He walked back and even communicated with Maison as if nothing had happened. As if his running away never happened. Then he went and took a shower, memory resurfaced but he tried to force them down. Although he wanted to ignore it, his mind had other plans. Playing memory after memory, of him learning new things, ecstasy when he did them perfectly and then feeling alone with his achievement that it vanished to nothing. He couldn't go through that spiral again, he turned the shower cold in the hopes that the temperature change would wake him up. It did, he was freezing, but at least he wasn't thinking anymore. Dried up and clothed in a gray pajama, he walked to Maison who was in bed, and looked at Noah with a certain focus.

"Why did you run away? Was it something I said?" Maison asked with uncertainty. Noah bit his lips, what was he about to say? That everything was too much for him? That deep down he didn't want to save anyone? That he didn't even know who he was inside...

He dropped his head a bit making his eyes disappear under his hair, he balled his hands, "It's just unfair how these people out there have a zombie virus. How they want to die and here I am. Not allowed to help them. Whether it is to die or just cure them, not that I want to kill them either, they are all unfortunate souls."

Maison looked at him with sympathy, "Come here." Noah slowly made his way onto the bed and under the blanket. Now sitting next to Maison, he noticed how his red hair which was usually in a ponytail was now falling on his shoulders. That really pretty bronze-red hair was flowing freely on the others' shoulders. Even Maisons' face was nicely framed by his hair, the red was nice with the ice-blue eyes. He looked like a merman, ridiculously handsome and very seductive. Only then did Noah realize the situation, he was going to sleep next to this hunk of a man. Pretending to be shy he looked away after he was mesmerized with the other.

Maison smirked, "You will get your chance to save them, but at least for now we have to play by my grandfather's rules. You'll go outside with me, I won't let anything happen to you alright? When everything blows over, we can try and convince my grandfather that you will be better in the lab. But for now, you will blow zombies brains away, who knows maybe it's their wish?"

Noah nodded slowly before yawning, Maison let a helpless smile go through, "How about we sleep first, tomorrow everything will be looking better." He needn't say more, Noah was already asleep beside him. Helping the other lay more comfortably, Maison then pulled the blanket over Noah. With a quick look, he smiled softly as he turned around and fell asleep too.

Noah trashed around in his sleep as he turned to every side mumbling incoherent words, a fine line of sweat building on his forehead.

...

He heard it, the barking of some dogs, very aggressive barking, and he saw the teeth, sharp teeth with saliva dripping down the canine teeth. Doberman dogs surrounded him, showing their teeth as if they would bite down any second. Felix was scared, so scared. He remembered this, it was the first time he had to go into the dog cage. The first mistake he ever made, was when his father decided that beating him wasn't enough anymore. The first time he was brought to the basement, the first time he was pushed into a ring, and when the wall rose it was a different kind of feeling. Usually, Felix knew that after the punching and kicking, his father would spit at him and walk away. Now he was in a cage and there were dogs, who looked very hungry. He didn't know if they would kill him, for the first time he didn't know if he would make it out alive. The dogs came running, and Felix pushed himself against the wall, begging for his father to stop. Screaming that he had learned his lesson, that he would never do it again, that he would listen...

His plea fell on deaf ears, the dogs stopped running and walked to him. Slowly as if they were waiting for a chase, eyeing their prey before biting into it deep. Tears blurred Felix's vision, as one of the dogs came closer slowly sniffing Felix.

The dog tilted his head as if confused, but it didn't last long as Felix heard his father's voice through an intercom, "Comando 0." Right as he said the number the dogs growled loudly until they let out a dangerous bark. Felix flinched with every bark and his pulse quickened, he didn't know when this would be over. He just hoped it wouldn't be so painful. One of the dogs jumped right at him he pulled his arms in front of him when they went for the bite, and he saw as those teeth pierced through his flesh. The blood was splurting out. At first, he didn't feel any pain, but when another dog bit deeply in his left leg. He screamed, he cried, and prayed for someone to save him. Felix knew, there wouldn't be anyone that could save him, not even his mother wanted to save him.

...

Taking a deep breath Noah woke up, his body was full of cold sweat. He could still hear the barking in his ears, a shiver ran down his spine as he sat up. Closing his eyes he slowly breathed in and out, until he could feel the adrenaline going down. Slowly he opened his eyes and looked beside him, Maison was sitting there with a glass of water in his hand.

"Here, it's better if you drink something... You can talk to me about it if you want, I will listen."

Noah thankfully looked at him, he took the glass drank the water, and smiled sadly, he knew he couldn't tell him about it. However, there was something familiar in the guy next to him, something safe. Tears build up in his eyes and an overwhelming sadness befell him, tears running down his cheeks. Maison was so attentive, he took the glass of water and put it to the side, before enveloping him in a big hug. Noah grabbed the back of Maison's shirt as he hugged back and just cried. Noah was feeling overwhelmed, he cried and hugged. never letting go. Maison just hugged him back, occasionally petting his back softly, saying that everything would be alright. Feeling himself gradually calming down, he nodded and Maison took it as a sign that it was okay now.

Noah wasn't sure what to make of this, he never broke down like this before... There is just something about Maison that makes him feel safe. He couldn't tell him about his real experiences though, as he was Noah right now and not Felix.

"It's just a nightmare... I hate dogs, they are-" Noah paused as tears swept into his eyes again, and then he took a deep breath.

He was so nervous, "Some kids pulled a prank on me once, said we are going to see some cute puppies. Then... then we were walking into a shady alley, I asked them if we were wrong and they all said, the puppies were dumpster puppies so of course they weren't on a nice grassy field. I nodded along and went with them, only to go through a weird door. Then I heard people shouting and clapping, as we stepped closer there was a round metal cage and dogs were fighting against one another." He paused, remembering the illegal dog fights he sometimes went to, to get deals done for his father. Maison who still had both of Noah's hands in his, tightened his grip to signal that he was with him. That Noah wasn't in this terrible place anymore.

Feeling his hands tighten, he looked at Maison and gave him a small smile.

