Distorted

Chapter twenty-three. Unleashed.

It was the last thing he heard.

They've been living in a cage, witnessing the world and its complexity for what looked like the first time was not amusing, it was terrifying. They were afraid, following broken pieces of memories leading them back home, but it was impossible. They couldn't control their wrath, and the moment they find their shelter, it will be long gone.

Ilusia's outskirts.

The mystery unfolds.

"So, they break free. The crown is broken, no king to praise. A world in chaos, and a sealed exit where you and I shall stay, forever."

"You won't have me. You can't have me, its impossible. You're challenging god."

"Am I? Oh- I have been a fool, then. Who am I following all along? I remember what brought me here, but you, you don't."

A moment of silence passed between the two black figures speaking underneath the shadows of the night, they were no allies, yet, there was no malice among them as if they were long live friends. One of the voices was of an old female and the other was no one other than The Ghostman.

"Behind those bandages, there's something." The female said, fearlessly approaching The Ghostman.

"What's it you see?" He wickedly smiled, showing how their conversation burned a challenge inside of him.

"A soul." She said, "They gave you a soul." She continued, she was standing right in front of him starring right into his dead eyes with no repercussion or fear.

"Perhaps, they did. One of the many atrocities they committed." His voice grew lower and strangely, fragile.

"Then why are you obeying them?" She said, moving away. "Sympathy is never acquired. You've had it all along." She said.

"Have you forgotten who are we?" He said, but a sudden burst of evil vibrated his throat as he was the one approaching her.

"We are slaves. We have no CHOICE. We have no POWER!" He raised his tone, the mysterious female moved back to the darkness, fearing his anger.

"We are not humans, not anymore
Or maybe
We never were."

The two faces each other close to sparking a fight, but The Ghostman calmed his thoughts and dared to put his hand on her shoulder.

"She'll find you. And when she does, she won't have any mercy. Its only me who can protect you. Only me who can make this hell burn forever."

Ilusia, unknown location.

Merit rested well enough to continue her journey, the one she was thrown into without her own will. Recovering from the painful effects of contacting Jen, she realized how Menda was not who she thought she was, but, Menda was very cautious not to let out any information to Merit, making their relation grow tense and unstable, yet, Merit couldn't help but feel a strange connection to this old lady. Was it her kindness? Or the warmth she provided to the one whose world had been unkind to her?

She couldn't tell.

It wasn't long until the sirens echoed through the calm slums. Merit jumped out of her chair in panic, she knew that these sirens were a bad omen, her heart jumped out of her cage as the lights of the slums went and the warning was broadcasted across the city.

"What the hell?" Merit cried as Menda rushed and took her into her arms underneath the window. "Calm down! They're far away from us." Menda said, calming Merit who fearfully cried. "Who are they?" She asked while struggling to look out from the windows.

"It looks like you're a bit late." Menda said, dismissing Merit's question as she held her kindly in her arms.

"It looks like the as-" Menda said, suddenly swallowing her words like a knife down her throat. Her hold of Merit got loose she started onto the dark sky.

"What's it?!" Merit repeated her question, not able to recognize whatever Menda was starring at.

"Merit.." She said, breathing heavily. "Look at the sky." She said. And Merit obeyed her.

In the sky, Merit can clearly see a hologram of the rebels' flag soaring in the darkness of the city, the catastrophe was not over yet, in fact, it was starting.

"What in the world.." Merit said, eyes wide open and heart slowly giving in to her fears.

"Ross. He did it. He is destroying everything." Menda clenched her teeth angrily.

"Merit. You must leave, NOW!" Menda rushed out of the room in the darkness and brought Merit's bag.

"To where?!" Merit cried, gazing at the sky as few flags dropped out of what seemed to be an airship.

"Ross! He must be at Viribus, stop him, at all cost..He must never leave." Menda said, looking deep in Merit's eyes.

"What do you mean by all..costs?"

"Kill him, Merit. Kill him..if you must"

"I can't do that!!" Merit almost screamed, "He betrayed me, but--"

"It won't come to this. I hope." Menda said.

"But..The warning, how am I even supposed to get to him?"

"And ally is coming to you. Thirty minutes, count them." Menda said, ushering Merit to jump out of the back window.

"Be sure to follow the rats, stay away from surveillance towers and never approach a Lightman. You're a statue, remember that." Menda said at least as Merit wore her jacket and hood and quickly jumped out of the window.

Through the veil of the night and into the darkness of the cruel city, Merit jumped into the strings of the conspiracy, unknown to her was the reality she was tangling herself in. Could it be Menda knew what she was sending Merit to?

Ross lied in his office, through a screen he watched what he waited his entire life for in a sense of victory, and a burning pain of loss swimming in the void inside of him.

Ilusia's demise was in motion, the lightmen were swarming the city and the rebels have claimed authority while Willies and his allies were leaving the city, Merit followed a silver line to peaceful end, one that can only be a child's dream, because that's all she was, a child.