"Wake up."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWTlHooujU
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.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QV4QEiO2x
A loud feminine voice cut through the darkness. "What are you doing? You're better than this! Get up!"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzsoaxtz4c
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.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySPpY7emBK
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.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUv1OknDLG
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?"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCEPgtydMZ
She cupped my face in her hands and dabbed at my tears with a handkerchief. "Don't cry."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3Ew7Ovm2E
I threw my arms around her in a tight embrace. "I've missed you so much."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0RlShd1r9
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."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mtwJmJbr4
I fought back a whole new wave of tears. "It's okay, Mami. We're going to be together now."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDh5hRdDmk
"No," she said, so softly I could barely hear.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAjh3pkcl9
"What do you mean no? Why not?" I fought to keep the indignation out of my voice.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QavNVKCZl
"You must go back."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AHoIgoj3U
I buried my face in her shoulder. "I'm so tired, mamá. I can't carry the weight of the world any longer."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kM70Vb05h
"It's not your time yet."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHoaVA12JZ
I clutched onto her for dear life. "I don't want to fight anymore. I want to stay here with you!"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8pFUhilTG
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."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfHb3h7s5Z
"Please," I begged. "I don't want to say goodbye."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiv53XsECA
"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.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt070piiCf1
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.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqdUW6Z6xG
"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."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AhHOdbhXT
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.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OSRyzfb8i
My eyes shot open, and I coughed up a mouthful of salt water.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQw9oSJdfPR
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.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPFvgwABnv
"Are you crying?"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnDGdl6mEZ
"No." He sniffled.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqvs2XwfcY
I returned the hug. "Who told you my name used to be Carlos?"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjtR9YQNiH
A guilty expression crossed his face. "Vindicator."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZ9u0g657L
I rolled my eyes. Of course, he did. I can't have any secrets, can I?
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkh2guovmY
"What name do you prefer?"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6iO6hZ1g3
"Please call me Atlas. Carlos died a long time ago. I'm not him anymore, I feel like I'm someone completely different now."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbMqUhRCw0
"Sure thing, Atlas."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUp4LkWPK2
I glanced around our surroundings. "Where are we?"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAuKShun9l
"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."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ613hfDpZFl
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.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeflQ2e83g
"What happened to your arm?"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvNF8o3ZSG
Chase glanced down at his missing arm nonchalantly. "Oh, that? It's nothing. I got into a little tussle with Vindicator, that's all."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7E93Ntjy4
"I'm going to kill him!" I tried to sit up, but Chase held me back.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIhUe4cFFT
"I don't think he made it."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZluQ7kdyq
"What do you mean?"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KGTQgTGSS
Chasegestured towards Ikigai II. A small chunk of the island was falling apart and on fire.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhMmAILPuZ
"What the hell happened here? Is Marisa okay?"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2du0sRkDuX
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."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Vq02k0pjU
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?
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6p3oE5HDv
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."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlL1C1bqQKI
"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."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIwsGpeZRF
His face morphed into a sheepish expression. "I didn't call Emergency Services."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqcE49JgAy
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Who did you call?"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4bYDEebzp
Chase refused to meet my gaze. "Um, someone."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE24LvawIHT
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?"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOYhTZdLUb
He hid his arm behind his back. "What watch?"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5U1Gd6yn0
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!
