No.
That singular word rang like a bell in Thomas’s mind after experiencing the fall of Popolis.
The scene brought back mories... unpleasant ones to boot.
The screaming, the crying... the hopelessness that he felt that day as he watched Popolis be devoured by the Labyrinth returned to him, leaving him a complete ss.
Even as the shadows had devoured him, he did nothing but wish that it was all a lie, that everything was a bad dream.
Maybe that was why despite noticing discrepancies early on, he never said anything.
He wanted to live out the rest of his days in the city he’d grown up in.
So how could he not fight back after he’d been forced to confront the truth?
At that mont, Alex was like his worst enemy, as bad as the Labyrinth that took everything from him.
So as he aid his gun at Alex, prepared to shoot, he sought to gain so sort of reprieve.
Since he couldn’t kill the Labyrinth, he’d kill the one that woke him from his beautiful nightmare.
But Gerald stopped him.
Gerald, his best friend, and closest confidant, stopped him.
His bloodshot eyes t Gerald’s wet own.
"Why?" Was all he could muster in a hoarse tone.
Gerald shook his head. "It’s enough. It’s ti to let go. This city... it’s been devoured by the Labyrinth. Staying in this... mock reality it has created would be an insult to everyone who died that day."
"... How can you say such things?"
"I know it’s hard, Tom. But we have to end this."
Silence reigned as the duo exchanged looks, Alex standing in position, watching the exchange.
It took a full minute before Thomas leaned in closer and pressed his forehead against Gerald’s own.
"You were like a brother to ," Thomas muttered softly.
"And so were you to ," Gerald replied, his eyes closed and his voice low.
"Thank you."
"I hope we et together soday... brother."
"Yes."
Bang
A shrill sound rang out with a resounding silence following soon after.
Alex watched as Gerald dropped to his knees with a hole in his chest.
There was no blood but it made the scene no less grueso.
Thomas stared down at Gerald, his gaze distant. "Go back in for now. Once you co out, you’ll be released from the delusions placed on you by this intruder."
"Tom..."
"Don’t worry, I will hold out until you return."
With those words, Thomas raised his gun and shot without hesitation, another bullet drilling into Gerald’s temples.
The latter collapsed to the ground, his consciousness dissolved while his body slowly dissipated, leaving a pool of darkness with a portion twinkling with white light.
No movent was made as both Alex and Thomas stared down at where Gerald’s corpse would have laid.
Silence reigned montarily before Thomas raised his gun and took aim at Alex.
"You made kill him."
"..." Alex remained silent, his expression devoid of any emotion.
"I gave you a chance to leave and now... just like us, you will be devoured."
Taking a deep breath, Alex inquired. "Do you know where it is?"
"Hmm?"
"Abraham left sothing here that would facilitate his ascension to godhood. Do you know where it is?"
"...Go die."
Bang
Clang
At so point, a warrior, born of Evernight, her skin glowing brightly with white light and armored with swirling shadows that, unlike Nyx’s darkness, were non-corruptive, had appeared before Alex, her blade cutting through the bullet that threatened him.
Thomas blinked in confusion, having had no prior knowledge of this strange guardian.
Master, do I dispatch him?
The voice that ca from the knight was surprisingly feminine, betraying her otherwise threatening appearance.
"I doubt you would be able to finish him." Alex casually replied.
The shadows swirling around the knight seed to shift for a mont but Alex paid this no heed as he continued.
"He is a shadow and to shadows, he would return. Our goal is to find what Abraham stashed here. If we are right, then subduing him and retrieving the Mantle would be much easier else... we might have to compete with a god for ownership."
Thomas watched their exchange, still perplexed at what had happened.
But he quickly recovered himself, raising his gun to fire again only to pause as he realized... his vision had tilted.
***
With the order of things realized, the group at BoneHaven, or at least what was left of the city, quickly began to make preparations and after a bit of ti, those chosen for the purge of the Whisperers had gathered before the barrier placed about the ruins.
Lionel naturally took the lead with Ana beside him.
Marcus, Anderson, and Arthur stood behind and further behind, a group consisting of both Enforcers and Priests stood in formation.
Numbering a little over 25, Lionel turned to address the group. "The task is simple; remove all nonhumans. I will not tolerate any mistakes. Now... onwards!
With those words, he turned and marched through the barrier with everyone following closely behind with looks of anticipation.
***
Nadia sat with her back against an alabaster pillar, her breathing ragged and her eyes closing.
"Lady..." Roland called out, barely helping her keep herself awake.
"How much ti?"
"... Still a day to go."
"I see." She muttered tiredly before glancing down at her arm.
Her pale skin had grown even paler, making her look more like a corpse than a living being.
"He will co." She remarked after a short while, seemingly trying to convince herself to persevere.
"Is that so?" A sleepy voice inquired from sowhere ahead.
Both Roland and Nadia grew tense as they turned their gaze towards the altar where Abraham currently sat with his eyes closed and an amused smile on his face.
"You..." Nadia trailed off, unsure of what to say.
"You did well." Abraham continued as he slowly opened his eyes to regard the duo. "Succeeding in causing to sleep for so long is no an feat, after all, I am a candidate for godhood."
Chuckling softly, he added. "It was a pleasant dream. A world where they were gone. One where I rule as God of all. But that is enough. It’s ti to realize those dreams."
"..." Roland’s heart tensed as he watched Abraham attempt to step on the floor but just as he did so, everything paused.
A mont later, a feminine voice, one filled with vigor, laced with anger and brimming with sadness, remarked. "I will not let you win."
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