"I wanted to get a closer look..." His voice was shaky as he took a deep breath, seemingly nervous, "Someone pushed me from behind, and I fell into the ring with the dogs..." Noah shivered from fear as he recalled scenes, where one of his dad's underlings would push him to the circle before pulling up the walls.

"The dogs, they... all came at me. Biting deep into my arms and legs, I almost thought I wouldn't make it. All the blood, the pain, no one wanted to help me..." Noah had such a defeated look on his face, that Maison couldn't do anything but to take him in his arms. Engulfing him in a big hug, Noah hugged back burying his head in the crevise of Maison's neck.

"I passed out and when I woke up, there was no one else but the nurse. No one came, not even from the orphanage or my aunt. I don't know which time it was... But ever since then I'm not too fond of dogs, I get nightmares about that first experience. Always hearing them bark, always seeing their vicious teeth, and always remembering that no one will come for me..."

Maison hugged tighter and without him noticing a slight killing intent built up in his eyes, wishing to kill the one that did this to Noah.

"I will be here from now on. For you, if you ever dream of that again just tell me and I'll be there to carry that burden for you. Or rather with you, no one should have to go through that."

Noah got out of the hug just enough to face Maison, he saw the deep concern and the strong determination in the other's eyes. Noah knew he could trust him, like fully trust him. Getting the answer he wanted he buried his face in the neck of the other again.

Maison felt the air of Noah's breath against his skin, he swore to himself to protect Noah at all costs. The boy in front of him had been through enough. After about half an hour both of them decided to go back to sleep, in Maison's embrace Noah slept fast. Maison looked at the fluff of hair in his arms and wondered what the 'first experience' meant. Did the little guy in his arms, go through that more than once?! Hugging him he breathed in the scent of the other, Noah smelled like a nice evening. Refreshing, clean, and had hints of lavender, he liked that scent. The lavender made him sleepy. Feeling his eyes closing he fell asleep with a fresh scent of lavender, the view of a sunset, slowly dyeing the sky and the clouds red.

...

An ear-shattering alarm went through the halls, waking up Noah and Maison in the process, the room they were in was flickering a dark red. Confused Noah who was still not fully there, jumped up and clothed himself in a pair of black jeans and a gray shirt. Maison jumped up too getting into his fighting clothes, those he always wears when hunting for zombies. Jay ran into the room and closed the door with quick movements.

"Someone broke inside, or rather they rebelled and are taking over grandpa's dojo as we speak."

"What do you mean?" Maison asked as he broke the back of his wardrobe to get a few guns he had stashed there for emergencies.

"They call themselves 'The Holy Purification', wanting to rid humanity of the dirtiest of beings. They are after Noah, Ben, Cindy, Lea, and Me... Basically, everyone from the school we came from, said something about the oracle being all-knowing. Saying that a spy is among us, one that will ruin the world as they ruined the world they were in before."

"Ruined the world they were in before?" Maison asked as he handed Noah a gun.

Noah took the gun and made familiar movements to see inside the gun if it was loaded, seeing that it was he took the right bullets from Maison's wardrobe.

"Best guess? A transmigratior or someone who has been reborn? You know like some of these comics? Anyway, it isn't important. The important thing is that we get out fast and not die."

The three looked at each other, Maison and Noah said in one mouth, "Agreed." Giving Jay a weapon to protect himself with, they nodded to each other and walked out. Getting down the stairs, Noah hoped he didn't have to use it. He never killed a person before, but if they shoot him he will shoot them in the leg or something. Noah knew his mother would not be proud as she was a woman who always said to solve conflicts with words and not with violence. He was conflicted, after all, what Jay said did that mean that he brought destruction to his world? Is he a bad person? Before he could think anymore, Jay showed his finger to a person with a white sort of cape, it had golden linings on it. Whoever that was, looked like a saint, but the weapon in their hand said otherwise. Even in the ugly and dirty apocalypse, the clothes of that person were white with a golden cross. They looked so seamless, spotless, and immaculate, it looked so out of place. The gun in their hand told the violent tendencies, Maison looked at Jay signaling him to attack the person in front of them from behind. As they both bodyslamed the person to the ground, Noah came up from behind to get the gun. Without a weapon, the person looked up to them, with more feminine features.

"Why are you attacking this place?" Maison asked, Jay rolled his eyes as he told both of them what they were after.

"You are the dirt of humanity, only god can help us. The god who gave us these powers, the god who made us more powerful the those foul creatures. The curse they put on the humans to make them as they are, showing us the monsters they have within," The heretic said righteously. Noah frowned at such words, as the humans who are neither zombies nor awakened, are just collateral at this point.

"Why are we the dirt, after all, we are no zombies nor do we have powers. What gives you the right to judge over someone?" Noah asked, the heretic looked at him, their face turning into disgust.

"The world right now is the proof of god. The sinners are disgusting zombies, and the believers have powers, those who do not choose a side are just workers. They work to either tend to us who have been loyal to god or they will die, the lesser kind of punishment."

The three boys looked at each other and then the crazy lunatic, all thinking the same thing, 'That person is just bad shit crazy...'

Maison just knocked them unconscious, Jay had a look of 'Was that necessary?'. Maison pulled his arms forward showing to the person he just knocked unconscious, "You telling me you wanted to know more of this crazy talk?"

"Of course not, but they could have led us right to the other people. Maybe tell us a few more things?" Jay tried to reason.

Noah shook his head, "No, I see it like Maison. That person was full of crazy talk and weird beliefs, maybe we'd be better off not knowing what they had to say. As everything they have had said was just praises for god and how god punished the sinners into becoming zombies..."

Maison and Jay looked at Noah, seeing that he was calm, collected and not trying to play that cutesy act, they knew he is going to be himself and not the role he sometimes plays. Jay felt much better with a Noah like that, although he had not always been very respectful to him, Jay admired Noah for that roundhouse kick back in the school building. Not only that but also the fast-acting and change of face. Jay found it intriguing, that is why he was that way to Noah, he always thought he was kind of teasing him... As if he'd really look at Noah wake up. He was just looking at him right at the time Noah opened his eyes, he thought he could joke, but it seemed like Noah thought he was creepy the whole time.

