“He waited for eons. Plotting, preparing and building his forces. He knew that one day an opportunity would come. An opportunity to finally escape this prison and exact his revenge on the world HE created. And by the Void, what a wonderful day it would be.”

~ Unknown, ages ago

In the end, Leo’s run might have taken a bit too long as the moment he rushed back inside his house, he had barely ten minutes to spare before the meeting.

Curse you Lily and Mrs. Gibson, it’s all your fault, Leo thought as he jumped under the shower and in a record time cleaned himself of all the filth that gathered on him during the day.

Looking in the mirror, Leo rolled his grey eyes when he noticed that even though his hair was always kept short it still managed to look like shit after a shower. With no time to fix the mess, Leo just ran a hand through his hair a few times and went to put his clothes on.

The doorbell echoing through the house crushed any hopes of being ready in time. Leo cursed and quickly shoved the clean shirt over his head. You couldn’t be late the one time I wanted.

Dashing towards the sound, Leo swung the door open to the sight of a tall man with short graying hair. Both Leo and the man were almost the exact copies of one another if one ignored the younger man’s slightly shorter stature and a bit softer facial features.

“Leo, how ar-” The man stopped suddenly, taking notice of Leo’s disheveled state, “Is it the wrong time? We can reschedule if you’re busy.”

Coloring slightly, Leo scowled, “Nothing like that Edward, my run just took a bit longer than expected. Come in.”

Ignoring Edward’s slight grimace at the use of his name, Leo waited for the man to put away his coat before walking further into the living room.

“I’m afraid, I can’t offer you anything to eat. Like I said, I was running a bit late. Still, I can do coffee or tea,” Leo offered, barely sparing the man a glance.

Edward waved him off, “Not a problem. I already ate, though I will never say no to coffee, I had a long day.”

You’re not the only one, Leo thought with a sigh as he entered his kitchen through the doorless archway and thanked whoever designed the house that Edward couldn’t see him from the living room.

Taking in a few calming breaths, Leo leaned against the fridge and closed his eyes. Come on, you just promised Lily that you would at least try. Don’t take your annoyance out on him when he didn’t even deserve it.

Finally, the coffee machine buzzed and Leo quickly poured two full cups. Taking a deep breath, he wiped the small frown away and went back to the living room.

“Here you go,” Leo murmured, passing over the coffee and taking a seat across the small table.

A slightly uncomfortable silence fell upon the room as the two sipped their drink. Leo might have decided to go a bit easier on his father, but it didn’t mean that he would start the conversation. Not when they didn’t see each other for almost a month.

Thankfully after a minute or two, Edward broke the silence, “I see you still didn’t change anything in the house,” he said, glancing at the brightly colored walls and slightly outdated furniture.

And indeed, ever since Leo received this house from Edward half a year ago, he did nothing to alter its general interior. Well apart from a few small changes to his bedroom and kitchen.

Not giving any emotion away, Leo gazed at the cup in his hands, “Why would I? Mom always loved everything here. It helps me remember her. To touch anything would destroy the memories I have.”

“I’m glad,” Edward replied, chuckling lightly, “When I bought this house and gave Melania free reign on designing the interior, she went all out. We never did any big renovations when we lived in the US so this became her real playground. Though I still think that those colors don’t mix well with each other.”

Leo shrugged, “I like it.” Well maybe like was too strong of a word. More like it could be much worse. Besides, some childish part of Leo still wanted to disagree with everything Edward said.

“Whatever suits you,” Edward replied and almost instantly went for a change in the subject.

The man definitely could read the room better than most people Leo knew. Any attempt at even mentioning Leo’s deceased mother ended either in an argument or a very quick finish to their meeting.

“How is your work going? I couldn’t really get a hand on your stories in the past few weeks.”

Good choice, Leo mused as he couldn’t stop the smirk that formed on his face. He took pride in his accomplishments. Especially when just a few years back his future looked quite bleak.

As such Leo just leaned back and replied casually, “Good, very good. The editors say that if I continue like that, I might get a promotion soon.”

