Fractal

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven rows of Cherubim that Abel counted as he passed them by. Each row having 14, tallying a total of 98 Cherubim that guarded the Garden entrance. The ever-so familiar scent of ammonia was met upon entering the infamous area, but with this was one anew; a scent of fresh polished iron with an acidic touch.

Led to a place he's been before, he came to sight of the ability-inducting machine that had previously bestowed him the ability of Reflection. But accompanying the already-known machine, was a new one that seemed to be recently installed by its side.

"This Mr. Vaso, is what I've decided to call the Essentializer," Raphael looked over his shoulder. "It's the Garden's latest birth of technology, and you'll be the first to test it."

"But isn't that one the ability-inducting machine?" Abel pointed to the other.

"Yes, you are right. But that machine's sole purpose is to induct someone's first ability. If you put someone already with an ability back in that machine, it won't add a secondary. In fact, it won't do anything," Raphael laughed. "That is why me and my reporter Matthew have oversought the development of a new machine; one that could perform the very feat that this first machine could not. Do you understand?"

Abel nodded. "Yes sir."

The three slowed to a halt, stopping in front of the Essentializer.

"Matthew," Raphael indicated. The reporter shook his head, and walked over the machine to open up its frontal latch.

"You'll be placed in here," he sighed. "Have you eaten or drank anything since this morning?"

"No," Abel replied.

"Good," Matthew pointed inside. "You can enter."

Abel stepped forward, looking forth at the machine that seemed to threaten his existence. It was larger than the other; made up of numerous steel components and complicated wiring systems. Unlike the other machine that interconnected numerous tubes, the Essentializer had a more organized design, with a sole capsule that sat on top the entry area. The entry area was revealed through a frontal latch, opened by Matthew, through which Abel noticed the depths of something uncertain.

Dragging his feet, he eventually pulled himself through the latch and into the machine, where he sat in a low-bottomed steel seat. Matthew then reached in, buckling two thick leather straps that crossed over Abel's chest like an X. His wrists, ankles, and neck, were strapped to the seat with steel cuffs—similarly to the other machine.

"That's about it," Matthew said. He looked at the subject, the boy, who sat strapped inside the intimidation of a machine. Matthew could sense a slight bit of fear, and with all too good reason. He couldn't help but feel some guilt.

"I'm sorry," Matthew whispered. His face dampened with pity.

Abel didn't reply, or rather he couldn't. The massive metal strap that cuffed his neck inhibited any jaw movement, locking his mouth shut. The boy simply looked at Matthew, and Matthew looked back.

"Goodbye," he closed the latch.

Abel was now submerged in iron darkness, excluding a square of light that shone through a small window in the upper-half of the latch. His blue eyes looked up at the dimmed brightness, while thoughts began wandering his mind;

"Why did that reporter Matthew say 'goodbye'?"

"What's my secondary ability going to be?"

"Did they tell me what my new ability's going to be?"

"Will this hurt?"

The questions appeared, only to be overwritten by more. Eventually the questions overloaded his mind, and he was caught in a dilemmic trance.

"Start it," a muffled voice commanded outside the machine.

Suddenly the machine jolted. Electrical circuits could be heard revitalizing as the structure now seemingly surged with power. The inside began flashing red, synchronized with vibrating buzzes that rung Abel's ears.

"Essence detected," an autonomous voice spoke. "Vessel detected."

Now the flashing red had become a static red; one that increased in saturation as the machine progressively shook violently. Accompanying the buzzing noises that nullified Abel's ears, was an odd and heavy rattling that could be heard above him—like the sound of bones spilling across the floor.

"We should've strapped Reed's remains. Look," Matthew said, pointing towards a mini window found on the capsule above the machine; "It's shaking all over the place."

"It doesn't matter. Whether his remains are strapped or not, Mr. Regardius' soul is trapped in there." His eyes fell down towards the part of the Essentializer that held Abel, "And soon, it'll be trapped in there," he smiled.

The sound of these words were unheard from inside the machine, where Abel trembled with the magnitude of the machine. His muscles tensed, his veins popped, his teeth gritted, and his skin slicked with sweat. Abel's mind spun at the event that folded before him.

