Hayze: J- Jake?
Jake: In the flesh, well, actually…
Hayze: Where am I?
Jake: *sighs* I guess it makes sense that you’d need to hear it out loud: Afterlife.
Hayze is taken aback.
Hayze: So… I’m dead?
Jake: Yup! Honestly, my money was on Alden joining me next.
Hayze is silent.
Jake: Oh, I guess now isn’t the best time for jokes…
Hayze: I… I couldn’t save her, and now I’m dead…
Jake: Yeah, I was watching that. It was pretty rough, man.
Hayze stares at Jake.
Hayze: Running away that day… It was one of the worst mistakes I’ve ever made.
Jake: You mean the day I died?
Hayze: Y- yeah…
Jake stands up.
Jake: Get up. Let me show you around.
Hayze: I…
Jake: Look, you have all eternity to reflect on your death. At least take the time to check everything out.
Hayze: *grunts* Alright…
Hayze follows Jake out of the room. The door opens to a sea of clouds.
Hayze: What is this?
Jake: I thought you’d like to see the cliche version of “heaven” first.
Hayze: Version of heaven? There are multiple?
Jake: Yeah, here’s mine.
Jake snaps his fingers. Suddenly, the world changes to a McDonald’s.
Hayze: Why am I not surprised…
Jake grabs a happy meal off the counter and sits at a booth.
Jake: Sit.
Hayze sits down.
Hayze: Jake… is this actually you, or am I hallucinating?
Jake: It’s me, alright. Trust me, you’re dead as fuck.
Hayze: Prove it. Tell me something only I know.
Jake: Your girlfriend is a psychopathic pervert.
Hayze: Fuck… it is you.
Jake: Enough about how hilarious Blair is. It’s time we talk about you.
Hayze: Huh? What is there to talk about… I’m dead. I’ll never get to see any of our friends alive ever again.
Jake: That’s why we need to talk. You see, Hayze, you will see them again.
Hayze: What?
Back at 2-A’s dorm, the TV is lying on the ground, smoking and shattered. Eve is scolding Aaron in the corner.
Eve: WHY WOULD YOU PUNCH THE TV?!
Aaron: To make it work.
Eve: WELL, DOES IT WORK!
Aaron looks at the destroyed TV.
Aaron: As a paperweight, yes.
Eve punches Aaron.
Eve: Smartass.
Karma: You know, guys. I’m a little worried that the others aren’t back yet. The Honor Ceremony should have ended a couple hours ago.
Zach: Maybe a villain attacked, and that’s why the signal went out.
Justus: Perhaps, but we probably would have heard about that by now.
Angel: Yeah or one of the teachers would have at least informed us.
Gus: I don’t think we should worry about it. Everything is probably fine.
Blair places her hand against her heart.
Saige: Is something wrong?
Blair: I don’t know… I just have a weird feeling. I don’t know... like something terrible happened.
Saige: Hey, I’m sure Hayze, Silver, and the others are alright. The Top 10 and your brother are there. If someone did attack, I’m sure they would have handled it.
Blair: Yeah, you’re right. I should stop being such a worrywart.
Kevin: Hey, guys! The limo is back!
Saige: Speak of the devil.
Everyone rushes outside to see Ash and Wes step out of the car.
Eve: Ash, Wes, where are the others?
Wes: Uh… someone tried to assassinate Lust.
Everyone is shocked.
Wes: Emphasis on “tried,” of course.
Ash: Aster, Hayze, and Silver chased the assassin, and the ceremony continued as usual, but after it was over, Lust and Black Hollow were worried that they weren’t back, so they took Daniele and Alexis and flew off to look for them in Black Hollow’s helicopter.
Blair: (Hayze…)
Kevin: Do you know anything else?
Karma: Also, why did it take you so long to return?
Wes: No, we were ordered to head back home by Impact and Big Tank, but before we could leave, they had a lengthy conversation about something. I don’t know the details.
Ash: The assassin didn’t seem too strong, so I’m sure the only problem was he ran really far from the stadium.
Wes: Yeah, plus Lust and Black Hollow were heading there to back them up, so I’m sure everything is fine.
Demetri: Then why is the helicopter coming here?
Wes: Huh?
Everyone looks up to see Black Hollow’s helicopter flying toward the school and landing on its helipad.
Wes: That… I cannot answer.
Kevin: Maybe they’re just dropping Silver, Hayze, and Alexis off?
Blair: Hopefully…
The helicopter touches down on the helipad. Adrian, Ewing, Fatal, and Recovery Girl arrive on the roof via elevator with a stretcher.
