August would find himself back in the facility after the experience, he’d take note of all he had seen still, for a time yet to come. He’d follow the cloaked figures still, leading him out of that small pocket of hell. The stairs seemed almost infinite, but at least they lead outside. They would make it to the top in time, one of those figures commanding the iron giant open and setting him free. He had seen it, but that didn’t change his lived experience.

He’d take stride from underneath that shadow, and at first it burned, the sun, but he’d continue still, the doors closing behind him. His nose would sting a little, the salt in the air, but it was pleasant, just like the bantering of birds deafening him.

The sand was something else completely, all those thousands and million grains washing over him as he buried his feet in it. He couldn’t conjure a single thought, the ability he had to know everything, making nothing truly knowable. It did numb his mind still, and so his heart calmed in all the absence that confused him, thankfully.

He’d eventually take back his autonomy as that putrid energy finally dissipated from him fully, his mind cleared from that endless fog. The crashing waves would catch his attention, and closing his eyes, he chose to know nothing as he opened them once again.

He’d tumble, balance a trick he’d have to relearn, not to mention the weight of his body, but it was worth it. Looking out at the ocean, there it was, color, blue, and not the kind ‘those’ eyes told him was there. It was the kind he knew; the kind he’d seen his whole life, the kind he understood.

The breeze, it was like the world’s soft, yet fleeting embrace. His attention would be cannibalized by something far more magnificent still, a warmth in his chest at its very presence, and he knew why. All living things, regardless of creed, had bonds, bonds based in blood, family bonds.

He had been privy to all of man’s secrets, and he could feel such a bond. The normal person would feel a slight tingle, a gut feeling, or maybe intuition, but to him, it was a binding chain that surpassed the bounds of any one reality.

Thus, he could feel his sister’s presence. He’d look up to the road at the shore, and sure enough, there she was. It didn’t seem planned, and if it was, the girl was not informed, as she walked with intentions of passing by.

She’d be stopped though, the caretaker who survived guiding her. The girl seemed confused at first, until she was directed to the beach and she saw him, her brother.

May took not a second nor a minute, she’d immediately scale the railings and jump from it, no regrets, and no worries. August, even in the state he was, was taken aback by her actions, though he still did catch her.

She took hold of him, almost chocking him with the tightness at which she hugged him, thankfully he wasn’t feeble. He waited, as he assumed she’d eventually let go, but she never did, nor did she say anything. He’d be forced to sit.

The caretaker would eventually make her way to the beach as well, though she had no intentions of getting close. She stood a distance away, observing, and to any bystander, she looked fine. As for the reality of the situation, her heart was running a losing race, and she was barely mustering the strength to stand.

They both knew the reason though, all those tests that were done on August, she was there to witness them. As such, she had no doubts in her mind that he could kill her at any moment, especially with her affiliation to Greed. He wasn’t in the business of holding grudges though, in fact, he was grateful for her. She had taken care of his sister in his absence, and that, to him at least, was a debt he could never repay.

“Caliandra Obsidian, was it?”

“Ye-yes…” The sound of her name made her stumble a bit.

“Thank you.” He’d look her in the eyes, though he couldn’t quite smile.

“Your—… My pleasure.” She’d bow, almost falling from the lack of strength in her legs.

“You can relax, you’re fine. We’re fine.” He’d try and budge the girl, but she didn’t falter.

The woman, as much as her gut told her to leave, she’d sit as well, though she still didn’t get too close. As for August, he’d pat his sister on the back and she’d faint in his arms. He cradled her, held her like his newborn child. It had been years, and she certainly did look different. She was starting look more like his mother.

“How close were you to ‘her’?” August wanted to hear her say it.

“I… I attended her every need.”

“I assume you didn’t know… Am I right?” The man looked her in the eyes as he asked.

“I di—…” Her own dry throat proved an opposition. “I didn’t know… I swear… I didn’t know…”

“Hm…” He’d look elsewhere. “I don’t feel them anymore. I was told that they’re alive. What do you think happened to them?”

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“Your… your parents…? I don’t know. They went to—”

“Yes. They went to search for me… That’s not what I asked though. You said you knew her well. Only people can enter the void, so what do you think she’d do to ensure I’d never leave it?”

“I… I’m not sure…” The woman in those moments, remembered the faces of those she thought she would be joining.

“I have an idea. She’d hunt them down and kill them. What do you think of that idea?” He wanted a conversation.

“I suppose that could be the case…”

“Why are you crying…?” August looked her in the eyes like he had done before, even with her mask on.

“I’m…?!” She’d realize it herself. “You’re going to kill me… aren’t you…? It certainly sounds like it… and who could blame you… after all I’m—” He’d stop her delusions.

“No. I gain nothing from your death, and I’d gain nothing from that thing’s either. All I want are their bodies, a proper burial… at least…”

“They… they can’t be dead. You can’t die in there…?” Perhaps the woman’s expertise had failed.

