Awakening in a void filled to the brim with pure nothingness, the vastness of silence that engulfed the area was jarring, he wasn't used to it. At times, he would try to push the sounds of students through his brain so he could rid himself of this awkward atmosphere. The same event occurred, memories from another time entered his brain as he recognized the area before him- and noticed the descending figure of It. It was similar to himself, holding the same human anatomy though shrouded in blackness yet its aura was pure snowy ivory, the same as its eyes. Energy ascending from its broad shoulders, the radiation vanished as its feet touched the ground and stood, towering over the Justice revealing its face. It was... just like him, the same in all aspects. Face, eyes, outfit, their hair was the only feature that differed. The Vessel's strands were curled and hung over his face, a singular curl attached to the roots staying over his left eye. While the True's was tightened and turned into a bun that arched toward the air above- together; they formed Alexander Amara.
"This is..."
"The Void. We remember it, somehow. It's where souls reside after being split or lost in another person... Celine Pierce, Ryder Karlo, Elizabeth Karlo, and August Rivera. Yet, we're the same. And not in some metaphorical sense, you and I, despite our disheveled haircuts- are the same person. Just different parts of Alexander. Right now, I'm in control... whilst you were in control for about 15 years,"
It gradually began flooding into his mind, times of an event long forgotten entering his brain, the Vessel collapsed as he felt the liquid enter his skin. Knees and palms flat against the fluids which flooded the platform to their soles, the True flicked his wrist as images of the forgotten past appeared abruptly.
"Have you forgotten your purpose? Your true meaning?"
There was more than something so simple as him losing control of a power he'd just gained and had no idea what to do with it, there was so much more. Gagging as the water entered his throat, he was unable to spit it out as the cloth had covered his face- the toddler breathing in and out rapidly as the man ripped it from his lips. The True winced at the sight, there was no point to watch it again when he'd been tormented by witnessing it over and over for 15 years. They all wore lab coats, sure, this could be thought of as 'Evil Government doing evil Government things,' yet it wasn't... it wasn't them. Those faces were of his mother and father, waterboarding him when Alexander was two years old. He could hear everything from inside the hidden intricacies of their minds, those being thoughts like; 'If only Dr. Kuno could see this now,' from his father or 'This is the key to finally executing the Author's true will.'
"They were never good people. They thought of you only as a weapon and never saw you as a son. Makes sense how you'd forget, it was only for two years before those pathetic excuses of parents perished. But, still, it doesn't make sense to you, does it? There is something called 'Disassociative Identity Disorder,' and at times, traumatic events can cause a psyche to fracture in twain. When you learned of your parents' demise, you were but a child and decided to paint them as angels that always cared for you. You decided to move on, locking away the other aspects of yourself that you'd hated. And time and time again, it never worked,"
The Truth of Alexander showed his other self visions; memories, rather, colored events of what'd transpired time and time again. A therapist freezing, a girl lighting aflame, and boys exploding into guts and blood decorating the emerald blades a crisp thick crimson liquid, more events such as those played continuously for a repeated circle of time. Hovering on so-called screens as the quality was pristine and clear.
"Your parents had destroyed you beyond repair, they accidentally taught you of the cruel nature of humanity. So everyone who treated you badly would make that 'other self,' me, appear and slaughter them without hesitation. And yet, it all changed when she came into your life... didn't it?"
The Vessel widened his eyes at the mention of the ginger they were discussing, her pretty features popping up at the screen as it hovered close to his face. As everyone else kicked him to the ground and hit him too hard, saying it was 'for his own good,' Rosalyn Thomas was the only constant. She helped him no matter what, she comforted him no matter what, she loved him- no matter what. The Truth patted his other self on the head, giving himself a sense of comforting as he held the Vessel- and reminded him of everything good. The way Rose would sneak out of her house to meet up so they could get McDonald's together, the way they shared their first kiss, and the way they even went to Sea World. Wearing ponchos as the waves were splashed onto them- chowing down on nachos together as Alex ate them all before Rose could even complain... the sky was truly blue those days.
"But... if I..."
"You think she'll hate you if you tell her the truth. But, that's the thing. She's not the only one, is she?"
