Puron Psych

55

Please comment and like this chapter - Let me know what you think! (Updated)

An hour went by until Harper was completely back to her senses. But time seemed to have stopped while Hyde let Harper cry.

When she finished, she sat up and massaged her head. She felt a migraine coming.

"This altar is called 'For the Lost'." Hyde translated the symbols on the pillar. "It's surrounded by a small lake of cleansed Puron. It won't kill, but it carries the Will and Desire of those who've passed on. Very similar to how Puron in the bloodstream can contain Memories of those who suffer from crystallization."

"Was what I saw a memory? Or was it what Giada and the others wanted?"

"I'm not sure..."

"Let's hurry and find Socks and get out of here."

"Can you stand up straight?"

"I don't have much of a choice, do I?" Harper pushed herself up. She felt her leg itch. It was swollen from the Puron that seeped into her skin when she stepped into the puddle.

"It's still dark in here."

"This way," Hyde grabbed onto her wrist and took the lead. "Watch your step."

He helped Harper carefully maneuver around the altar, and the fallen pieces of architecture and guided her under slanted pillars with ancient writing.

"You seem to know a lot about this place, Hyde." With every step they took, she began to wonder why Hyde was able to read all of the symbols. How did he know where to go in the darkness?

"The Facility has a lotta records about Historic altars on mainland Paradiso."

"I've never read any records about Paradiso."

"Of course, you haven't, those records weren't meant for you or any rookie assistant to see."

"Excuse me!"

"It's not an insult." Hyde rolled his eyes. "There are plenty of records that the Westonian government chooses to conceal."

"So how come you know about it?"

"Are you genuinely asking or are you being sarcastic?" Hyde snorted. "I was made inside the Facility, poured into a plastic container, and stored in an artificial womb. The only information withheld from me was that Bomb never intended for me to save Westona."

"So, as a serviceman, you knew everything about the other countries?"

"Most servicemen know. They're legally bound by a contract that prevents them from going out of order."

"I don't understand how that kind of information stayed a secret. I would've loved to know about flowers, trees, and natural oxygen as a kid."

"I was the serviceman who enforced that rule. And most people knew not to cross me." Hyde stopped suddenly when he caught sight of Socks in another room across from them.

"Are you able to see in the dark?"

"No."

"Huh? Then how are you able to navigate?"

"Puron. The altar is full of it. And it doesn't affect me the way it affects you."

Hyde observed the entrance.

Socks looked at the path beneath his paws and carefully skipped forward. Hyde realized that the whilfox jumped onto different plates on the ground, causing them to fall and rise with the sound of a click.