Episode Four – Disaster Evolving

Part One

“…..another mass killing in India occurred today……”

“Japan is reporting a slowdown in the number of attacks along the Kyushu Defensive Line…”

“..Riots broke out today in Moscow, as the people are protesting against the newly established administration……”

“….an estimated 1.7 million in uncut gems disappeared last week, an authorities are still clueless as to the culprit….”

“Michael, please turn that off. The news has just been too depressing lately.”

“Ah, fine. I just don’t like sitting here while this stuff is happening.”

“He’s right Alicia. This is pretty scary. I’d rather know about the dangers we could face than be ignorant of them.”

Five days had passed since the Dungeon had been cleared, and the three of us were now sitting in a café in a little French town on the coast where we’d been since yesterday. As for why we were here, well that was to meet up with someone Kalia knew. A former member of Braddock’s group, actually.

“Haaah, I know that. I guess I’m just nervous.”

“Don’t be. Gwyn's a great guy, if a little intense at times. The fact that he agreed to meet us at all is a pretty good showing of that.”

“I’m just wondering though, why France? I don’t really understand why we’re meeting him here.”

“He didn’t say. All I know is that some family trouble came up after he left the group, and that its kept him busy ever since. Aside from that, I’m as clueless as you.”

Hrm, family trouble? I hope he doesn’t drag us into it. Ah, who am I kidding? Knowing my luck, that’s exactly what’ll happen. That’s just become par-for-the-course.

Frowning to myself as I pictured the ordeals to come, I turned back to my laptop as it dinged, singling that I had an email. I almost opened it, until I saw who it was from, then I promptly deleted it. I was tempted to read it, but it would only sour my mood. However, something must’ve showed on my face, as Alicia quickly caught on.

“Another one? That’s, what? Six?”

“Seven, if we count the first one. I knew she’d be persistent, but I didn’t expect this. For all she knows, those emails are just going off into the void.”

“Maybe you should just answer her. She is your sister. I’m sure it would make her feel better to know you’re okay, no matter what’s happened between you.”

“Yeah, it probably would. Until I’m not okay. Then what? No, it’s best that she thinks I died when this started. That way she can grieve properly and move on. I just need to think of a way to push her into accepting it.”

Rina had sent me three emails while I was inside the Dungeon, and I’d mistakenly read all of them. She’d gotten more and more desperate with each one, getting to the point where I was slightly worried for her. I now just straight up deleted them so I wouldn’t have to see that mess.

““…..””

“I know, I know. I’m scum for doing this. I just… I just can’t, alright? There are some things that just can’t be done, no matter how much you want to. It’ll just make it worse in the long run if I do.”

“Okay. Just remember that we’re here for you if you need us. Now, can I ask another question?”

“Just as long as it’s not about my sister.”

“…What’s with that ring, and how did it even get there?”

“Don’t look at it. Don’t think about it. Don’t even admit it exists. I’m sure if we do that, it’ll eventually go away.”

Said nonexistent ring was currently sitting in the bottom of my glass. How it had gotten there I couldn’t even begin to imagine, nor did I want to know. The damn thing just kept popping up when I least expected it to. Our first day out of the Dungeon, I’d found it under my pillow, like it was some sick gift from the tooth fairy. Then it had been in my meal in a diner that night, then it had somehow found itself onto our plane off the African continent. It popping up here wasn’t even worth mentioning at this point.

“But-.”

“No, don’t. Seriously, this damn thing creeps me out enough as it is, don’t give it any more power than it already has. Just ignore it, I’m begging you.”

The ring was one mystery I didn’t want to solve.

***

We’d left the café, leaving the ring behind, and headed to a nearby restaurant where we were to meet our prospective ally. I didn’t know much, or anything really, about him, but he wasn’t hard to spot once we got there. You just needed to look for the absolute giant of a man.

“Kalia, it’s been too long!”

“Not that long! Haha, what’s it been, a month? No, I bet it’s been less than that.”

“Ahaha, yes, I suppose so. Ah, we have so much to catch up on. And, who are your friends?”

“Oh, this is Michael and Alicia. We met almost two weeks ago, and have since decided to work together for the time being. Guys, this is Gwyn Morgan.”

Good god. This guy is jacked! Sampson, Braddock, Grant, and Cameron had all been big guys, but this dude outstripped them all. His body was not one made through hard labor or simple discipline, but the result of genetics and a lifetime of continuous effort. Basically, he was one of those one-in-a-million specimens who probably set all kinds of weight-lifting records. He was also about a foot taller than me, which was slightly intimidating.

“Ah, so the two of you were in the Ethiopian Dungeon as well?”

“Oh? You know about that?”

“Everyone knows about that. Ethiopia went well out of their way to make sure of that. Hey, dumbass, don’t forget to introduce me.”

That had come from a woman I hadn’t noticed, mostly because the giant of a man had blocked her from view. She was leaner and shorter than Gwyn, and had more of a fighter's body than someone who tried to simply put on muscle. Also, I couldn’t help but notice that she was shifting from one foot to the other, as if she was expecting a fight. Nerves maybe?

“Aha, yes. This is my twin sister, Gwen. I hope it’s not a problem that I brought her along with me.”

