"Wake up."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWRHRWbo8h
My eyes shot open, and I blinked several times in an attempt to orient myself. I was lying in a still, black void. It felt like sinking into a warm, motionless ocean, but I wasn't afraid. I gladly let the darkness pull me down further.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYr0Lfab1a
A loud feminine voice cut through the darkness. "What are you doing? You're better than this! Get up!"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdh1HwjMOD
The voice echoed in the recesses of my mind. It was like an old lullaby I'd all but forgotten. The voice should've been instantly recognizable to me, but I couldn't place it.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSmNrJNIop
A woman in a silk, floral gown stood before me. A halo of light surrounded her, cutting through the darkness. Her lips curved upward into a smile as I stared at her in awe. "Pull yourself together. This is no time for napping," she teased.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAPbep4noy
I gaped at her in stunned silence. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. The last time I saw her, her body was so bloody and broken she was unrecognizable, but now she was beautiful just like I remembered her. I reached out toward her as tears blurred my vision. "Mamá?"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQXSUxLTWK
She cupped my face in her hands and dabbed at my tears with a handkerchief. "Don't cry."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOQ85nEYFe
I threw my arms around her in a tight embrace. "I've missed you so much."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHX3ov3c2KJ
She caressed my cheek and whispered in my ear. "I can't believe how much you've grown. I'm sorry I couldn't be there to watch you grow up."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2u3uwHqH6K
I fought back a whole new wave of tears. "It's okay, Mami. We're going to be together now."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFupHelE6V
"No," she said, so softly I could barely hear.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCL1xzzHPbk
"What do you mean no? Why not?" I fought to keep the indignation out of my voice.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYj2TMZ48fr
"You must go back."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZN2glfZIeu
I buried my face in her shoulder. "I'm so tired, mamá. I can't carry the weight of the world any longer."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7m2fZ6tnle
"It's not your time yet."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwg4VkgqSl3
I clutched onto her for dear life. "I don't want to fight anymore. I want to stay here with you!"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqrDMXWGV3
She gave me a wistful smile and gently caressed my hair. "We will be reunited one day, but there's still so much more in store for you. For now, you must wait."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpe98Ig04H
"Please," I begged. "I don't want to say goodbye."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhstzUjMz7L
"Espérame." Wait for me. She gave me a kiss on the cheek and squeezed my hands one last time before she began to fade away. I desperately grasped at her, trying to make her stay with me. She drifted away like sand in the wind.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0hosZysZF
After she'd disappeared, I sat alone in the vast abyss with nothing but my grief. I heard a faint and distant voice calling me back to the land of the living.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5CK9EpCf0
"Don't you dare die on me, you lovable idiot! If you die on me, I'm going to tell embarrassing stories about you at your funeral, so you better wake up! Can you hear me? Atlas? Carlos? Please come back to me."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNWlPjGRwW
I recognized that voice. I could almost feel him trying to shake me awake. I smiled through the tears. Chase came back for me. He came to rescue me, no matter the risks. It was a stupid thing to do, but it means the world to me that he did.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDN8Jgrcjtr
My eyes shot open, and I coughed up a mouthful of salt water.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwKWa9qB6P
Chase threw his arm around me and pulled me into the tightest hug imaginable. "Oh my God, you're alive!" His tears dripped onto me, soaking my shirt.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXvPAn3gmH
"Are you crying?"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPkOGN4TBy
"No." He sniffled.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIta4E1KylU
I returned the hug. "Who told you my name used to be Carlos?"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAh84FiXhV4
A guilty expression crossed his face. "Vindicator."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8O7AnKLzg
I rolled my eyes. Of course, he did. I can't have any secrets, can I?