“If you truly believed that I’d ask you why you’re still here when you have your own circumstances...?” He tried to lock eyes but she’d look away. “In most cases… it is impossible to die in the Abstract, but carrying back a grievous wound would do what exactly? You wouldn’t technically die in there, because you’d die on exit… and staying… well, that’s death within itself, a different kind. Then there’s just Death, ever-present, the keeper and the void… where I toed the line of living and dead… in her domain… in there… you can just die… just like any other place… and if you’re a prominent enough idea… a Sin let’s say… well, you could just ask her a favor… So, knowing all of that, do you think they’re still alive?”

“I don’t know… I don’t… know…” He told her she was fine, but words were cheap.

“I guess you wouldn’t know… you don’t seem to know anything. Though I do not blame you for that... So what became of my room?” He’d chamge the topic to something more pleasant.

“What…? Your room…? We didn’t touch anything… we left it the exact same way it was when you left…” She swallowed the rest of her response, for the latter half was a question.

“That’s good to know…” He’d stand, holding his sister like a baby.

The caretaker would stumble to her feet, and following his steps, they made progress towards his residence. He didn’t take a direct route there though, and even the caretaker would notice such a phenomenon. They’d even continue their walk near the shore, May awakening in a calmer state, still, she held on once more.

He wasn’t bothered that time though, if he was ever bothered at all. He’d take the time to admire the sky piercing buildings, all of it an impossible structure of glass, something even he had struggled to wrap his head around before. The spectacle would be reduced to dust though, as he’d see that certain energy reinforcing all the structures.

He wouldn’t lament such a melancholic truth still, he’d return to his residence, basking in the breeze as they usurped the clouds that didn’t lie. As the floor slotted into place and left him standing in his own home, it felt wrong, as if he was trespassing. The red floors were not to be tread upon and the walls were not worthy of his eyes, not after all he had caused anyway. He wouldn’t let such a thing stop him still, and returning to his room alongside his caretaker, the very sight of it was enough.

The blood did well up within his eyes as he froze, but a blink or two dealt with that as he laid his sister to rest. He hadn’t hurt her, but he left her feeling like a liquid. He knew she wanted to stay by his side, but there was much to do, and time was not one to be bargained with.

Yet, even knowing of the urgency he was supposed to be bound to, he stood in his room, looking at all of it. He scanned his drawings, paintings, sculptures, reconstructions, everything, and he decided that most of it had to go. It was a waste of space after all, nothing but an eyesore, but not then, he was still busy.

He left the room, the woman close behind him, as for where he was going, he went into the lab, and it was clean of all history. There was no char, blood or water. He wasn’t there to reminisce though, even if he did focus on the table that had restrained him so many times.

It did not steal all his attention, as he’d let his intentions be known. He stood still for a while, then he’d walk into reality itself, and it rippled as if it was water, and he was gone. She stood dumfounded for a while, unable to think, unable to even be confused. Then, to add fuel to the pyre, he returned from the same exact spot, warping reality again, water close behind. It was then that all feelings aligned, as even August, the cause, was confused.

“That wasn’t supposed to happen…” The man would stand unmoving for a while, staring at the floor. “She didn’t tell me everything… and of course she didn’t… in fact… she lied…?”

Finally, he’d show some real emotion. His mouth pried back all the way to his ears, his eyes widened as they feigned a slight red glow. The woman, Caliandra, who until then was nigh confused, was then unsure of her safety.

She felt a weight in her chest and a tug in her gut as sweat washed her. The sight of him, a true monster. He’d even catch himself, taking hold of his own face, as if not even he was aware. He’d even show another emotion, he looked at the scared woman, feeling like trash himself.

“I’m… I’m sorry… Just go…” He’d turn his back to her, looking at himself.

He had been told so much about all of creation, yet he couldn’t discern what he was, who he was. The body he had, it wasn’t his, not anymore, and it’d never be his. The mind he had, it wasn’t his, he didn’t process information like that, it wasn’t him.

It felt like wearing a suit, one that he couldn’t take off, and it wasn’t pleasant. He’d take hold of one of his sleeves, and he’d pull it up. He stared at his body for a while, then using his other hand, he took hold of his forearm and began digging into himself.

He felt the pain, but it was miniscule, irrelevant really. He’d remove his hand from the wound, and before his eyes it’d heal, he’d heal it, though he didn’t want to. He was being controlled, he was being manipulated. Whoever had tricked him into thinking he was in control, was still in his mind, was still influencing him.

“Off… get it off… get it off me… get if off me!” He’d begin tearing into himself, yet, his blood went no further than an arm’s reach, and his flesh acted as rubber. “Get off!”

The caretaker, though told to leave, didn’t, and she couldn’t, he was her responsibility. She’d approach him, even as he hysterically dug into his own flesh, even as she shook, even as she cried. He’d notice her, even as hysterical as he was, and he’d look her in the yes, though even then, she didn’t stop. She walked right up to him, and opening her arms, she took hold of him, a hug.

“Stop… please… stop…!” She’d squeeze the man, refusing to let go.