call me that. Nobody calls me that...”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWI5JYn4jO
“That’s what your brother called you just last week, wasn’t it?”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vjO5XSOOv
Abyss felt his fists clench as he ground his teeth together and squeezed his eyes shut. He just wanted to shut her out.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAMxvA1cIz
“Volt is gone,” he said, voice breaking.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9Hci3YrWO
A long moment of agonizing silence. He thought for a moment that she did leave.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3KuQJQ3w1
“Is there a way I can help? You need to get out of this Tartarus. ”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡed5E9Lc1FP
Abyss shook his head. “There’s nothing to be done,” Abyss whispered. “He can’t be brought back.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AqhDo3Ah8
“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.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfPb0Ac8J8
“Don’t get my hopes up.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAoArTu3WS
“But without hope you can never move on. Do you really want to be stuck here like this?”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvcUntT6gH
Abyss didn’t respond. Everything she said seemed so strange coming from her.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenCBlhOWvh
“Why are you here?”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1yu6WVmg3
“Because it’s time to carry out the plan.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡam4mlHaKal
Right... that... “I don’t feel like it.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdsh5d8oVK
“What do you feel like? Moping like a looser?”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynVp7eqUox
“I didn’t stop him.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJXhXdOUnJ
“You wouldn’t have been able to.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1D83ZFM91f
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.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveW8Y8BvjE
“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.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1viFt8Nan
“You mean yours.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0GvoIMS5d
“They’re going to kill the queen.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQBYOGkqON
“I know.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhNbQ3hSwD
“You don’t understand, do you?” This caught Abyss off-guard.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsylBjce6eQ
“Why does it matter? I don’t care.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlifFE5semT
“I’ll tell you why it matters and why you should care, darling.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERgyn6A0R3
Wait, what did she just-274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSs0U6w8ESu
“For starters, if they kill the queen, it will get in the way of our plans.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGcTqMFXDT
“I thought you wanted to go after the queen.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZdOq5InQP
“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.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMgRnTU3cP
“And you think Helios is Herold?”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43gd2lqxje
“I’m certain of it. All these fake names are painstakingly obvious. The rosork don’t seem to know much about human names.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2q40IrxYf
“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?”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4nuToPH7B
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ563hnrO4Hg
“Unless? There’s an unless, right?”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqljQ6ql9Q
“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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7JrMBA8Ec
“I know there’s no going back, but if there’s a chance, I could see him again-”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAETiLT87K
“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? ”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDwjQErRlP
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.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXCeLW1CyY
“If we found it, you could use it to bring him back. And I might know where to look.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwxnszNNe7
“Do you?”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3eGFBpgaXk
“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.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOWPhQ5Exg
Abyssal’s expression hardened. “You’re certain?”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVW1qEgydHR
“If nothing else, you can get revenge on the people who killed him.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjQ7tdkgtw
Abyssal’s eyes widened.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZMjnbnwWQ
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9D9AgzZThP
Their last exchange...274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbafLR1YN9
Abyss told Volt he didn’t care about the lives at stake or the control Kronos had on him.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9Pylwsu9H
Volt cared more than anyone.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cyD98IDpQ
Abyss still knew nothing about what PISTOL was making Volt do. All he knew is that it killed him.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6Vs6Zvfnz
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSE4drkZKR
“Okay,” Abyss said quietly.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvhdKdGPXz
“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.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1c5ihD6gKQ
Abyss nodded. “I’m leaving PISTOL. You’re my only master. What now?”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1aZywmuL2
Achlys smirked as she felt a surge of pride and power burn in her chest. “Now? Make sure you go out with a bang.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNM5FK8dAZ8
She touched his hand, “share my immunity, watch and learn. All we need is a little Chlorine. ”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaIxLRd8W9
“Chlorine?”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJrwK8SQVJ
“You’ll see. Got a light?”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4nfivEEOW
“What?”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8V4Qf5LOFX
* * *
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2T2l7K7yyg
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0FJfn9REm
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9nkjOSYXe
People began to run out, flooding the halls glancing around until they registered the source.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzH9Ok7E41
A couple men ran forward to restrain Abyss, but he channeled his energy, eyes turning black as he absorbed their lifeforce.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGvta3y3U4
They screamed in agony and Abyss almost stopped, but he continued forward.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6so0oVdgh
This was revenge, and even if these men weren’t directly responsible, they were getting in the way of his revenge.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsOsxBNnbZ
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjrnSM4giz
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOQcnzJjmD
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdchePoaC8
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGq0daEQKt
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlufesfQnNu
Eventually, the crowd separated, and people began to stay close to the walls, allowing Abyss the clearance he needed to get to the elevator.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGVwbr8bzw
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSchvh6W6iN
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyScFcRGufx
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozOifSGWuE
Abyss craved more. 274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXl2pbn9ZXI
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYLwqLFnQ8
Abyss had significant time to move down into the halls he’d seen Volt fear on their first day.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDw479gSpTX
The holding chambers.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWOEfnnmbI
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXnpVLTNom
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 .274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxKXhLonvg
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHPjlCZcWH
The elevator opened to reveal Hades.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91Nnrp8nQo
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdNCTxdO40
The elevator closed behind the match.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuzlrNoCCN
A loud explosion shook the elevator, denting the door and snapping the cables.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoV18cPq8Fp
“So, you chose betrayal,” Commander H stated. It wasn’t a question, “and you plan to kill us all at once.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrPDODwuvh
Abyss didn’t answer.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELz3Yq0jsy
“I can only assume this is because of your brother.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LeSJJU3cC
Why is he still talking? Does he think he can salvage the alliance, or does he simply hope to save his own neck?274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAv8lvwUNCK
“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?”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KFsxQ1NC9
“Why do you sound like my father?”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViyt6Yzx9F
“You knew your father? I supposed you were Kronos’ slave for as long as you can remember.”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYDEWOynXq
“I know some things, not that it’s any of your-”274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdS3d9kqhco
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCNR6KaQNU
Abyss pushed away the moment their feet touched the ground.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcW4EpKVQJ
Did he just save me? Abyss was unsure whether to be grateful or offended.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdl77daU9h
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1yb71Eqw1
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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vHj4IyEIh
“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.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaegQ0e5xzF
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.
ns216.73.216.133da2
and then Add to home screen.