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1jLcFsmVH
"What name do you prefer?"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusyd6ATJZ8
"Please call me Atlas. Carlos died a long time ago. I'm not him anymore, I feel like I'm someone completely different now."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ386y1dF5Ya
"Sure thing, Atlas."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9GTgO0NiD
I glanced around our surroundings. "Where are we?"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7TFToAoeh
"We are currently floating in the middle of the ocean, on some old garbage I found. Turns out Titanic was wrong, two people can fit on a wooden door."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzJ3PAz6O9
I nodded slowly as I reoriented myself from being dead a couple of moments ago. That's when I noticed Chase was missing an arm.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWA1OXsV1IK
"What happened to your arm?"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80FxTErs0x
Chase glanced down at his missing arm nonchalantly. "Oh, that? It's nothing. I got into a little tussle with Vindicator, that's all."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgmd3WJYFh
"I'm going to kill him!" I tried to sit up, but Chase held me back.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwtANxUcPg
"I don't think he made it."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFKrFgI61d
"What do you mean?"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NlUPR90eK
Chasegestured towards Ikigai II. A small chunk of the island was falling apart and on fire.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rzs6m7ovK
"What the hell happened here? Is Marisa okay?"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfAS2HSE4g
Chase shook his head. "I don't know. I barely know what happened. I was focused on keeping you safe and then all of a sudden, boom! An explosion went off, and it made a huge wave. That's how we ended up over here."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6Wyiypf5l
I felt the gripping sense of panic sinking in. My heart hammered against my chest like a pounding drum with every gasp of air I took. My entire body shook, but I couldn't tell if it was from anxiety or from being soaked to the bone on the windy sea. What's the point in resurrecting from the dead if I'm just going to die out here?
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKjR21Tdst
Chase rested a hand on my shoulder. "It's alright. I'm panicking too, but you and I are going to make it, I promise. I called for help."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCRaRrrg2H
"No one is coming for us, Chase. Emergency Services is in Bionic Corp's pocket, and even if they weren't, they don't come out this far from the island."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRM6ItALeuG
His face morphed into a sheepish expression. "I didn't call Emergency Services."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sS8mdFPmc
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Who did you call?"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInLfvvgUTH
Chase refused to meet my gaze. "Um, someone."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAxOawyG9D
I caught a flash of his wrist and noticed he was wearing my Holowatch. I eyed it suspiciously. "What are you doing with my watch?"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoVtK9n1E1
He hid his arm behind his back. "What watch?"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgjKm4ISZF
I caught a glimpse of something large and white looming in the distance. I leaned to the side to get a better view. A vast, ivory party yacht rapidly approached us. Blaring electropop music poured through the speakers. As the yacht got closer, I could finally make out who was piloting the vessel. It was none other than Gabriel St. Martin and Adrien Kumar. Kill me now!
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyyodQHMRY
I lightly punched Chase in the shoulder. "What the hell have you gotten me into?"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXziw6iYeqa
"It's not my fault you had Gabriel's contact saved in your Holowatch."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Zw75eNFJM
"That was in case of emergency!"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5GfMEACHW
Chase gestured to the roaring waves surrounding us. "This is an emergency!"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtklUmdT1TZ
"You should've asked me before making a deal with the devil!"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzEyImjBWY
"Gee, I would've, but you weren't exactly conscious at the moment."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC561ETfpGh
I crossed my arms and slumped down. I guess he had a point, but I don't have to like it. Gabriel will want something in return for saving my life. Will he force me to fight in the arena again? A shiver crawled up my spine from just thinking about it.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnB2Ec6EmHF
The yacht parked a few feet away from us and Gabriel leaned over the side. "Hello boys, I heard you need a ride."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SyAQAHxR0
I nodded begrudgingly.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdil533fHV
"Yes, thank you, sir, for taking time out of your no doubt very busy schedule to save us."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8X6858Avl
