Another note.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdic054lY9
Achlys led the group to a hotel and somehow managed to get into the penthouse suite. With cash.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOjcAbgi9w
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnw3Ey9bjiQ
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvu5qv56I1h
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeH2VTxUsef
After the last confidential message he received, Abyss was afraid to open it .22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuT1hfspW7v
Still, curiosity killed the cat, and Abyss slowly ripped the seal.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQlaLvvOhC
His eyes glazed over the note which read:22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMryWFLr8Y
Abyssal,22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5yVg366Rw
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIDrVMYodQ
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?22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyd13VgIPjc
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeZPHCUa19
Thank you for your time and understanding. I can only hope you respond soon.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPtPHnsjt4
Your friend,22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnn933Nc4cd
Nedi22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9hqETtYqn
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 Nedi22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsoAEfE6B0
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJg6uIoKwv
He pocketed the letter deciding to ask Achlys her opinions later, but the time never came.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUtCwiGhhU
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApTqQVTk9D
That is until Achlys was gone for about two hours.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMjkUmJnAO
Abyss went back to his room for a while and after a nap, Abyss saw the letter slipped out from his pocket.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTneEBZHpYO
He pulled up the piece of parchment and searched for a blank piece of paper of his own.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSX1tJVAEiM
After a little while, Abyss was able to start writing.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Hf1PPfWbY
Nedi,22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9yqTXbkox
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9rt7ciYsa
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJUlYiZGLu
Whatever, it’s stupid. I shouldn’t be upset anymore. I destroyed PISTOL.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZYaUXtqFN
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrTc7dvKNl
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?22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ObZD4SKbr
* * *
A new letter came 8 days later.
Abyss,22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwe2OYdmJYz
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Vu7Avs86F
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptEVouQtNT
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Dp9sjLPlm
Hopefully we can keep in touch.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdimQXzB0l
-Nedi22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Jq89T8XKa
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jPrFxwJKc
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1g0ftO88EI
Still, Abyss took anything he could get.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgGXkmLvQZ
* * *
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdNd9f7tVJ
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”.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQ3ppJoR8O
Eventually, Abyss sent a message to Nedi.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLq68Vl8YX
Does this work?22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQlYI8I9fz
-Abyssal22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrjPw5ANIJ
It only took 13 minutes for Nedito respond this time.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0QfxGqrMv
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlmnEzDspC
Abyss stared at the message on the screen in bewilderment.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCSpsMCxLa
How can I be happy? Are you okay? Where are you?22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxL3oJHmii
Abyss waited a long time for Nedito respond. He waited 13 minutes, then 19 more.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZk784nXnC
Are you ignoring me?22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssDQuTVtwh
Abyss aggressively hit the send button on this message. An almost instant reply.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUb3mmhGYRg
I can’t talk right now, and I couldn’t answer your questions anyway. It isn’t safe anymore. I have to go.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzeKGQI8oE
Go where?!22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6rpaSbjHM
Stay where you are, don’t message me anymore.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicCiokg6g8
This was the last straw. Nediwas being unreasonable. He couldn’t just say he was in danger and demand Abyss stayed in place.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2EE7YTsAS
Abyss rushed out his bedroom door without even closing the laptop.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlC98KTiHeF
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2cp4NBqq9
“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-”22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGerVcJp9B
“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.”22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxvEseAR0b
The elevator dinged open, and Abyss walked in. The spirits of everyone else in the room fell.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0N2I1p30d
“Where are you going?” the large man called out in desperation. “Achlys said you were in charge.”22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpyoaZsXtH
“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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