Another note.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavG1eZUvWE
Achlys led the group to a hotel and somehow managed to get into the penthouse suite. With cash.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneWlloV3mf
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgfl6gnEQi
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKayD8pMi6e
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUJKCGZf8k
After the last confidential message he received, Abyss was afraid to open it .101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LVEynQVv1
Still, curiosity killed the cat, and Abyss slowly ripped the seal.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSiQFRDB6l
His eyes glazed over the note which read:101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHN4N3TMPP
Abyssal,101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxgG6UhOw2
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWNXKyhdZk
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?101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsEt3NjqtD
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpck9l3ZYGo
Thank you for your time and understanding. I can only hope you respond soon.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgDWiAu7Z0
Your friend,101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsppF3jlqa
Nedi101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyVxXC517c
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 Nedi101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpw0LauKpq
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWde96svqlS
He pocketed the letter deciding to ask Achlys her opinions later, but the time never came.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOj4CFecj3E
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBlk1CulvP
That is until Achlys was gone for about two hours.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiR6siumaH
Abyss went back to his room for a while and after a nap, Abyss saw the letter slipped out from his pocket.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoVbWq9375
He pulled up the piece of parchment and searched for a blank piece of paper of his own.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzlnFzRSto
After a little while, Abyss was able to start writing.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3akUlNEXVP
Nedi,101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtaR69gakf
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPML9D0eY3
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIkIzit9HK
Whatever, it’s stupid. I shouldn’t be upset anymore. I destroyed PISTOL.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlsUpDUQC2
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpix5RwJxJ
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?101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWap5Z3Genz
* * *
A new letter came 8 days later.
Abyss,101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK381MBwIuQ
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1xEsv6yw5
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcidyNc8yG
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeD9ZqDnX0M
Hopefully we can keep in touch.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJreA6gr3Z
-Nedi101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEubnS9w9Fe
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2kHP6CjBT
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tK7RYzVmL
Still, Abyss took anything he could get.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJpuaVSw0W
* * *
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzs6bZbrXWZ
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”.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGi3JYS1Yr
Eventually, Abyss sent a message to Nedi.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR25dXbWKOX
Does this work?101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnwiX6WunM
-Abyssal101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xGsffp1mQ
It only took 13 minutes for Nedito respond this time.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXREamBHFS
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7UAdDKjO8
Abyss stared at the message on the screen in bewilderment.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigOassQvcU
How can I be happy? Are you okay? Where are you?101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMS4EmH6ER
Abyss waited a long time for Nedito respond. He waited 13 minutes, then 19 more.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiL47neor7
Are you ignoring me?101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOk1DVFGls
Abyss aggressively hit the send button on this message. An almost instant reply.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxY19jsfzkE
I can’t talk right now, and I couldn’t answer your questions anyway. It isn’t safe anymore. I have to go.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30nlV2Gkev
Go where?!101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfizcircRbP
Stay where you are, don’t message me anymore.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsw9CH4DXar
This was the last straw. Nediwas being unreasonable. He couldn’t just say he was in danger and demand Abyss stayed in place.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmphgRVqY0C
Abyss rushed out his bedroom door without even closing the laptop.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bXswJnhKT
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.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJJOXw5BfF
“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-”101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jDT4YV0mk
“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.”101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOQkqmmjkt
The elevator dinged open, and Abyss walked in. The spirits of everyone else in the room fell.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjh36dPGj2
“Where are you going?” the large man called out in desperation. “Achlys said you were in charge.”101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwst38kHRh
“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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