Chapter 138: Remember Yourself

Chapter 138: Remember Yourself

Kurt now finds himself within his own mind, face to face with Master Dom.

“Who are you?” Kurt asks, his voice shaking.

“You will remember me as Master Dom,” Master Dom replies.

He stands calmly before Kurt, with short, messy black hair that matches his black beard and mustache.

Kurt’s eyes widen in shock.

Somewhere deep within his mind, a section of the blue glow fades away.

“You have failed yourself and your comrades,” Master Dom says.

Kurt can only stare. His mouth hangs open with no words.

“The path you are on will not bring you great power,” Master Dom continues. “You were turned into a demon by a man who was turned into a demon himself. There is nothing you can do to be human again. But… you can use your new power for good.”

“But how?” Kurt asks, his voice breaking.

“It’s not rocket science, my boy. Though you are a demon, you still possess your humanity.”

Another part of Kurt’s mind breaks free from the brainwashing.

“I… do?”

“Yes. Use your power to fight the darkness. Step outside. Let me show you the outcome if you continue on this path.”

They step outside together.

Kurt freezes. He sees his hometown engulfed in flames. Buildings collapse as fires rage through the streets. People scream and run for their lives.

“What is this!?” Kurt shouts.

“Your hometown burning to the ground,” Master Dom says calmly. “Because of you.”

Kurt clutches his head and screams, “No!!!”

“Yes. This will happen if you do not remember yourself. Come this way.”

They move toward a nearby house and step inside.

“This is your home,” Master Dom says. “It’s being destroyed.”

Another part of Kurt’s mind breaks free.

“Nooo!!!” Kurt screams.

Screaming echoes from the next room. They rush into the family room. A woman with brown hair reaching the upper part of her back stands frozen in fear as someone approaches her.

“That is your mother, Jane,” Master Dom says. “She will die.”

Kurt looks closer to get a good look at the attacker. The person approaching her is himself.

“Kurt! No! What are you doing!?” Jane screams.

The other Kurt grabs her by the throat.

“Nooooooo!!!!!” Kurt cries as he charges forward and punches his other self. But it is too late. His mother lies lifeless on the floor.

Kurt collapses to his knees.

“That will happen if you do not remember yourself,” Master Dom reiterates.

Kurt breaks down, sobbing uncontrollably. “Noooooooooo!!!!!!”

“Remember yourself, Kurt!!” Master Dom shouts. “You are not a killer of innocents!!”

Kurt screams as the final remnants of the brainwashing shatter.

Then, silence.

“At last,” Master Dom says softly. “You remember yourself.”

Kurt lifts his head, tears streaming down his face.

“I remember… Thank you, Master Dom.”

The world around him fades away.

***

Kurt finds himself staring at Zeth. The blue shading at the edges of his eyes is gone. “Zeth… I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright,” Zeth replies. “As long as you’re back to normal.”

“I remember everything,” Kurt says quietly. “Everything I’ve done.”

“Everything?” Zeth asks. “Do you know where Kogen’s base of operations is?”

“Yes.”

“Alright,” Zeth says. “Let’s find the others and get the hell out of here. Emily and Joe aren’t in this city, right?”

“Correct.”

Keith and RAG rush into the remains of the destroyed grocery store.

“Zeth!” Keith shouts in concern.

“Keith. RAG. Where’s Sasha?” Zeth asks.

“She said there was a building she wanted to infiltrate,” RAG replies. “She told us to find you.”

“What!?” Zeth gasps. “We need to find her. Let’s go!”

They immediately take off, leaving the ruined grocery store behind.

Kurt is finally free from the brainwashing. However, Emily and Joe are still out there.

Chapter 138 END
To be Continued in Chapter 139: A City on the Edge of Collapse