That's right, there were others as well. There was no doubt the Headmaster and the Detective Prince knew about the crimes he'd committed when he was but a child fractured mentally by trauma. Though, they accepted him for who they knew he was on the inside- but what about those who don't know the truth? The Major Arcana; such a comforting group of friends that he'd just met yet felt he'd known forever. All of them personally dealing with their internal demons, Rose screamed out in anger as she punched the ground- creating a soundwave that'd disrupt everything. The promise she'd made just a month ago to her best friend; to the boy, she considered her World, would not be forgotten. Collapsing onto the cave floor, she extended out her limbs and cried out in a blood-gargling scream!
"THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Time itself had ground itself to a halt, every single point of mental turmoil the Arcana was experiencing had been stopped, Rose couldn't help but chuckle at this new ability she'd ad emerged from her inner soul. Fingers cracking, she stepped forward after taking a former glance at the features of her other friends; no doubt they were also going through something horrific. Nevertheless, the singular thing that'd led to her choosing Amara to free first- was clear. He was gushing internal ruby fluids from his throat, confidently slouched in a wooden seat with that sinister smirk that belonged to someone like Whitney. Finger reaching out to brush his muscular build, Thomas reached back, she had to save him from himself. Before the Demon engulfed the boy she'd cherished since childhood, her hands slid onto his soft-skinned flesh and pressed her lips against the forehead of the Justice. Her voice reached out in this world of stopped time, a hand reaching out to his soul, the gentle way she spoke out her words melted the Truth and the Vessel. Snapping them back to reality, the duo turned to the same area in unison, the Vessel's neck cracked to his rear in shock. Tears halting their pour as the tears entered the pool of shadows below, to which the Truth tilted his head to the right crossing his arms over his chest. The same way the memories appeared on screens briefly appearing from static, the present appeared, with her face manifesting in it. Freckles popping out over her cheeks from stress, the makeup fading away, Rosalyn Thomas noticed the look in her Justice's eye. The smirk vanished from his lips, Alexander going limp as her face inched closer and closer, Rosey smiled at the truth.
"When I first met you, Al, I knew. I knew what you were capable of; what you'd done. But, none of that mattered- I knew that none of it was truly your decision. It was a result of your parents' torture. If you could just... experience true love, from a true friend that cared more about you than anything else- I know you could change. I felt that... you could accept yourself for you. But when even my friendship and love didn't work, I realized, you have to do this for yourself. You have to accept yourself, and keep moving forward so everyone can help you..."
"Other people exist. You just have to reach out your hand and accept their love, don't let the past define who you are so you hide away and cower in fear. Please... accept me,"
As the Truth stretched out his hand for the Vessel to stand up straight and take with full force, Rosalyn heard those words that echoed from the Truth Self within Amara's mind bounce around the lean walls of the cave. She stepped back briefly, shivering with fear as she ran over to everyone else, fingers colliding with one another for a brief point in time so they'd make a quick yet audible Snap! to bring them all back to reality. Encasing them in invisible bubbles of sound, she threw herself up, launching through the ceiling of rock that encased the cave. Fingers digging into the material of the tree, the Superior emerged from his illusion form to watch in curiosity as the Justice boiled with his true power. The cave fueling his strength, the Devil himself took a strong step forward- though as soon as his right foot pressed against the concrete- Alexander Amara stood up straight. Still, without a shirt, hair tied in a man bun, The Truth and the Vessel shook the very land this country was built upon. Civilians resting in their homes witnessed books and fruits collapse, aiming for the wooden floor, Alex pushed out everything in his path- and cackled in happiness. Digging his fingernails into the center of his palm, Alexander stared at the extremities he named his fingers- crimson fluids dripping from the far end of his limbs. Bones snapping as he pushed out his arms into the cold air, invisible waves of oxygen flowing in from the hole at the peak of this darkened azure cave- the Truth with Justice rose from a hunched stance. Weakly with a raspy voice on the edge of turning insane, his darkened aura overlapped with the snowy hue Alexander usually dawned over his soul. Crimson pupils visible to the so-called Weakling 'Demon Prince', the Justice leaned back and pointed with his index finger into the soul of the Superior-
"For... Whitney..."
