[ Creators ]

Chapter 55

"(Let me...out...)"

It's unknown to Straus how long he's been asleep. Days? Weeks? It's hard to tell. What he does know is that something is forcing him to stay at rest. For the second time in his life, he feels trapped, even hopeless. Not even Para can get him out of this one. He can't move, can't speak, can't do... anything. The only thing he can do is at least try to call out to someone, anyone through his thoughts.

"(Somebody...help us...)"

Luckily for him, this time, he has people in his corner who can answer the call.

Crackle...craaaack...

KER-CRASH!!

From the outside, Pandora has finally managed to kick her way through the dense barrier that surrounds her son's home. Having gone in from the top, she elegantly lands on the ground, her white dress flowing outwards.

"Phew...finally... ALRIGHT, YOU TWO! I don't care if you're going through an "edgy" phase or what. But a MILE-THICK BARRIER around your Space?! I will not tolerate such-! such..."

Such what? What exactly was she looking at? What's wrong with her son?!

"Oh no... no no no!" Pandora runs over to the siblings and shakes Koto, "Who did this to you!?"

No response.

"Kids, PLEASE!", She then shakes Straus' shoulders. "Please, I can't lose you again, Straus!!"

"(...Mother...?)", Straus feels his mother's presence beyond this sick, lockdown void. If he could just...reach...!

Pandora holds both Koto and Straus' hands and begs once more as she begins to weep, "Please, come back!!"

It takes a moment, but she feels Straus' hand gently tighten around hers.

"...Mom...?"

She gasps, "Yes-! Yes, it's me, son!"

As Straus begins to come back in touch with reality, he's suddenly struck with a stabbing pain through his chest. This was the same thing Koto felt when her World was in danger at the hands of Synthis and Jupiter. But this hurt so much worse because he began to realize what was lost in his absence. Straus, weak and exhausted, begins to cry quietly. He staggers forward into his mother's arms as she hugs him. "There you are!", she sighs as she holds him close.

"Mother's here...it's ok...shh shhh..."

"H-He's gone..."

"Who is?"

Noticing that Koto was still stuck, the two turned their attention to her. "Koto-! Koto come back, please!", Straus calls. With their encouragement, she returns easily, but she's also hit with the same disorienting feeling as she returns to her senses. Straus holds onto his sister and mother but can't seem to stop himself from crying more.

"...What...happened?", Koto asks, "Did we die...?"

"No.", sighs Straus, "We're not dead...but Aaron is..."

As the siblings try to get a grasp on what exactly happened, they see a dark purple hue surrounding their Worlds dissipate. Koto shakily goes around checking on everything, slowly piecing together what's occurred in their time away. "There was a guy, and... everyone's so scared... and Lightverse-! It's in utter chaos!" "He's gone...!", Straus whimpers as he just sits down and covers his face. Pandora sits beside him and rubs his back, looking at Koto. "H-hang on!", Koto stutters, "I can summon Uriel here, we should tell her that we're ok... (Uriel-!? Uriel, what's your sta-)" Before Koto has a chance to finish her mental message, Uriel practically crashes into the Space, clinging onto Koto and sobbing, "KOTO!!" Seeing her Creation in such distress, and knowing the gravity of the situation, Koto also breaks down as she hugs Uriel, "I've got you... I've got you...I'm here..."

Meanwhile, in another place, Vyz becomes aware that his controls over Straus and Koto's home have been lost. He grimaces at this revelation; how did they manage to break out so quickly? How could anyone have gotten past his fortifications? They were nigh invincible! Well, no matter, there was still work to be done. And even if they got in the way, it's not like it would be impossible to deal with them.

"A pity, indeed...I guess I will simply commit to wrecking their World..."