He was not in a machine that would induct a secondary ability like he was told. No, he was merely the vessel component of a soul transfer that was currently taking place. The red light that gradually increased in temperature against his skin, was truly a modified gamma ray that would burn Reed Regardius' soul into Abel's. But Abel didn't know any of this, did he?

He didn't.

He was still caught on the belief that what he was undergoing was a secondary ability induction, like he'd been told, and like he'd believed. That was the initial thought. At this current point in time, Abel was rather holding onto the belief that what he was undergoing was a secondary ability induction.

He didn't want to think otherwise. Because if he did, he'd be scared.

A memory then revealed itself. It was Abel's master, overpowering him with threats.

"Slack off again, and I'll get my men to kill your entire family," the man said.

"I'm sorry sir, I'll do better," Abel was on his knees.

The old man chuckled. "That's right… I'm your master. Now DO AS I SAY!"

And with those loud words, was an essence of fear that had been struck into Abel's heart. Whether it was fear of the man himself, or fear of having his family murdered, Abel couldn't tell. All he could tell, was that he felt fear—as he was scared. This was because he himself was underpowered. He was weak, useless, and could do nothing about his situation. His master rolled checkmate, while he rolled in dirt.

But Abel didn't want to be scared. He wanted to stand up, and stand over. He wanted to grow, and garner strength. He wanted to be in power, and not be over-powered. But how could he do all that, if he was knee-deep in weakness?

A thought spoke up. "You kill him."

"Yes, exactly." Abel justified the thought. "And that's what I did."

"And so you keep killing…" The thought transformed into a voice.

"But I already killed the one who trumped me. Now I'm here at A.X.A., gaining the power I've always seeked."

"...keep killing…" The voice repeated.

Abel's mind staggered for a second. An odd jolt zapped his brain.

"...and you keep killing…" The voice continued.

"No… I already killed who I needed to kill," Abel spoke back.

"...you don't stop killing…" The voice objected.

Abel found it odd that his own thoughts opposed his beliefs. It felt like the voice that spoke his thoughts were from another person. Abel realized the voice in his head didn't even sound like his; instead it was rough and deep, like a low growl.

"No. I killed my master, the one behind all my suffering. Now that he's dead, that suffering can end. It's over."

"No…" The voice defied Abel's belief. "It's never over… Suffering never ends… You keep killing—"

"I won't keep killing," Abel shot back.

"...you'll never gain power like that… You need to keep killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, and killing, until there's no one left… Only then you'll have power; when there's no one left to overpower you..."

Abel's mind suddenly pulsated with tension. His brain felt as if it was being torn apart.

"No, no, no…" He felt his voice fade. "H..ey wha...t's ha...p..en...ing…"

"...you keep killing and killing and killing and killing…" The voice continued.

The tension began bursting around Abel's mind. This divided his memories into segregating segments that slowly drifted apart, etching any reminiscence further and further away, deeper and deeper into a blank abyss.

"M..om...Da...d." The memory diverged.

"M..ast...er...I..'m..s..or...ry." The memory diverged.

"W...el..c...ome….t..o...A...X..A." The memory diverged.

Gaps formed between the separate links now scattered across Abel's mind; like a spider-web, stretched to its maximum capacity without it breaking.

"...keep killing and killing and killing…"

—And through these gaps, now crept-in links of unknown memories. They were invasive, and began etching through Abel's own memory links. It twisted, and turned, and tilted, and tugged, completely disturbing what once was a cohesive pattern that made up Abel's mind. Now, was a demented one, roughly mapped and scarred through trauma—

"...keep killing and killing and killing and killing and KILLING AND KILLING AND KILLING AND KILLING—" The voice had begun yelling.

All too quickly, the unfamiliar memories began forming pictures in Abel's mind;

Pain. Bruises. Fists to the face. Kicks to the stomach. Their faces; mom and dad.

Laughter, excessive torment. Kids surrounding. Looking down; bloodied nose.

Uncherished words of hatred and resentment, all coming from the shared mouths of your parents.