Fatal: What’s going on?
Ewing: I don’t know, but I got a transmission from the pilot saying they had an injured student of ours seeking urgent medical attention.
Adrian: Who?
The helicopter’s blades stop spinning, and the door opens.
Daniele: Help! Please!
Alexis: He needs your help, Recovery Girl!
They all notice Hayze’s body.
Adrian and Fatal: (Hayze!)
They rush over with the stretcher; Daniele and Adrian help move Hayze onto it.
Fatal: What the hell happened?!
Alexis: The Vampire Queen got him!
Fatal: What?!
Recovery Girl places her hand against Hayze’s neck.
Recovery Girl: He doesn’t have a pulse!
Daniele: We know! Please get him one!
Recovery Girl: *grunts* We need to get him to my office immediately!
The six of them wheel Hayze into the elevator and start descending. Fatal looks at Hayze.
Fatal: H- how did this happen? Why was he alone with the Vampire Queen?
Daniele: We didn’t have any choice, Ms. Fatal. This girl put up a barrier that locked him in with her, and we couldn’t do anything to stop her.
Fatal: Well, how did that happen!
Daniele: I- I- I don’t know!
Fatal: How do you not know!
Adrian: Rachel! Calm down! Now isn’t the time for yelling and anger. We need to focus on helping Hayze!
Rachel: Right… sorry…
Jake chows down on some chicken nuggets.
Hayze: Wait, you’re saying I can go back!
Jake: Yeah.
Hayze: How? The Vampire Queen drained all of the blood in my body! And Ivy stabbed a sword through my chest!
Jake: Mhm, but that’s not the reason why you died.
Hayze: Wh- what?
Jake: The Vampire Queen absorbed all your life force when she bit you, instantly killing you.
Hayze: She can do that?
Jake: Yeah… she’s a vampire. She drank your blood for food but absorbed your life force to grow her power. Each soul she absorbs makes her even more powerful. That’s why she calls her death cage “Soulvania.”
Hayze: Okay, so how does dying because my life force was taken mean I can come back to life?
Jake: Easy. Once a soul has been stripped from a body, it becomes an empty shell. It doesn’t matter if it has no blood or a hole in its chest. If there’s nothing to inhabit it, nothing matters. So, say your soul returned to that body. In its current state, you’d instantly die again. But what if your friends took it to be healed and had blood transfused into it. Then you’d be alive again.
Hayze: Are my friends trying to do that?
Jake: Would you?
Hayze: Of course.
Jake: Then there’s your answer.
Hayze: Okay… so how do I get my soul back in my body?
Jake: It already is.
Hayze: Wh- what?
Jake: You, my friend, accidentally stumbled into a massive loophole. Remember how you used your Soul Conjuring ability to allow Impulse to roam free?
Hayze: Yeah?
Jake: Well, what is Impulse made out of?
Hayze’s eyes widen.
Hayze: A piece of my soul!
Jake: Yup, after you died and Impulse returned to your body, so did a tiny fragment of your soul. It’s been slowly rejuvenating since that moment. Soon, it will be enough that you’ll be able to return to the land of the living.
Hayze: How long will that be?
Jake: I’m not sure, but that’s not important right now.
Hayze: Huh? What?
Jake snaps his fingers, and they return to the sea of clouds.
Jake: Hayze, the reason I’m here isn’t so we can catch up. It’s so that I can be sure you won’t be coming back here any time soon.
Hayze: What do you mean, Jake?
Jake: Do you know how much a near-death experience can change a person? Imagine how an actual death experience will affect you. Hayze, I won’t let you lose what makes you special.
Hayze: I don’t understand what you’re saying, Jake. I’m the same person I was before I died.
Jake: Really? Then let me ask you this question: Can you save Ivy?
Hayze’s eyes widen.
Hayze: I… I don’t think so.
Jake: See? Dying changed you, Hayze, and you can’t return to Earth like this.
Ivy ducks down an alleyway, enters a phone booth and dials a passcode. The floor opens, allowing her to enter Scarlett’s underground facility. Scarlett is waiting for her at the bottom.
Scarlett: Ivy, my girl, you did a spectacular job.
Ivy: All for you, my Queen.
Scarlett: Now that we have Hayze’s blood, Dr. Wirths can begin analyzing it, and we’ll be one step closer to transforming this world. Today was critical, Ivy. You should be proud; I know I am.
Ivy: Thank you, ma’am. I also brought you this.
Scarlett: Hm?
Ivy pulls out the Sigma Ring fragment.