“You deserve it, Leo,” Edward smiled, “You worked hard. Though I’m sure that the little Hale hellion was also the main factor in your success. I have never taken you for a writer in the past.”

Because you don’t know me, Leo wanted to say but stopped at the last second. No need to make this conversation even worse than it already was.

“I can’t deny that,” Leo instead replied stiffly. After a month without a meeting, he almost forgot how hard it was to carry a normal conversation with his father. Too many red zones that could finish their meeting in a blink of an eye.

Just calm down and try, Leo repeated while another part of him instantly objected, Why should I? He didn’t care when I needed him. He didn’t even care to speak with me, before leaving for years.

It was always the same thing, two sides constantly waging war against each other. One fueled by Lily’s persistence and the desire to have his father back. While Leo’s deep resentment and ability to hold a grudge sparked the flames of the other side.

Still, I promised.

And so Leo extended the olive branch. Probably the first and, depending on how well the rest of the conversation went, the last one.

“So where have you been for the last month,” Leo asked, “I got your notice saying that you had to cancel our meetings, but you really didn’t explain why.”

Edward winced. The last part definitely came out like an accusation, Leo didn’t even have to try. Welp, there goes my olive branch. Stubborn fool.

“I’m sorry. I should have called you,” Edward’s shoulders slumped, “I had to leave out of the blue. My company needed someone to finish a few deals with contractors in the US and the responsibility fell on me. For almost two weeks I was constantly in meetings or planning things through the phone. God knows why I even agreed to go…”

That explained a lot. Edward was just as passionate about his job as Leo. And, from what Leo gathered from his adoptive parents, the man used his job as a way to deal with problems. Not healthy, but Leo couldn’t fault him.

Wait a second, Leo’s eyes narrowed, “Two weeks?”

Edward sighed, probably expecting the question, “I finished the last deal in Colorado, quite close to our old home.”

Oh…

They never talked about the small house they left behind in the US. Not before the accident and definitely not after. To hear Edward mention it now was surprising to say at least.

Leo sighed, eyes closed. His mind traveled back to those better times when they still lived in the US. Back when his mother always waited for him to come back from school. Back when his biggest worry was homework. Back when his mother was still alive…

Eyes opening, Leo’s gaze instantly snapped towards a small dresser where a lone photo sat.

An image of a short blond-haired woman, smiling widely towards the camera. Her deep blue eyes shone with love, gazing at the small child of ten in her arms.

Leo blinked when he felt something wet travel down his left cheek. Why now?

It had been a while since he went down such a memory lane and Leo definitely didn’t plan to continue it now. Not when Edward was just a few meters away.

Quickly wiping the lone tear, Leo cleared his throat, “I thought you sold the house,” he stated, his voice barely a whisper.

Edward looked like he wanted to address Leo’s previous reaction, but thought better of it. They both knew that nothing good would come out of that conversation.

“Just like with this house, I couldn’t. It just stood there empty. Degrading with every year of unuse.” Edward replied, taking another sip of the coffee that was probably already cold at this point.

“You know, I never found enough courage to go back. Not when it held so many memories,” he continued, staring at an empty space, ”But when I was so close I just told myself, ‘It is now or never, you probably won’t get another chance’.”

Leo stilled. This conversation was becoming a bit too personal for his liking. Not that he tried to stop Edward. No, Leo wanted to know what made his father stay. Besides, the man talked like he was in some sort of trance.

“When I arrived there, the house was barely habitable. I should have gone back in that moment, but I didn’t,” he chuckled, “No, instead I called time off work and just tried to fix that mess.”

Edward stopped, but Leo wanted, no, he had to know more, “Why?” A simple question, that hid so many secrets.

The man refused to meet Leo’s gaze, “Because, son, for the first time in years, I found a place where I felt home. A home that I didn't want to leave.”

What?

Leo’s eyes widened slightly, he didn’t realize that his father had such a problem. He thought that Edward found a new place to call home a long time ago, just like Leo did with his adoptive family.

Apparently, he was wrong. Very wrong.

