His sister wanted to know it all, and with the powers of August, she could truly know it all. He’d send her back, all that time back, and she’d be forced to witness that time from the eyes of someone who wasn’t blind to the tricks of the state.

She’d see through the eyes of someone, who was a part of the state. He hesitated, but that couldn’t be seen, his body didn’t allow for half motions, or faulty commitments, the moment he decided it, it was done.

So, when he did rest his forehead against hers, he made peace with the past and all that he had done. She’d see it all, every mistake, every regret, every laugh, every cry, every moment of weakness, and every moment of postured strength.

Thus, August had no choice but to accept it, all of his mistakes, all of his short comings, all of it. So, eyes closed, he was prepared for her to know who he truly was, and why he was the way he was.

Thus, he had done it. May fell into an abyss, barreling through time so fast she didn’t even realize she was falling herself. It would all collapse into place like blotches of paint in water, the world around her, and there she was, looking down at a younger version of herself.

Then, she couldn’t have been any older than five, and August was no more than seventeen. He still looked much the same, though he did have hair, that was the last time he had hair, and the last time he smiled with grace. Fixating on those details, she remembered that it was then, he had sent her back to the exact moment it had all changed.

It was the day that August had met the messengers of the council, it was the day he had been diagnosed a psychopath, and it was the day ‘The Every Man Rule’ was implemented on his behalf.

As for May herself, looking at herself, even at such a young age, she couldn’t help but to feel a bit of guilt, even knowing that there was nothing she could have done. She tried to tell herself, to alter the past, but her voice did not so much as echo from where she stood, in the mind of August.

They were standing in the hall, and May was clung to her brother’s leg, awaiting the arrival of those revered few. She wouldn’t get to witness it though as from the right of the hall, the wall fell away and her mother came forth, prying her away from her brother, taking her back to her own room.

The sight made her heart skip a beat, even in the ethereal way she existed. It was her mother, alive and well, they looked like twins, only that her mother was older. She reached out, but nothing happened, not even a twitch.

She remembered that day, and how could she forget. Even with the little she had come to know, just remembering the way her brother smiled at her with longing eyes before that door way collapsed before her, it made it all the worse, because remembering it, were those tears, yes, she was in his body, and they were.

That’s where all her knowledge ended, and from there, it would all be new. She realized that she was in his mind, and he had no voice in there, only ideas, and all he saw for himself were gruesome deaths, being ripped limb from limb, guts on the outside, clinging to a figure, almost like a premonition.

His thoughts were cut short as a heavy hand rested on his shoulder, his father. May experienced all she had with her mother, though that time she sprung towards her father, trying to take hold of him, but nothing happened, even as she screamed.

He looked like August, but the resemblance wasn’t uncanny like her and her mother, they were only close enough to assume a connection, but that was it. August was no slouch when it came to looks, but his father was a different breed altogether.

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He had a jawline so sharp he could split a strand of hair, and his hair was so smooth, curly and red it looked fake. Those details were lost with what her father did next though, he hugged his son, squeezing him. The man was crying, weeping, they knew, they all knew, all but her.

Their father held August by the shoulders, looking into his glossy eyes, his smile twitching. August would not disappoint his father, and even without a voice saying so in his head, may felt his emotions, and they were clear. August took hold of his father’s hands and removed them, patting him on the shoulder.

“I’ll—…” A tear slipped. “I’ll be fine…” August’s words as he wiped the droplet away.

“I’m sorry… I never meant for this to happen… but some things… some things can’t be made... can’t be replicated… some of us… are just special… I—” August stopped his father.

“I understand… I’ll do what I have to do…” His father would take hold of him, resting his forehead against his.

A hiss sounded throughout the room, and both the men stood, nothing, not even a singular irregular vein in their eyes. A circle would burn itself into the rose colored floors, and they’d arrive, the messengers.

They’d come into view head first, as that was the nature of their arrival. They wore white robes lined with gold, and those that were of no more importance than escorts wore helmets that were stark white, not even a visor visible, only golden runic symbols.

There were three off them, two of no notability, and one that was. It was a woman, she was tall, and irregularly so, but she was beautiful. Her stark black hair was littered with huge spiraling curls, she had all thirty-nine pearly whites in her smile, her eyes were a welcoming purple and her pale skin, ironically, seemed to shine. She walked towards them, smiling, and reaching out to both, she shook their hands.

“A pleasure to see you again Mr. Roman Rosavault… and you, the successor of your father, August Rosavault.” The woman looked around as she spoke, as if looking for something, for someone.

“It is an honor to be in your presence Ms. Eting-Fesh… Shall we.” August’s father led them to the far side of the hall.

The wall collapsed to reveal a room the size of a small auditorium, various bits and bobs scattered about it. If they weren’t storage units filled with weapons and books, they were ceiling reaching glass tubes with metal bases feeding small volatile stars, or they were tables with various tools, materials and chemicals.

They made their way to the center of the room that had a set of red sofas, two of which were facing each other. The woman sat on one opposite to the two men, and as for her escorts, they stood behind her, admiring the place.

“Why don’t we get straight down to business…?” The woman looked at both men that nodded. “Good. August, I assume you’ve already been informed of the purpose you will serve. All humans have the capacity to commit atrocities, but not all have the ability to truly disassociate from reality and become more… or shall I say… become ‘psychopaths’… the tasks you will be obligated to complete will require you to become more, as unfortunately not even your parents have been able to complete our missions. However, you… your affinity with infinity… or shall I say The Abstract is more than we’ve ever seen. Are you ready?” She locked eyes with August.

“I am… Ma’am.” August’s mind was empty, no fear, no happiness, just focus.

“Splendid…” The woman smiled, and with that, fragments of the future began to show.

They took August to one of the tables in the room, and before they began, they shaved his head. It was then that May saw the brother she knew began to form. They laid him down and placed a metal muzzle on him, something for him to bite down on.

They’d also strap the young man to the table. The woman then stood at the top of the table, above his head, both her hands at the sides of his temple. She wouldn’t immediately begin the procedure, she waited as one of her subordinates brought a syringe with a translucent silver liquid, afflicted with chromatic aberration.

They’d inject it into his veins and immediately, he felt like he had come down with something, as he instantaneously got a fever, his pupils dilating and sweat washing him. The feeling of something crawling through his veins, ever present.

“I’m going to guide you into a place where only your kind… and only your kind can go… so that you’ll transcend your mortality… in mind.” The woman placed her hands on the sides of August’s head and her eyes became gray foggy bubbles.

August’s vision would then fade as he felt himself sink into a body of water, so still, it was almost impossible. As for what he saw, an empty sky, two translucent partitions to either side, though he didn’t get to see those for long as he soon went so far down, that there was only darkness.