Ivy: Hayze was wearing this around his neck.
Scarlett: What’s the significance?
Ivy: This gem reminds me of one of the rings that my former master was hunting. I know you negotiated with him to utilize Marsh’s services. Perhaps he’d be interested in bargaining for this?
Scarlett takes the fragment.
Scarlett: A marvelous idea.
Ivy: Now that you’ve revealed yourself as the Vampire Queen, what’s the next step? The heroes are bound to come after you; they already know our location.
Scarlett smiles.
Scarlett: I know, and that’s exactly what I want them to do. Killing Hayze in front of them was a tactical decision. Did you notice how the three boys they sent to hunt “you” down were U.A. Students?
Ivy: Y- yes.
Scarlett: I wasn’t originally planning on making a public appearance, but I knew this would be the time once I saw that. Hero agencies are spread so thin right now that they’re relying on students to help them out.
Scarlett laughs.
Scarlett: And now that I’ve killed one of them, there’s no way the Top 10 will do anything against me. They won’t risk any more of those precious students’ lives, and if they don’t have any extra firepower…
Ivy: They’ll never attack us.
Scarlett: Precisely, Ivy. Even if five members of the Top 10 stormed this facility today, they’d have to face a gauntlet of my enforcers. Inevitably tiring them out too much to best me in combat. So they can’t do anything, and once the press discovers that the heroes know where I am and aren’t doing anything. Their heroism will be called into question.
Ivy: But what happens if they do decide to come after us with the U.A. students as backup?
Scarlett looks at the ring fragment.
Scarlett: Then we should expand our ranks.
Recovery Girl has healed Hayze’s stab wound and has begun transfusing blood into him. Ewing and Fatal are both in the room.
Fatal: How is it looking?
Recovery Girl: There isn’t much I can do for him. They brought a dead body here.
Fatal: *frustrated grunt*
Ewing: What a tragedy.
Daniele, Alexis, and Adrian are out in the hallway.
Daniele: I can’t believe he’s actually dead…
Alexis: How are we gonna tell the others…
Adrian is deep in thought.
Adrian: (How could this have happened? Hayze had too much to live for… Dammit!)
Alexis: Mr. Adrian?
Adrian: Hm?
Alexis: Sh- should I go back to my dorm? I… I don’t know what to do?
Adrian: I’ll… I’ll go back with you. You shouldn’t have to be the one to tell them.
Adrian looks at Daniele.
Adrian: You can head back too, Daniele. You don’t have to stick around.
Daniele: I think I’ll stay here… I- I feel partially responsible.
Adrian: What do you mean?
Daniele: I should have been out there, not him. I had seniority; it was my responsibility to protect Ms. Lust too, and I didn’t step up and force him to stay behind.
Adrian: You didn’t know this would happen, Daniele.
Alexis: Yeah, and Lust was the one who sent Hayze. It’s not like you told him to go after the assassin.
Daniele: You’re right, but I could have done something. I know it!
Adrian: Daniele, this is the hardest part of this job. Sometimes heroes don’t make it back, and it isn’t always someone’s fault. You’re young, and at the very start of your career, so you’ll learn this a few more times. Survivor’s guilt is something we have to come to terms with.
Daniele: *grunts*
Lust: Hey!
Black Hollow, Aster, Lust, and Silver arrive.
Adrian: Ah, Lust and Black Hollow.
Black Hollow: I’m sorry for what happened. We weren’t able to help.
Adrian: Don’t worry, I’m aware of everything. I’m sure things would have been different had we known what that girl had up her sleeve.
Black Hollow: Right, well, I hate to leave so suddenly, but I must return to my agency.
Adrian: Okay.
Black Hollow leaves.
Lust: I must apologize. He was only working for me for a few days, and now he’s…
Adrian: It’s okay. What happened happened. We can’t all beat ourselves up over this.
Silver: *grunts*
Jake snaps his fingers, taking him and Hayze to the moment Silver and Eve defeated Darian.
Hayze: Wh- what is this?
Jake: Kind of an interactive flashback. Being dead means you can reflect on every moment of your life.
Darian looks over his shoulder to see the other dust pile coming at him at the same speed.
Darian: (Ah crap…)
Darian is slammed in the back by the dust and pushed into his own capture bubble.
Darian: NO! DAMMIT!
Eve: Got him!
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Jagger gets a terrified look as Silver turns his attention toward him.
Silver: Your turn!
Jagger: Ivy, we’re retreating. Go a different direction; they won’t follow both of us.
