Chapter 52: Time Is Up

With a threatening presence, the Cthulhu ship hovers above the city. Its fast shadow casting over the buildings below. Sirens, and crowds of people are heard below as they're seen evacuating the area.

Its drones are seen hovering throughout the streets, looking for their two targets. Their two targets remain hidden from them.

In the North-East of the city, a large crowd of people gather together at the train station in hopes of evacuating to a safe part of the city.

Down the steps behind them, Alecia and Aven are seen walking up. Both of them look exhausted. They have changed thier attire since their encounter with the drones.

Alecia is seen to be wearing a red denim jacket with a black shirt showing under the short jacket along gray jeans while her hair is now tied up into a ponytail. As for Aven, he is wearing a short white coat over a blue shirt underneath along with black jeans.

Standing at the back of tbe crowd, Aven raises his gaze up before seeing a train attendant letting the crowd enter by one person each and a couple a few times. There's only so many the train cars could occupy.

"What do you see?" Alecia asked, standing on tippy toes to see but no luck.

"We are going to have to push through," Aven answered her before digging into his jacket pocket.

"Come." He said, grabbing hold of her hand before cutting into the crowd.

"Hey buddy, you can't cut though here!" a man's voice is heard.

"Hey, there's children here, you have no right!" A woman shouted out.

"Not so fast, sir." Just then, a hand grabs his shoulder, urging Aven to face the man.

"The both of you must wait to get on like everybody else."

With a sigh, Aven takes out a device from his hand before showing it to the tall man, urging him to widen his eyes for a moment.

"Oh, you're the royal guard? Why no uniform then?"

"It doesn't matter," Aven said, grabbing Alecia's arm again before cutting through once more while showing them his device until he reaches the attendant.

The train attendant turns her gaze to them both before frowning.

"You two shouldn't have pushed in line," she said, scrolling on her tablet before looking at them once more.

"Want to explain yourselves before I have you escorted to the back of tbe line?"

"You think that's a line?" Aven said, looking over his shoulder at the crowd.

"Will this change your mind about our place?" He shows her the device, urging her to widen her eyes a bit before stepping a aside for them both.

Aven and Alecia walk through multiple cars before reaching the last one. Both of them take thier seat beside each other. The loud shouting the desperate crowd can still be heard outside.

Having her arm hooked around the poll, Alecia lets out a sigh.

"This is going to take forever," she said, staring blankly ahead.

"You sure this is a good idea?" She looks at him, waiting for an answer.

"I thought it would be best to blend in," Aven answered, crossing his legs before sitting back.

"Besides, this track will lead us to the station near Clay."

Letting out a sigh, Alecia scoffs urging Aven to look at her.

"What?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

"My sister can be an idiot sometimes," she said before shaking her head with her eyes closed.

"Here we are already on the run from Cthulhu, but what are we doing? We're going to some crazy man to get some cure for me."

"What's your point?"

Just as she is about to reply, her gaze catches a couple walking past them before sitting down a few seats away.

"My point." She looks down once more.

"Is that I don't deserve to be saved. I lived a large part of my life causing destruction and suffering. Even if I was being manipulated... I have to admit... I enjoyed it. I loved watching the destruction unfold before me."

Hearing her saying that, Aven lets out a a sigh with his gaze drawn to the floor.

"What? It's true?" Alecia said, frowning at him.

"Yeah, that, I am aware," he said raising his head.

"If you know yourself, then you should know that you are not perfect, neither is anyone who has ever lived."

He looks at her.

"You should learn to focus on the future instead." He leans to her side slightly.

"More importantly, how do you want to spend tbe rest of your time?" He raises his eyebrows at her.

Alecia looks away from him with another scoff.

"Spare me," she said, looking up at the window with the view of buildings in the distance.

"We already have our future set by others anyway."

"Perhaps," he looking ahead as well.

"We must at least fight for our freedom."

She stares at him before he turns to look at her for a moment, only for her to look ahead once more.

Fight for her own freedom? She thought. Is Aven crazy? Despite them showing themselves having incredible abilities, she doubts it would even do anything against that Cthulhu ship above the city.

It has only launched those hideous drones after her. Who knows what else it could send, and she barely escaped a few of them already. She knows she's not stupid. If it's true about the Cthulhu prison, it's likely that it holds prisoners that may be as dangerous as her and Aven, if not, worse.

