Another note.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOYNUStHfS
Achlys led the group to a hotel and somehow managed to get into the penthouse suite. With cash.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNeB6xWeQw
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjtue2IwAg
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQTNkW0z4N
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCwrU5qpcy
After the last confidential message he received, Abyss was afraid to open it .40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWveEnLbzp
Still, curiosity killed the cat, and Abyss slowly ripped the seal.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7EFcsSBNS
His eyes glazed over the note which read:40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXy5SWq50b
Abyssal,40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlR3gEHswg
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmyETVLJCw
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?40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZiFGQtVYT
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiq9KFh8L3
Thank you for your time and understanding. I can only hope you respond soon.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqooXHh2OQQ
Your friend,40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6Jt5qIvHy
Nedi40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuV3RIyNay
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 Nedi40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyYUuDXCZk
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvg379jZo2
He pocketed the letter deciding to ask Achlys her opinions later, but the time never came.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUknQZmQsKN
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhaSYE2HRW
That is until Achlys was gone for about two hours.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLfkA20bKt
Abyss went back to his room for a while and after a nap, Abyss saw the letter slipped out from his pocket.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUtqkfhgKL
He pulled up the piece of parchment and searched for a blank piece of paper of his own.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKtLOArrCZ
After a little while, Abyss was able to start writing.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2aNFb0tiH
Nedi,40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeHsVLLIQ1
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVaYfdfksh
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIXYjhfkqt
Whatever, it’s stupid. I shouldn’t be upset anymore. I destroyed PISTOL.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VSdSfLddg
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9orKY1qEm8
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?40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2xYfVMFzL
* * *
A new letter came 8 days later.
Abyss,40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgfhouXyBL
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpaYYPCmHk
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4upik6UOp
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3e4Q2PrYx
Hopefully we can keep in touch.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cCHbH9oS6
-Nedi40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYy303hW5IJ
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYw6W2YuK2S
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzH21Vvc7Z
Still, Abyss took anything he could get.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZF6MYfJil
* * *
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTT5Oy6t1ns
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”.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEy4kHyfVkE
Eventually, Abyss sent a message to Nedi.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSO8ejsSVb
Does this work?40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0X6wFR6F3o
-Abyssal40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaez2wfScq
It only took 13 minutes for Nedito respond this time.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsqjE2pDaT
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xESecRAa0
Abyss stared at the message on the screen in bewilderment.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSXDasXcSl
How can I be happy? Are you okay? Where are you?40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDTQY55r4q
Abyss waited a long time for Nedito respond. He waited 13 minutes, then 19 more.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0d8SgHRqXR
Are you ignoring me?40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2h0ssUydS8
Abyss aggressively hit the send button on this message. An almost instant reply.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcj1e6NKhk3
I can’t talk right now, and I couldn’t answer your questions anyway. It isn’t safe anymore. I have to go.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMO4G6O8tL9
Go where?!40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIR3YXJWmIN
Stay where you are, don’t message me anymore.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFmLjCi0ld
This was the last straw. Nediwas being unreasonable. He couldn’t just say he was in danger and demand Abyss stayed in place.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLs4dAvQJ1
Abyss rushed out his bedroom door without even closing the laptop.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEoJqVyBlt
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.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6tzEeNB1E
“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-”40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡno8L6YayFn
“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.”40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRXb4coqNk
The elevator dinged open, and Abyss walked in. The spirits of everyone else in the room fell.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFK6YBg9St
“Where are you going?” the large man called out in desperation. “Achlys said you were in charge.”40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYD6EQieWx
“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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