Another note.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZMv3l9ePh
Achlys led the group to a hotel and somehow managed to get into the penthouse suite. With cash.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0PKyxFs3o
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSuHqQIvdU
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSZESyQQCm
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4md0UirPDx
After the last confidential message he received, Abyss was afraid to open it .89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8NntrmM4X
Still, curiosity killed the cat, and Abyss slowly ripped the seal.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzFO23Pooo
His eyes glazed over the note which read:89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXfhHenZaM
Abyssal,89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRpuzSs3kg
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2ihbgCl7a
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?89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWiVN4tM9z
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ip0b22aOM
Thank you for your time and understanding. I can only hope you respond soon.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk83ihjzfPc
Your friend,89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRZvgs0wrM
Nedi89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXZkWm2tPB
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 Nedi89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpSCAOyb2b
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsuwxHkC33
He pocketed the letter deciding to ask Achlys her opinions later, but the time never came.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWQUps8gro
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6GbiacnLJ
That is until Achlys was gone for about two hours.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqHYUylcWf
Abyss went back to his room for a while and after a nap, Abyss saw the letter slipped out from his pocket.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3sr9s2ZLm
He pulled up the piece of parchment and searched for a blank piece of paper of his own.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAFT08YWjx
After a little while, Abyss was able to start writing.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQim68RoaI
Nedi,89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwK1Wxjum03
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcNMR0Lt6j
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprEBiSiDIc
Whatever, it’s stupid. I shouldn’t be upset anymore. I destroyed PISTOL.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnu53Jue0hb
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79jvZxiGf5
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?89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKh5PxQP2f
* * *
A new letter came 8 days later.
Abyss,89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkw63KXKead
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsuOIsEo9b
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LLTGOJrpZ
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjo28NufSF
Hopefully we can keep in touch.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ifA303Fhp
-Nedi89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPdkiOy1Fc
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv25QdeiVLk
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1Fi8Ism9I
Still, Abyss took anything he could get.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBRwr5PW9J
* * *
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dBAUFs6Iu
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”.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIZscyKQdz
Eventually, Abyss sent a message to Nedi.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4bj6OJHqI
Does this work?89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9gTmvJUNJ
-Abyssal89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4KxIlCC9Y
It only took 13 minutes for Nedito respond this time.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NXXuBE24S
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7NczGPoBh
Abyss stared at the message on the screen in bewilderment.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08vh3gDxaB
How can I be happy? Are you okay? Where are you?89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkrXJKKmPr
Abyss waited a long time for Nedito respond. He waited 13 minutes, then 19 more.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUm15fLNoi
Are you ignoring me?89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuG82wBAaj
Abyss aggressively hit the send button on this message. An almost instant reply.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwx3PrEySN
I can’t talk right now, and I couldn’t answer your questions anyway. It isn’t safe anymore. I have to go.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEpT44svU5
Go where?!89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGaFk6PF39
Stay where you are, don’t message me anymore.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ55gIci5rE
This was the last straw. Nediwas being unreasonable. He couldn’t just say he was in danger and demand Abyss stayed in place.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTl3eg4Tt5
Abyss rushed out his bedroom door without even closing the laptop.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVm4iWS9Pa
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.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPqpTfdmuo
“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-”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9crPgjg9H
“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.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8lsUXWYrB
The elevator dinged open, and Abyss walked in. The spirits of everyone else in the room fell.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdWAEjV6A3
“Where are you going?” the large man called out in desperation. “Achlys said you were in charge.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEH7ZUpb5T8
“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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