Bloodied knife. Parents; dead.

Strapped cuffs. Needles. Pain

Screams. Laughs. Shouts. Pain.

White. White. White. White.

Exhibits. Blood. Angels. Death.

Kill. Slaughter. Ravage. Raphael.

"N...o…" Abel tried to resist. But so little now remained of his original mind that he could not bear any mental capacity to withstand what was happening.

"—ING AND KILLING AND KILLING AND KILLING AND KILLING—"

"AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH—" Abel screamed for dear life.

The Essentializer machine continued to shake as it surged with overflowing energy, overloading the gamma ray that morphed the essence and vessel into one. The gamma ray's color seen through the small windows was as saturated as can be, and within this color, were the sounds of horrifying screams.

Matthew gulped at the noise, "That sounds painful."

"It is. But Mr. Vaso's screams are truly the result of losing his mind. This is verification that Mr. Regardius is making his way into the vessel," Raphael stepped forward. "He's so close. I can feel it."

Abel's screams gradually began transitioning into a lower tone. It grew a raspiness, and the screaming became more-so aggressive yelling. This yelling, was familiar.

Overseer Raphael began to giggle at the realization, which grew into an ecstatic laugh. "AhahahahHAHAHAHAHA! IT'S WORKING! THE SOUL IS BEING TRANSFERRED!"

Over the laughter, the deepening yell continued. It grew angrier the louder it got. With this, the Essentializer grew in power.

Laughter and yells reverberated across the Garden expanse, allowing for all Angels in the proximity to hear.

Matthew stood and watched as all had unfolded. All the hard work he'd collaborated with Overseer Raphael for nearly five months, had come to this moment. And now, it was succeeding. It was essentially a guaranteed success at this point. The soul transfer would soon be complete.

"But for what?" Matthew asked himself. "All this for what? To help Raphael? To create a monster? To help continue Reed Regardius' suffering?" He dipped his head.

"Why… Why am I doing this?" Matthew looked at his pen, and clipboard in hand. He then looked up at the machine filled with two victims; Reed and Abel. To his right, he looked at the laughing man responsible for their suffering; Raphael.

"Why am I even helping this… maniac?" Matthew was brought back. Regret gnawed at his spirit.

The laughter slowly died down with the descendence in energy of the Essentializer, with which the yelling also lowered to a halt. The machine finally powered down and the red glow from within darkened to black.

"Get ready to write that conclusion," Raphael said; "Because we're about to confirm the success, or failure, of this experiment."

Matthew readied his pen and paper, observing as Raphael excitedly walked towards the machine to unlock the frontal latch. Upon opening, gulfs of smoke and steam blew outwards in a captivating release that merely blinded the two for a short moment. Then, once the smoke cleared, the truth was revealed.

Just as he'd been left, Abel sat still inside the machine. He was still strapped and cuffed, no different than a paralyzed being. Raphael stepped closer, observing the seemingly unconscious boy.

"Abel?" He asked. There was no response.

"Mr… Regardius?—"

With quick response to the familiar title, the boy's bloodshot eyes snapped open.

Feeling giddiness expand from within, Raphael's face grew into a smile. He reached into the machine and removed the metal strap that cuffed the boy's neck—

"—APHAEL!!!" The boy immediately yelled upon having his jaw unhinged. He breathed heavily.

Raphael felt himself overcome with emotion at the sound of the voice.

"W-WHERE AM I? WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME?" The boy looked around at his inhibited position.

Raphael laughed with happiness. "Welcome back Mr. Regardius!"

"HEY!" He retorted. "What happened to me? I'd been in darkness for so long, and then…" He paused; "Why am I here now? WHAT HAPPENED TO ME?" He screamed at Raphael.

His eyes then dipped as memories began to return, forming for him visualizations of what had transpired;

Looking to his left and right, he noticed; both arms were gone—completely severed, as they swam in pools of blood. Accompanying the sea of red, were his severed legs beneath him that drained of any remaining lifeline.

He realized he remained a torso and head alone, and the pain it brought wretched his very soul. He wanted no more than to kill, or be killed.

