Against the teachings of his father when he was a boy --that men 'don't cry'-- Sylus bawls his eyes out. Pouring his heart into every pained and choked sob, of which fills the (mostly) empty void that is his subconscious.
Tears stream endlessly down his face.
Smearing his features and staining his exposed flesh.
Nostrils clogged with snot.
He tries to get himself under control.
To hold the tears back.
Push them down into obscurity.
But he can't.
No one could.
Not with each act of cruelty that Ivis performs to his friends, his family, played in glorious HD on the screen.
He tries his best to look away, to pretend like nothing is happening-- but no matter how hard he tries, or the other souls try removing him, he just *can't stop watching.*"
Ivis was right all along.
He's pathetic.
Worthless.
Unfortunate.
The list can go on for eternity.
He's out there.
In full control, slaughtering his family.
And what is he doing about it?
Nothing.
Just...wallowing in self-pity, and guilt.
Knowing that it's all his fault.
He caused this.
All of it.
Churro warned him of Ivis ahead of time.
Tried to stop them from ever meeting.
But *he* wouldn't listen.
Refused to, even.
And for what?
Answers he never received.
Quenching his thirst for a much-needed 'adventure.'
Only to end up trapped whilst the same man he looked down upon, disregarding as nothing, now has control over his body that he's used for the sole purpose of ruining him.
The tears continue.
And have for quite some time now.
Like a waterfall.
It wasn't supposed to be like this.
Everyone says that when just about any bad or inconvenient thing happens to them.
However, this is different. He's serious.
They had plans.
Ideas, on how to free themselves.
To escape while they're still alive to do so.
How it was all going to come together?
The details are a little fuzzy right now.
But it was going to happen for sure.
And he was to be at the forefront.
Rescuing them from Abbadon's clutches.
Leading them into the outside world, alongside Rue.
Into the promise land.
No one was meant to die.
Not this early.
This *young.*
He should've done more.
Better, even.
But he didn't. He failed them.
And is currently failing Rue and the remaining children.
Worst of all-- he knows he's screwing up.
That he's a terrible friend, a terrible brother, and a terrible boyfriend.
Yet is making no effort to change.
To fix what's being ripped apart.
He grips his soaked thighs.
Nails diffing into their flesh.
Why isn't he?
It'd be easier than giving up.
He just can't.
Right?
Can he?
No.
What is he doing?
What is he talking about?
He can't just...ignore that they're in danger. That they need help.
His help.
"I can't give up."
They're depending on him to make the right choice.
So it's pastime he gets up and makes that 'right choice.'
He forces himself upright.
Ignoring how his knees try and buckle under the weight of guilt and obligation resting on his shoulders.
He doesn't even have to win.
Just save his girlfriend and the kids.
..And to ensure that Ivis doesn't get the 'oh-so happy ending' he's been looking for. Almost nothing would make him happier than seeing that smug smile of his disappear into a look of dread.
Because-- no matter what will or won't become of m in the process, Sylus owes it to those who have lost heir lives --or are going to-- thanks to his steady stream of mistakes and short-comings.
He breathes in.
Exhaling slowly, letting is eyelids droop a little.
This ends here and now.
* * *
Ivis walks through the warehouse/evil lair with no intentions of rushing the routine that has, admittedly, grown stale over time without any major changes being made.
Killing small and fragile dogs who are incapable of fighting back can only provide so much dopamine, before eventually your mind becomes numb to it.
He tries his best not to drag things past their intended expiration date, eradicating them as swiftly as possible. Some try and postpone their obvious fate, but are ultimately unable to.
Against what he's sure they believe, it's for the best.
Seriously-- what would be the point?
Other than watching more of their friends die.
Maybe it's just the biological, hardwired will to live normalize what happens to the body, or spirit. Or they're just stupid. Both can be true at the same time.
Though, he prefers giving them the benefit of the doubt.
Kind of hard to insult someone's intelligence when forcing their bodies into themselves, reducing them to what can only be described as a human meatball.
He swings another cage open.
Only five more to go after this.
Finally.
