Abandoned World: The Awakening

And he's willing to answer for it. Peyton firmly believed that it was only fair to answer for it. To admit his mistake. Admit it, maybe even publicly. For the first time, Peyton would publicly admit his mistake. That he couldn't strangle her because of how he felt, but he's still willing. He's even willing to risk his life now and still do what's necessary. And she doesn't even have to ask for it.

Doesn't even have to hint at the necessity of it. He is ready to do it all by himself: to confess his wrong, his mistake and correct it. He is ready to strangle her at the first meeting without any conversation, without any reproach or hesitation. That way he can wash away the shame…..

The door to the room opened and Heddock stepped carefully inside. This was not the man he'd expected to be here. He must have his hands full with his own business… Though it was understandable, too. He'd come to see an old friend, to stab him in the neck, to strip him of his powers and appoint someone else, someone he'd probably already chosen to be his assistant.

— You keep me busy, Mr. Handler. — That's what the elders called the shadowy head of the station, "curator", in private meetings. Officially, he was called the curator of the Enlightenment section. So they simply removed everything unnecessary, leaving the word "curator" as if to imply that he was supervising them.

— Yes, Peyton… We have no idea how much I need you to be healthy.

Peyton didn't hear the words at first. He wanted to hear something like "it's past your time" or "sunset comes to everyone," but it didn't sound like that, so he didn't understand anything at all:

— What-what?

— Peyton, come on… I know you're not doing great, but it's still a micro-infarction, not just a heart attack. You're gonna be on your feet in no time.

Does everyone assume that nothing has changed. That he was so injured that he didn't do what he was supposed to do. Did no one notice that? Did no one notice his mistake?

— Everyone makes mistakes, Mr. Curator. Absolutely everyone… But not everyone admits their mistakes. And I'm the one who corrects them. Corrects mistakes and moves on. Forward.

Toward goals.

— I understand, Peyton. I agree… Can we talk about the case?

— Business? That's what I'm talking about, damn it! Can't you see this is the most important case of my life? I admit and correct mistakes like nobody else! Like nobody else, do you hear me?!

— Peyton, it's okay. We've already taken care of it. I need your abilities in the changes that are coming.

They had it all worked out. Peyton heard it and couldn't believe his ears. How could this have been handled without him. Had they ended Delaney's life for him. But how could they fix it now? She couldn't be killed a second time, could she? It had to be him and no one else. How do you do it now? Now how do you fix a mistake when it's already been fixed by someone else? This is on purpose. There was no doubt it was on purpose. Someone's digging a hole for him. Maybe even the whole Council is doing it. The whole Council wants to sideline him altogether so he can't do anything about it. That's what they've done.

But he's not an easy one. It's not going to be as easy for them as they wanted it to be. He's been through a lot. He's done a lot of preparation, and he's ready for a lot of things. They may have left this mistake on him forever, but he'll find a way out of it. He'll make them kill each other. They will kill each other, and none of them will be able to right their wrongs. They're the only ones who killed wrong. Only they would do it for each other and not for themselves… What idiots they were to reveal such a slick move to him. A move that would make him the master of their fates, because he would take each one's fate away from them individually and make it his own. What an ingenious plan to play on their failures so skillfully. Only the chosen one can do that.

— So you settled it?

— Yes, yes, Peyton… Delaney won't tell anyone anything. You can be sure of that.

— I'd still like to know from you personally. Why didn't you let me strangle her myself? I want to hear it from you, Mr. Curator.

— Strangle her? No, Peyton, no one strangled her. She's in Tosca now and will remain there until further notice.

This was already interesting. Not as offensive as intended, but more interesting. So they would scare him on purpose, not giving him a chance to fulfill what was intended. Not even giving him a chance to undo what's done, but showing that it's possible. It's even smarter, a lot smarter than one would assume. And given the way Haddock talks about it, he's obviously the one who started this whole game. He wants to mess it up so that Peyton can't fix it. Like the world order that he's recently been able to take for granted.

— So you won't let me see her?

There was an awkward pause. Heddock seemed to realize what he was getting at, but he didn't want to say it out loud. The stakes were such that he might as well say it.