Jagger and Ivy split up and head into different parts of the forest. Darian has tears in his eyes, watching his allies escape without him.
Darian: WAIT! JAGGER, please don’t leave me!
Silver: Guys, we have to follow him!
Eve and Silver run into the forest after Jagger; Past Hayze follows them but then looks over in Ivy’s direction. Jake snaps his fingers to pause the flashback.
Jake: We both know what comes next.
Hayze: This is the moment I chose to chase after Ivy by myself.
Jake: Yeah, it’s the single most defining moment of who you are. If someone asked me to describe you with just a single action, this would be it.
Hayze: Why are you showing me this?
Jake: Because you must make the same choice if you’re ever in this situation again.
Hayze: Jake, of course I would. I had to save Blair.
Jake: Yeah, but let’s see what could have happened next.
Jake snaps his fingers.
Past Hayze: (She’s got Blair with her… it may be suicide… but I can’t just let her take Blair without any opposition!)
Hayze changes directions and starts running after Ivy.
Ivy: (Pest.)
Ivy unsheathes her sword and points her hand at Hayze.
Ivy: Pull.
Suddenly, Past Hayze is pulled by a gravitational force straight into Ivy’s sword, killing him. Present Hayze watches with shock.
Hayze: I- I-
Jake: You shouldn’t be surprised. This was the most likely outcome, right?
Hayze: Y- yeah…
Jake: You knew this was a possibility, yet you still went after her.
Hayze: So I guess I got lucky then, huh…
Jake: No, don’t you see, Hayze? Ivy knew this too. That’s why she didn’t kill you. She was intrigued by you. She was curious as to why you weren’t afraid of her.
Hayze: Th- that makes sense…
Jake: Let’s go further.
Jake snaps his fingers. Taking them to the moment Hayze and Ivy met in the woods.
Hayze: Huh?
Ivy lowers her sword, sheaths it, and starts walking away.
Past Hayze: Where do you think you’re going? I’m not letting you leave with Blair!
Ivy: I know you’re trying to use your psychological tricks on me… trying to make me think my Master would betray me. I don’t care if he’s only using me for his own gain because I am gaining too.
Past Hayze: How?
Ivy: At least I’m useful to someone; everyone else wants to lock me away and throw away the key. It’s okay if he doesn’t actually care about me, even if his kind words are lies. At least someone is saying them to me. I’m a monster, a cold-blooded killer, and I don't deserve to be cared about.
Hayze grinds his teeth.
Past Hayze: Says who!
Ivy stops walking. She turns around and looks back at Hayze.
Past Hayze: We all deserve to have someone who loves and cares about us; no matter what bad things we’ve done in our lives, we all deserve that person. You shouldn’t want to be used! You should want to be cared for!
Jake snaps to pause the flashback.
Hayze: I really said that huh...
Jake: It’s ironic in hindsight. Ivy’s now joined the Vampire Queen partly because you didn’t think you deserved to have people love and care about you.
Hayze is quiet.
Hayze: What’s the point of this? To make me feel bad that I wasted my only chance at saving her.
Jake: No, it’s to make you change “my only” to “a” in that sentence.
Hayze: Huh?
Jake: Hayze, don’t you see what’s going on here? This girl murdered Mr. EMD literally an hour before this conversation, and what are you doing? You’re trying to convince this girl that she’s not a killer. That’s the thing that makes you special, Hayze. You believe there’s good in everyone and that everyone can be saved.
Hayze: Jake, I get what you’re trying to do here, but Ivy killed me. I looked her right in the eyes, told her I cared about her, and she called me a liar. I’m here right now because I couldn’t save her.
Jake: But I thought your goal was to save everybody. Where did that go?
Hayze: I guess not everyone can be saved.
Jake: Funny you mention that.
Jake snaps his fingers, taking them to the night Hayze, Eve, and Jake spent in the cave during the Final Exams.
Past Hayze: That girl, Ivy, the one that attacked us in the forest and the mall.
Eve: Yeah… what about her?
Past Hayze: I don’t think she’s evil.
Eve stares at Hayze blankly.
Eve: She killed Mr. EMD in front of all of us. What about that isn’t evil?
Past Hayze: I think she did it because she was told to, not because she wanted to.
Eve: It’s not about the motive; it’s about the fact that she KILLED a hero; you think that isn’t evil?
Past Hayze: No… I think there’s good in her… and I can help her.
Eve looks away.
Eve: Your darkest secret is you have a crush on a psychopathic chick who tried murdering you in cold blood? Yeah… I believe you.