The Superior's fingers were all broken, the bones shattering as they let out an ear-puncturing CRACKKK that'd sure to make any human wince in disgust. Screaming out in terror and anguish, that feeling swelling throughout every cell and transmitting into his pain receptors, the time he had to react only grew smaller. Asmodeus, the ax the Clown utilized in the moon of War, no matter what time it would come, had dropped to the platform. Wood snapping off from metal, the metal clinked against the debris-ridden ground as the Justice casually strutted over to the body of this former human. Examining the fingers gathering dust particles, Alex kneeled in front of the facial features the Superior inherited from his mother. Lifting a torn-off fleshy antenna telekinetically so it'd levitate above his palm,
"I wonder how long you fucks have been manipulating everything. Taking a boy's mother and father from him, a girl's father from her, ridding her of having anything like normal life- you started this story, didn't you? And now, I'll make sure to end it. Once and for all,"
With that terrifying declaration, a promise was stored in the mind of the Superior as his eyes dripped with hate, Alexander emotionlessly gazing into the pupils of his enemy. Standing up straight, he flicked his wrist to the right and spread open his fingers so the Superior would hover. Gradually, he stood in the center frame as the caves' walls broke apart and faded to nothing, sharpening as all that remained was the underground. With the sand filling the hole left by the destroyed cave, Ed jumped away on instinct, and just by touching one simple piece of large debris heading their way- he was able to create a chain reaction of explosions. All spontaneously combusting in a rapid series of bombs activating, Rose chuckles for a brief moment, feeling safe under her ally's arms. Meanwhile, the Superior and Justice fly upward as they head for the city. As if slapping the air away, the Demon was thrown into the water, hitting the ground so the waves would hit the air above, it all edged itself to spears as the waves crashed back down onto the Headmaster's doppelganger. Pieces of concrete and parked boats were used to crush his body beneath the water, spreading apart as the spears made of liquid pierced the Devil's skeleton. Destroying fragments of his bones, his heart pierced as he faded away into a diseased state of mind- however, the wood and concrete of the sidewalk and boats of Italy's river ensured he stood where he belonged. Warping beside the Prince telekinetically from a burst of energy, Alex kneeled beside his rival and healed his wounds. Confused by this sudden act of kindness, the Justice pointed upward for a moment. The air about to run out, the Superior unable to see through the blurred waves beneath the body of H2O, as that Creature turned back- Amara had vanished. Eye about to squeeze out, thick bits of gore replacing the clean ocean the straight path originated from- the Superior cried out in agony as his skull cracked and his lips parted. That was until he was saved. Tips of his fingers against every part of the Superior's face, the aura deactivated for a brief second as Alex whispered preemptively to the ears of the doppelganger,
"Say hi to Him for me,"
To those watching the battle from below, no sort of time passed as Alexander's attention had shifted from the right/forward to the left or behind him. Wielding a skeleton devoid of any flesh or muscle, the blood, dripped like saliva from the insides of someone's mouth. Bits and pieces of guts, intestines, and other important organs splashing into the pool of transparent fluids below. Jaw dislocating from the bottom half of his decaying skull as time went on, breaths of the oxygen emanating from the leaves left standing infecting the atmosphere slid into his nostrils. Rose, vision blurred as she was a distance away from the hovering murderer, was able to catch a certain sight as that bright light that acted as the sunlight aiding him as those rays alight humanity's days- burst out of his soul. Shining as bright as the rising sun to the rear of her skull covered with her straightened locks of ginger, she cried out,
"NO!!"
Launching forward, she threw herself face-first into the sand as she tripped on her feet- Whitney rising with his shadow towering over her laid anatomy. Slamming her nose into the miniature grains that acted as the ground to the soles of their feet, Ed reached out to attempt and blow his arm off. Growling as if a wolf, Whitney, with a disgusted face, turned to his ally before Lynn punched him across the face. Hazel, still unconscious, needn't be dealt with. The duo of the Sun and the Hunger sent one another a knowing glance, Myers' violet-tinted orbs reflecting the vision he'd foreseen. Descending into the pool of blackness and dark, the ground enclosed above them, and as Alexander readied to implode from the inside out-a singular gloved fist pressed against the fabric of Justice's sweater. Tips of extremities digging into the silkiness of the clothing, Alexander's tears threatened to rinse out of the corner of his eye. The Fool Detective's face was familiar, softening- and though Amara, truly, wanted to accept the offer he was gifted, an instinct caused him to scream in terror. Expecting this outcome, Azazel sighed dejectedly at the thought of purposely attacking his student, throwing a bone-cracking punch to the right cheek of Justice. Sent flying down the lake traveling through the center of Venezia, the Emperor was revealed in the middle of the clouds; arms crossed. Content smile over his lips, Karlo watched from a bridge of chains poking out from the waves as Rivera descended from the Heavens.