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQoxAEOZ9b
I lightly punched Chase in the shoulder. "What the hell have you gotten me into?"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGEX7npVLU
"It's not my fault you had Gabriel's contact saved in your Holowatch."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGY7vJju1E
"That was in case of emergency!"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdo3YJiYvjb
Chase gestured to the roaring waves surrounding us. "This is an emergency!"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc55bPkmPHR
"You should've asked me before making a deal with the devil!"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRGKEHGwm2
"Gee, I would've, but you weren't exactly conscious at the moment."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7xflOBqWt
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.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsdIMb18vN
The yacht parked a few feet away from us and Gabriel leaned over the side. "Hello boys, I heard you need a ride."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwIAW1rYH1
I nodded begrudgingly.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtjfR2G4Bp
"Yes, thank you, sir, for taking time out of your no doubt very busy schedule to save us."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHcoCjMCjn
Gabriel gave a dismissive wave. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure you'll repay me soon."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUD0JR7UBs
"Yeah, you owe us big time!" Adrien added.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWK15Z5ZDc
I fought back a grimace.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9VgmW6QHU
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.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJhqhIZnW1
"Where's my piece of the map, Curseword? I want it back. It's the least you can do after everything."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8xbdTFtjN
Chase decided to play dumb. "What map?"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdUxWi45Fh
"The one you two stole from me. Remember that?"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEUuXHZuy5
"Oh, that map! Yeah, we don't have that anymore."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIT79nkodgk
Gabriel clenched his jaw. "Is that so? Do you care to tell me what happened to it?"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP205STkEn4
"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.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCyVB3TR8q
"How could you be so stupid and careless?" Adrien barked. "We should throw you back overboard for your incompetence. Come on, Gabriel!"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jl1jsd0xy
Gabriel firmly clutched his arm, restraining him. "We will do no such thing."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37kRhTadcT
"You're no fun," Adrien grumbled.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyt7oxS0Et
Grasped my side in an attempt to slow the bleeding.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF32f6uED9W
Gabriel's eyes widened as he appeared to notice the bullet wound for the first time. "That doesn't look good."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIt6xlIanxv
"That's an understatement."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKY7a2pd6jV
"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.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraaJeJe1gN
Scantily clad cyborgs sneered at us as we limped past.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKGpX0G3kn
"Sorry, we interrupted your party. You're welcome to resume whatever you were doing," Chase called out.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pl5wChdwK
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.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRS7ZlpOQQh
"You know I'm going to get blood stains all over this thing, right?"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRALGLqpdO
"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."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PLAIuDi3v
I nodded. "I understand."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgT4rwODQOV
"Not you, Curseword. Chase. He's the one who made me come all this way on my day off."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOzFxAoTT0
"I understand, sir. Name your price and it's yours."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZKMEFMjxZ
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."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLXEDNL7v2
"I don't work for you. I could not care less if you like my personality."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkzYKN05yt
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."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWp01hbgwJ
Adrien poked his head in the door frame. "Are we throwing them overboard now?"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6cPVD9uXG
Gabriel waved him away. "No."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhGBl8CMo6
Adrien muttered something foul and stormed away.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXd3hIkCHQ
"One more thing," I signed. "Stop calling me Curseword. My name is Atlas, and I'm not anyone's plaything anymore."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5lGkJueBd
Gabriel pursed his lips. "Alright, Atlas. I want you to know I never meant to make you feel like a pawn."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQ5AAbHIB6
"You were exploiting me for monetary gain before I was old enough to drive! How am I supposed to feel, Gabriel?
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9QA1nJeuW
"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."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFji4wiD8k
I remained silent.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPC1yMhSqA
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?"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxC6ezhZ6L
"Because I knew he'd come to rescue you," he replied.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLPJAvKbRL
You're going to owe him a favor now!
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDs7qRvNlI
"I'm fine with that. I'd rather be alive and owe Gabriel St. Martin a favor than be dead."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCjR9rUfVv
I folded my arms across my chest bitterly. I couldn't control Chase's decision, but I didn't have to like it.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxRmW9ZLaL
...
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Jjfy7iyZz
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.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZJMypLZyB
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.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpto4K2ZY9
...
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYIZJj3Wj8
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.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOCjHj2U0C
"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.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxN6i1Vcp1H
Patch ruffled my hair. "It takes a lot more than that to kill me."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hKeaGuCrI
Marisa leaned in and held on to me for dear life. "Thank God you're okay. I was so scared." Her voice quavered.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUX7JBZnqgJ
I squeezed her right back. I was scared of losing her too.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyxGRbJybE
Once we finished our group hug, I asked, "How did you get here?"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MjZ0cfFZm
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."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdq05BvNQ55
"Thank you, Adrien."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvo2apMRVW
"Yeah, whatever. It's no big deal. There's no need to get sappy."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Fn46Kyywu
"Is Oblivion gone?"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7U6j0xcUf
They both nodded.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCiWylMXEJ
"And she took the Annihilation Code with her," Patch added.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS99HFAazB3
"What? You found it?"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzySdLmJBt
"Your map was spot on, kid. You led us right to it."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxbE8HVSAu
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.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEWEAPNcmP
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."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGCdgahiMi
I swallowed down the lump that was forming in my throat. "Thank you, Chase."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgmepjVsmI
"Don't worry about it. I've got your back no matter what."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZMm2etk8q
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 15.158.61.5da2
