The Weight Of Remaining

CHARACTER 16

He closed the door behind him and walked toward the head of the table. The room seemed smaller when he was in it. More focused.

Even Rowan got serious, which was honestly the most unexpected thing I’d seen all morning.

Elias took a seat and glanced around the table. His gaze lingered on each person, like he was making sure everyone was there. Only after he seemed satisfied did he speak.

“Last night’s attack wasn’t normal.”

“That much was obvious.” Rowan muttered.

“The big monster had reinforced bone structure,” Finn said, ignoring Rowan's remark. “Faster regeneration. Higher resistance to restraint.”

“It was definitely smarter.” Talia frowned.

That caught my attention.

“Smarter how?”

“The smaller creatures attacked without real purpose. They just wanted to wreak havoc.” Talia started explaining as she leaned back in her chair. “The large one didn’t.”

Finn rested his forearms on the table.

“It wasn't focused on the civilians.” he said. “It was focused on the battlefield.”

A small frown appeared on Elias' face. Finn rarely sounded concerned.

“It kept repositioning the smaller creatures.” Finn continued. “Not directly. But every time it moved, they reacted, every time it changed direction, they adjusted.”

“Like it was giving commands?” I asked.

“That's exactly what it looked like.” Finn nodded once.

“The attack pattern is changing.” Elias concluded.

Nobody looked happy about that.

“That’s because every time we think things can’t get worse, Axton takes it as a personal challenge,” Rowan muttered.

“If the monsters are organizing now,” Talia said, folding her arms, “then whatever is happening out there is getting worse faster than we thought.”

My gaze shifted toward Elias.

“Why is he doing all this?” I asked. "Does he not have any other hobbies?"

The room went quiet. And a few surprised glances were exchanged around the table. Apparently everyone had assumed I already knew the answer.

“Axton isn’t creating monsters for fun,” Elias said.

“Debatable,” Rowan scoffed.

“He’s creating them in attempt to find the Third Hybrid.”

“And he’s certain there is a Third Hybrid?” I tried to sound skeptical.

"Have you lived in cave the past couple of years?" Rowan looked personally offended by my ignorance.

“The prophecy speaks of three Hybrids.” Elias explained looking far less impressed by my lack of knowledge.

A prophecy? Of course there had to be a prophecy...

So much for the comforting possibility that everyone might eventually decide the Third Hybrid was just a story.

Judging by the expressions around the table, nobody here doubted they were real.

Not for a second.

“What prophecy?” I asked.

For a moment, Elias studied me. He didn't expect I wouldn't know about it.

“The prophecy describes three individuals.” he started, his voice remaining calm.

“The First carries Creation, The Second carries Control.” he pauses for a second. "And the Third carries Knowledge.”

My pulse stumbled and I hoped nobody noticed.

“The First Hybrid is Axton,” Elias continued. “Creation allows him to create.”

“Create what?” I frowned.

“Almost anything.” Elias said. “Living creatures. Objects. Materials. Weapons. If it can exist, he can create it.”

For a second I thought he was exaggerating, but judging by the expressions around the table... He wasn’t.

A man capable of creating anything he wanted was a terrifying enough concept on its own. The fact that he had spent years creating monsters made it even worse.

Then Elias continued.

“Every creature we’ve ever fought came from him.”

I looked down at my coffee. I thought about the attacks, the creatures and the innocent people that lost their lives. All because one person could create. That was a horrifying amount of power.

Elias must have noticed the look on my face.

“Creation isn’t limitless,” he said.

Some of the tension in my shoulders eased.

“It’s growing.”

And the relief disappeared immediately.

“Axton’s power evolves alongside him. The more he uses it, the more complex his creations become.”

Nobody at the table looked surprised. Which told me this wasn’t new information for them.

“We’ve been watching it happen for years,” Talia said quietly.

“The creatures keep changing,” Finn added.

A silence settled over the room.

“Was that supposed to make me feel better?” I asked.

“No.” Elias’ expression darkened slightly. “But it’s the truth.”

“Tell her about Control now?” Rowan grinned like he couldn't wait to hear that one.

Everyone immediately looked toward Kaiden. He looked like he regretted sitting down for breakfast.

“Control is an oversimplification.” Finn spoke first.

“A very large oversimplification,” Talia agreed.

“The first time I saw him use it,” Rowan said, “I didn’t sleep for two days.”

“You’re exaggerating.” Kaiden rolled his eyes.

Despite the jokes, nobody was really laughing. There was something else in the way they looked at Kaiden. They trusted him, but I could tell they were also feeling something dangerously close to fear. They knew he wouldn't hurt them. But they understood exactly what he could do if he wanted to.

Kaiden shifted slightly in his chair, clearly uncomfortable with the attention.

“Control allows influence,” Elias explained moving all the attention back to himself. “Thoughts, actions, memories. That goes for living creatures."

The room grew quieter.

“And not just living creatures,” Elias continued.

“What does that mean?” I frowned

“It means Control affects anything capable of being directed.” Elias continued explaining. “That includes objects.”

“Our golden boy can also teleport short distances” Rowan winked at me.

“Are you explaining his powers or introducing him to a dating show?” Talia asked without looking up from her coffee.

“I’m providing important information.” Rowan defended himself.

“You called him our golden boy.” Talia raised an eyebrow.

“It felt relevant.”

“It wasn’t.”

For some reason, that only encouraged Rowan.

“He’s tall, mysterious, emotionally unavailable—”

“Rowan.” Kaiden’s warning came immediately.

“—and apparently willing to throw himself in front of monsters for people.” Rowan winked at me again as the grin on his face widened.

Kaiden dropped his forehead into one hand.

“Can we continue the meeting?”

"Yes." Elias was kind enough to put an end to Kaiden's suffering.

“What about the Third Hybrid?” I asked curious what they could tell me.

The atmosphere changed instantly. The expressions around the table became heavier. Even Rowan stopped smiling.

“Nobody really knows.” Elias said.

“What do you mean nobody knows?” I frowned.

“We can't be sure what they're capable of because we haven't found them.” Finn said.

“We don’t know if they’re even aware of what they are.” Talia added.

The uncertainty in the room felt strange. When they spoke about Axton, they sounded determined. When they spoke about Kaiden, they sounded confident.

When they spoke about the Third Hybrid, they sounded... Worried.

"Allegedly, just like Creation and Control, The Knowledge is the ability to have access to everything there is to know." Elias explained. "That includes the ability to learn how to use other powers. Even the ones of The Hybrids..."

A chill ran down my spine. I could do all of that?

“The only thing we know for certain,” Elias said, “is that Axton believes the powers of Third Hybrid is the key to something.”

My stomach tightened.

"And why exactly does he think the Third Hybrid would be willing to help him." I scoffed.

A strange feeling settled in my chest as I got multiple concerned looks in my direction.

Then Elias spoke.

“Axton isn’t looking for the Third Hybrid’s cooperation.”

"What's that supposed to mean?" Something cold crawled down my spine.

“It means Hybrids can inherit the powers of other Hybrids.” The expression on Elias’ face darkened.

“How?”

Nobody seemed particularly eager to answer.

Finally, Kaiden did.

“They have to kill them.”