"We knew this was a possibility when we chose him to enter. Didn't we... Azazel?"
Words echoing throughout the azure skies, the clouds tore apart, Ben catching Alexander from losing his balance to skip across the body of large waves that made up the ocean. Brown hair erasing as the snow overtook the negroid coloration, the former Fool tilted his head upward so the duo of Superior and Pupil's eyes would meet. Bones cracking as Alexander's palm ascended from the right of his body, the Emperor rose a brow and chortled at the attempt, inquiring rhetorically,
"Nothing yet, huh?"
Knowing there to be only one true way to incapacitate this threat, a simple slap, to human eyes to seem like it held no true power- created a shockwave equivalent to one that an earthquake would create. Leveling households built upon one another, the waves curved upward as Azazel rose his arms to protect himself. Grunting back in annoyance, the Emperor stood on the waves beside his deceased son's rival, gifting the previous Crow of Justice with some much-needed advice,
"You should go; while you still can, at the very least-"
"As if I need such a useless statement to be told towards me,"
Stated Azazel, insulting his superior as if he had no respect or regard for the Headmaster, though he was unbothered by it. Holding up a single finger, an invisible shield appeared as Karlo vanished into the world of stopped time. Swimming further and further away, the Detective warped into the office of the father of his foil, jumping through the gateway, the black-haired man shed himself of his trench coat. A second passed, about to hang up the coat with a bright brown coffee-like coloration so it could dry from being drenched in the frosty chill of the Mediterranean Sea, something stopped him. Memories of the past he'd shared with the white-haired boy with green and red eyes flashed into his brain, destining for him to sit at the desk of the Headmaster, and watched the feed originating from his superior's eyes.
Back at that sea, the Emperor shed himself of the spectacles hiding his miscolored ivory optics, that smug smirk over his lips never fading. Watching as that creature within his precious student held the head of Justice in anger and anguish, hatred for himself fueling his every movement.
"Unfortunately, Alexander Amara, this is the only way. It should hurt for but a moment, however... don't worry, brother of mine,"
A field engulfed Justice's surroundings, a final blood-curdling scream of terror unleashing from the interior as his skin and flesh peeled back to reveal the skeleton. Ribcage shattering and breaking apart, bones creaking, that which Alexander called his flesh burning away as he broke through the invisible barrier and collapsed into the hands of the Headmaster. Waves parting as Moses parted the Red Sea all those eons ago, Ben placed his pupil beneath the parted body of water.
"Sorry about that, Alex. Had to be done... now, let's see who you truly are,"
Hours later, white eyes revealed themselves as lid spread wide, hiding into the flesh above as a man with curled long hair that pushed down his back spoke with the Headmaster over him, Alexander groaned in annoyance. Feeling his man bun against the mattress he'd been resting against, the ginger scurried over in worry for her best friend with the deaf Hermit following quicker. The Aftermath of the Battle between the Superior and Alexander, interrupted by the Requiem Emperor with the Ace Detective Fool- had left Amara permanently in this state. The Truth and Vessel intertwined with one another, fibers of curled locks bent over from his tied up wool, it seemed to be his true self. The kind Alexander Amara had disappeared, there was the truth- the Truth that wanted to help others as he believed that to be his parents' will, and the Vessel, who had acted out to eradicate those who reminded him of his true relatives. Rubbing the gunk out of the corner of his lamps, Amara examined the date written in a colorless font. June 10th, 2052. 8:48 P.M.
"Took you long enough, kid,"
Echoed the Detective, overtaking the girls' voices as the Guardian of the Temple pushed away from the females so the men could speak with Justice. Disgusted by how close this old man was to his face, bluntly stating,
"I'll barf right in your face, back up, you old fuck,"
Uraku briefly chuckled at the comment, obeying the teen's command to which the Emperor flicked his tongue in the center of his row of teeth manifesting a Tch bit of audio. The Lovers and the Hermit escorted out of the room, the Father of the Triplets was pulled over to the corner to speak with his assistant's offspring. It was common to think the following thought, as he was modeled exactly after the Author, the Allfather. Assuming to speaking about the Moon, Azazel's father, Ben got to talking with Alexander. Arms over his chest, Amara quirked his left eyebrow upward, curving his head to the right as the Emperor strutted over to him,
"I knew. Though, you obviously knew that; but that's not what you're looking for... is it? You've pieced that together by now, so I ask you something you probably can't answer, why'd you do it? Why'd you kill them all?"