Gabriel gave a dismissive wave. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure you'll repay me soon."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VuOskcDlw
"Yeah, you owe us big time!" Adrien added.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUd6nNwaVRg
I fought back a grimace.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnpOaH22HO
They threw down a ladder and I clutched onto it, so we wouldn't drift away. I allowed Chase to go first. Having only one arm made the climb difficult, but he scaled it like a pro. His climbing skills have improved drastically over the past few days. Breaking the law and evading Bionic Corp will teach you a plethora of new skills. Once he reached the top, it was my turn. I gripped onto the lowest rung and pulled myself up. My cybernetic strength and reflexes made the task a breeze, even with the bullet in my hip. When I reached the top I hopped over the railing and joined the others on the skiff.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3MooMkWxs
"Where's my piece of the map, Curseword? I want it back. It's the least you can do after everything."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyadvOzz3g
Chase decided to play dumb. "What map?"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGF9ITNn9tL
"The one you two stole from me. Remember that?"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdN1kS1yBJf
"Oh, that map! Yeah, we don't have that anymore."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQxr1959QI
Gabriel clenched his jaw. "Is that so? Do you care to tell me what happened to it?"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKSF0YuMmM
"Vindicator stole it, and if I had to guess I'd say it got destroyed when the explosion happened," I signed, nodding towards the island that was currently on fire.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbP8plauapv
"How could you be so stupid and careless?" Adrien barked. "We should throw you back overboard for your incompetence. Come on, Gabriel!"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJpIwZZyA2
Gabriel firmly clutched his arm, restraining him. "We will do no such thing."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEZUzPAr4Y
"You're no fun," Adrien grumbled.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1GJ4RcCwg
Grasped my side in an attempt to slow the bleeding.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzhLsETUz3
Gabriel's eyes widened as he appeared to notice the bullet wound for the first time. "That doesn't look good."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8uTwySWrN
"That's an understatement."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54INDbzHBq
"Let's get you some medical attention." He ushered us across the dance floor, past the hot tubs, and towards the back of the ship.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZ3O3nbx3p
Scantily clad cyborgs sneered at us as we limped past.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7mXyn8qIq
"Sorry, we interrupted your party. You're welcome to resume whatever you were doing," Chase called out.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxPFlIeGWi
Gabriel unlocked a hidden door that led us to a private indoor lounge with large glass windows, plush ivory couches, and a full liquor bar. He directed me to lie down on the longest couch.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXSkWGAgA7
"You know I'm going to get blood stains all over this thing, right?"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJZ4wRZhEo
"I don't care about that." Gabriel ordered an intern to bring us heated blankets and warm coffee. Gabriel sat on one of the barstools. "Now, let's talk business. You already know I don't do anything for free. You're now indebted to me."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhg8Uqvgf4w
I nodded. "I understand."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gqlBVnM3P
"Not you, Curseword. Chase. He's the one who made me come all this way on my day off."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rowBWeSc5
"I understand, sir. Name your price and it's yours."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpDiyuLtNT
Gabriel clapped Chase on the shoulder. "That's what I like to hear. You should take notes, Curseword. Things would go easier for you if you could stand to be a bit more agreeable."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8G81e2dpbO
"I don't work for you. I could not care less if you like my personality."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ580fE7G10v
Gabriel placed a hand on his heart. "You wound me with your words, Curseword. I could throw you back overboard if you'd prefer to take your chances out there."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdELBb9ca0P
Adrien poked his head in the door frame. "Are we throwing them overboard now?"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLOuPovFxc
Gabriel waved him away. "No."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjvLM7tJ48
Adrien muttered something foul and stormed away.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsh1GaNhhVF
"One more thing," I signed. "Stop calling me Curseword. My name is Atlas, and I'm not anyone's plaything anymore."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMX7BUfiFM
Gabriel pursed his lips. "Alright, Atlas. I want you to know I never meant to make you feel like a pawn."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Rpr8CDhbK
"You were exploiting me for monetary gain before I was old enough to drive! How am I supposed to feel, Gabriel?
