Hello everyone, and welcome back to Virus! c:
God, this school year is so much more stressful than I originally thought it would be. World History AP is absolutely destroying my sanity (I've already had more than my fair share of mental breakdowns these past five weeks alone), and my other classes adding little stresses onto that really isn't helping very much. That's why I'm VERY glad I have Wattpad. Though it is still a bit hard to motivate myself to write chapters since I'm so burned out on academics so often, it makes me smile to think of all the faces behind the comments, reads, votes, and to know that you are all still supporting me, my writing, and this series despite everything. Thank you guys; I feel like I don't tell you all that enough ^^
As far as my creative writing goes, I'll try to work on getting that up before next update (no promises, though). I believe I'm going to take a leaf out of someone's book and call it "Pen to Paper" or something similar (thank you, by the way!), and I just need to get a cover designed before I can post my summative from a week or two ago. A big hug to everyone who's completely willing to read any of my writing, even if it isn't Cube--you are amazing!
This is where the climax begins, I'd like to think. Given, it's a fairly LONG climax (Virus is planned to have 31 chapters, a prologue, and an epilogue, so we've still got a tiny bit to go), but still. As far as my next story goes, I believe in the next couple of updates that I'll get a survey going to see what your opinions are so I can get to planning before Virus is complete and the Pixel series is totally finished.
Remember to follow code_cherry on Twitter, and to vote and comment for more. Enjoy twenty five!
J O R D A N [ B A Y A N I ]
This is my fault. I should have saved Grape that day. I should've made more of an effort to help Ash. I should've tried to talk the creators out of their threat, I should've made the firewall stronger...
Everything was dark. So overwhelmingly dark that it felt like the blackness itself was pressing itself into my skin, trying to dim the light within me. And it was cold, so unbelievably cold that my nails were digging into the skin of my arms in a feeble, unsuccessful attempt to warm myself. There was nothing to look at, and as a result I simply floated there in the nothingness, curled up instinctively to attempt to shield my body from whatever was trying to creep inside.
I should have tried harder with Will...
"Will is not your fault," a deep voice murmured, though it didn't seem to snap me from my eerily calm reverie. "He is a liar, a traitor. He wasn't there for you in the beginning, and all he's ever done is ask for your help with nothing to offer in return. And now, just when you'd offered your unending support to him, he turned your back on you for someone he barely knows."
I sighed. But I could've done something, at least. I couldn't even talk to him about it.
"Why should you have to?" purred the voice. "He is the one to blame, after all. He knew exactly how much he meant to you, and yet he still tore your emotions to shreds. What apology is there to be given on your part?"
I guess, but... there's so much that I could have done, but didn't. And look where it's gotten us.
"You think the others are still by your side as well?" The deep voice laughed, cruelly amused, as if I was a naïve little five year old who still believed in happily-ever-afters. "They play their part well, don't they? They made you leader to assess you, you know. To learn your strengths and weaknesses. And Grape most of all; you really believe that he didn't know of Alpha's power? Did you ever think that perhaps his plan all along was to put enough of himself within you that he could control you, sway your thought processes?"
It sounded familiar, but wrong at the same time. I took a deep, shuddering breath, feeling as I had suddenly woken up underwater.
"They've been using you. You're nothing but a gullible fool if you've ever believed otherwise." The voice was getting gradually louder, echoing around me and causing my frown to deepen.
No... that's impossible. They've always stood beside me. Always. I shook my head, attempting to clear it of the fogginess that was smothering my mind. Even if I wasn't there for them, they were there for me every time.
"Face it Jordan—you're all alone, and they left you here."
"No!" I gasped, my eyes flying open to greet the endless dark infinity that surrounded my dream-body. I was struggling to breathe now, firmly resisting the freezing air bearing down on me, fists clenching. "You're wrong, Nano. I know them and you don't; you can't trick me."
The sickening sweetness of the voice, now completely recognizable as the virus's, vanished in a heartbeat. "Can't I? Your unending anger and jealousy and doubt is such easy fuel; it won't be long before your choice is gone." His words came from all sides, crowding in on my head, and I was unable to resist a wince. "Soon this war will be over, boy, and all of you will be completely and utterly mine. The Alpha's chosen, the one you call Will, and even my brother himself will not stand a chance—and they wouldn't dare harm their so-called friends regardless." I was trembling at this point, partially from the constantly dropping temperature and partially because of the horrifying truth of Nano's statement. "So why don't we see, friend of Alpha's chosen? Why don't we test how long you can bend before you snap?"
I was unable to suppress a cry as I felt the chill turn to daggers of ice, the relentless nothing pressing down on my very being with the force of a bullet. Desperately fighting the worm that was attempting to creep into my thoughts once more, I pushed back as hard as I could manage, but I couldn't keep it up; my mental blows were continually growing weaker as the darkness closed in, frozen shards piercing my skin, almost down to my core.
"This battle is finished, Jordan," drawled Nano, satisfied. "You meet your end here."
No, I thought pleadingly, unable to form verbal words anymore. I won't let you win. My friends still need me. I'm stronger than you think.
Nano chuckled, the sound driving sharp blades up my spine. "Then let's see how long that strength lasts."
And I struggled against the blanket of shadows that was wrapping around me, hoping that the dissipating willpower I had was enough.
This chapter is purposefully short and dark. As you've probably guessed, Nano is finally strong enough to attempt full control of ALL of the Cube members, just as he did with Ash back in his base in Nano. This chapter is basically Jordan's consciousness attempting to be swayed by Nano's words, and eventually attempting to fight off the influence, which becomes difficult when Nano's source codes have pretty much taken over their cores at this point. All of this, in addition to the threat of the creators discovering their secrets. It's really heating up now!
And yes, Nano does remember their names fairly well now XD
QUESTION OF THE CHAPTER:
I'd like to get to know you guys a little better, and even become good friends with some of you guys (like I have with Grace, Cass, Sher and Tam), so my QOTC is slightly different this chapter. I'd like you to comment one interesting fact about yourself that you're comfortable sharing (something that not everyone can brag about), as well as one thing that you have in common with ME. I'm guessing if you read the QOTC, you've read my author's notes as well, am I correct? That gives away a lot of my personality, and an even bigger indication is my Twitter, which is full of my thoughts and obsessions if you can't seem to remember anything. I want to get closer to my readers and become friends with you guys! <3
Vote and comment for more! Until next time!
~ Cherry
YOU ARE READING
Virus -~- Book 3 of Pixel
Fanfiction“I want to know how they survived, what vital information we’re missing. I want them found and brought here as soon as possible, and we’re not going to stop until we figure out what gave them the ability to walk this Earth with the rest of us. I swe...