And just like that, a realization hit Leo like a herd of running bulls, “You’re moving there.” It wasn’t a question, only a pure statement. A statement that they both knew to be true.

If Edward previously refused to meet Leo's gaze, now he outright avoided even looking in his direction.

“I’m sorry,” Edward uttered, his head hung low. “It might seem like I’m abandoning you again, but I have to do this. Know that there will always be a place for you there. After all, it’s your home too.”

Leo barely held his scowl while his fists clenched under the table. Not because Edward was leaving once again. Hell, anyone who knew the man understood that he deserved a chance to move on. Just like Leo did.

No, what made his blood boil was the fact that Edward still couldn't say it to Leo’s face. Just like always. Running or hiding away when the situation became too heated.

Stubborn fool, I might be. But you father, you’ll always be a coward.

Leo sighed, the heat of the moment evaporating like boiled water. What was the sense of raging over something he was well aware of? Why did it always hurt the same?

“I understand,” Leo stated, refusing to say more.

And so they just sat there. Leo tried to drill holes in his father with the power of sight alone, while Edward’s gaze refused to move even an inch away from the empty cup. Leo attempted to say something, to maybe finally put an end to their decade-long issue, but he couldn’t.

Each time, his mouth opened, words refused to form. The nagging of his mind just wouldn’t let Leo do what had to be done. Edward should be the one to put an end to this. Not me.

Once again the past had defeated common sense.

Maybe it’s for the best. Leo snapped his gaze away from Edward and tried to find anything to occupy his thoughts with.

It was not to be as Edward’s movement caught his attention again.

“I think, it’s time for me,” the man announced standing up, “Do you mind if I use the bathroom before I go?”

Of course, you would run, Leo masked the shake of his head with a nod, “You know the way.”

As Edward disappeared in the corridor, Leo squashed the urge to punch the table with all his might and just mechanically collected the empty cups.

In the end, maybe we’re both cowards, father. Scared of confronting our fears. Worried that if it doesn’t work then our relationship will break just like it did all those years ago. Leo snorted as he entered the kitchen. After all, it’s better to keep what we have now, no matter how bad it is, than risk losing each other again.

Absently, Leo put the cups into the dishwasher and leaned on the counter, right in front of a window. He took a few deep breaths and tried to clear his mind, just like after each meeting.

Standing there, Leo barely noticed an anomaly happening outside the window.

“What, the…” He muttered and leaned forward, thoughts halting for a second.

There in the sky, a small orb of dark red light hung. As if awakened by Leo’s gaze, it expanded, slowly consuming more and more of the cloudless sky. Its conquest didn't stop there. Instead, the light turned towards the Earth, slowly descending like a vengeful angel.

Eyes wide and heart hammering in his chest, Leo could do nothing but scream once the light engulfed everything around him. Nothing was spared.

He fell to the floor, twitching and screaming as something invaded his body, burning him from the inside out.

Through the pain, Leo heard more screams pierce the air. They were muffled, barely audible. Leo didn’t know where they came from, nor did he care. Not when his mind refused to focus on anything other than the red light and the inferno that threatened to consume his whole body.

Leo didn’t know how long he just laid there screaming and probably losing his voice in the process. But when the pain disappeared like it was never there, he could only see two things before the world went dark.

The dark red light that dimly illuminated the whole world and a few lines of text hanging in front of his vision.

Universe No. 4325 collapsed.

The 36th Void Outbreak of Universe No. 2372 is beginning.

Good Luck Survivor.

“Shit,” Leo grumbled as his consciousness finally came back. Rolling on his back he tried to open his eyes, only to quickly squeeze them shut when a bright light blinded him. Cursing, Leo decided that if opening his eyes was a no-go, then he should probably try to remember what the hell happened.

The red light, screaming and the pain… oh man the pain, Leo groaned when the memories hit him like a speeding train. There had to be some explanation for all of this. Maybe he slipped, knocked himself out and his mind decided to make up excuses for those events.

No, Leo shook his head, It was too real.

“It indeed was, young survivor,” A voice echoed through… whatever the hell Leo currently was in and his eyes instantly snapped open even if the bright light continuously stabbed his eyeballs. After all, the weird voice just addressed Leo's thoughts. Thoughts, for fuck sake!

