Another note.98Please respect copyright.PENANAnR6XxlFFQ8
Achlys led the group to a hotel and somehow managed to get into the penthouse suite. With cash.98Please respect copyright.PENANAOpmfoqpk7e
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.98Please respect copyright.PENANAuY3dmgN7Nv
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.98Please respect copyright.PENANAheQaopDltF
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.98Please respect copyright.PENANAQFzezN2YO1
After the last confidential message he received, Abyss was afraid to open it .98Please respect copyright.PENANAdjm16guGWq
Still, curiosity killed the cat, and Abyss slowly ripped the seal.98Please respect copyright.PENANAWRuEGpSafA
His eyes glazed over the note which read:98Please respect copyright.PENANAX7fnwhPguw
Abyssal,98Please respect copyright.PENANAoXB18NxZ2M
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.98Please respect copyright.PENANA1PPD1bEVl1
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?98Please respect copyright.PENANAGPWriRoEyo
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.98Please respect copyright.PENANAnNngWiSPKI
Thank you for your time and understanding. I can only hope you respond soon.98Please respect copyright.PENANAFvSEBs2PUJ
Your friend,98Please respect copyright.PENANAsiRwfmDUm0
Nedi98Please respect copyright.PENANAVwn94ZBZOr
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 Nedi98Please respect copyright.PENANAsvsd9vU80r
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.98Please respect copyright.PENANASj4A7dh2mC
He pocketed the letter deciding to ask Achlys her opinions later, but the time never came.98Please respect copyright.PENANAVTkGZ9E24o
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.98Please respect copyright.PENANAXEfE3mC40t
That is until Achlys was gone for about two hours.98Please respect copyright.PENANA2k0ajUxCIY
Abyss went back to his room for a while and after a nap, Abyss saw the letter slipped out from his pocket.98Please respect copyright.PENANAWdgnUc84td
He pulled up the piece of parchment and searched for a blank piece of paper of his own.98Please respect copyright.PENANA0fIIS4F0p6
After a little while, Abyss was able to start writing.98Please respect copyright.PENANAOpuS6xqq8E
Nedi,98Please respect copyright.PENANANYoGQmm6I8
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.98Please respect copyright.PENANAavKp5NnM5o
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.98Please respect copyright.PENANA8zDTxowEf2
Whatever, it’s stupid. I shouldn’t be upset anymore. I destroyed PISTOL.98Please respect copyright.PENANAbEZD5Mr0Mz
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.98Please respect copyright.PENANA2xhh9NBwek
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?98Please respect copyright.PENANAcxh33AKuhe
* * *
A new letter came 8 days later.
Abyss,98Please respect copyright.PENANA4AG6rDyzxx
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.98Please respect copyright.PENANA1krmth9xOL
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.98Please respect copyright.PENANAcm2pRmJ66h
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.98Please respect copyright.PENANAqwfXBjyaRe
Hopefully we can keep in touch.98Please respect copyright.PENANADiyIwUjNpy
-Nedi98Please respect copyright.PENANAF2JMUS9kMw
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.98Please respect copyright.PENANAozwk4kCmJx
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.98Please respect copyright.PENANAE3IT1Q2Dg5
Still, Abyss took anything he could get.98Please respect copyright.PENANAgMGNVGmUfm
* * *
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.98Please respect copyright.PENANAknq8vGYGOF
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”.98Please respect copyright.PENANAxv0pDcbTCG
Eventually, Abyss sent a message to Nedi.98Please respect copyright.PENANAgTC2xwJ7Lw
Does this work?98Please respect copyright.PENANAXLH2X0u8ud
-Abyssal98Please respect copyright.PENANAISbdv0P44H
It only took 13 minutes for Nedito respond this time.98Please respect copyright.PENANAdmSmaxkxdX
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.98Please respect copyright.PENANAnoNqCQpQTV
Abyss stared at the message on the screen in bewilderment.98Please respect copyright.PENANAbXL44EJ3uC
How can I be happy? Are you okay? Where are you?98Please respect copyright.PENANAXUm4Y4KMwI
Abyss waited a long time for Nedito respond. He waited 13 minutes, then 19 more.98Please respect copyright.PENANAKLKRU6RcrS
Are you ignoring me?98Please respect copyright.PENANArCWyGfzRSw
Abyss aggressively hit the send button on this message. An almost instant reply.98Please respect copyright.PENANA7XjPLFYg9d
I can’t talk right now, and I couldn’t answer your questions anyway. It isn’t safe anymore. I have to go.98Please respect copyright.PENANAv0MPYcKy2o
Go where?!98Please respect copyright.PENANAQheWIg14kk
Stay where you are, don’t message me anymore.98Please respect copyright.PENANAlsd7N29XxE
This was the last straw. Nediwas being unreasonable. He couldn’t just say he was in danger and demand Abyss stayed in place.98Please respect copyright.PENANAVUCGN9RTrO
Abyss rushed out his bedroom door without even closing the laptop.98Please respect copyright.PENANAxz8iKLRzxq
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.98Please respect copyright.PENANAuONI61O9wb
“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-”98Please respect copyright.PENANAwe7ugFkTAr
“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.”98Please respect copyright.PENANASzhara5dAN
The elevator dinged open, and Abyss walked in. The spirits of everyone else in the room fell.98Please respect copyright.PENANAtewiLAyh3n
“Where are you going?” the large man called out in desperation. “Achlys said you were in charge.”98Please respect copyright.PENANAE0PwwVUy0f
“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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