"Let's move on," Jay said as he walked to the elevator together with the other two. At the elevator, they saw that the door was smashed and the insides were exposed, even the keypad on the inside was smashed. They were making sure nobody could get in or out.

"There are so many people still down there, wait if they smashed the elevator how did they get in there?" Jay questioned, Noah shrugged his shoulders and Maison looked to the backyard.

"We have to take the other entrance," walking to the garden where the remnants of tents stood, walking by the big oven that Noah sat in front of just the day before. Both Jay and Noah watched as Maison punched in the grass. Jay was confused and Noah observed the area more, seems like there was a wooden trapdoor with pieces of grass on top. Maison then jumped on top of it and it broke through, Noah could only see a bit of Maison's red hair sticking up.

"Come on, the others are still down there!" He said as he ran down what sounded like wooden stairs. Jay and Noah looked down the hatch and jumped down onto the stairs. Noah ran behind Maison but in front of Jay down the stairs. From a one-way down staircase it changed to a stairwell, in front of the door with the number "2" it went down deeper and deeper. They were in front of the cafeteria and the stairs up to the garden, just one more down and they would be at the sleeping quarter.

Jay walked to the door in front of them, "I will lead the people who are still here outside, it will be better to regroup than to stay with these lunatics and heretics." Maison frowned a bit, he didn't have much time with his brother but what if he lost him again to these zombies? Noah nodded slightly, it would be better to cover more ground, although it would be bad if Jay went alone.

Maison opened his mouth but was already shut up by the hand Jay held high, "Listen, I know that you found me not too long ago and you are scared to lose me again. But there are people inside, and yes, although I was pretty trashy to Noah... I still have a responsibility to these people to Ray, to Cindy, heck even to Loraine if she wouldn't be dead already."

His face was scrunched, and he was biting his lip as he looked to the floor, with his fist closed and under tension, he looked at both of them, "I will get the people out of here, you can go to the sleeping quarter and save the people there. I will go into the cafeteria and save whoever I can."

Before either Maison or Noah could say anything, Jay already walked through the door giving the two guys a view of what was going on. There was a fire on the other side, one of the people wearing those white saint robes was shooting fire from their hands into a crowd of people.

The door shut, leaving Noah and Maison in the stairwell. They looked at each other and proceeded downward, in front of the door with a "3" on it, Noah looked at Maison's side profile.

"Whatever happens in there don't try and be the hero," then Noah focused on the door as his hand hovered over the door handle, Maison's deep voice vibrated through him, "Maybe you should try taking your own advice."

Confused by these words Noah turned around and looked into Maison's suddenly cold blue eyes, "What do you mean?"

Maison looked at him, more like through him, Noah felt like he was exposed.

Then he smiled, "Just what I said, try taking your own advice. The hero phrase should be taken seriously by yourself, I have a feeling you will try and do everything to be perceived as "good". Don't do that, we all know already that you care, and that although you may not feel like you care. You show it with your actions." Noah was even more flabbergasted, the guy in front of him said it like he meant it, which was weird since he hadn't really done anything in this world to be perceived as such. Then he got a rub through his hair, he didn't like anyone touching him, but weirdly enough this touch didn't evoke that disgust as it did with Jay. He felt annoyed but that was about it.

He slapped Maison's hand away with an "I hate being touched" and pressed down the door handle.

Behind the door, it was suspiciously calm. There was almost no one in the corridor, Noah wanted to give Maison a signal to come through the door but spotted a white-cloaked figure. Thus he dragged him back through the door and only left the door a bit open so he could spy on the cloaked figure. Maison looked confused and poked Noah from behind, Noah moved a little more down so Maison could see through the slit from the door. The white cloaked figure had male features, a medium-long beard that was both dark brown with gray hairs coming through. He was mumbling something as he walked by, his hands were shining as if some kind of light penetrated it from within. Noah could swear he saw a picture moving in the light, but he couldn't quite see it. As the man walked further and further away from them, Maison opened the door slowly. Noah walked out and looked through the corridor, the door to the staircase was located not far away from the big community room.

"I think we might have to split up, you go to the community room and check what is going on there. I will go through the normal rooms, to see if anyone just locked themselves in," Maison whispered to Noah.

Noah nodded and walked to the community room, then he stopped and looked back at Maison, "Be careful, I don't want to lose anyone else."

Maison nodded, "The same goes for you" turned around and ran with silent steps in the other direction. Noah walked to the community room, he always hid behind a pillar at the side of the wall when he heard any sounds. He was nervous, with every step he heard, with every voice he might have imagined, but then he finally made it. He was on one side of the community room, if he looked further down the corridor he saw his room. Anyway looking into the community room he saw at least five to seven of the white cloaked people, and the other people were sitting in front of them with their hands tied behind their backs. He even saw Cindy and Lea, Roy and Ted, and a few other familiar faces. Noah wondered why there were none of these people out here, guarding the community room.

He kept close to the wall, minimizing his existence, and watched. There were two people among the cloaked ones to stand out, one was wearing a black robe with gold accents. The other had a white cloak with a silver lining.

"Where is it?" The black-cloaked figure asked the crowd, a beefy guy glared up at them and let out a snarky comment, "In my ass!"

The black-cloaked figure signed with their hand and the guy was pushed to the floor, "I will ask again, where are you hiding the disturbance of the world?"

Noah saw how both Lea and Cindy looked confused and at the same time, looked at the black cloaked figure like they were crazy.

After a silent moment, the silver-lined person spoke, "Master, maybe they don't know what we mean? Maybe we have to explain to them..." The voice was slave-like, trying to appease the figure in front of them. The silver-lined cloaked person, even bowed a little, as if the one with the black cloak was a king.

Noah heard a scoff from the black-cloaked figure, they had a very deep raspy voice, "As if anything good would come if we talk to these vermin..."

