Another note.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe09RlUc5HH
Achlys led the group to a hotel and somehow managed to get into the penthouse suite. With cash.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbMaqQzyt4
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7GhqfpICC
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJhCFHzmXW
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjogY2IOvCC
After the last confidential message he received, Abyss was afraid to open it .19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNF84t5fYFw
Still, curiosity killed the cat, and Abyss slowly ripped the seal.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXKGxm7eVl
His eyes glazed over the note which read:19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIIHDJnZLv
Abyssal,19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYd1JPuGQgI
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrm6NB7nlR
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?19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjI1QROm1hQ
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjhVPCFuR3
Thank you for your time and understanding. I can only hope you respond soon.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqkyENUg2W
Your friend,19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEiENpRPzb
Nedi19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhMEFhGSey
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 Nedi19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYqpOC0oU1
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBCZDDadfM
He pocketed the letter deciding to ask Achlys her opinions later, but the time never came.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6eY6R7qQW
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6SdA5MkON
That is until Achlys was gone for about two hours.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dJNeT0H2j
Abyss went back to his room for a while and after a nap, Abyss saw the letter slipped out from his pocket.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJ5hkoeMoY
He pulled up the piece of parchment and searched for a blank piece of paper of his own.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9rzOf0SwQ
After a little while, Abyss was able to start writing.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFl4DWjTGZT
Nedi,19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebJ1ZWqrWy
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QIGTJO17z
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYmjvuikR0
Whatever, it’s stupid. I shouldn’t be upset anymore. I destroyed PISTOL.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGakd6ABlHC
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2jeykF1Hg
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?19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJS7BJawtG
* * *
A new letter came 8 days later.
Abyss,19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aOL7nAOSM
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8lmmhPopf
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6AbXIuPmt
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaSwJc9jID
Hopefully we can keep in touch.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlD5bFCmKT
-Nedi19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcu9Y7tVUU
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Lnrd5Gp33
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KIOAPMYGI
Still, Abyss took anything he could get.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOud9r4OEM
* * *
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHfhhrEXUm
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”.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxn8yM4aQB8
Eventually, Abyss sent a message to Nedi.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuJ04fnVdU
Does this work?19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgU8KwQc4Hd
-Abyssal19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddCfINZ6zw
It only took 13 minutes for Nedito respond this time.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lBLsTJkNm
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡND1EtP6VqC
Abyss stared at the message on the screen in bewilderment.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVNa4sNYmM
How can I be happy? Are you okay? Where are you?19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VeMcr0no5
Abyss waited a long time for Nedito respond. He waited 13 minutes, then 19 more.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgWtxG95Wt
Are you ignoring me?19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7fH0V1bFa
Abyss aggressively hit the send button on this message. An almost instant reply.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKwaoaraGk
I can’t talk right now, and I couldn’t answer your questions anyway. It isn’t safe anymore. I have to go.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ916oPAVPrB
Go where?!19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4umSyMuxY
Stay where you are, don’t message me anymore.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OQEYknIC2
This was the last straw. Nediwas being unreasonable. He couldn’t just say he was in danger and demand Abyss stayed in place.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQ8NlVIrk3
Abyss rushed out his bedroom door without even closing the laptop.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0I3sdfXXz
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.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQuXAOPRwN
“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-”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFKsMBShTq
“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.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Rz4Lqcp3h
The elevator dinged open, and Abyss walked in. The spirits of everyone else in the room fell.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5x5g52GVcZ
“Where are you going?” the large man called out in desperation. “Achlys said you were in charge.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHCVRnoJ4J
“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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