He dances atop the stage. The audience claps. Not by choice. Their hands, raw and bleeding, move in perfect sync- an unbroken rhythm, a painful ovation they cannot stop.The performer's body moves with unnatural grace, a puppet with no strings. As the final note lingers in the air, he lifts his face to reveal a mask, comedy, forever grinning.
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Kian was currently experiencing the worst ache that he ever has. 'Guh , I guess consuming too many monsters makes my stomach hurt.' He walked on a cracked sidewalk surrounded by fallen buildings.
He was currently a little ways away from the crater that hosted his battle with the Aurelius and was still walking to his new goal, leaving through the front Gates of Felgardis.
This time gave him a chance to reflect. "So many things have happened in such a short time and I'm going along with it like it's normal for me." He chuckled a little bit as he spoke.
Too much. Too fast. Too much death.
He kept moving. Step after step, past the wreckage, past the bodies.
"I don't even know if Caleb's alive!"
His fists clenched, knuckles turning white.
"No-no breaking down. Not yet."
He couldn't afford to break down. Not yet—not until he knew Caleb was alive. So he shook his head and continued walking with a renewed passion.
The wind shifted, and Kian almost immediately stopped walking. Something was... off. The city was too quiet. Not a single groan from shifting rubble. He was being watched.
Then—
CHOP. CHOP. CHOP.
The sound of rotor blades roared behind him. He whirled around—A helicopter. But... from where? There was no buildup, no distant hum of its approach. It was just there.
The side door would click before being yanked open and other stepped a performer? And then, he fell. No, not fell, twisted, tumbled, and landed gracefully in a perfect bow, like an actor finishing a grand performance.
The man stood, slow and deliberate.
His face? A smiling theater mask. Another, a frowning twin, hung from his belt buckle.
Kian took an uneasy step back.
What the hell...?"
With a dramatic flair, he got into a strange pose. "Hello there, I am Albert Vaudeville. I am from the highest echelon of the Chaos agencies combat division."
Kian would wearily eye him as he spoke. "How long have you been watching me?" With a strange movement Albert would grip his heart with his right hand and ball up his left fist."
Ahh, good sir, you wound me! A dagger straight to the heart!" Albert clutched his chest, staggering back as if struck. "I come bearing greetings, and yet, suspicion! Tragedy! Woe! Why, what is life but an introduction, a first impression carved into fate? Tell me, dear Kian, do I impress?" He'd say as he wipe an imaginary tear from the mask on his face.
Kian would look at him kinda freaked out. "H-how do you know my name?!"
'and why the hell is he speaking like that.'
In a flash Albert moved. No, Kian moved. A split second, a breath. And suddenly, he was inside the helicopter. Seated, strapped in. Facing a row of empty seats.
'I—I can't move!'
Panic surged. He tried to twitch a finger. Nothing. Not even a muscle obeyed him. Footsteps. Slow. Rhythmic.
Albert strolled inside, crossed his legs, and sat across from him. The mask never shifted. But Kian could feel the smile beneath it.
"Now, now," Albert said, his voice stretching every syllable like a practiced monologue. "All questions will be answered. But first—you must calm yourself. You've been through so much in such a short time, haven't you?"
Kian took deep breaths before he spoke. 'This guys weird but if he's evacuating me I got to go with him. Not like I could escape even if I wanted to.' he thought as he strained to move his body but no luck.
"Soo are you just gonna sit there or are you going to speak. The audience is waiting." He raised his hands and waved them around as if pointing out an imaginary crowd.
With a gulp Kian would speak. "Is Caleb alive? Did the Agency find him?" Albert would be slightly surprised as he listened.
"You mean that boy Cyrus brought in. I kinda expected you to be concerned about yourself first given your current situation. But anyways yes, the kids alive. As I mentioned a older member of the agency brought him in earlier today."
A thankful sigh escaped from Kians mouth. "Well, I guess Im gonna have to thank this Cyrus guy once I meet him."
A few seconds passed before Kian spoke again. "I'm guessing the reason I can only speak but can't move is because of you huh?"
Albert give a dramatic nod as he spoke. "Why yes, I am Albert Vaudeville, the youngest and 2nd member of the house of Al."
"The House of Al?" Kian snorted. "Seriously?"
"Yes do you have a problem with it?" Albert feigned annoyance, but amusement flickered beneath the mask.
"But as I was saying, the first member of the house of Al was one of the founding members of the Chaos agency. They have been a part of the agency since then." Al spoke with pride in his voice.