They flung their cloak and turned around, "Keep watch on them, maybe the research facility will suffice. That was the last place the anomaly was spotted by the oracle..."

Startled Noah turned around and looked for a place to hide in, he saw a door and just silently rushed to it. The door was not locked, he went in and opened it just a smidge to look outside. He reminded himself that he could not be seen and stabilized his breathing. Noah heard footsteps coming closer and looked at the black-cloaked figure walking by, it was a woman or at least they looked like one. Noah couldn't think of anyone more beautiful except his mother, but the black-cloaked woman wasn't the same kind of beauty. In contrast, his mother was a white lotus swimming in a pond, her emotions as still as the water and so untouchable. The woman in front of him was a beauty of I could wrap every person's mind around my finger and they would thank me for killing them. If Noah didn't like boys, maybe the woman in front of him would be his type. He waited until she and the person in the silver lining walked by. He couldn't quite catch the face of them, but they were smaller than the woman. Noah waited until he couldn't hear any steps anymore before opening the door just a little to stick his head out. He looked at the empty halls and walked outside, closing the door behind him slowly.

He made his way back to the community room and saw two cloaked people keeping watch on all these people. Noah found it irritating, after all the ability users in this room could easily overtake two of them. He searched for Cindy and Lea's faces and saw them hugging, Lea comforting Cindy as Cindy's head laid on her shoulder. Noah bit his lip and searched for other faces, trying to get one of them to notice him. Then it dawned on him that the room he was in was a utility room, he walked back, opened the door, maybe he could find something to use from behind, and one or two ability users could overwhelm them from the front. Noah looked around and found a shovel. He thought it was better than nothing and went back. Now to gain attention from one or two people. He looked at the crowd and saw almost all of them being scared, paying attention to their dear beloved or just watching the cloaked people with hatred and disgust. None of them even remotely looked at the door in hopes of escape. Noah wasn't sure where he landed, those people know that there is an apocalypse outside and sob over their lives and glare at cloaked nobodies who are radeing the base.

'Where is their will to live?' Noah thought to himself.

Noah licked his lower lip and tried to make eye contact with anyone at this point, but he succeeded. Lea looked at him surprised but controlled her facial expression quickly. She looked at the cloaked figure near her and then at the ground, slowly shaking her shoulder. Cindy looked at her with tears in her eyes, and Lea tried to hint with her eyes where to look. Confused Cindy looked in that direction and spotted Noah, first, she wanted to smile but then she remembered the people in front of her and fear filled her eyes. She signaled Noah to walk away, Noah shook his head and held the shovel higher. He pointed to the figures with a swinging motion and then pointed a finger at them with a hand magic motion. Lea understood and looked at the other people she knew had abilities that could help them out. She looked at Henry who had a lighting ability like Ben, he was a blond dude who stared menacingly at the cloaked figure in front of him. He noticed Lea and arched a brow, Lea lowered her eyes and broke the floor with her strength a bit and then looked at the cloaked people in front of them. Henry got the hint and smiled. He also noticed a small guy with a shovel at the door and soon knew the plan. He nodded at the guy with curly black hair, who was standing at the door. Noah held a hand high and held three fingers up. He walked closer, his steps couldn't be heard, and he held two fingers up. He was almost behind them, Noah's feet glided over the floor, and he held one finger up. He stood behind both of them and made a fist. He swung his shovel, hitting both of their heads at the same time. Lea stood up and punched the first figure out cold. Then Henry stood up and grabbed the face of the other letting electricity flood through the body of the other.

Both of them knocked out, Noah looked at the group of people, "Hello, I am Noah and I know a way out of here. Who wants to come?"

Almost all of them stood up and looked at Noah expectingly, "Good, follow me and for god's sake most of you have an ability use it." Noah walked up front, and Cindy and Lea walked beside him. They walked through the corridor and stood in front of the door to the stairwell. He opened it and let them go through first, he went in last. Most of the people already went upstairs, wanting to get out as soon as possible, but some stayed behind.

Noah nodded, "Well if you want. You could rescue a few more people from other floors."

He looked at Lea and Cindy, "Jay is upstairs, he went inside alone. If you want to help him it would be much appreciated." Both the girls nodded and walked upstairs. "I want to go to the laboratory, but one or two people should go through the sleeping quarters just to make sure. Maison is alone in there now." Two nodded and walked back inside, wanting to get more people outside.

The blond guy with the lightning ability stood in front of Noah, "I am Henry, I want to accompany you to the laboratories. I don't want you alone down there, the rest goes in buddy systems too." Noah nodded and left to rest to decide for themselves.

In front of the door with a big "5".

Noah looked at Henry, "You know that the black-cloaked woman is in there right?"

Henry smirked, "Why do you think I came with?"

Noah paused in his tracks of opening the door, "Really, I know she is gorgeous but getting yourself killed?!" Henry just shrugged. Noah gave the biggest eye roll and opened the door a slit, to see if there is any danger. He looked at the corridor he worked in many days and weeks, no one in them just like before. He signed Henry to come out with him, they strolled through the corridor wondering where they were. "I wonder, they have not many people, do they? Why is everyone so scared of them? They are crazy, talking about god and punishment..." Noah asked no one in particular, Henry shrugged his shoulders,

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"Don't know. To be honest, there weren't that many, but they made us believe there were. Something about that woman's eyes, just made us forget that we have abilities ourselves."

Noah stood still and looked at Henry, "What?"

Henry shrugged his shoulders, "Yeah, but when I saw Lea break the floor I remembered my powers."

Noah began to walk eyes up front, but deep in thought, 'Maybe that woman has some kind of mind control ability...'

Both of them walked through the white-walled halls, so clean, hygienic, and sterilized.

Noah heard Henry behind him muttering, "Damn, this has a hospital feel. I would never want to work down here."

Noah rolled his eyes as they hid behind a corner wall, "You don't have to, but I worked here so I can tell you one thing. Scientists are not the creative type when it comes to decorating, we like it practical because we have to work down here." Making sure there was no one they both went in the next room.