Alecia can't help but fear that she won't be able to get herself out of this one. She looks at Aven for a moment, his attention focused elsewhere. She has a feeling that he may have the same doubts and fears as herself, but maybe he's trying to act optimistic in front of her.

-

The train is now accelerating along the track to its destination. Where from afar, the large Cthulhu ship still looms ahead. Drones are seen flying out from it and into the streets. Time is ticking for Alecia and Aven. They both know there will be no where left to go.

Both Aven and Alecia are sitting quietly on their seat with indistinct chatter of people are heard throughout their car.

"Attention, everyone," a man's voice is heard, urging the two and the other passengers to look at the guard walking through.

"In just a few minutes, we're nearing the next station. Since we all know what's going on outside, there won't be a reason I'll be checking anyone's tickets. Just sit tight and be patient for our next dropoff."

He walks past Aven and Alecia, and proceeds through the next car through the back exit. All heads in the car turn their attention away from him and back at thier own business.

-

Both Aven and Leah step out from the station. Ships are seen flying overhead while others hover along the roads near them.

At the time, Alecia didn't think about Clay's location until now. She looks down the street in the direction of her sister's palace. She's now gar away from it. She remembers Clay's place to be closer but she's not really sure.

She looks at Aven beside her, noticing him talking to another person, a young man. Aven nods at him before turning to Alecia.

"What did you say to him?" She asked.

"Just asked if he's seen any drones nearby. He just said that there isn't any he's seen."

"Oh," she said, looking down for a moment before looking at him once more.

"Did we take the long way?"

"No? Why you ask?" Aven said, tilting his head slightly.

"Just that... We should have been at Clay long ago by now."

"Simple," he answered.

"When your sister's ship is rested, Clay goes back into the city where he continues his work. We're only a few blocks away." He starts walking on the pavement followed by her.

"It feels like it had been forever since we left."

"Let's go," he simply said.

-

As Alecia and Aven flew above the streets, ahead of them a building stands out. A building with rounded edges and a large glass window in front of it with two blue lights at the base.

"What you see there, that's where Clay is," Aven said, urging her to briefly look his way.

"Let us land."

Aven and Alecia land in front of the building before walking through its glass doors as they slide open.

Walking through the small lobby of what looks more like a hotel with the floor polished to a shine and with it having marbled walls. Ahead of them is a receptionist.

"Afternoon," Aven said, urging the receptionist behind the desk to look his way.

"May I help you?" She said with a neutral tone, almost as if she just wants to get through the day as fast as possible.

"The Empress sent me here. I have to speak to Doctor Locke," Aven said, now moving his hands behind his back.

The receptionist looks at him from head to toe before turning back to typing.

"Is there proof? I see no uniform to validate your claim."

"Here," Aven said, taking a device from his pocket before giving it to her.

"Is that enough evidence for you?"

"Okay, Aven Creed. I'll let him know you're here. But, may I ask. Is she with you?" She said, pointing at Alecia.

"Yes," Aven simply stated.

"Fair enough," she said, giving the device back to him before pressing a device in her ear.

"Doctor Locke. Mister Aven Creed is here to see you. Should I send him up?"

After a brief moment, the receptionist turns her gaze to Aven before looking at the screen once more.

"Understood," she said, moving her hand away from her ear and presses a button under her desk.

"I've buzzed you in. Take the elevator up to the top floor." She continues typing, pretending as if she never talked to them in the first place.

Aven and Alecia walk through to the elevator. As they were told, they take themselves to the top floor where they'd find Clay.

-

Walking towards the entrance of Clay's office, the door slides open for them. They're welcome to a large room, smooth gray walls around them with a large black table in the middle with a blue holographic screen in the middle.

The screen shuts down where all its corners are brought to a single point before disappearing, revealing Clay sitting in his seat at the table, his artificial eye staring back at them.

"Never expected to be seeing you so soon," he said, slowly standing up from his chair before walking his way around the table to them. He puts his hands in his pockets, his gaze shifts to Alecia, causing her to look away.

"How is your health at the moment, Alecia?"

Scoffing, she looks at him with a narrowed gaze.

"Can't you tell. You are a doctor aren't you?"

Chuckling, his normal eye closes before looking at her again.