Past Hayze: It’s not a crush! I think she just needs someone to help her, someone to-
Eve: Save her?
Hayze hesitates.
Past Hayze: Yes.
Eve: I can tell based on your childhood you have an obsession with saving people. I’ll try to be nice because I know you mean well, but not everyone can be saved, Hayze.
Hayze clenches his fist.
Past Hayze: That doesn’t mean I’m not going to try…
Jake looks at Hayze.
Jake: Where did that guy go?
Hayze: He died.
Jake: Yeah, and now he gets a second chance, but he’s gonna end up right back here if he loses the most important part of who he is.
Hayze: Jake, even if I did believe Ivy could still be saved, I don’t know how to do it. I thought convincing her would work, but she hated me too much.
Jake: Ivy wants two things: one, to have the life she wasn’t able to have because of her quirk, and two, to have a real friend that cares about her.
Hayze: That’s obvious, but she’s so sure she’ll never have those things that she’d rather die or kill anyone that tries to convince her otherwise.
Jake: Then maybe it’s time to stop trying to convince her and just give her those things.
Hayze: Wh- what do you mean?
Jake snaps his fingers, returning them to the sea of clouds.
Jake: That’s for you to figure out, Hayze.
Hayze: Jake, you seem so much more mature.
Jake: That’s what death will do to you. But unlike you, I don’t get to go back.
Hayze: Does it ever get lonely here?
Jake: Kind of, but I like to think that’s a good thing. I’m here before my family and friends, which means they’re all still alive.
Hayze stares out into the endless horizon.
Hayze: I’m sorry, Jake.
Jake: For what?
Hayze: I never thought you’d sacrifice yourself like that. I always thought you were a slacker who didn’t really care about being a hero.
Jake: I mean, I was.
Hayze: But you-
Jake: Yeah, I did what had to be done to save my friends and family from dying. I didn’t have any ambition to be a great hero or go down in history books, but when my name was called to sacrifice everything to protect those I care about, I was ready. That’s what made me different from anybody else, and I wouldn’t let my death change that about me. The question is, are you?
Hayze thinks for a moment.
Hayze: I don’t know, Jake, it’s just… she killed me. She just stabbed me and walked away. How can I save her after that?
Jake: Let me ask you this: do you still believe there’s good in her?
Hayze: Yeah… I do. Ivy didn’t deserve the life she was given. She wouldn’t have turned to Iota if our society didn’t label her a monster when she was a child. She was betrayed by her parents, the people that were supposed to love her unconditionally, then she was betrayed by Iota, and then… me. She’s afraid to trust anyone again. She’s a product of her environment.
Jake: Well, guess what, Hayze? You’re the only person that believes that at this point.
Hayze: And if I stop…
Jake: She’ll never experience happiness or a real life.
Hayze’s eyes widen with realization.
Hayze: Nobody’s too far gone as long as someone believes they’re not.
Hayze is silent for a few seconds.
Hayze: You’re right, Jake. I can’t give up. I promised myself I would save everyone, and that included her. So I’m gonna keep trying, even if it kills me… again.
Jake smiles.
Jake: Good, right on time.
Hayze: Huh?
Suddenly, a massive arch with a shining light at the center rises from the clouds.
Hayze: Is that…
Jake: You’re door back to the land of the living.
Hayze stares at the portal.
Jake: Of course, you could always stay here and not be a burden to your friends ever again.
Hayze smiles.
Hayze: I won’t make that mistake twice.
Jake: Good.
Hayze starts walking towards the door. He stops and looks back at Jake.
Hayze: I hope to see you again someday, Jake. You know, in 70 years, give or take.
Jake: Cya, Hayze. Good luck.
Hayze: By the way, no offense, but why couldn’t I have seen anyone else like my parents or Dr. Moore?
Jake: That’s just how the afterlife works. Maybe you could die again and see if you get someone different.
Hayze: Ha, farewell, Jake.
Jake: Goodbye.
Hayze walks through the portal.
Hayze: Everyone… I’m coming.
Hayze’s heart rate monitor starts to beep.
Recovery Girl: Wh- what?
Fatal: D- does that mean what I think it does?
Recovery Girl rushes over and checks Hayze’s pulse.
Recovery Girl: H- he’s alive!
Fatal: How?!
Recovery Girl: I have no idea… tell the others.
Fatal runs to the hallway.
Fatal: Guys, look!
Silver, Aster, Alexis, Daniele, Adrian, and Lust quickly enter the room and see Hayze’s heart rate monitor. His skin is beginning to regain its color.
Adrian: How is this possible?