A wonderful brown door was in front of them, "Dirt level..."

Noah muttered as he looked at Henry, "Make sure no one sees us." He then turned to the door and slightly opened it, looking inside just a smidge.

He saw no one inside, the room seemed empty, he gave Henry a wave with his hand and went inside. Henry walked in and closed the door behind him, Noah walked through the room and looked under every desk to make sure no one was still in there. He found no one, the room was properly empty. Henry walked through the room and looked at the desks and computers.

He played around with it for a while and the computer turned on, "It still works."

He said surprised, Noah walked over to him and scanned his card he conveniently had with him. "We're in!" Noah said triumphantly, and looked through the cameras in each sector.

Henry looked at the screen from behind him, "Is this whole place littered with cameras?"

Noah shrugged his shoulders, "Well, yeah. It's to make sure no scientist steals material from the labs."

Henry nodded, his face showing how weird he found this. Noah went through the cameras to narrow down where the woman went.

She wasn't in any of the halls.

She wasn't in any of the grass rooms.

She wasn't in the stump area.

She wasn't in any twig rooms.

She was in the leaf area, more like in the exact room where Zenix died not so long ago.

Henry focused more clearly on the woman and what she and her followers were doing. He frowned, "Don't they have at least microphones so we can listen to what they are talking about?"

Noah shook his head, "Sadly. they don't."

Henry dropped his head, but then he heard Noah say, "But that doesn't mean I can't make it happen."

Confused Henry looked at him and then the screen was full of code. Panicked Henry asked, "What are you doing?!"

"Just a little hacking, you don't think that anyone can get access to the cameras do you?" Noah said as his hands and fingers flew over the keyboard.

Shocked Henry looked at Noah, "What do you mean?"

Noah smirked as he wrote the last bit of code, "I modified my access card a bit. Leaf access was not enough sometimes, they didn't find out though so whatever." He pressed one more key and they both saw the woman and the person next to her. They were at a height where Noah and Henry could see from their hips up to their heads. Henry knew they were looking through the camera of another computer.

Noah whispered, "These computers have a vlogging function, just for recording experiments and the like. The computer we're on right now doesn't seem to on on their side, looks offline. You could compare it to a two-sided mirror."

Impressed Henry lifted one brow, "But they can't hear us either do they?" He asked because he was confused as to why Noah whispered.

Noah smirked, which looked a little weird, "No. But we want to hear what they say."

Nodding Henry focused on the two people they were spying on.

Noah could even see the face of the white-cloaked figure, short hair and hazel eyes. Quite the charming look, he looked at the woman next to him, "I can feel it here was the last big activity. I heard from other people around here that someone died in a zombie testing. And then someone let out a powerful lightning strike, setting all the electrical equipment offline for a couple of days."

The woman frowned and bit her lip as she looked around her eyes, squinting, "How could a normal gifted person have a sudden powerful ability forever? No there must be something else around here."

The white-cloaked person next to her, just stared at a certain spot, the woman noticed and asked, "You feel something don't you what is it?"

"There," they said and pointed at a spot on the floor, "There is like a slight leftover power, it doesn't feel electric though. It feels like that guy we met, with the energy that he didn't belong."

The woman frowned and went out of frame, clearly squatting down to inspect the ground, "The one who wanted to tell us that we are just part of a novel? He was clearly crazy, but his power was real. The gift to go through dimensions, good we got rid of him early."

The white cloaked figure nodded and looked through the room, and as if feeling something he looked right at the computer.

Henry held his breath terrified, Noah looked back stone-faced.

The white-cloaked guy looked back to the woman, "What if this power is something more than we can ever face?"

The woman got up and looked at him with freezing temperature, "Why say something like that? Conner, Conner, Conner, I thought you knew better than that. It was god that gifted us those powers because we have suffered enough. Why would god send us someone who can't be defeated?"

Conner was terrified and looked to the ground, "I don't know."

The woman smiled a cold smile, "Exactly you don't KNOW. But I DO."

Conner nodded and shut up, his eyes sometimes wandering to the computer screen again with frowning brows.

Both of them then left the room.

Henry and Noah looked at each other, "You think that guy saw us?"

Noah's hand went to his mouth, clearly thinking, "I think he sensed us, he seems to have a high sensitivity to ability users."

"So I just have to stay clear of him got it," Henry sighed and rubbed his hands together.

Noah rolled his eyes, as he logged out making sure no one knew they were ever in that computer, "You should not underestimate that woman."

"Well, duh. She is the boss of them, of course, you should never underestimate a 'Lady Boss', that would be the last mistake you ever make." Henry smiled to himself as if that was a matter of course.

"No, what I mean is: Don't even go near her, I have the odd feeling that her ability has something to do with mind control," Noah told him as he stood up and walked to the door ready to go outside.

Henry looked at him and then went with his hands to his head, "Do we have aluminum foil anywhere?"

Noah ignored him as if he didn't hear anything, "Come on, we have to rescue other people."

As they snooped around on the cameras before, Noah knew exactly where the researchers were, the problem was that the two main actors from before were somewhere in these halls now too. Noah wished he could use Void as a security cam right now, just like all the other transmigration novels he read. Just a little more helpful, and not as lazy as he already was, but he knew that those Novels were fiction and he now knew the reality. However, he sometimes wondered if this isn't just a shadow of his brain, getting him to live, while he is in a coma or something.

'If only there would be more advanced tech here,' Noah thought to himself as he remembered his wristwatch back in his world, he recorded everything on that and saw every security camera in his house.

They both left the room and sneaked through the halls, hoping that both Conner and the woman didn't run into them. Slowly they made their way to one of the grass laboratory rooms, Henry walked in front of Noah giving him coverage. Henry opened the door, peeked inside, and saw a few researchers but none of the church people. He breathed a sigh of relief, opened the door fully, and walked inside. Noah followed suit and saw a few researchers he noticed, that under the researchers was Mills, the person who was there the day Zenix died.