Inside is a little girl. Can't weigh more than thirty pounds despite being at the bare minimum age of six years old. Hardly seems healthy.
Unlike those before her, she's not afraid in the slightest.
Being both straight-faced and sporting perfect posture.
She isn't even trembling a little bit.
To say he's surprised would be an understatement.
Perhaps the biggest one so far.
She takes a deep breath.
Knowing it to be her last; savoring every second of it.
In another life, she would've been a great warrior.
Just not this one.
He palms her head, squashing it like a pumpkin-- ending the girl's life in an instant.
Providing her with a death far more ceremoniously than any of the others.
As one who possesses such great tenacity deserves.
And so, wearing a face of great disappointment, he moves on to the next.
Blood and bits of brain-matter dripping down his fingertips.
He comes to a stop.
Eyeing his newest victim.
This one doesn't share the same warrior spirit.
Shaking and cowering in fear.
Like a useless maggot.
Ivis wastes no time in ripping their cage apart as if it were made of tissue-paper. Childs play for someone imbued with the power of an Aura-Barrier, especially if trained and refined to maximum capability.
The child begs for their life-- listing off many reasons as to why he should spare them. He's not sure why, almost every last one of them --minus the girl who possessed a warriors spirit-- have tried the exact same tactic.
And look where that got them.
He snorts, just thinking about it.
He'll never understand foolishness.
It's beyond him.
And so, he reaches in. His hand trembling.
Fingers itching to claim yet another innocent life.
Becoming like second nature in such a short amount of time.
Brimming with an unmatched enthusiasm, he moves like a hungry lion ready to feast on it's newest kill-- yet, even with all of that, finds himself unable to accomplish what is for him a basic task.
Grabbing the child and reducing the boy to but gum on the bottom of his shoe. The same fate his friends and family endured.
But he can't.
Even when trying his absolute hardest.
He's hit a wall.
And not one made out of guilt or pity.
No.
A road block he knows all too well.
The only one capable of stopping, or putting an end to his reign.
He grits his teeth.
Grinding them together like mortar and pestle.
Sylus. He's here.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
Ivis thought him defeated.
Beaten down.
His spirit broken beyond repair.
And it should've been.
No one else in the grand and infinite multiverse could possibly withstand such a tragic and twisted fate. Much less have the energy afterward to keep pushing and fighting against him.
It doesn't make any sense.
He shouldn't be capable of this.
Not even a fraction.
And yet, somehow is.
None of their deaths mattered.
Because he just got back up anyway.
He could up the ante.
Kill the rest of them in more brutal and sickening ways.
But what difference would it make?
Sylus would probably just get back up again.
And again.
As per usual.
The time to face the facts is now.
He only has a minute or so --possibly less-- before, at this rate, Sylus regains full control. And after that, he'll surely never lose it again.
All of this.
His plan.
Dreams and goals.
The deaths.
Gore.
It was all for nothing.
He pulls back.
A twinge of something tugging at his heart.
Not guilt.
God, no.
Something else, rather.
Frustration.
Anger.
He tried his best-- doing everything he could to bring forth his desired result.
And yet, none of that seemed to have mattered. It was all for nothing. Pointless in the end.
But it doesn't have to be.
He still has enough time to make this worth something.
To ensure that, even if Sylus regains control and he's forced into obscurity, that his actions today will forever haunt him.
Ivis knows how.
Needing not to think twice.
The girl.
She remains the key to all of this.
Always has.
He's just wasted too much of his last-remaining time in getting to her.
A mistake that shall be corrected.
Retreating from the cage is his first wise decision in quite some time now.
One facilitated by Sylus' will.
And he knows it.
Madness stirring deep in his irises.
Features overcome with rage.
But none of that changes his reality.
Nor his coming future.
And what he must do as a result.
So he straightens up.
Adjusting his clothing, then dusting himself to the best of his abilities.
Turning fully.
Locking eyes with the girl, who is justifiably horrified beyond words.
His feet move without any order needed.
Having no idea as to the future they're taking him towards.
No.
They just want to bring him closer to her.
To give him a better look at her.
His 'one and only true love.'
Having no idea the dangers it exposes her to as a result.