Recovery Girl: I have no idea, but if I had to guess. It has something to do with the serum.
Silver’s eyes widen.
Silver: Impulse!
Fatal: Huh?
Alexis: What are you talking about, Silver?
Silver: When Hayze was killed, Impulse was forced back into his body. What if a piece of Hayze was still alive inside Impulse?
Adrian: That has to be it.
Fatal: What luck…
Daniele: (Thank god…)
Lust: This is excellent news! Will he be awake soon?
Recovery Girl: Probably not, his body is in a very weakened state, and it will take some time for him to regain his strength.
Lust: Okay, well, when he does come to tell him he’s not welcome back at my agency until you give him the all-clear, Recovery Girl. I won’t allow him to return to hero work until he’s 100%.
Ewing: That’s probably wise.
Lust: I’m glad I can leave with some good news. I’m sorry to go now, but I must inform Big Tank about what happened tonight.
Daniele: It’s okay, Ms. Lust. We understand.
Lust leaves. Fatal walks over to the bed and looks at Hayze.
Fatal: I’m so happy he’s alive.
Adrian: We all are.
Ewing turns to the students.
Ewing: It’s time for you all to return to your dorms. It’s late, and you have classes tomorrow.
Aster: We understand, sir.
Daniele: Yeah, we’re just happy Hayze is alright.
Adrian: Yeah, now it’s time for us to let him recover. Silver and Alexis, I’ll escort you back to your dorm.
Silver: (Hayze dodged a real bullet here.)
Adrian, Aster, Daniele, Silver, and Alexis leave. Ewing walks up to Fatal.
Ewing: He will probably be very different after this experience.
Fatal: Yeah… hopefully, he doesn’t have PTSD or confidence issues.
Ewing: If he does, we’ll help him through them.
Back at 2-A’s dorm, everyone is still awake and awaiting the return of their classmates.
Blair: Where could they be?
Zach: I’m sure they’re okay.
Gus: Yeah, there’s no reason to worry.
Justus: We still haven’t heard anything from the teachers, and the helicopter landed almost two hours ago.
Gus: Okay… maybe there’s some reason to worry.
Adrian, Silver, and Alexis enter the dorm.
Ash: Mr. Copy!
Aaron: Alexis!
Saige: Silvy!
Silver: *frustrated grunt*
Adrian: All of you are still awake?
Kevin: We couldn’t go to bed without knowing how our friends were doing.
Eve: What happened?
Blair: Where’s Hayze?
Adrian takes a deep breath.
Adrian: There was an attack at the Honor Ceremony by a single assailant. Aster, Silver, and Hayze were dispatched to apprehend the criminal. Unfortunately, they were the same girl that killed EMD during your field trip.
Everyone is taken aback.
Zach: She’s back?
Aaron: That bitch?
Saige: (Her…)
Justus: Why would she have been at the Honor Ceremony?
Adrian: One reason: Hayze. She attempted to kill him just before the Final Exams last year, and clearly, she wasn’t satisfied with the result. This time, however, was different. She’s working with the Vampire Queen.
Karma: What?
Eve: Well, that’s great.
Adrian: She possessed a strange power that locked Hayze and her in a cage match of some kind. None of the other heroes were able to assist Hayze.
Adrian stops talking for a moment.
Adrian: Now, this next part will sound crazy, but I need you all to wait for me to finish before you react or say anything. Hayze was defeated by the girl, and the Vampire Queen showed up within the cage’s confines and… killed Hayze.
Everyone is shocked.
Blair: WHAT?!
Adrian: Blair, I said to wait before reacting!
Blair: WHAT DO YOU MEAN HAYZE’S DEAD!
Silver: He’s not dead, Blair!
Blair: Wh- am I misinterpreting what “killed” means!
Adrian: Hayze was dead, but thanks to the power of his alter-egos, he’s been brought back to life.
Ash: How does that work?
Adrian: We’re not 100% sure, but I can tell you this: He’s alive, and he’s recovering in the Nurse’s office. I’m sorry you all were so worried, but rest assured that everyone is okay.
Blair: C- can we see him?
Adrian: Not tonight, but I know you’re going to anyway, so try to wait until I’m at least out of sight, okay?
Blair nods.
Adrian: Try to get some sleep, guys. I’ll try to get you an update on Hayze in the morning.
Adrian leaves.
Ash: Are you two alright?
Alexis: For the most part, it was pretty rough watching Hayze… die, but I didn’t really do much. Silver saw the entire thing from start to finish.
Silver: Yeah… I did.
Karma: Are you okay, Silver?