Mills also noticed Noah, they walked up to him, "I'm sorry for your loss, I haven't been able to say that." Noah nodded and smiled comfortingly at Mills. "So what are you doing here? The whole place is overrun with the church of purification bullshits."

Henry smiled and looked at all the people, after he heard what Mills said, "We are here to guide you outside, Noah will stay here to gather the other people. You will follow me, I will lead you outside. For any ability users it is encouraged to help us evacuate the laboratories if you are fine." The people around him nodded and two ability users stood themselves next to Noah. Henry smiled and opened the door, "Come with me, but please try to be silent. One of you two comes with me to secure the people." The more feminine person next to Noah walked out the door flexing their muscles as they walked out the door.

Noah looked at the rather small guy next to him, "So what is your ability?" The guy looked at him unimpressed and rolled his eyes as he spit on the floor.

The floor immediately began to corrode, Noah looked at the ground, "Acid spit, not that useful but nice."

The guy looked at him and smiled sarcastically, "Well, what is yours?"

Noah looked at him and began to walk outside too, "A brain, with enough knowledge to look at security cameras. So I already know where the people are." The guy snickered, Noah rolled his eyes internally and shook his head. He could punch that guy, but he decided not to. They sneaked around and met their first church patrol. The guy wanted to fight them head-on, but Noah stopped him and looked around. He saw the old office of Professor Maclaren, Noah took the arm of the guy and pulled him into the old office, making sure to close the door silently.

Noah kneeled at the door looking out for steps, while the guy behind him looked unamused through the room. Hearing the steps get further and further away, Noah breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the guy behind him.

"What's your name anyway?" He asked the guy.

The other smiled, "Gerald, my friends call me Garry but you may call me Mr. Sinclair."

Noah looked at him with a disbelieving face, "Mr. Sinclair, how old are you?"

Mr. Sinclair looked disgusted at Noah, "What does it matter? I am older and much more useful than you anyway."

Noah looked at Mr. Sinclair and thought to himself, 'Right...'

Making sure no one was outside he motioned to Mr. Sinclair to get moving again, they walked out and went further up the corridor making sure to not run into any church people.

Getting closer to the next level, the brown doors for the stump levels. They had to be smart here, as Noah saw two church people in there.

In front of the door, he looked at Mr. Sinclair and talked with him about a plan.

"So you go over there and make an acid hole into the wall, so when the church people focus on you I smuggle the other people in there out."

Mr. Sinclair looked at Noah in annoyance, "A cult would be a better to describe them, what about me? Are you just going to leave me as fodder?"

Noah rolled his eyes, "Of course not. As soon as I get a few people out, I will remind them of their powers. Naturally, there will be someone who has a better power and can save you."

Frustrated Mr. Sinclair looked at Noah, "And if there isn't such a person?!"

Noah looked at him, "Then I'll figure something out, you wanted to go on a saving mission and all I heard from you are complaints. Or rude remarks."

Mr. Sinclair shrugged his shoulders but walked to the wall. He gathered spit in his mouth and was ready. The moment he spit on the wall, Noah opened the door and used the moment of confusion to make it look like he had been in there the whole time.

The two church people looked at the big hole in the wall which was still melting and Noah whispered to the people around him, "If you have an ability this would be the best time to use it."

Like a wake-up call, a woman behind him had a ball of water in her hands and trapped one of the church people's heads inside. The church girl fainted as the lack of oxygen became prominent. Mr. Sinclair spit on the other church guy and it corroded his leg.

The church guy was screaming in pain, Noah looked around and yelled, "Let's go to the exit!"

A man in the group led the way before Noah had the chance to, he walked next to the man and asked, "You know where to go? The elevator is not functional."

The man walked further and said, "Yeah, I sometimes used the stairs to sneak to my beloved in the tent area."

Noah nodded, he used the mass of people to go to the back and watched the people in front of him walk further and further away.

Making sure he was out of sight he walked to the laboratory where Zenix died. He had to figure out what energy they were after and what pulled them here, Noah had a small idea. But he needed confirmation, maybe he also needed to visit where Zenix died. That although he didn't feel anything when he died, something in him kept telling him to go there.

So against better judgment, he walked faster and soon stood in front of the door, it was weird that no one was in the halls. But considering how few people were even patrolled much less stand watch, he wasn't too surprised anymore.

'After all, if you have a brainwashing ability that maybe go through objects who would need many people to patrol?' He thought to himself and slightly opened the door to watch over the situation.

He saw many people, probably all the people that weren't around patrolling were inside here, gathering around the thunder burn marks. The exact radius of where Zenix, Noah, and Ben stood. Noah looked at the burn marks, the crooked marks on the floor and ceiling, and only one circle-like burn on the side. Telling where Ben stood at that time. The ceiling was filled with crooked lines and sharp edges, that even went over the LED tube lights in a dark charred gray. Noah focused on the people, not one piece of electrical equipment could be seen in their hands. But they all held out their hands as if they could feel something, closing their eyes as if maximizing that capability.

Noah just watched from the slit of the door, one of the people opened their eyes, "I see it." The long hair of the person was in slight waves, a wonderful copper color, and feminine features throughout the face.

He heard her say that as she smiled at the ceiling, seemingly looking nowhere in particular.

The other four people beside her looked at her in curiosity, "What do you see?"

The woman looked at them with a worshipping smile, "God, they have shown me what had happened. A bird from outer space, it tries to destroy the Earth. That bird follows a boy, a teenage boy. He is the reason why someone died here."

Noah's eyes widened as he heard what the woman said, 'Void, do they feel you?'

He waited but as always, he got no answer back. He continued to watch.

The woman now walked into the middle where Zenix died, "God told me, they told me that the boy is not far."

The four people around her fell to their knees and made a bowing gesture, all four then chanted, "Oh, thank Almighty. Thank the god, the all-seeing, all-hearing God."

The woman in the middle adapted a praying gesture, "Thank thee almighty, I thank you for your vision. Amen!"