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjawlAunEnO
"Listen I know you don't want anything to do with me anymore, but if you ever change your mind just give me a call. I still care about you."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXSGm9MaJl
I remained silent.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFadlQG5HDt
He gave me a somber glance before closing the door and leaving us alone. As soon as he was gone, I began scolding Chase. "What were you thinking? Why would you call him?"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZs8ZFVzUyM
"Because I knew he'd come to rescue you," he replied.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxWOt2T6dM
You're going to owe him a favor now!
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxSjJasLlr
"I'm fine with that. I'd rather be alive and owe Gabriel St. Martin a favor than be dead."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFe4kTXhf6
I folded my arms across my chest bitterly. I couldn't control Chase's decision, but I didn't have to like it.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkYl3XVUXO
...
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3imWFUDSc
A few minutes later the intern returned with our coffee and blankets and a nurse came to take a look at my wound. She'd managed to dress the wound and reduce the bleeding, but I'd need surgery to remove the shrapnel as soon as I got to land.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaM6kqsAKo4
I tried to take a nap, but Chase wouldn't stop pestering me with random questions. I think he feared if I went to sleep, I would never wake up.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESuJWSpxpY
...
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23xpQSO6zk
After an hour at sea, the door creaked open, and I glanced up expecting to see Gabriel again, but instead, Patch and Marisa stepped into the lounge.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihGzDvIF6t
"You're okay!" I signed. I ignored the doctor's orders to rest, and I sprinted toward them. I enveloped them in a tight hug.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIaw5hQLi8
Patch ruffled my hair. "It takes a lot more than that to kill me."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5nud7Vcx1
Marisa leaned in and held on to me for dear life. "Thank God you're okay. I was so scared." Her voice quavered.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSJmkqYYiw
I squeezed her right back. I was scared of losing her too.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lxWvpp4LH
Once we finished our group hug, I asked, "How did you get here?"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8P3KiYtbNU
Adrien lingered in the doorway. "I received a distress signal from Vindicator. So, I went to his location to rescue my favorite new fighter, but when I got there, I found these losers instead. I thought I might as well save them while I was there."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KdPLhmqFs
"Thank you, Adrien."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOW3HdDKYUw
"Yeah, whatever. It's no big deal. There's no need to get sappy."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBsRQvbP8M
"Is Oblivion gone?"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoHf4ewgUG
They both nodded.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JVzdOJMcY
"And she took the Annihilation Code with her," Patch added.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoWdMo0ccb
"What? You found it?"
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOUIotlPaR
"Your map was spot on, kid. You led us right to it."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80XkqamX7k
I forced a smile. That's great!" It's not that I wasn't happy the code was destroyed. Of course, I was. It was selfish and wrong to feel any other way, but I'd always thought I'd be the one to destroy it. That could've been my redemption. If there was any way to atone for what I've done, that would've been it. Now, the ghost of my past will stalk me forever.
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTnwleIVhH
A gentle voice floated through my brain. "Don't look at it that way. You traveled all over to put together the pieces of the map, and when it was stolen, you recreated it from memory. Atlas, you're amazing." Chase shot me a reassuring smile from across the room. He knew how I was feeling, and he didn't judge me for it. Of course not, we were linked, after all. "You can let go of the guilt now, the victims have been avenged."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKdtJnMGma
I swallowed down the lump that was forming in my throat. "Thank you, Chase."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ91JdvgpeS
"Don't worry about it. I've got your back no matter what."
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb65QCWYDLe
I smiled back at him through the sorrow to show my appreciation for his never ending support. I don't know if the guilt and the shame will ever stop haunting me, but I know for certain Chase Huxley will never leave me. Together we formed a bond that can never be broken, and I know he'll always stand by me even in the bad times. I don't deserve the devotion of someone like him, even if he's and dumbass and an asshole sometimes. I don't deserve anyone's love, not Patch or Marisa or anyone else, but maybe I'll claim it anyway.
ns 172.71.254.220da2
and then Add to home screen.