Another note.91Please respect copyright.PENANAxgZEnfdDRA
Achlys led the group to a hotel and somehow managed to get into the penthouse suite. With cash.91Please respect copyright.PENANAAXgX1Ixzrj
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.91Please respect copyright.PENANAmIFab94mnY
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.91Please respect copyright.PENANAELyEvMBHDg
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.91Please respect copyright.PENANAgRJwHMYrWT
After the last confidential message he received, Abyss was afraid to open it .91Please respect copyright.PENANAqZwZqVBG0e
Still, curiosity killed the cat, and Abyss slowly ripped the seal.91Please respect copyright.PENANA88qgj1VXuZ
His eyes glazed over the note which read:91Please respect copyright.PENANA7Sr2KHsd6P
Abyssal,91Please respect copyright.PENANABk3IMgNur2
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.91Please respect copyright.PENANAi2swG2uIvV
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?91Please respect copyright.PENANA0HgLS5sONC
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.91Please respect copyright.PENANAXdbb47A96V
Thank you for your time and understanding. I can only hope you respond soon.91Please respect copyright.PENANARCOvCkB3Kh
Your friend,91Please respect copyright.PENANAa07jf1VKmh
Nedi91Please respect copyright.PENANALg4JUHsOw8
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 Nedi91Please respect copyright.PENANAqCZwP9rt7B
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.91Please respect copyright.PENANAdxlOceuQPQ
He pocketed the letter deciding to ask Achlys her opinions later, but the time never came.91Please respect copyright.PENANAtNOPDRlMP2
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.91Please respect copyright.PENANAFLlburvqhL
That is until Achlys was gone for about two hours.91Please respect copyright.PENANAYBld2WeYlW
Abyss went back to his room for a while and after a nap, Abyss saw the letter slipped out from his pocket.91Please respect copyright.PENANAwTnhpasChw
He pulled up the piece of parchment and searched for a blank piece of paper of his own.91Please respect copyright.PENANAfCfwlQC9HD
After a little while, Abyss was able to start writing.91Please respect copyright.PENANAMHKqKiNQO0
Nedi,91Please respect copyright.PENANAOGgjpyiPre
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.91Please respect copyright.PENANAc17PEz5bWc
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.91Please respect copyright.PENANAjVvEqdvbM5
Whatever, it’s stupid. I shouldn’t be upset anymore. I destroyed PISTOL.91Please respect copyright.PENANAjREa84dX4G
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.91Please respect copyright.PENANA1FTAvX8Dki
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?91Please respect copyright.PENANAXNlJCT78r8
* * *
A new letter came 8 days later.
Abyss,91Please respect copyright.PENANAUYDNC5UP5I
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.91Please respect copyright.PENANAv50FL1OpPe
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.91Please respect copyright.PENANA2zyU9Tfjll
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.91Please respect copyright.PENANAMDUb7d2DyB
Hopefully we can keep in touch.91Please respect copyright.PENANAebYYuphdRK
-Nedi91Please respect copyright.PENANAglyP64ZOvL
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.91Please respect copyright.PENANA61jkrb4JeJ
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.91Please respect copyright.PENANA3EAQViHXQz
Still, Abyss took anything he could get.91Please respect copyright.PENANAm2qwQfwBdR
* * *
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.91Please respect copyright.PENANAhLcKxYpcRD
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”.91Please respect copyright.PENANAH9Mpsqacc9
Eventually, Abyss sent a message to Nedi.91Please respect copyright.PENANAaF0wV9P7hj
Does this work?91Please respect copyright.PENANAXW8JcaSo70
-Abyssal91Please respect copyright.PENANAHY2zWZAhRI
It only took 13 minutes for Nedito respond this time.91Please respect copyright.PENANAaA1hji7dE1
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.91Please respect copyright.PENANAMqVHKBJtQd
Abyss stared at the message on the screen in bewilderment.91Please respect copyright.PENANAjaUSBSMLBI
How can I be happy? Are you okay? Where are you?91Please respect copyright.PENANAjHPtoL9joF
Abyss waited a long time for Nedito respond. He waited 13 minutes, then 19 more.91Please respect copyright.PENANAycr6LvP1nJ
Are you ignoring me?91Please respect copyright.PENANAnQiO6gJ4g6
Abyss aggressively hit the send button on this message. An almost instant reply.91Please respect copyright.PENANA7ll7vq8VqC
I can’t talk right now, and I couldn’t answer your questions anyway. It isn’t safe anymore. I have to go.91Please respect copyright.PENANAAQfP9OsQgh
Go where?!91Please respect copyright.PENANAiVVkrFoOUK
Stay where you are, don’t message me anymore.91Please respect copyright.PENANAvmQY5s14Wy
This was the last straw. Nediwas being unreasonable. He couldn’t just say he was in danger and demand Abyss stayed in place.91Please respect copyright.PENANAkCmE5Yfavk
Abyss rushed out his bedroom door without even closing the laptop.91Please respect copyright.PENANAyWckfztEX1
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.91Please respect copyright.PENANA4U4hCjpQ4w
“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-”91Please respect copyright.PENANAdpSsj2Ta3v
“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.”91Please respect copyright.PENANA1FRoyM4gCv
The elevator dinged open, and Abyss walked in. The spirits of everyone else in the room fell.91Please respect copyright.PENANAsslLIdBenx
“Where are you going?” the large man called out in desperation. “Achlys said you were in charge.”91Please respect copyright.PENANAtV2B1bmODN
“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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