FVN Chapter 235 A Long Week Ahead
Chapter 235 A Long Week Ahead
"Hey, erm...!" Gilbert stammered out.
Just as he glanced back to see what the ranger had to say, the air crackled. He looked up alongside Gilbert, witnessing the sky bend as a black object bled through space.
"What is that...?" Gilbert gulped.
—A book. The colossal, hard-cover book hovered at the world's summit, humming with an ominous tone. As its pages flipped open, it sounded like a plane flying overhead. It did not open to legible text, only presenting scribbled pages before a voice emitted from it–
[There are currently [67] humans that remain.]
"Sixty-seven...? No...What you said–you weren't lying..." Gilbert dropped down to his knees, shaking his head.
Though he was well aware of the dire state humanity was left in, it dug a needle deeper into his heart as Finn squeezed his fist. All he could see were the smiles of his friends, their laughs in those small, yet precious moments–the tiny reprieves amidst despair.
The foul, disembodied voice that emitted between a mix of a masculine and feminine tone continued from the colossal book in the sky:
[The scarce remnants of mankind lay scattered across the Bottom–the world placed beneath existence. A trash heap for the discarded. Your objective is simple for the Final Order: survive for one week.]
Each foul word from the enigmatic object was heard loud and clear to each and every survivor, stranded in the unknown world. With that command given from the book, it closed itself shut, fading away into the folds in the sky without a trace.
Finn stared up at the sky made up of rifts to other places, taking in what he heard.
"Did you hear that? Just gotta survive a week...That's not too bad, is it? This place sucks, but...At least we can just wait it out," Gilbert said, lightly tapping his hand against the assassin's arm.
"I'll cheer you on with my singing, so you keep fighting!" Nova really had a one-track mind.
"Stand up and lift your head, mate. I'm right here with ya, until the bitter end." Jasper really was a reliable guy. I could always lean on him.
"Finn, take care of yourself. Don't throw your life away." Charlotte looked out for my best interests, even if it wasn't what I wanted.]
As much as he believed himself to be hollow, left with nothing, only able to focus blankly on the path ahead, sitting there, alone beneath those vibrant leaves, he constantly felt the presence of those he left. Their laughs, the stories they shared of their lives, the small quips, even just the moments of silence, enjoying one another's company–
Attempting to simply keep himself together, pretending himself to be strong and unmoving, he couldn't restrain his heart from exuding itself.
Tears escaped his eyes as he sobbed, clutching his knees close to his body, only having himself to embrace. A face of cold, calculated strength was washed away as he outpoured the emotions that overwhelmed his soul.
["I miss you. All of you. There was a time I thought I was better off alone–that people would only get in my way. Right now, more than anything, I just wish all of you here...somebody."]
["My fingers are trembling. My feet are aching. More than anything, I want to give up. I want this all to be done with. I want to join all of you, but...Giving up is easy, isn't it? That day, when I made that choice, Damian...It was because I thought I could go on living, handling this weight.
I won't say I regret the choice I made, but...It's hard. Explore more at empire
I was an isolated loser, sinking myself into games my whole life. I hated interacting with people. I disliked tacking on anything that inconvenienced me, because I believed my time was worth more than anybody else's.
Everything that's happened, it's fundamentally changed who I am, what I value. I'm different now.
Right now, I...
I just want a hug."]