A Surge of Chaos

Part 2: Void

Today was meant to be the day, the day where Dusk would finally venture into the Abyss. Putting her latest efforts into practice, and reaping the rewards of her work. Though fate had other plans.

Dusk jolted awake to a cacophony that shattered the usual stillness of Thermoa. A wild racket boomed outside, the indistinct animalistic din seeped into her quarters, mingling with muffled voices raised in alarm. Her pulse quickened, each beat a hammer against her ribs.

She sat up, ears straining to parse the noise. It was unnatural, alien to Thermoa's usually tranquil hum of machinery and subdued chatter. Her fingers trembled as she pulled on her boots, the sounds outside growing louder. A sharp clanging rang out, reverberating like a gong, and the walls themselves seemed to quake under its weight.

Heart pounding, she flung open her door. The corridor, lit by weak, flickering bulbs, was alive with echoes. Somewhere down the way, a scream pierced the air, sending shivers crawling up her spine. The scream was strange, wrong, a symphony of unrest that bled panic into her veins.

Dusk stumbled forward, instincts overriding thought. She wasn't sure what was happening, but she didn't care. She had to make sure her friends were safe. Quill was the closest, and she bolted there as fast as her legs would take her.

His workshop was just as cluttered as she’d last seen it: chaotic, but familiar. She stepped inside, her breaths ragged, to find him sprawled across the floor, snoring softly. Relief hit her like a wave, momentarily stalling her panic. His tools were scattered around him, half-assembled gadgets littering the floor, their still nature a stark contrast to the turmoil outside.

“Quill,” she whispered hoarsely. When he didn’t stir, she knelt and gave his shoulder a shake, but his only response was a grumble as he burrowed deeper into his makeshift nest of rags. Dusk hesitated, but decided he'd be ok the commotion seemed to stem from down below. 

§

The noises grew louder as she descended to the lower levels where Pearl and April lived. She turned a corner and froze. Ahead in the central square, where prayers to the reactor were typically held, a crowd had gathered. They shifted like a turbulent sea, murmurs and gasps rippling through them. At the forefront stood several scientists clad in pristine white, their presence incongruous amid the rising disorder.

Dusk’s feet moved before she had even thought to command them. She pushed past the throng, weaving between bodies, every step tightening the knot of unease in her chest. By the time she reached the front, a scientist’s voice rang out, amplified over the crowd.

“—the reactor’s reserves are dwindling.” His tone was firm but edged with urgency. “Our survival depends on action. We must take action. A mission to the surface is imperative—both to secure resources and to assess the possibility of resettlement.”

The words landed like blows, each one heavier than the last. The surface. The poisoned wasteland where nothing was meant to live. She scanned the faces around her; they were wide-eyed, pale, hungry for answers.

“We have selected volunteers from among the reactor guards. You have assisted Thermoa for years; now you will protect its future. Those selected will be collected. You will not have a say in this matter. We know your names, we know your faces and we will find you—” His voice was stale and uncaring, with a rigid determination that seemed to guarantee his words.

Dusk’s stomach dropped. April. Her heart thudded as she turned, pushing against the tide of bodies. The crowd absorbed her protest like a stone sinking into water, the scientist’s voice droning on as she fought her way out.

§

Upon reaching April's home, Dusk burst in without knocking, skidding to a halt as she spotted April still asleep on her mattress, limbs flung out as if she’d simply collapsed there after a long day.

“April!” Dusk hissed, rushing to her side. She shook her, her urgency growing when April only groaned and blinked lazily up at her.

“What’s—?” April’s voice was groggy, her eyes unfocused.

“Get up. Now.” Dusk pulled at her arm. “We need to go.”

April frowned, sitting up sluggishly. “Eh?”

“Just change. Quickly. We have to go.” 

April slowly started to wake up, nodding along in a somewhat oblivious joy. "Oh yeah, right, today's the day isn't it. At least let me get changed in peace though." She said lightly pushing Dusk back outside her door.

Dusk waited as patiently as she could, which was to say, she couldn't keep still at all. She heard a commotion from down the corridor: countless figures in white lab coats moved methodically towards her, clipboards in hand. Dusk’s heart raced as she saw one scientist scan over a sheet of paper. A selection of faces and names were sketched there. Likely their method of identifying the reactor guards.

A pair of them stepped into a nearby room. What started as a series of confused stammers morphed into a fearful yell, followed by the unmistakable crackle of electricity. The shout cut off sharply. Dusk caught a glimpse of the scientists dragging out an unconscious figure before she ducked back inside April’s home, slamming the door behind her.