Silver: I’m fine.
Silver starts walking away towards the staircase.
Saige: That wasn’t very convincing.
Silver: I’m going to bed.
Silver leaves. Blair starts walking to the door.
Blair: I’m going to see Hayze.
Saige: (She’s doing a terrible job looking like she’s over Hayze...)
Blair leaves.
Wes: So… Hayze actually died? That isn’t a figure of speech?
Alexis: Yeah, no pulse, no blood, no nothing. He was gone.
Kevin: Damn… it really makes you think about how dangerous this job is.
Aaron: Mhm, but we’ve been aware of that for a long time.
Wes: Yeah… I wonder if Jake’s watching us from somewhere.
Aaron: Nope, he’s just a sack of meat in the ground.
Wes: He was vaporized…
Aaron: Oh, then he’s REALLY gone.
Ash: How can you be joking around right now?
Aaron: You heard Mr. Adrian; he’s okay. There’s no point in sitting around and being sad if everyone made it out alright.
Angel: Yeah, that’s true, but Hayze is one of if not the strongest members of our class. If that can happen to him…
Wes: Aaron, most of us don’t have alter-egos we can rely on to bring us back to life.
Aaron: So we should be careful. It’s more productive to let this be a lesson than sit around and mourn someone who’s alive. My point isn’t that what happened wasn’t sad. We should take it in stride and be prepared the next time we’re out on patrol.
Karma: He makes a fair argument.
Aaron: Thank you.
Ash: Still, he shouldn’t be joking around right now. What if Hayze is negatively affected by this experience?
Aaron: I’m sure he’ll be fine.
Alexis: Well, if Silver is an indication. He probably won’t be.
Aaron: Okay… that’s fair.
Alexis: I don’t know exactly what happened, but it wasn’t pretty.
Blair arrives at Recovery Girl’s office. Only Recovery Girl is there.
Recovery Girl: Hello, Blair.
Blair: Is… is he alright?
Recovery Girl: Right now, yes.
Blair walks up to Hayze.
Blair: I had a bad feeling about today…
Recovery Girl: Well, you should thank your lucky stars you weren’t correct.
Blair: Huh?
Recovery Girl: Hayze is alive, and that’s a good thing.
Blair: Y- yeah… I guess.
Recovery Girl: Cheer up, Blair. You shouldn’t be sad right now.
Blair: How can’t I? He got lucky… there are probably a million other timelines where he’s dead right now.
Recovery Girl: So be happy that’s not this timeline. Be glad you have someone in your life you care about this much. This is the job you signed up for, so you have to be prepared for this possibility.
Blair: I know… but that doesn’t make it any easier.
Recovery Girl place’s her hand on Blair’s shoulder.
Recovery Girl: It’s okay. Just try to stay positive.
Recovery Girl leaves, and Blair sits in the chair next to Hayze’s bed.
“ Hayze: I know that, Blair, but we’d become each other’s biggest weaknesses. “ - Chapter 141
Blair: You were right… for a few seconds back there, I felt 100 times worse than I did when you disappeared for three months. You may be stronger than I am, but I won’t let this happen to you ever again, got that?
Blair wipes her watery eyes.
Blair: And I promise I won’t let you ever feel the way I do now.
Sometime later, Hayze’s eyes slowly open.
Hayze: *groans*
Hayze sits up and notices Blair is passed out at his bedside.
Hayze: Huh?
Hayze looks at a nearby clock; it’s 5 a.m.
Hayze: (Blair…)
Hayze gets out of bed, picks up Blair, and places her on it.
Hayze: (I’m sorry I put you through this.)
Hayze exits the nurse’s office and heads to the roof of the building. He stares out at the dark horizon.
Hayze: (I may have died yesterday, but now I feel more alive than ever.)
Impulse, Wrath, Calm, and Gale all appear as spirits beside Hayze.
Impulse: (You’re welcome, by the way.)
Wrath: (You didn’t do shit.)
Impulse: (Wh- he’s alive because of me!)
Wrath: (He’s alive because you existed, not because of you.)
Impulse: (Douchebag…)
Calm: (You need to be more careful next time.)
Gale: (Yeah, we almost went up in flames with ya.)
Hayze: (Sorry about that, guys, I didn’t mean to jeopardize your lives with mine. I honestly thought I could get through that fight without having to kill her, but I see now that was never going to happen.)
Impulse: (So what happens next?)
Wrath: (Once she catches wind that you’re still alive, she will come after you again.)
Hayze: (Yeah, she almost certainly will.)
