EPILOGUE

Some time ago, inside the Shadow Zone.

Rayne approaches the Dark Child.

He raises his rifle and...

"They will absorb you like they have absorbed countless others. You have sealed the fate of your species. Maybe not today, maybe not in a thousand years but someday," the Dark Child speaks to Rayne inside his head.

"Those images in the sky. Are they your memories?" Rayne asks, looking up. As he moves he notices his stationary body with his rifle raised over the mortally wounded creature. He is like those phantoms in the lower levels of the research station; in front of him, the phantom of the Dark Child floats.

"Yes. They came from the light and they wanted to absorb us but we fought back for we are Kings. And Kings do not submit only rule," the Dark Child explains.

"I saw the images. Your species enslaves others. You are not any better," Rayne says, reminiscing about what he saw.

"We are Kings! And all others are slaves," the Dark Child explains.

"You are dying," Rayne says as he points at the creatures wound covered body. The Dark Child turns to its body as if trying to caress it but it cannot for memories are only memories.

"We wish to propose something to you," the Dark Child says.

"And why would I cooperate with you?" Rayne asks.

"There is a term your species uses... the enemy of my enemy," the Dark Child says.

Rayne thinks for a moment. But only a short moment.

What is there to even think about? He's been like a blind man left somewhere in a foreign town. Might as well give it a go. Is there anything to lose, Rayne wonders?

"I'm listening," Rayne says.

"We possess the means to fight them; only us. Take our essence and you shall inherit it. It will be a powerful tool when your species faces them in the inevitable future," the Dark Child explains.

"What do you get from this deal?" Rayne asks.

"You will become another sword against our enemies and you will acquire the means to save your world," the Dark Child explains.

Saving the world? How cliché, Rayne concludes.

But as selfish as it is I don't care about the world.

He looks back at where Olivia lies, at his comrades, those who are here and those who aren't.

"Sorry but I only care about my people," Rayne says.

"YOU LESSERS!" the Dark Child loses composure but it quickly regains it, time is of the essence and it is dying, "There is possibly something else," it adds.

Rayne turns to it, curious.

"Our foes have the ability to "reconstruct" lesser beings such as yourselves but only if your essence remains. We have kept from devouring the essence of the one you call Akira and Olivia to "bargain" with. There is a small chance you can save them should you cooperate with us," the Dark Child says.

The creature before him is playing with the lives of his people like they are poker chips. HOW DARE IT! But it did mention that they can possibly be saved. Rayne holds on to his wrath.

"How very smart of you," Rayne adds.

"We are superior, after all," the Dark Child says.

Rayne shakes his head.

"How do I know if the "others" will reconstruct us?" Rayne asks.

"You have helped them. They will surely reward you such is their way, such is their pride," the Dark Child explains.

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Rayne pauses for a moment.

He tries to think, to take in all variables but the variables are more screwed up than an acid trip.

Why even bother, he says with his quiet voice as he smirks?

"What do I need to do?" Rayne asks, extending his hand toward the phantom of the Dark Child.

"Devour us," the Dark Child says.

"Devour what?" Rayne blurts out, unsure.

"You will know," the Dark Child says as it vanishes.

Rayne returns to the "real".

He finds himself standing over the barely alive creature. Something catches his eye, draws him. He can't see what but he feels it. It is something inside. Rayne crouches near the body as he plunges his hand inside its mouth and pulls out something; a weird glowing worm-like organ.

"Fuck me!" Rayne says as he swallows it.

He barely manages not to vomit.

Taking a moment to compose himself he glances at the others who stand over Olivia's dead body.

The Dark Child smiles and nods.

Rayne shoots it in the face.

***

Rayne lies blinded and deafened by the close proximity explosion of the flashbang.

His comrades are dead. But he does not despair.

There is still hope.

Rayne takes out the small rectangle-shaped black box. He puts his index finger inside the broken leg.

Rayne screams.

He takes a moment for the pain to pass; as much as it can.

On the black box, he writes something, using his blood.

Occasionally dipping his finger into the open wound like a fountain pen into ink.

***

The vortex of chroma vanishes and with it the Entity. They vanish leaving nothing but empty broken structures behind.

Four helicopters fly up from the nearby military base Odin.

Akira, Big George, Davenport, Olivia, and Yui appear.

"Is this a dream?" Davenport blurts out.

"But how? I was dead?" Olivia asks as she touches herself, making sure she is alive.

"It's good to see you all," Big George says as he smiles.

Davenport turns to Yui and smiles.

She jumps to hug him.

Suddenly, she realizes that she did a mistake. She touched someone.

But for some reason, the fear is gone?

She expected an "attack" but nothing happens.

How, Yui wonders?

It doesn't matter. She shrugs the matter off.

"It's a miracle," Davenport blurts out.

"What is?" Yui asks, unsure. He points at Akira.

Akira is laughing.

"We’re alive," Olivia happily states as she approaches the merry men and women.

"It's the Cap. He told us he would get us out alive and he did. The Cap got us out, man," Davenport says, grinning ear-to-ear.

"But where is the Captain?" Big George asks.

They turn to notice Rayne's rifle, and parts of his uniform on a bloody floor but no Rayne.

Davenport, Big George, and Akira salute him.

Yui and Olivia do the same.

Goodbye, Captain.

They hear the sound of helicopters approaching from the outside.

The son of a bitch really did it, Big George says with his quiet voice while holding in the tears.

Olivia notices the black box.

There is something written on it with what looks to be human blood.

The message DESTROY THIS.

She takes the box.

Outside the research station, four helicopters approach.

Big George, Davenport, Akira, Yui, and Olivia step outside.

Olivia takes out the small rectangle-shaped black box and throws it into the water.

***

“What happened in there?” a soldier inside the helicopter asks.

Davenport, Akira, and Big George look at each other.

“We killed the hell,” the answer in unison.

They've been through fire and flames but now they can rest.

Olivia leans back on the chair and takes a big sigh of relief.

Yui takes out her headphones. Surprisingly they seem fine.

She puts them and looks outside the aircraft window.

White snow sparkles underneath the clear day sky.

Its been a long time since she just looked at the snow. She takes a deep breath.

Sometimes all you need is hit of fresh air.

Sara was right. It would be a shame not to take advantage of it, Yui concludes.

She plays The End by The Doors.

This is the end

Beautiful friend

This is the end

My only friend, the end