“April, hurry!” she whispered harshly.

From the other side of the room, April’s cheerfully oblivious voice drifted back. “Relax, I’m almost done!”

As soon as April emerged, Dusk grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the back window. “Go to Quill’s workshop,” she instructed. “Stay there. I’ll find you.”

April still looked bewildered but nodded, her usual lightheartedness dimmed by Dusk’s severity. Once April clambered out of sight, Dusk turned and headed for Pearl’s home. Dashing through the darkest paths she knew, careful not to make a sound. The scientists had spread across the entire lower levels now. White lab-coats marched through each common path and passage, the sounds of cries filling the air.

§

By the time Dusk reached Pearl's home something felt wrong, it was quiet. She paused for a moment, trying to steady her breathing to prepare for whatever she'd find inside. The interior of Pearl’s home was unchanged, but Dusk could feel the tension in the air like a taut string ready to snap. She found Pearl curled up in a corner, her knees drawn to her chest, her eyes wide and unblinking.

Dusk approached slowly. Pearl didn’t notice her until she knelt beside her, wrapping her arms around her in a silent embrace. Pearl stiffened, then relaxed, her breath hitching as she leaned into Dusk’s shoulder.

After a long moment, Pearl whispered, “What’s happening?”

Dusk pulled back to meet her gaze. “The scientists seem to be taking some of the reactor guards. Something to do with the energy supplies.”

Pearl’s eyes widened further. “I see..."

“Also... I know its bad timing, but as you know, I’m going into the Abyss today. April should be safer there for the moment as well.” Dusk snuck the words out as fast as she could, before she'd come to regret it.

Pearl’s expression crumpled, worry etched into every line of her face. “Ah..." She paused for a moment, considering what to say next. "Well then, promise me you’ll come back.”

Dusk hesitated, then nodded. “I will.”

Pearl leaned forward, pressing her lips to Dusk’s in a fleeting kiss that left Dusk stunned. When Pearl pulled back, her cheeks were flushed, and she quickly ushered Dusk toward the door. "Remember to keep April safe!" Pearl yelled after her, Dusk waved back a slightly teary farewell. 

With each step back away Dusk's regret doubled. Was now really the right time? Sure she'd likely keep April safe by hiding in the Abyss, but maybe they could wait. Spend some time waiting for the commotion to settle down. Spend time some time with Pearl. Though unbeknownst to her, a part of Dusk disagreed, a dark and warped whisper. It beckoned her. 

§

The run back to Quill's workshop was even worse than Dusk expected. Scientists had stationed themselves at every major hub, panning their way up the city. It wouldn't be long before they made their way to the middle levels where Quill's workshop resided. 

Having successfully avoided the scientists on her way up, Dusk found April standing aimlessly in the workshop's mess, her usual carefree demeanour at odds with the tension in the air.

"I assume you finally heard the commotion." Dusk stated somewhat sarcastically.

"Ah, yeah, any idea what's going on?" April asked, trying to mask the obvious concern in her voice.

"Something related to those reactor troubles you mentioned I think, the scientists are kidnapping some of the reactor guards for some expedition to the surface." Dusk quickly responded.

"Oh..... Well I guess we'd better hurry up then." April smiled, trying to hide her obvious concern

Dusk nodded happily, thankful that April finally understood what was actually happening. Their conversation had also woken up Quill, who looked around groggy and bleary-eyed, looked up as Dusk entered. “What’s going on?” he muttered.

Dusk explained in a similarly to the point matter. Quill looked on in a daze, his brain slowly waking up. “Seems like good timing on your part then” he stated.

Dusk nodded. “Yeah... I guess..." Deep down she couldn't help but disagree, she wanted to be with Pearl. To keep her safe, but something disagreed. 

"Aren't we lucky!" April chimed in, having regained her positive energy.

Quill sighed, then managed a small, tired smile. “Well then, good luck to both of you."

The pair departed after giving a hurried farewell, before gathering the remaining supplies from Dusk's home. As they ascended to the upper levels, the path grew darker, the air colder. The weight of what lay ahead pressed down on Dusk.

Down below, the ripple of shouts still bellowed. A blemish on Thermoa's peaceful days. 

April glanced at her, grinning despite the tension. “Ready?”

Dusk forced a smile. “As I’ll ever be.”

Together, they stepped forward, into the unknown.