Calm: (Then are you ready to kill her? Because that’s what it will take.)
Hayze smiles.
Hayze: (No, I’ll do what I’ve been saying since the start: save her.)
Calm: (That’s highly unlikely at this point.)
Wrath: (And suicidal.)
Gale: (Are you looking to die again?!)
Impulse: (You just said you can’t get through a fight without killing her.)
Hayze: (I’ll find a way, but I’m gonna need some help.)
Calm: (From who?)
Suddenly, the four personalities fade away.
Hayze: (So, are you finally ready to cooperate?)
Hayze turns around. Khaos, in spirit form, is standing behind him.
Khaos: (*grunts*)
Hayze: (You thought I didn’t notice she took the fragment? None of the others are trying to take control, so I only needed it to keep you in check. But now that you’re out of your cage, you haven’t been doing your typical total take-over schtick.)
Khaos: (Because it’s pointless.)
Hayze: (Why’s that?)
Khaos: (The one person that can help me take permanent control over your body just killed you. I can go for a joyride, but it must come to an end. It’s not worth the effort.)
Hayze: (I’ve been wondering since that day… how is she the key?)
Khaos: *sighs* (Well, since the door is shut, I might as well tell you what’s behind it. I embody your hate, but hate isn’t a “real” emotion. It’s just the negative form of L… you get it. I hate the same things you do, and I like the same things you do. As you recall, I’m bound from being able to kill anyone that you don’t hate. It’s not that I can’t. It’s that my existence would be unraveled if I did. Say I killed Blair. How would you feel?)
Hayze: (I’d kill you.)
Khaos: (Like you could, but that’s my point. You’d hate me, and by the rules of my existence. I’d hate me, thus creating a paradox that would destroy me.)
Hayze laughs.
Khaos: (What’s so funny?)
Hayze: (That implies that I don’t hate you already.)
Khaos: (You don’t, because you’re a fucking fool.)
“ Jake: That’s the thing that makes you special, Hayze. You believe there’s good in everyone and that everyone can be saved. “
Hayze: *nasal grunt*
Khaos: (Anyway, the opposite applies. If I were to help Ivy and save her the way you want to.)
Hayze: (I’d actually begin to like you.)
Khaos: (Yes, which would strengthen my power to the point where I could become the host of this body.)
Hayze: (So, you don’t actually “love” her.)
Khaos: (You do, so I do.)
Hayze: (Wh- I don’t love Ivy.)
Khaos: (There are more forms of love than romance, fool. Ivy reminds you of your own pathetic self. You’ve felt a connection with her since the moment you first interacted. You both didn’t have friends or a family and were treated differently because of your quirks.)
Hayze: (But her past was so much more brutal.)
Khaos: (Yeah, but it led you both to the same point.)
Hayze: (What do you mean?)
Khaos: (Dr. Moore and Iota, dumbass.)
Hayze’s eyes widen.
Khaos: (Ivy followed Iota without a second thought because he was the only person that gave her the time of day. Sound familiar?)
“ Hayze: What? Are you here to tell me my quirk sucks too?
Moore: No, on the contrary… I’m here to ask if you want an upgrade. “ - Chapter 1
Khaos: (You’re two sides of the same coin, but while you offered warmth and hospitality. She was trained in a world of darkness. That’s why you have such strong feelings for her.)
Hayze: (I see…)
Khaos turns around.
Khaos: (Either way, I’m still lurking around every corner of your mind, and just because my dreams of permanent control are gone doesn’t mean I’m not going to seize your body and have some fun.)
Khaos laughs.
Hayze: (Who said your dreams are gone?)
Khaos: (What are you on about?)
Hayze: (You need to save Ivy, right? Well, that’s still possible.)
Khaos: (No, it’s goddamn not! Or do you need another sword to the chest to get that through your thick skull!)
Hayze: (Maybe with your help, it is.)
Khaos: (What?)
Hayze: (If Ivy and I are two sides of the same coin, so are you and I. We’re Yin and Yang… and together, we could defeat just about anybody.)
Khaos: (Like I’d ever work with you!)
Hayze: (If we’re successful, you can finally take control… once and for all.)
Khaos scoffs.
Khaos: (Are you kidding me? You’d risk your own free will to save this girl?!)
Hayze: (Of course.)
Khaos stares at Hayze.
Khaos: (We have a deal.)
Hayze: (Good.)
The sun starts to rise. Khaos walks up to the railing, and the two look out at the horizon.
Khaos: (I just want you to know… that girl is too far gone.)
Hayze: (Says who?)