He shot Kalia an apologetic smile, which she returned with her usual enthusiasm. It was easy to see the family resemblance between them. They had the same dark hair and eyes, though she wore hers much longer.

Though that said, twins? I wouldn’t have expected that. I thought even fraternal twins were closer in appearance than this. He’s at least a foot taller than her. Hm, probably shouldn’t mention that.

After we’d all introduced ourselves, we were quickly shown to a table. Alicia and I sat on one side of the table, Gwyn and Gwen on the other, and Kalia sat in the middle. She and Gwyn were in the middle of a conversation I’d lost track of at some point, and Alicia was busy going over the menu. Thankfully, since this was a restaurant aimed at tourists, the menu was available in English, so I wouldn’t end up ordering something weird. No snails. Just no.

Once we’d ordered and gotten our drinks, Gwyn made a serious face before speaking.

“So, Kalia. First, I feel like I have to ask this. Did Braddock send you?”

“What? No! Nonononono! No, he has nothing to do with this. This is between the four-. Oh, sorry. Five of us.”

“Phew, good. I wasn’t kidding when I said I’d never work with him again.”

In the days leading up to this, Kalia had filled us in on some of the details regarding their group, ranging from how they’d all met, to what had caused Gwyn to leave the group. From what she’d said, they’d just grown too fast, and had become too polarized to work out. Apparently the two of them had gotten into a massive argument, which eventually led to the murder that caused the original split. Just to clarify, Gwyn hadn’t been involved in that, as he’d in fact been long gone when it happened. Kalia just attributed that argument to be the flame that set the whole thing off.

“So then, why? If this isn’t about Braddock wanting to reconcile, then what is it about? You were fairly vague in your emails.”

“Well that’s, complicated. A lot has happened in the last two weeks for us, not a lot of it good. Evelyn, Yasmin, Eileen, and Mark are all… all dead. And the rest just gave up and left.”

Kalia was barely whispering by the end, and was on the verge of tears. Gwyn clearly understood how bad things had been for her since he didn’t try to push her to continue. Honestly, this guy was seeming more and more perfect by the minute.

“Eherm! Sorry, I’m just, not fully over it yet.”

“No, I’m sorry for asking. I should have been more careful.”

“No, you needed to ask. There’s nothing to feel sorry about. I just need to, adjust, to what’s happened.”

Hm, you know, I never got the impression that Kalia was all that close to anyone in her group aside from Braddock, but she and Gwyn seem fairly close. Or closer than I expected. Maybe he’s one of those people who just manages to open everyone up to them. Or there might be something between the two of them.

“I see. Then may I ask one more question? Are the three of you attempting to recruit me?”

It was a pretty obvious conclusion to come to, so I was surprised it had even taken him this long to ask.

“That’s the intent, though I am glad to see you again. That Dungeon made us realize that we’re not ready for what whatever the System has in store for us.”

“Hm, interesting. Now, I don’t have any particular qualms about joining you. Kalia, I’m well aware of how effective your magic is, and I’d assume anyone capable of surviving such a dangerous Dungeon must be just as strong. But I have one concern I feel must be addressed.”

For the first time since we sat down, I added to the conversation.

“Personality, right?”

“Yes. I’d like to ensure that we can at least coexist before I commit to anything, especially considering what broke apart my last group. Is that alright?”

“Sure, so long as you’re fine with being questioned in turn.”

“Same here.”

“That would be most helpful. Trust should go both ways.”

I’m beginning to see why Kalia thought I’d like this guy. He’s a bit like a more considerate version of me. I can tell he’s choosing his words carefully, but he’s also speaking casually with us. That might be Kalia's influence, but I’ll take it for now.

“So to start, where are the two of you from? Based on your accents, I’d assume North America?”

“Mn-hm. Pennsylvania, to be exact. Michael and I were living in the same town when this started, and we’ve been together ever since we got out.”

“There was actually another person with us then, but he decided to do something else. He, uh, he wasn’t very specific about what, though.”

“Which is what led to this. I see.”

“Hoh, so then the two of you saw what it was like when the World System first appeared? Gwyn hasn’t told me anything, and it’s hard to find trustworthy information on the web.”

That was the first question Gwen had asked, and it caught me by surprise. Especially since I couldn’t really answer it. I glanced at Alicia, hoping she’d take over.

“It’s, hard, to sum up what happened. That first hour before the monsters appeared was confusing. I can remember my neighbors grouping up to talk about the strange voice we’d all heard, and the police must’ve been dispatched at some point since they started going around asking questions. I think most people assumed it was some elaborate prank, at least until they appeared.”

I’d missed all of that due to the Nightmare Labyrinth, a fact which may have saved my life. Without the power I received there, I probably would’ve ended up dead during the initial outbreak, or stuck within the Cavisburgh Shelter. Either way, I would’ve died.

“After that, then it was like a living hell. I hid in my house for the first few days, but I could hear people screaming outside, along with these otherworldly howls. Any time I looked out the window, all I’d see was death. I, I almost envy the people who missed the horror of that day. They don’t know what it was like to feel that sense of hopelessness. That instinctive fear of death.”

We were all silent after her confession. I’d refrained from asking her about that week before we met so as to not remind her of it, but I hadn’t grasped just how deep the trauma from it ran. I almost felt like kicking myself over how stupid I’d been not to consider that.