Just like the woman the four people with their heads on the floor repeated, "AMEN!"

Noah looked at this and thought, 'Maybe they are a cult...'

The two people came inside again, the enchanting woman and Conner. The woman looked at the praying of her underlings with pride, she smiled kindly as she walked to them. She gently laid a hand on the shoulder of the copper-haired woman, "What have you seen sister?"

The copper-haired woman smiled back as tears began forming in her eyes, "They spoke to me, God spoke to me. They told me that a bird, not from this world was with a boy. The boy is from this world and at the same time not. They said the soul of the body was not clean, it was not organic. The energy Conner has felt was the interference of the bird."

The gorgeous woman nodded as she brushed her hand against the cheek of the copper-haired woman, "What does the boy look like? Did God tell you?"

The copper-haired woman shook her head, "They didn't, but they told me that the boy was near. More close than we could ever imagine."

The gorgeous woman smiled as she looked at Conner with a more pressing look, "Search for it."

They looked at their master with a complicated face, "But if I use that again, my ability will cut my lifespan again."

The woman just looked at Conner with no sympathy, "Then God deemed it so."

Conner nodded as he closed his eyes, his sense penetrating the room.

Noah looked at Conner and knew he should leave, but it was too late. Noah felt like a thousand ants were crawling over him, and he couldn't move no matter how hard he tried.

Conner came back to himself and looked at Noah who was still peeking through the door, "He is there."

The woman's head wiped around and looked at Noah's eyes, "Walk to me."

Her voice had a low pitch, it was almost vibrating as she said those words. Noah's body moved on his own, as he straightened up his back and walked in front of her.

Inside his mind, he had now confirmed it, 'I need to resist it.'

The woman was smiling in selfapreaciation as Noah walked to her, "The girl who traveled through dimensions freely was much harder to control, but you are just as easy as all the other idiots."

Conner had his head to the ground, trying not to look at Noah at all. The woman held Noah's face in her hands and smiled, "You are dangerous for our God, he who protects us."

The copper-haired girl chimed in, "They who protect us."

And one of the four people previously on the floor spoke, "She who protects us."

The woman smiled, "You hear that? God is not one, but many. And he, she, they speak for all of us. That is why existences like you are in the way. You and your bird friend are opposing God's will and I who is one of God's most loyal followers have to get rid of you."

Noah thought of all the times when he couldn't speak, where he was opposed just like that, he remembered the times he was alone, where no one came to help. Times when his father beat him bloody, times when his father sent him to the dogs, and he asked himself where was God then. Was God there but knew he had to suffer? Why? What did Noah do wrong? He even remembered how many times he had prayed, and turned to God to try and believe so his suffering could end. It never did.

Noah spoke, "Sometimes God is an ass, and people have to be fine with it. Maybe God doesn't want me to be happy, that is why he made my friend die. That is why he sent me on a journey, but you can't just kill me." His confident eyes bore into the eyes of the woman as she felt her restraint on the boy in front of her loosening.

A small flicker of confusion went through her eyes, but soon returned to a smile, "I sent God's judgment to you now!"

The woman stared at Noah, her stare sent pain through Noah's scull and he screamed. The pain soon made pictures in his head appear, Val smiling, him hugging Val, a shooting sound but all around him were people and he was in a warehouse. Before that could continue, he saw his mother smashing something, his heart hurting. He heard something, but he couldn't make it out the pain in his head was pounding.

The sounds in reality overlapped with the sounds of his real world, "NOAH!" He heard someone screaming, but in front of him, he saw pictures of his past, his loneliness, and his hurt. He felt a hug, he felt a half hug, he looked and saw fiery red hair, short hair. Ben.

"Ben?" He asked, his voice sounding so hoarse, broken, and confused.

The person in front of him nodded, "My best friend did not die for you just to be killed you hear me? Think of all the good stuff, how we met, how you directed us to not be shot. Hoq Zenix trusted you enough to tell you something he couldn't even-" Ben's voice broke as he reflected an attack from the side, a fire arrow from one of the other believers.

Noah saw tears that were about to fall in Ben's eyes, as Ben focused his gaze on Noah, "How even in his final moments he wanted you to live, he wanted you to survive. We had great times together, our laughs, our jokes. So don't listen, resist! For Zenix, for Maison who is still fighting and finding his way downstairs, and for Jay even though he is an Ass. Fight for me, because even if I hate you so much. I am still willing to protect you, you are a great friend-"

He was interrupted by attacks again and tried to form an electrical shield around Noah. Noah was looking at Ben and he realized all of what Ben said it was just words. But somehow these words that are coupled with his actions, deeply affected him. It was the first time in his life that someone was willing to protect him, that someone wanted the best for him. Maybe that's why he couldn't let go of the place where Zenix died, because that was the first time he meant so much to someone that they were willing to sacrifice themselves for him. He saw Ben fighting for him, through the shield of thunder and actually broke through the mind-control. Noah stood up and looked straight into the woman's eyes. His eyes were fierce with determination, as the woman tusked and held her head high. Ben smiled, as he saw Noah stand up, he lowered the shield around Noah and threw a bat at him. Noah caught the bat, he couldn't even think about where Ben got that from he just walked towards the woman. The woman looked at Noah, her forehead sweating, but Noah couldn't feel a thing. As he got closer and closer, he almost stood before her. Conner who was standing beside the woman didn't move, he just stood there and watched.

The woman almost groaned in pain as she whispered, "Conner help me and beat that sinner down."

Conner looked at Noah and the woman, "I think we both know I can't do that, I am only with you because you will kill me. But this time I am positive that someone else can kill you." Conner's words were laced with venom and disgust. Noah began to swing, and he saw the woman's gaze switching, it landing behind him, before he knew what happened he felt an electric shock go through him. The bat fell out of hand and his head turned behind him, he saw Ben looking in shock, on Ben's fingertips purple bolts of light remained. Noah closed his eyes as he flew out and when Felix opened them, he looked at the body he possessed from above, his hand see-through.

