The Overlord Trilogy: The Darkness

22 • The World On Fire

Elizabeth: "What's the matter Liz?" I quickly wipe tears from my eyes and look at Zoey.

"Nothing, I'm fine. Just thinking..." Zoey stands up and walks over to me, wincing slightly from the healing bullet wound.

"You can tell me big sis." Zoey smiles at me and sits in front of my wheelchair. In seconds I am breaking down, crying like I have never cried before. Zoey stands and hugs me while I cry, not able to stop myself.

"I'm sorry that you see me like this Zoey." I sit up and wipe the tears away from my eyes.

"It is okay Liz. You're still awesome to me!" I smile as Zoey walk back and begins to write in her book. It is amazing how much we have all grown together. No one is nervous about Xileth and Zoey covering their faces, we have accepted them for who they are. Samantha, I hope, has gotten over the scars on her face and accepted herself. These past couple of weeks have given us all a family and I realize why I can't leave now. Even if I only remember part of my life now I have to stay for them. Amber is my sister, Kali and I had a good friendship I can feel that but it still is hard every now and then.

"I'll stay. I'll stay for you." I smile as I whisper this promise, one that I vow to keep, to myself while Zoey continues to write her book.

~~~

Samantha: "You went back in time? Really?" I look at Amber with more than just skepticism, she has to be insane to think she went back in time.

"I am telling you that I did. Either I went back in time or to a different world." I rub my forehead and sit down, Amber sitting down across from me.

"Listen it is a little late to be dropping a bomb like this."

"I'm sorry but you are the one who is going to meet with Aya." I saw where this was going but I decided to ask anyway.

"Why did I need to know Aya?"

"Because then we can ask her what the real purpose of that symbol is. She is expecting you anyway so we can just go there tonight and ask about it."

"She's expecting me in a week not in the middle of the night." Amber shuts her eyes and rubs her temples, obviously in pain. "You okay?" Amber nods and opens her eyes.

"Just a headache. Anyway can you please help me with this? I need to know if it was real." I sigh and stand up.

"Fine. Get your stuff and let's go visit Aya." Amber smiles and nods, going into another cavern to get her backpack. I shake my head and pick up my backpack and Nightfall rifle, who knows what can happen this late at night? I wait at the entrance for Amber, trying to decide if I really should do this. I eventually decide that there is no true harm in us going to Aya, maybe it will make Amber drop this whole "time travel" thing. "Ready?" Amber nods, looking down as she passes me. I watch Amber begin to walk down the hill, now seeming more nervous and reluctant than before. After a minute I follow her down the hill and begin to walk towards the village.

~~~

Thomas: I wipe sweat from my face as I continue to check the energy gauge. We're pretty low anyway but I have a feeling that we've been losing energy while the Atlas has been sitting here, something I haven't found evidence for. Yet.

"Can you hand me the Cataly-"

"Here." I turn and grab the Catalyst from Logan and use it to start up the main engines.

"Go around back and watch the thrusters to see if something is damaged over in that area." Logan nods and walks out of the cockpit. As the thrusters fire up I keep my eye on the energy gauge. Due to this high tech system not a lot should be lost on initial startup but will lose energy once we launch, obviously. Everything starts up normally, all systems clear. I sit back and let out a breath of relief, all my worrying for nothing. "All right Logan everything i-" I feel my heart drop as the alarm system plunges the ship into red light. "Shit!" I quickly check what the hell made the alarms go off and pull up the virtual model of the Atlas. "No, no, no!" The thrusters on the model are now a deep red while the rest is a blue, a sharp distinction between bad and good. I slam my fist on the panel and run outside to check what caused the malfunction.