As always, the Requiem Emperor was correct in his quick-thinking and amazing judgment. Alex couldn't find an answer as he searched the depths of his mind, through the horrific memories he'd made... of the lives, he'd lost. Though the deaths didn't bother him at the moment, seeing as how they were all garbage people that deserved death, from his point of view- they were just as bad as his terrible parents.
"You, most likely, convinced yourself that they were trash. And, some of them were, in all honesty. Bullies are the worst, they degrade you and make you feel like you're worth nothing in this already pathetic excuse of a planet. However, have you considered the truth? Why did you... resort to murder?"
Buried in the vast void of the Truth's mind, there existed a key memory that had been the driving point for every single one of his 'crimes' he'd committed.
"Monster- Abomination! Horrible creature! You deserve to be devoured by God Himself, demon!"
"They called me... a monster... an... abomination,"
Swatting away a hand that'd been stuck to his shoulder, Uraku gradually spun around with a curious expression as the Headmaster had been shocked at this revelation. The Guardian threw his son to the side, kneeling as his violet orbs scanned his blood that pumped into his heart- Uraku's blood was flowing through this boy. No doubt about it. The way it radiated near the Temple's Watcher, and Alexander's aura ignited from being near the Child of God... Alexander Amara was for sure a Requiem Superhuman. Uraku shakily let go of his grip on the Justice, fading to nothing as Azazel jumped forward- seeing the Headmaster's parent vanish, he cried out in anger. Faceplanting on the carpet, Alex and Ben jumped up at the sudden Thud!
"Why do... they all... have to leave me?"
Rivera held a sympathetic look on his face as the young Karlo spun over to stare at the ceiling, Amara frowning at the muffled comment the Detective created from his vocal cords. Sighing out dejectedly, losing the stained smirk over his face, the Headmaster informed Alexander of the truth. Or at least, the truth he'd pieced together from everything he'd witnessed.
"You did it... because you were alone. You felt alone in the vast nothingness that was your world and believed that you deserved it. You were an abomination, a creature not even God could love, though, whenever they told you that, it would trigger the memory and bring you into an unbridled blind rage. But, trust me, kid, you're not alone anymore. There are people right on the other side of the door who care about you that they cried every single day of the week... 'cept Myers, but we all know he cares deep inside. Don't ever forget, you're no longer alone, you can be yourself and people will accept that. And if they don't-"
To physically comfort his student, Ben had casually placed a hand to the shoulder of the boy- but in doing so, as he neared the end of his statement... something changed. His lips parted wider as his eyes spread, white aura replaced by the signature azure he usually dawns- Alex tilted his head. As he was at the left of this man, he was unable to see his expression, so as he crawled to the right and stood in front of him, he inquired,
"Head... master?"
Frozen of fear, the Superior's doppelganger held an expression of hatred and disbelief on his face as his teeth gritted and his eyes rolled to the back of his head. It was almost as if... he'd seen something. The Emperor collapsed, unconscious, the man breathed steadily whilst Azazel grunted feeling the man come tumbling to the right of his body. Rubbing his temples in confusion, Amara admired the sunset to the left of his peripheral vision, throwing the blinds upwards, fiery sights flashing onto his features- it was beautiful. Though questions remained still in this rotating world that existed of humans and their subspecies of evolved creatures, Alex focused on the words of his superior. It was true, he was no longer alone... Rose, Hazel, Ed, Whitney, Lynn, Ms. Romero, Detective Karlo, Headmaster Rivera. If they were to defeat the coming menace, there was no doubt they'd need to accept themselves and destroy remnants of the past they'd hated. Though sometimes... it isn't even the past that destroys your mind, at times, it's the realization that your future-
Is worse than the present. And for Benjamin Rivera, the Requiem Emperor Headmaster of the Academy, that was his dilemma.
To Be Continued.