"NO!!" He heard a scream from the door, shadows enveloping the floor and crawling up the woman's body. Maison's eyes were in grief as he looked upon Noah's dead body. Ben moved and hugged Noah, he cried and whispered incoherent sentences.

Noah heard only the last bit in the sobs of sorrow, "Now I am truly alone..."

Maison stood behind Ben holding Noah, the shadows slowly seeping back into his body. His eyes harbored a deep obsession as he looked at the body, as he blinked that obsession was gone, and left were eyes full of hurt and sorrow. Felix now back in his astral form looked at the tragedy in confusion, the raven beside him looked at the scene with boredom.

"Let us go to the next one," he said, and the scene shifted, back to the weird room it was.

...

Last time Felix couldn't get a good look at it, as Void was in a hurry to get to the first world last time. He was in a transparent room, the walls were see-through and outside were stars. Felix looked down and realized that the ground under him was black, just pure black. Felix looked around, he spotted Void who was relaxing on a chair that stood in the middle of the room.

Void's black eyes looked right at him, waiting for Felix to adjust.

"You probably have many questions, and now I can actually answer them all." The raven suddenly seemed mature and not as immature as before. The eyes of the raven were focused on Felix. He took a deep breath and asked one question, "Why?"

Void tilted his head to the side, "What why? Why I couldn't tell you before? Why Zenix had to die?"

Felix stood up and walked eye to eye to that raven, "Why did I die just now?"

Void looked at Felix as he moved his beak, "You are not supposed to survive the tutorial world."

Felix looked at Void with a questionable gaze, "What do you mean? Just like Zenix was destined to die?"

Void looked around the room and flew in the air, the chair disappearing instantly and he flew to the wall where a branch manifested, "More or less, you aren't supposed to survive the first world, so we can physically show you that there is no penalty for not completing the tasks and dying prematurely."

"What do you mean we," Felix asked the raven.

"Me and others like me."

Felix frowned, "But didn't you tell me that you don't know where we are, why we're here, and your own name which is why you chose one for yourself?"

Void just looked Felix right in the eyes, "Indeed, that's standard procedure. As most of us don't know if the host lives through the first death."

"What?!"

"I am Void, that has always been my name. I am an official at the 'F.Y.W.B.', finding your way back. Normally, after your first interdimensional death, you go back to your original life. BUT we have rare cases like you, who need more soul-power to return." Void explained patiently, Felix's eyes focused on the ground trying to work with the information given.

"So that's why you were so vague at the beginning because normally you don't need a full-blown explanation. I get that the less information you actually get from this the less likely you are to remember when you return."

Void nodded, his whole body excluded something like pride, "What a smart host I got this time. Indeed, it is as you say."

Felix went through every event where Void either showed himself through his questions or the time when Zenix died and figured something out.

"What you told me about worlds not having a plot was bullshit right? Or else you wouldn't have possessed my body so that Zenix dies," Felix concluded and looked at Void.

The raven nodded his head, "Indeed, Zenix was supposed to die early on. He was never supposed to arrive at the base, he was destined to die during the shooting on the truck. His death... He got shot but hid it, trying not to worry anybody and when the truck arrived he never awoke from his sleep."

Felix hung his head and asked Void, "So who was the protagonist and how would the story have concluded?"

Void looked into the distance of the many stars behind the transparent wall of their room, "Jay was the protagonist, which is why so much of his 'problematic' behavior was overlooked. It was a story of a reunion of two brothers. After a long time, Maison finally found his twin, the reunion was great, and when Jay met his parents and grandpa again after such a long time the joy was high. But the church of purification killed Jay's family. Jay didn't know if his brother survived but he had no hope. A story of the revenge against the church, with a sacrificing end."

Felix could guess where this was going, "So Maison sacrificed himself, so Jay could live."

"Yes, Jay and Loraine lived happily after that as the cure for zombification was developed shortly after," Void explained.

Felix disgustedly looked at Void, "Wait, so Loraine was the female protagonist?"

Void nodded, "Indeed she was, but who will now fill the void in Jay's heart is yet to know. As the hosts always set the original timeline astray. Anyway now to the important part."

Felix nodded and walked around the room as he was to sit on the floor an armchair manifested itself. He sat down further listening to Void.

"You fulfilled two wishes, you found a real friend and a family. The real friend is Zenix as nothing can be more loyal than giving one's life for another. As for the family, even though you may have not perceived it as such, your little friend group saw you as their little brother and Maison as something that could be developed even further. It qualifies as a family," Void explained and flew through the room again this time manifesting a chair in front of Felix to talk to him more directly.

"As for the skill set, you should be able to learn, you know the talent or ability I have talked about in the beginning. It is not exactly of your choosing, I will choose for you. After all, I know where we are going next, and to train you accordingly," Void made a weird crackling sound and a door appeared. The door was white with green carvings, to Felix it looked like a forest, but it had something fantastical. The more Felix looked at the door, the more the door began to blur and he sool saw people dancing with a grace he had never seen before. They were barefoot and wore light clothing, almost see-through but it still covered everything. It was in the color of the forest, some even wore leather belts around their waist, their arms, or their legs. Those people had long platinum blond hair, some blond and a few even brown. Their hair was adorned with feathers and gold jewelry. But what caught Felix's gaze were the slightly pointy ears, what Felix saw were wood elves dancing around a beautiful lake. Each of their moves and turns were filled with grace and the respect for nature.

Void opened the door, "This is where you will be. I will get you when your trainer says you're ready."

Felix looked at Void with questions in his eyes, "What do you-"

The armchair spun in a circle, and with Felix in it, it went straight to the door and threw Felix inside. Felix looked back only to see the door shut and disappear, went he stood up and looked in front of him he saw a very enchanting person. He couldn't figure out if the person in front of him was a man or woman as they looked like both.

"I will be giving you training in the enchanting dance of the 'Asrai' and a little bit of dance from the 'Teu-tel-quessir'. Which you would come to know as the Wood elves and Moon elves," they said as they smirked charmingly, their eyes glinting in a mischievous light.