Chapter 235: The Stage of Pain (2/2)
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Alarms began blaring as the core was soon out of control. Kurt and Vitae rushed into the labs as scientists flooded from the sight. Kurt grabbed one, pulling him aside. ”What's going on?!”
”It's the subject, sir. Subject four is waking up.”
Thrown aside, Kurt turned to Vitae. ”Suggestions?
”No point in leaving our new toy in the dark. Let's pay him a visit.” The two CEOs descended into the chamber as the room had a foul rotting smell. Just stepping foot in was enough to ward off the weak-minded. Kneeling down, Kurt picked up a bloody feather that belonged to a bird. Holding it, he dropped the feather. After getting a deep cut, the feather was now a sharp dagger. Making their way into the chamber, crows flew around Percy while others just watched the CEO's everything move. ”After all these years, this experiment of yours wasn't for nothing.”
Kurt stepped forward, clearing his throat. ”Percy Misharp! Can you hear me?”
Percy turned his head, showing a cracked face and bony hands. ”Who are you! Where am I?”
”You've been dead for four years, Percy. We brought you back stronger than ever.”
Percy held his head, muttering violently to himself. ”Dead… Yes, I remember, I was fighting the cult. I hurt so much! Why did you bring me back?!”
The crows all turned into sharp bloody swords, pointing at the CEOs. Kurt stared on in awe, smirking. ”Easy, Percy, we are not your enemy. We brought you back for a second chance. You want to save the world, correct? We can help you with that.”
”Save the world… I did want that at one point. Save it from who.”
”You. Well, we should say Team Rhapsody. The Garden, so many threats. So little time.”
”Team Rhapsody… No, Alton, Zinnia are not my enemies.”
”They've moved on without you, Percy. Because of your death, the team fell apart. Gale Lampard is dead betrayed by his own leader. Zinnia Trost couldn't handle the pressure and fled like a coward letting innocent people die. Scarlett betrayed the group and tried destroying our very way of life. Alton turned his back on the group rotting away in prison with no care in the world and all because of you.”
Percy stepped back, shaking his head, emotions building up. ”No! That cannot be. Team Rhapsody was like family. They would never!”
”Oh, but they are. And now the remaining member, Alice Hawthorne, wishes to kill us all lost to her madness. Only you can stop them.”
”What. What about Emil? What happened to him?!”
”See for yourself.”
Emil walked in with the same dead eyes as the other CEOs staring blankly at Percy. ”Emil… You're alive.”
”I am. It's chaos out there, Percy, riots and protests. Uprising and rebellions. They wish to throw away everything we stood for. Innocent people are dying, and we need you. We need you to fix the mistake you made.”
Percy fell to his knees as all the crows returned to normal, flying rapidly around him. ”This is my fault… I couldn't save anyone, and now everyone is gone. Zinnia ran away. She was my hero, and she ran!”
Snapping, the room was torn apart by the crows as the CEOs watched, amused. With bloodshot eyes, Percy was panting furiously. ”You know what to do, correct?”
”I do! I'll save this world and all the innocence. Anyone who stands to hurt others will be punished. I'll kill each and every one of them! Team Rhapsody, all of them must die! Atone for their sins and die! Only I can do it. Only I can amend for my sins!”
Kurt turned to Emil, scoffing. ”You've done well. We were right to choose you to become one of us, Emil, new CEO of V.I.R.A.L.”
”Emil would have been over the moon to receive such a role and acknowledged for his skill. This was nothing.”
Kurt stared at Percy with a smug look. ”This is our first step in crushing the futile weaklings who dare stand against the plan for the 400 years in the making. First Team Rhapsody, then the Garden. We should give Percy his stage. The torment and guilt he feels, there can only be one stage worthy of his name. Percy Misharp, I behold you the title and hand you the right to become a stage. From now on, you will be known as one of the stages of grief, representing humanity's pain. May the world share the burden for now and forever.”