"I can see you have a bit of humour."

"I can assure you, Clay. She wasn't trying to be funny," Aven added in.

"This is no laughing matter."

"You are right," Clay answered him before looking at Alecia once more.

"Observation is what I'm good at. However, that alone won't show me what's actually going on with her."

"I just want to know if there's any luck with the cure?" Aven said.

"You already used the two antidotes I've given you, I presume?"

"Yes," Alecia answered.

"Hmm..." He said, looking at her with a frown and stands silent for a moment.

"I didn't predict that it would spread so rapidly."

"Did you make the cure or not, Clay?"

"Unfortunately for you, no," he said, his voice calm with slight irritation, he looks at Alecia.

"The Empress places too much faith in me."

Taking in a deep breath through his nose, Aven steps closer to him, now face to face.

"Are you implying the empress to be a fool? I don't tolerate people throwing insults at the Empress, understand?"

"It is you who implied I have," Clay said, unhindered by his sudden approach.

"I hold the Empress with high regard. However, I can't help but notice that she thinks that people can perform miracles for her. In reality there are no miracles."

With that Aven grabs the collars of his jacket with both hands, bringing him face to face.

"Are you trying to push your luck?"

"Or lack there of," Clay said, slightly shrugging.

"That strange ship out there... I know that it's not here for a friendly visit. This isn't the first time I've seen it."

"Enough..." Aven said, his voice quiet, his eyes burning with anger.

"Can you make a cure for her, or not?"

Clay looks down at Aven's hands still holding him.

"Not now. No..." He said, noticing Aven's hands gripping tighter.

"The estimate time would take a week and a half to make."

"We don't have time, Clay," Aven said through his teeth.

Just then, Alecia places her hand on her shoulder, urging him to look at her.

"It's okay," she said, a calm look on her face shows truth in her words.

"Leave him be."

With that, Aven takes his hands off Clay. The doctor straightens his jacket and steps back.

"You should really learn to calm yourself," Clay walks towards the large desk.

"I'll continue work on the cure. Just pray or cross fingers that she'll last until then."

"You should learn to think before speaking," Aven retorted, pointing at him.

"I think you must leave my office now," Clay said, taking his seat once more.

Looking at Clay with a frown, Alecia turns to Aven.

"What do we do now?"

Aven shakes his head with a sigh before looking at her with a frown.

"You wouldn't be in this mess if you minded your own business and left the sick girl alone."

"Excuse me?" Alecia said, tilting her head slightly.

"We've already talked about this. I couldn't let myself live with a guilty conscience if I just left that girl to die."

"Now thanks to that, you traided a guilty conscience with your own life!"

"It's my life! I can do what I want with it."

"Selfish..." He said under his breath, his gaze drawn away.

"What?"

"You're selfish. Alright!" He said, raising his hands slightly.

"You decided to just give up on life, when you've not even considering how those care about you would feel."

"No! Have you considered what I feel?" She said, stepping towards him, eyes teary.

"Can you two take your argument outside?" Clay interrupted before both of them telling him to shut up.

"Do you know how I felt throughout my life? When I was with you and Kevra. Back when we were doing whatever those things wanted us to do! Every planet I went to, every enemy we faced there. Deep down I secretly hoped that one of them would end me,"

An exaggerated chuckle comes from Alecia, raising her hands with a fake smile on her face.

"To think, Sylas almost ended my life," she scoffs.

"He caused me to have amnesia then. I almost wish I still had It. That was actually a blessing to me in a way. Not having to remember the pain in my life."

"Don't say that," he said stepping towards her, only for her to step back.

Shaking her head slightly, Alecia takes a seat on the metal bench against the wall.

"It's true," she said, her eyes drawn to the floor.

"I'm sorry."

Aven steps towards her before looking down at her.

"I'm sorry too," he said, urging her to look up at him.

"It was my fault you ended up like this. I too feel guilty. There are days I wish you were never introduced to these abilities in the first place. But if I can make it right, I'll be the one to pay for it." He places hand on her shoulder.

"What do you mean?" She asked, frowning up at him.

With that, blue flames surges from his body before gathering around his arm towards Alecia.

"Stop it! I know what you're trying to do!" She said, trying to move his hand off her shoulder but his grip is too strong.

