บท 24: 24;AN OLD FRIEND
Leo stood at the window, his forehead nearly pressed against the cool, transparent pane. The vast expanse of space stretched endlessly before him, an endless void of black punctuated by the cold, distant pinpricks of stars. His reflection stared back at him, a pale ghost of a boy caught between anger and sorrow. The Earth, though barely visible from their orbit, loomed in his mind like a scar—a place that had been home, now abandoned and ruined by fire and destruction.
A single tear rolled down his cheek, tracing the curve of his face before falling soundlessly to the sterile floor. His hand curled into a trembling fist as the weight of it all—his father's sacrifice, the destruction of their planet, the horrifying truth revealed by Dr. Nana—bore down on him like gravity itself.
"You nuked Earth." The words he'd spat at her earlier replayed in his mind, his own voice sharp and accusing. But the more he thought about it, the more helpless he felt. She had told him they had no choice. She had justified it, explained the desperation of humanity. Yet no explanation could soothe the anger in his chest.
Then, as if summoned by his inner turmoil, a memory bubbled to the surface—a face. A warm, familiar face with a toothy grin. Kai.
Leo's body stiffened, and his breath hitched. His best friend. His brother in all but blood. The memories came flooding in now, unbidden and overwhelming.
The sound of their laughter as they raced through the fields behind Leo's house when they were kids. Kai's hand pulling him to his feet after he'd tripped, his grin wide and reassuring as he said, "Come on, Leo. You're stronger than this."
The nights they spent under the stars, dreaming about the future, talking about adventures they'd never have. And that one conversation, the one that refused to leave Leo's mind now.
"What would you do if you had powers, Kai?" Leo had asked, his voice filled with childlike wonder.
Kai had laughed, lying back with his arms folded behind his head. "Hmmm,that's a hard one. You know I really don't know!"
Leo's knees buckled, and he clutched the edge of the table beside him, his chest heaving as he gasped for air. The grief hit him like a tidal wave, threatening to drown him. "Kai..." he whispered hoarsely, his voice cracking.
The room around him seemed to waver. The air grew heavy, and the lights above flickered once, then twice. Leo froze, glancing around as his vision blurred and warped. A cold chill swept through the room, and suddenly, the sterile white walls began to bleed into darkness.
"What—what's happening?" Leo stammered, stumbling back from the window. The shadows crept along the floor, devouring the light as the room dissolved into a black, endless void.
His breath quickened as the silence was broken by whispers—soft at first, like the rustling of leaves in a distant forest. But the whispers grew louder, sharper, until they were deafening, a cacophony of voices hissing his name.
"Leo... Leo... Leo..."
He spun around, his heart pounding in his chest. Shapes began to emerge from the darkness—grotesque, twisted creatures of black and red. Their bodies were amorphous, shifting and writhing like living shadows. Glowing red eyes pierced through the void, staring at him with malevolence.
"Wha—.." Leo whispered, his voice trembling. He stumbled back, his hands raised defensively. The creatures moved closer, their voices rising in an eerie chorus.
"LEO... LEO... LEO..."
He tripped and fell, landing hard on the ground. The creatures loomed over him, their shadowy forms coiling around him like smoke. Fear consumed him as he shut his eyes tightly, bracing for their attack.
But then, he felt it—a hand on his shoulder.
Leo's eyes snapped open, his breath hitching. The darkness receded slightly, and he turned his head to see a familiar face.
"Kai?"
There he was, standing before Leo with that same easy smile, his eyes warm and full of life. He looked just as Leo remembered him, wearing the same ragged shirt and jeans he'd always preferred, his hands shoved casually into his pockets.
"Hey, Leo," Kai said, stepping forward.
Leo scrambled to his feet, his heart pounding. "Kai!" he exclaimed, throwing his arms around his friend. "Bu—but weren't you—"
Kai chuckled, patting Leo on the back. "I know," he said softly. "I know."
Leo pulled back, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "How... how are you here?"
Kai didn't answer. Instead, he placed his hands on Leo's shoulders, his expression turning serious. "Leo, now's not the time to despair," he said firmly. "You have to stand up. You have to take things into your own hands."
Leo blinked, his brow furrowing. "But... how? What can I do? Everything's already gone..."
Kai smiled again, his grip on Leo's shoulders tightening slightly. "Do you remember that day?" he asked. "The one where you asked me what I'd do if I had powers?"
Leo hesitated, nodding slowly. "Yeah..... But you never answered?"
Kai nodded. "And now it's your turn, Leo."
"What?"
Kai's smile widened as he stepped back, his form beginning to blur and fade. "What would you do if you had powers, Leo?"
Before Leo could respond, Kai vanished, and the nightmare dissolved with him. The black plains evaporated like smoke, leaving Leo standing once more in the white room aboard the Arc. His chest heaved as he gasped for breath, his hands trembling at his sides.
The stillness of the room returned, the whispers and shadows gone. Leo's gaze shifted to the tablet on the table, its screen still displaying the 3D model of the formlings.
Kai's question echoed in his mind: What would you do if you had powers?
Leo clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as a fire ignited in his chest. He stepped toward the tablet, his eyes narrowing at the rotating image of the formlings. Their monstrous forms taunted him, a reminder of everything he had lost.
"I'd take revenge," he muttered, his voice low and venomous.
The tablet's glow reflected in his eyes as he stared at the screen, his hatred boiling over. He slammed his fist onto the table, his voice rising in a furious hiss.
"ALL FORMLINGS MUST DIE."
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