A welcome flaw in the system.
Practically handing him her on a silver platter.
Rue swallows the lump growing in her throat.
Breathing slowing down to a noticeable halt.
She slides back as far as the cage will allow.
Trying to get away from him.
Even while knowing it to be pointless.
It doesn't have to be forever.
Just...long enough to let her come to terms with her coming fate.
Ivis doesn't give her that privilege.
He can't.
Wouldn't even if he could, though.
His hands lift up. Gripping the bars tightly.
Killing her in the same way as the others won't work.
Sylus wouldn't allow it.
He's going to have to get creative.
That's fine.
Means it'll be special.
More personal than the previous deaths by his hands.
He leans in close.
Separating his lips-- releasing his hot and untamed breath into the air.
Watching as she recoils.
"Listen to me," he says in a hushed tone.
Loud enough for only her to her.
"I want to tell you something."
He could give some big speech.
Talk about morality, or his lack thereof.
But truly-- what purpose would that serve?
Answer's simple. None. Other than making him appear as a fool.
No.
He has a greater card to play.
One that will pierce the soul deeper than any threatening or boastful words ever could.
He softens his hardened features.
Taking it a step forward to smile. Not fake-- no, genuinely.
And saying the sacred words, "I love you."
She appears confused.
Bewildered, even.
Clearly expecting something else.
He doesn't give her the chance to understand what is or isn't going on. Immediately releasing his Aura-Pressure once more.
This time, more focused.
Precise.
To specifically target Rue.
A move that Sylus couldn't stop even if he tried. And does-- though, as expected, fails.
Even as owner of the body with a near identical amount of control as Ivis only slightly less in the current moment, he has none over another soul, despite it inhabiting his body.
Which means putting an end to his Aura-Barrier and it's effects is, in simple terms, impossible. He can --again-- only watch as the events unfold. Screaming and crying.
His new 'resolve' gone in the blink of an eye.
Hardly a facade, but simply not strong enough to withstand what's been put in front of him.
The pressure --increasing at an alarming rate-- quickly becomes too much for her to bear as she's unable to move, to so much as scream or cry unlike Sylus.
Even as her bones break.
Veins burst.
Organs start to fail.
And yet still cannot let out so much as a whimper.
Her body is forced against the cold, hard metal of the same cage that's held her hostage, unable to physically connect with any of her loved ones-- and Sylus in particular.
She's going to die as she lived.
A slave. Captive.
At the hands of who she loves the most.
Yet does so with a smile on her face.
Soft. Warm like the sun.
Which has almost been forgotten after so long of not feeling it's warmth and almost ethereal embrace on her skin.
She doesn't have much longer.
So her last words need to come sooner rather than later.
And Rue knows exactly what to say.
She digs deep.
Fighting back against his Aura-Pressure with every ounce of strength in her failing body.
Buying herself just a second.
"I love you too, Simmy. Forever."
Her words give them both pause.
Ivis going as far as loosening his grip.
For just a moment.
She powered through pressure that'd normally atomize mountains without so much as even trying.
To tell him that, even after everything, that she still loves him in her final moments. It's nothing short of pure, unadulterated love that undoubtedly goes both ways.
It doesn't change her fate.
No, that's been sealed for quite some time now.
But she's fine with that.
And so, with the same hands that once reached out to grab hers, he crushes her into red paste.
Unrecognizable from just a moment ago.
His eyelids grow as heavy as a mountain.
Consciousness starting to fade in and out at a rapid-pace.
Time's almost up.
He probably doesn't even have twenty-seconds left.
'Twas fun while it lasted.
But all good things must come to an end.
Though, since he has the time...
Might as well finish off the others.
His final, parting gift.
Should've been Rue, but beggars can't be choosers.
The remaining pressure of his slowly dissolving Aura-Barrier hardens into daggers which stab through the hearts of those who remained trapped inside their cages. Killing them instantly.
Leaving only him as the sole survivor.
And soon, even he will be gone.
But never forgotten: having already made sure of that.
This isn't what he wanted.
Not by a long-shot.
But, better than nothing he supposes.
Though 'nothing' isn't exactly too far off...