"Anyways we will be arriving in Amita right about now." Al said as he snapped his fingers and it felt like nothing had happened but the outside had changed.
Gone was the destroyed buildings and the constant smell of ash. Instead they were now located on what seemed to be an incredibly tall building. The helicopter on a helipad on top of the building.
Surrounding them where other incredibly tall buildings but none of them reached the sheer height and width of what Kian assumed to be the main chaos agency base.
Albert spoke up from his position in front of him, his voice grandiose.
"Welcome to Amita, The capital city of hope!"
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Kian gawked in amazement, the chaos agency head quarters was even more impressive than he thought. Researchers hovered around in boots, the training facility was a seemingly infinite forest, and the...
'What is this feeling?' Kian was currently standing in front of a door with multiple chairs on it. Each chain had some sort of rune on them. "Hey Al, what's behind this door?"
"Oh, that's just the monster containment chambers. The M.C.C for short, but I usually just call it a prison. Even though, they tell me not to use the P word around here." Albert would say as he returns from talking with a purple haired woman. She walked away, a clipboard hoisted in her right arm.
Kian would chuckle as he struggled to rip his hand away from the door handle with some difficulty. Looking back at the door with a mixed expression he'd make his way next to Albert.
"Who were you talking to?" Kian asked curiously. "That my dear friend was Sam, the Chaos agencies lead researcher and technician. And she just informed me that the Captain is now able to speak with you."
"So I can meet Caleb once I talk to the captain?" Kian spoke tilting his head as Albert nodded. "Precisely!"
Albert began walking down the hallway and waved his hand instructing Kian to follow him. "Once your presented to the Captain you'll be interogatted and depending on your answer you might be seeing me way more."
"What makes you think I want to see you again?" Kian followed closely behind, a smirk plastered on his face. Albert deflated as he stopped Infront of a white door with some kind of scanner positioned to the right of it.
"Well this is one of the interrogation rooms. Sam said that the Captain was in here waiting for you, so let's not keep his waiting." Albert would say as he placed his right palm onto the scanner and after a second it beeped and turned green.
Opening the door, Albert instructed Kian in with a bow. Almost instantly Kians jaw dropped.
Infront of him was a seemingly endless black void, similar to the forest that he saw earlier. All that existed inside of this void were grey staircases leading to a floating cube that had a door attached to it.
Kian looked at Albert expectantly. As if asking "What the hell is this?" With his eyes. Albert spoke up his voice brimming with excitement. "This is one of the greatest technological advancements of the past decade. An artificial universe! I mean I call it a universe but it has a real name... I forgot though."
He scratched the back of his head sheepishly as Kians eyes glowed with excitement. "I knew Amita had insane tech but this is crazy!". Albert crossed his hands and puffed his chest out. "I guess Amita is pretty cool, I've lived here for my entire life so I guess I took some of this stuff for granted."
"Although The Labyrinth of Thought
does have some restrictions." A voice called out from behind them. Kian jumped in surprise as Albert looked behind him at the new person with respect.
Before them stood a man wearing a long white trench coat, baggy white pants tucked into polished combat boots. The Chaos agencies symbol embroided on the trench coat. A closed eye weeping a single tear that splits into three drops.
"Welcome Captain, I've completed the mission that you assigned me." Albert would say as he gestures at Kian. "Good job Al, you may return to your post."
Giving a large bow, Albert would disappear in an instant. Kian just stood there dumbfounded as the captain walked into the void, waving back at Kian instructing him to follow.
"You called this place, The Labyrinth of Thought, right." Kian asked as he followed the captain up the stairs. A somewhat nervous expression plastered on his face.
Giving Kian a small reassuring smile, the captain responded. "Indeed, Here, thoughts shape reality. Not literally, but the control room lets us simulate almost anything."
"Although the things generated cannot be used outside of here." The captain would stop Infront of the cubes door. "Are you ready for your interrogation?" He spoke as he looked at Kian.
Kian simply gulped and nodded his head. Even though the captain has been nice so far. Something about him is... Off-putting. Shaking his head, Kian would dismiss the thought. After all this was one of the most respected people on the planet.
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Sorry for taking so long to publish this chapter. I promise that it won't happen again.
Anyways what do y'all think about this chapter. Id love to see your comments. :)
Ps I was fully intending to take a hiatus but that's what a bitch would do and momma ain't raise no bitch.