Ruin // Danger Days (Book 3)

Epilogue: The Unknown

It was done. BLI had been defeated.

The Girl had activated her bomb, all of the souls trapped in BLI's airwaves were freed, Destroya had gone on its rampage, and the corporation's hold on the population of Battery City was released.

Val took off his mask. He thought of all of the terrible things he'd done. He'd killed Dr. Death, he'd completely rejected morality, he even rejected the Girl in her time of need. And he hated himself for it.

Where had his mind gone? Why had he let himself go?

Oh, Sun... why did I disgrace you like that? I'm sorry.

He walked up to the Girl, who was laying on the ground. He handed her Party Poison's mask, which he'd taken from her. "I'm sorry..."

Then, he threw his own red-striped mask on the ground, leaving it behind. "For everything I've done."

He wandered the city streets, observing all of the peace and reconciliation. There were several people dressed in white wandering around confusedly, as if they were seeing the world properly for the first time.

And then, he saw him. A ghost. A man who he was convinced was dead.

His hair was long, as it always had been, but it was tied back, and it was a sandy blond rather than an icy blue. But his eyes were the same. They were just like the ones he'd treasured more than his own life. He couldn't help but run to him, though they had never been on the best terms.

"Storm?"

The man looked up at him, and though Val had been expecting to see malice on his face, maybe a "where have you been, Velocity?" there was only confusion. There was no recognition in his eyes, though they'd known each other for nearly Val's whole life.

"Sorry, but I think you've got the wrong person. My name's not Storm, it's Lucas. Lucas Cassian."

But when he said this, his eyebrows furrowed, as if he wasn't even sure about what he said. He knew this man, who he thought was supposed to have white hair for some reason, was familiar to him, but he had no idea how. And since the explosion, he wasn't even sure about his own name.

Val sighed. He doesn't even know his own real name. So, he did something he never thought he'd do. He put a hand on the other man's shoulder. "Listen. My name's Val. and your last name's not Cassian, it's Castellan."

Lucas's eyes went wide. Suddenly, memories began to hit him like a barrage from a machine gun. A girl with orange hair smiling at him, a pair of bright hazel eyes gazing into his, a warm hug from a boy in a spiked jacket.

"Who— who are you? Who... who am I?"

Val chuckled. "You dumbass." Then, he pulled the disoriented Lucas into a hug. A moment later, he pulled away, put his arm around Lucas's shoulders, and started to lead him through the crowd.

"C'mon, let's get you home."

At the word home, Lucas began to imagine something. A bright sun warming his skin, rock music playing from a radio, people laughing. He realized then that this was what he desired most in the whole world.

"Yeah... home sounds great."