He doesn't mind though.
Shutting his eyes and holding them tightly.
Ivis draws his last breath on what was supposed to be his new home-world, allowing the hate and anger that once plagued his mind to wash away, like sins in the presence of holy water.
His objective finally complete, he relinquishes what little control over the body he'd been holding onto so that he might prologue his stay, back to Sylus without putting up much of a fight.
It's weird.
To think that, after everything, he'd be so...okay with all of this.
The mere thought that Sylus will never recover from his, never love the same, be the same as he once weas, is more than enough to put his typically weary mind to ease.
Allowing him to succumb peacefully.
Allowing him to succumb peacefully.
A peace that Sylus will never know-- thanks to his cruel, although necessary actions.
With that final thought, Ivis' consciousness fades into what can only be described as 'obscurity', hopefully to never be seen or heard from again.
For an uncertain amount of time, despite Sylus having regained complete control over his body once more, he makes no attempt to get back up.
To fill the glaringly obvious void.
This place used to be filled with laughter.
Joy, even in the face of their god-awful circumstances.
And now...it's just cold.
Sterile.
Silent.
As if the cages...
Hallways...
This entire place...
Had always been empty.
Like they were never here at all.
He tries not to think about it.
Yet cannot help it.
With only he...
Their memories, likes and dislikes, complaints and joys, are all going to be forgotten at some point in time. He can't remember it all, even if he tried his absolute hardest.
And maybe that's worse than any physical death.
The death of one's place in the heart and mind's of your loved ones.
He can blame himself for this.
And does.
But he's already done enough of that. There'd be no point.
Wouldn't bring any of them back.
Just serve as a pointless reminder of what he already knows.
He failed.
And yet...
He's still here.
Lifting his head up.
Against what doubt and uncertainty have said.
Whispering in his ear.
He stands to his feet, making every effort not to bawl out crying once again.
He's gotta stay strong.
Even when he doesn't feel like it.
To be okay, even when he's not.
Because it isn't about just him.
But all of the children he now shoulders the dreams and hopes of.
Rue, that he too must shoulder.
To keep them alive in his head, he can't stop moving. Can't stop trying. Fighting.
Anything less would be disrespectful, a betrayal to their memory.
Of who they once were.
The man they helped shape him to now become.
So that means no more flip-flopping.
Strong. Assured.
Then weak and passive.
And then strong and assured once more.
He's got too pick a lane, and stay in it.
There's really only those two choices.
Opposites on the spectrum.
And only one choice, one answer is correct: to remain strong, to fright not for himself but those who are no longer with him, thanks to his own selfishness and stupidity. No matter what might come as a result.
Because he's better than further disgracing their memory with further selfishness.
And he knows it.
But there's one last thing he must do.
Before he may leave this wretched place.
He walks forward with only one goal in mind.
To fulfill a decade-old wish.
Promise, really.
That he may hold her, comfort her in even the worst of situations.
This is one of those situations.
Even if she...is no longer with him, he can still comfort her physical body so that her soul might pass on, feeling the love and warmth of his embrace.
It's not long before he's standing in front of what used to be the girl he loves. Her flesh, bones, and all has been almost completely obliterated.
But...there's still pieces.
Fragments of who once was.
He kneels down.
picking up the pieces his fingers can still grab onto.
And holds them close --dearly-- to his chest.
Tears flow like a river. He can't help himself any longer.
Nothing loud, or abrasive.
Just...calm, and in the moment.
He sits like this for a while.
Unwilling to leave.
And not just her.
The kids too.
Briley, Justin, Oran, Yeustus, Skylar, Morgan, Stefan, Julius, Riley, Emily...he could go on for at least another few minutes, but his point has already been made.
Though, he knows he can't stay here.
Wherever Abbadon has gone --as Ivis would have never dared to do something like this under his watch, that he's sure about-- he will return. And there's no telling what he might say, or do, when he does. He needs to get out of here. Soon-- no, now.
Despite what he wishes.
What his heart longs for.
He has to stand up. To leave this place, and never return.
Never return to them.
...To her.
Even if that means breaking his own heart.