Looking up, an intimidating dark presence stood before him.

"My Scythe of Absolution is definite. Once it cuts, it will stay cut. There is no hope for your limbs to regenerate as you wish. I have purged the hope your body holds onto. So let your wrath repose as you join the heavy count of my scythe, and die as you are destined to by the hands of Death."

The shadow swung down onto him, and all had gone black.

Snapping out of daze, the boy began gasping for air. "H-Huh?"

"Do you remember now, Mr. Regardius? Mr. Azrael had come to perform his execution on you. You were left limbless, with no hope to regenerate," Raphael spoke.

"So why... " He looked down at this body. "Why is everything back together? How am I not dead?"

Raphael leaned towards the boy. "You may be Reed Regardius, but this…" He poked his chest; "Is Abel Vaso's body."

"W-What?" Reed was alarmed. "Who the fuck is Abel Vaso?"

"Your vessel, Mr. Regardius. The very reason you live on today is because your soul has been transferred into this very body right here," he poked his chest again. "Now no worries, other than a new visual appearance—some blue eyes and blonde hair—this is no different than your old body. It's been provided the same serums you've been given in your previous body, even including a new ability; Reflection." Raphael smirked. "I technically wasn't lying to you, Abel. You really do have two abilities now—"

"WHO THE FUCK IS THIS ABEL???" Reed screamed.

"I've already told you Mr. Regardius. Abel is the person that had once owned your current body, but you've just taken over it. It's yours now. You are officially Reed Regardius once again," he laughed. "YOU'VE BEEN REBORN MR. REGARDIUS!"

Reed listened with attempt to reject what he was hearing. But none of his memories lined up. There was a massive, dark, gap between his death to Azrael and his waking right now.

"W-WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST LET ME DIE?" Reed asked.

"Why?" Raphael twitched. "WHY? IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE MY CREATION, MY MONSTER, AND MY SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT! You may have died in your previous body, but you now have a new one. We can start all over again, right? And that's with the knowledge that your soul can be transferred from vessel to vessel, essentially making you immortal. Do you understand? YOU CAN'T DIE AS LONG AS I'M ALIVE. UNTIL I DIE, YOUR SOUL WILL NEVER PASS ON. YOU'LL ALWAYS KEEP COMING BACK, VESSEL AFTER VESSEL AFTER VESSEL AFTER VESSEL. AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF YOUR EVERLIVING RESENTMENT TOWARDS ME" Raphael started to lose himself in psychotic excitement. "You have no one to blame but yourself."

"No, no, no, no…" Reed's mind began to spiral. His face began twitching with uncertainty and rage.

"You will never die Mr. Reed Regardius. You'll continue to come back over and over and over again."

Anger began to swell inside of Reed. It was growing deep and viscous, in which he could only let himself drown into. But past the surface of this rage, was a feeling of loss and desperation. He sensed more incoming suffering; suffering he would not want to go through again.

"No, NO! I DON'T WANT TO LIVE LIKE THIS ANYMORE. JUST KILL ME! LET ME DIE!"

"I've worked too hard for too long to simply let you off now. You're my subject, and there's nothing you can do about it. You're stuck in a never-ending pattern, stuck in an ongoing feedback loop, born through repeating the exact same process over and over again—by transferring your soul through generations of vessels. Do you understand? You're STUCK. You're stuck in my hands, with your burdens, in an endless purgatorium cycle of pain and suffering. This is your hell Reed Regardius. This is your inevitable fractal."

That, was the tipping point for Reed. As if he'd never encountered one before, his rage erupted. His blood boiled. His heart throbbed with an immense pain numbed by the reawakening wrath.

"AUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Reed began to scream, louder than ever before. His roar vibrating the ground beneath.

If Reed was gonna be stuck in Raphael's purgatory, he decided and screamed; "I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU THEN RAPHAEL!!!"

The cuffs holding his ankles and wrists could bear the pressure no more. They snapped and Reed's arms broke through. He grabbed the leather straps that tightened his chest and ripped them off mercilessly.

"Oh no—"

The machine had burst open, and out of it leaped the resurrected Reed Regardius.