“Here, User,” The voice that sounded just like Leo's — Just more dead? Indifferent? Calm? Something like that — came from behind.

Almost jumping to his feet, Leo quickly scanned the very small and crimson-colored room. It was literally composed of only a metal table with two chairs on each side with one of them already occupied.

Eyes wide, Leo pointed his shaking hand at the person, “W-why the hell do you look just like me? Where am I?!”

Leo’s exact clone, as that was literally what the person was, just motioned to the other empty chair, all the while maintaining his — its? — completely stone-cold expression.

“Please take a seat. We have much to talk about and your soul can withstand my presence only for so long,” The clone spoke again, his tone not changing one bit.

Shakily Leo moved forward, more out of the confusion and curiosity of whatever was happening. You just didn’t wake up in a random room with a copy of yourself after surviving what probably was the most painful experience in Leo’s life. You just didn’t.

As Leo took a seat, he scooted a few feet away from the table. Only the raised hand of the clone stopped him, “I mean you no harm, Survivor. I’m here to guide you, not hurt you.”

Leo narrowed his eyes, not really trusting the clone. Unfortunately, he didn’t really have any other option as the room was completely closed off. Alright then, find out what the hell is happening and panic later. Not the best plan, but what could you do when confronted by your doppelganger?

The clone nodded, “Good. Now that you are somewhat paying attention we can begin. To start off, I'll answer your previous questions.”

Instantly a ball of dark crimson smoke-like substance twisted into existence above the table. Leo flinched, barely stopping himself from jumping out of his chair.

The clone apparently didn’t care about Leo’s reaction as he just motioned to the crimson ball, “Currently we are deep inside your soul. A soul that is currently going through its awakening process. As for me? I’m a larger shard of an entity called System. My task here is to give a short introduction to all the lucky ones who managed to survive the Outbreak. And mimicking your appearance lessens the strain on your soul from my presence.”

The 36th Void Outbreak. The floating text, Leo’s mind supplied even if it didn’t explain anything.

Leo’s head spun, “Soul? System? Outbreak? What the hell are you talking about?! It must be some sort of a dream. Soon it will go away and everything will be back to normal. God knows that I had my fair share of weird dreams.”

Apparently, the thing before him didn’t really care about Leo’s rant. It just sat there watching the floating orb of red that pulsed with even brighter light when it neared Leo.

“I repeat, User. This is not a simulation, dream, or hallucination. The faster you understand this, the bigger chances of survival you have once your Universe, body, and mind finish changing,” the System’s shard explained in its usual drawl.

Pinching himself, Leo grimaced when a shot of pain traveled through his arm. Okay? That’s new. Either this thing is telling the truth or I’m going mad. Honestly, I don’t know which option is worse…

Leo sighed and just decided to go along with this whole thing. After all, it couldn’t hurt to at least humor the weird being before him. “Alright then, I’m all ears.”

Dismissing the crimson orb, the clone spoke up, “About three days ago, your entire Universe went through a Void Outbreak. An event caused by the collapse of Universe No. 4325 where enormous amounts of Void Essence broke through the Multiversal barrier to reach Universe No. 2372 — your world —, thus starting the Outbreak. Currently, your entire Universe is in a sort of stasis while the System is trying to reach as many as it can.”

Because that explains everything...

Leo shook his head, “You’re not making any sense. It sounds like stuff straight out of a sci-fi movie.”

“I don’t have enough time to explain the whole history of the Multiverse. System deems this information not substantial to your continued survival. All you need to know is that only about five percent of your Universe’ population survived the Curse of the Void and you’re one of those beings. The remaining ninety-five percent unfortunately received a fate worse than death... Transforming into Voidlings. Beasts that care only about growing stronger with the Essence they consume. They will be one of the main threats once you go back. Them and the Void dimension that is now opened to your Universe.”

Even though the clone dumped a lot of information on Leo, only one thing echoed through his mind as he stared blankly at the table.

Five percent. Fate worse than death…