Why is everyone being so cryptic lately?46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiGVN7y8Oy
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9urHOwzd4
This was followed by an infuriating letter from his brother , telling Abyss he was leaving after everything46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKE92OhUeu
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6L94jAz7K
That same night, he got a letter from Achlys saying she was getting settled and gathering information. As if he cared!46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7KAdlYIEE
Now, 13 days after Volt left, the commander had a pained expression and silently handed Abyss a letter.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qq2kUH6wN
He didn’t want to open it.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHZPirQjOj
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOM12be57r
When he finally willed himself to read the note, his worst fears were realized.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCv73KuVyat
Volt was... dead.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89Dh6jTSdT
...46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxGxHPg7yo
How is this possible?46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rTfWQLc11
...46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡak48qU5xDF
No. Volt’s okay.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMty5zNtQNc
...46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlq2aEXXHGl
It can’t be true. They’re lying.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrk0Hema9Y
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLssGRrYvoB
After a long moment of painful silence, he let out an angry, agonized yell.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUR7ov5iGuS
* * *
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?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9aGEeIpvv
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaXFAV4nUk
“You don’t get to call me that. Nobody calls me that...”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLZzRtg1La
“That’s what your brother called you just last week, wasn’t it?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuok52afXTX
Abyss felt his fists clench as he ground his teeth together and squeezed his eyes shut. He just wanted to shut her out.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGWOXAhbYS
“Volt is gone,” he said, voice breaking.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7DXOfL1wR
A long moment of agonizing silence. He thought for a moment that she did leave.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKABwjVk1X
“Is there a way I can help? You need to get out of this Tartarus. ”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxLf20h0nc
Abyss shook his head. “There’s nothing to be done,” Abyss whispered. “He can’t be brought back.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1e3Su3fw0x
“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.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFumimbd1Kr
“Don’t get my hopes up.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQceGWkm2mE
“But without hope you can never move on. Do you really want to be stuck here like this?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpTPbz7Dyp
Abyss didn’t respond. Everything she said seemed so strange coming from her.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDc0CI57Vqm
“Why are you here?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NkffoKDck
“Because it’s time to carry out the plan.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPINF1kypg
Right... that... “I don’t feel like it.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNgiLNrgi1
“What do you feel like? Moping like a looser?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFaFrfmVqy
“I didn’t stop him.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPk0MOinMu7
“You wouldn’t have been able to.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5SFEht8Uw
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.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ikMV2b1AO
“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.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGH3KodLdp
“You mean yours.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAlyd1LYAn
“They’re going to kill the queen.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7ozz1Wtcs
“I know.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvyxCSssxh
“You don’t understand, do you?” This caught Abyss off-guard.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFWWTZ48bu
“Why does it matter? I don’t care.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrRwxv3T7T
“I’ll tell you why it matters and why you should care, darling.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjDJamSraK
Wait, what did she just-46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BbGAtfMn9
“For starters, if they kill the queen, it will get in the way of our plans.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ggF0gjj9d
“I thought you wanted to go after the queen.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWDqj73cIs
“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.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9PI5s6QdP
“And you think Helios is Herold?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7QpUj0wPB
“I’m certain of it. All these fake names are painstakingly obvious. The rosork don’t seem to know much about human names.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOy6GLXO5Ug
“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?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjWJ2Wup4m
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBO9esUTgX
“Unless? There’s an unless, right?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56PHvUlbAF
“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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgG46EnScpk
“I know there’s no going back, but if there’s a chance, I could see him again-”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7hMxM8IUH
“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? ”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWG1Uop4G0
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.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYE12VHR87
“If we found it, you could use it to bring him back. And I might know where to look.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLT6OLjBpq5
“Do you?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OLkifsEIj
“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.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jGdl6M9ds
Abyssal’s expression hardened. “You’re certain?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmCADJVPSA
“If nothing else, you can get revenge on the people who killed him.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrpjYiBius
Abyssal’s eyes widened.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkmZV2YQuh
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbqkaOfLfE
Their last exchange...46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlZBwpxRvM
Abyss told Volt he didn’t care about the lives at stake or the control Kronos had on him.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtd452s0EAt
Volt cared more than anyone.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWvcmK5JwM
Abyss still knew nothing about what PISTOL was making Volt do. All he knew is that it killed him.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6v1SkvUOO
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxwjWghF9a
“Okay,” Abyss said quietly.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwR6kMJPpt
“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.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZE9DdO7EhP
Abyss nodded. “I’m leaving PISTOL. You’re my only master. What now?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJGoeRjqPo
Achlys smirked as she felt a surge of pride and power burn in her chest. “Now? Make sure you go out with a bang.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEiewRfq8Q
She touched his hand, “share my immunity, watch and learn. All we need is a little Chlorine. ”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85AKavGE7y
“Chlorine?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMGvrBJd71
“You’ll see. Got a light?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BRVqJqaHR
“What?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSEpj5SXN9
* * *
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtW2bjUFOW
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8LFOoua8v
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqwbsETwFM
People began to run out, flooding the halls glancing around until they registered the source.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8evqKcx48
A couple men ran forward to restrain Abyss, but he channeled his energy, eyes turning black as he absorbed their lifeforce.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdljAyqwjed
They screamed in agony and Abyss almost stopped, but he continued forward.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcqVgqN4Md
This was revenge, and even if these men weren’t directly responsible, they were getting in the way of his revenge.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWH7nsQia9
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3N2Ix3YUAr
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQhKv7Qg7P
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdU9qKFv9dP
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7BrrcOtkF
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrXxvfpgJw
Eventually, the crowd separated, and people began to stay close to the walls, allowing Abyss the clearance he needed to get to the elevator.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgJxY4a0W0
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1rb3yJsEY
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS95eRn9EOL
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVOIPrzmZx
Abyss craved more. 46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgknQWr6YI
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTNgJI59Fu
Abyss had significant time to move down into the halls he’d seen Volt fear on their first day.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKYpitryU6
The holding chambers.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoAE5g23N7
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh17gmVL6TQ
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 .46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUk4aB9bHE5
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4l5DSy6jz
The elevator opened to reveal Hades.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQosO3Af0OO
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwK15QrD0Na
The elevator closed behind the match.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnjfaFV74Z
A loud explosion shook the elevator, denting the door and snapping the cables.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiDd2Q5rYS
“So, you chose betrayal,” Commander H stated. It wasn’t a question, “and you plan to kill us all at once.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUgA8mdG2c
Abyss didn’t answer.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9Abh6p56c
“I can only assume this is because of your brother.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvs6kTNhGP0
Why is he still talking? Does he think he can salvage the alliance, or does he simply hope to save his own neck?46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ww3kizbn6
“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?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNtN3o2HHg
“Why do you sound like my father?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBPbgFmzue
“You knew your father? I supposed you were Kronos’ slave for as long as you can remember.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy46hqeSDsr
“I know some things, not that it’s any of your-”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PkngucPCV
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡro6HkrXVNG
Abyss pushed away the moment their feet touched the ground.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rJ78inSOs
Did he just save me? Abyss was unsure whether to be grateful or offended.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3rDoRcrF9
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaItS52oTx9
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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsHmdR1Q05
“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.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieIwDODs8d
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.
ns216.73.216.107da2
and then Add to home screen.