"Aven, let me go!" She shouted out, her pupils ignite before grabbing his arm and throws him across the room.

"Alright, that's enough!" Clay shouted, walking from his desk to Alecia before stopping in his tracks when seeing Alecia's glowing glare.

Aven stands himself up before falling to his knees and out of breath. Alecia, with her fists clinched, steps towards him.

"How dare you," she said through her teeth.

"You probably don't even feel well after that."

Catching his breath, Aven stands up again before adjusting his jacket.

"You should thank me,"

"Thank you?" Alecia yelled, taking a step forward.

"It was never your place to do that!"

Letting out a sigh.

"Fare enough, it's done now." He said, taking a step forward, urging her to step back.

"I wasn't going to watch you deteriorate on my watch."

"Oh and so now I have to watch, is that it?" Alecia said in frustration, her hands slightly raised.

"It will be fine, Alecia."

"How do you know that, hmm?"

"I can still make a cure," Clay added, urging the two to look at him.

"As far as I know from what I've heard from you both. Aven transfered that viruso himself, is that it?"

"Yes, and he did it without asking too," Alecia snapped at Aven.

"It was my burden, Aven, not yours!"

"And you didn't think it burdened me?" Just then, the one wall of the office explodes in, causing them to duck down.

Looking under his own arm, Aven stands up with his eyes half closed and watches as several drones hover in.

"Damnit. Alecia, they found us!"

Growling under his teeth, Aven shoots an energy sphere at the one before shooting others that swarm in. Alecia helps by launching a few energy spheres of her own at them. Each one gets blown into pieces before a loud high pitched sound is heard, urging the three of them to cover their ears.

From outside of the wall, a ship hovers close to the destroyed wall. The engines underneath causing the clouds of smoke and dust to flee from the room.

The hatch of the ship opens up and a male guard walks out and steps onto the office floor. His armor is black, like the drones that surround the ship. With plates protecting his chest, arms and legs along with a helmet to hide his face.

Calm and collected, he steps towards them. He's tall in stature. His head turns to look at each person in the room with him. Turning the pitch off with his device on his wrist, the three of them stand straight, thier hands slowly moving away from their head.

Both Alecia and Aven look at him, with the look of uncertainty of who they're seeing before them. His visor is pitch black, with no way of seeing his face.

"Who are you?" Aven asked, with a slow tone.

Raising his hand up, his palm now facing them,, a pair of lights is seen on his forearm.

From his hand, he shoots energy waves at the three of them, causing them to fly back before hovering above the floor in a static state. Blue energy now surround thier bodies.

Lowering his hand, he slowly steps towards them.

"Struggle all you want," he said, in his deep voice and watches the three of them trying to break free. Holding up a device, he scans Alecia.

"Alecia Light. One." He said before scanning Aven.

"Aven Creed. That's two."

He scans Clay.

"Clay Locke," he looks up at the doctor.

"You don't seem to be a wanted man."

"I demand you to let me go," Clay struggles through his words.

"You're not after me."

"Unfortunately for you," he said.

"You are seen as an accomplice to these two criminals. So that makes you one as well."

"Aven, Alecia," the guard said, looking at them.

"How many civilisations have you destroyed? All those innocent lives you've ended. Don't answer."

He looks at his device once more before looking at them.

"Two-hundred and twelve." He places the device on his holster.

"Did you really think you could hide from us?"

Chuckling, he shakes his head.

"You three won't like where I'll be taking you."

"I'm sure you feel good about yourself, don't you." Alecia managed with a frownful gaze at him.

"I do, yes," he answered.

"The universe is better off with two less monsters. Oh and I will find your other two friends in time, you'll see. It will take time but I will find them. If I found you two, I'll definitely find the other two as well."

He steps forward to Alecia, and leans in face to face.

"Say goodbye to freedom," he said in a calm quiet tone.

"Where you're going, you'll beg for death."

"We'll s-see about that," Alecia said, anger seeping through her words.

"You think you're tough don't you?" He said, bringing his hand to the side of his helmet before pressing a button.

"I've got them, I'm bringing them in, as well as a third." He turns to the ship before walking towards it while Alecia, Aven, and Clay hover towards the entrance against their.

The hatch closes behind them, only for tbe ship to fly off as it ascends to the large Cthulhu ship in the distance.