Path of the Unmentioned: The Missing Piece-Chapter 109: The Void Empress [2]

Kyle stood in the wrecked train car, breath catching in his throat.

The world around him was silent... too silent.

Blood was everywhere. It coated the floors, the seats, the walls.

So much of it that he felt sick just looking at it. Some of it was fresh, some already dried and dark.

The air was thick with the smell of smoke and iron. Sparks flickered from broken wires above.

The lights buzzed, blinking in and out. Casting unsteady shadows over the torn-apart interior.

Bodies were slumped over in their seats. Motionless, lifeless.

The passengers... all of them were dead.

Kyle’s legs locked in place. His arms wouldn’t respond. It was like something was holding him down.

Chains he couldn’t see, heavy and cruel. He couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. He was trapped, forced to watch.

Then he saw her.

Anaya.

The little girl from earlier. She had laughed when her mother told her to stop bouncing in her seat. She had waved at him. Smiled.

Now she was crying. Small arms wrapped around her mother’s waist. Her mother was bleeding, head leaning to the side, her breath shallow and shaky.

And standing over them... was him.

The cultist.

His face was the same. Wild eyes, twisted smile, the glint of madness in his stare. In his hand, one of his curved daggers dripped with fresh blood.

"Please..." the woman whispered, holding her daughter tight. Her voice was weak. "Please, not her..."

The cultist tilted his head. Like he was curious.

Then he stabbed the mother.

The blade sank in with a sickening crunch. Her body jerked. Her eyes went wide. Then empty.

Anaya screamed.

"No!" Kyle shouted. But his voice didn’t come out. His mouth moved, but no sound followed.

He fought against the invisible weight pinning him down. But it was useless.

He couldn’t move.

Couldn’t stop it.

The cultist reached for the girl.

Anaya struggled, kicking, crying, calling out for her mother. But the man didn’t care.

He raised his dagger.

And brought it down.

The scream stopped.

Kyle’s vision blurred. He didn’t know if it was from tears or rage or something else entirely.

The cultist turned slowly. His boots squelching in the blood-soaked floor.

Step by step. He made his way down the aisle, humming to himself.

Toward Reo and Eleanora.

They were still unconscious. Reo’s chest barely moved with each breath. Eleanora’s body was limp, stained in red.

The cultist crouched beside Reo first.

He whispered something. Kyle couldn’t hear it, then drove the dagger into Reo’s side.

Again.

And again.

Reo’s body twitched once. Then stilled.

The cultist moved to Eleanora next, dragging the blade along the floor.

Kyle thrashed, every muscle in his body screaming to move. But nothing worked.

The dagger rose again.

Eleanora’s head shifted slightly.

And then it fell.

Kyle’s scream finally tore from his throat.

Silent and helpless.

And then—

Darkness.

Gasp!

Kyle shot up. Chest heaving, sweat dripping down his neck and forehead.

White walls.

Clean sheets.

Soft pillows under his back.

Beeping beside him.

A hospital room.

His heart pounded so hard it felt like it would break through his ribs. His hands were shaking. His breathing was uneven, like he’d just run for miles.

He blinked.

It was a dream.

No... a nightmare.

But it had felt so real.

"Reo... Eleanora..."

He threw the blanket off, trying to move. But an IV tugged at his arm and pain shot through his side.

Then a calm voice spoke from across the room.

"Relax, kid. You’ll rip your stitches."

Kyle turned fast, wide-eyed.

A woman sat in a chair near the window, one leg crossed over the other. She was flipping through a magazine with one hand and munching on an apple with the other.

She had long white hair that shimmered in the sunlight and golden eyes that practically glowed.

He knew her.

She raised an eyebrow as she glanced at him.

"The princess and that boy are out of danger," she said, biting into the apple again.

"You’re still breathing too, though you were a mess when I found you."

Kyle didn’t speak.

He just sat there, staring at her.

His hands slowly loosened. His shoulders dropped.

They were alive.

The words echoed in Kyle’s mind, soft and distant. Like a lifeline thrown into stormy waters.

Reo... Eleanora...

He took a shaky breath. The weight in his chest easing just a little. But that small moment of peace didn’t last.

His eyes widened, and his voice came out rough. Barely above a whisper.

"W-What about the others?"

The woman sitting by the window didn’t answer right away. She stopped mid-bite. The apple in her hand frozen just before her mouth.

Then she looked at him, her golden eyes calm. But not kind.

"They’re dead," she said.

Flat. Cold. Like it didn’t matter.

But Kyle saw something else in her eyes. A flicker of something darker. Not apathy... maybe regret. Or something heavier.

But it vanished too quickly to name.

Kyle’s hands clenched the hospital blanket. His knuckles turned white.

He saw them again. The passengers. Faces he didn’t know. The little girl Anaya, her mother.

Gone.

His throat tightened. He looked down, biting back the sting behind his eyes.

The woman’s voice came again, softer this time.

"It’s okay," she said. "What happened... it wasn’t your fault."

Kyle didn’t respond. He just stared at the floor. Jaw clenched. Eyes filled with pain.

"You did everything you could," she continued gently. "Sometimes, no matter how hard we fight... We can’t save everyone."

"Carrying all that guilt... it’ll only eat you up inside," she said, voice low but steady.

Kyle finally looked up at her. There was confusion in his eyes, mixed with pain and exhaustion.

The woman gave a small. Knowing smile and brushed a lock of her silver-white hair behind her ear.

"Seris Voidcrest," she said. "People know me as the Void Empress."

His breath caught.

The Void Empress?

Of course he knew her. Everyone did. She wasn’t just some school official. She was a living legend. A awakener with terrifying power.

The kind of person who could erase entire monster hordes with a flick of her hand.

Before he could say anything. The door burst open.

"Kyle!"

Aurelia rushed in, her long black hair flying behind her.

She didn’t hesitate. She ran straight to his bedside, dropping to her knees and grabbing his hand.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" she asked quickly, her eyes wide with panic.

She looked like she hadn’t slept. Her voice was shaky, filled with worry.

Kyle stared at her, stunned. Then slowly, he smiled.

"I’m okay... Sis."

Her shoulders dropped with relief. She let out a long breath and gently placed a hand over his.

"Thank the gods... I thought—" she stopped herself, swallowing hard.

Behind them. Seris let out a dry hum and took another bite of her apple.

"Hmm. I wonder which one of you is actually older," she said under her breath. Glancing between the two.

Aurelia blinked and turned, finally noticing the woman by the window.

Her eyes widened.

"Vice Principal?! When did you get here?"

As if on cue, the door opened again.

"Kyle!"

Seraphina’s voice rang out sharply as she rushed into the room. Her pink hair bounced with each step, eyes locked onto him.

She moved past Aurelia without pause and placed a hand on Kyle’s shoulder.

"Are you okay? Anything broken? Can you feel your fingers? Vision blurry?"

Kyle smiled a little at her usual intensity. "I’m okay, Seraphina."

Only after hearing his voice did she seem to breathe again. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

Then her eyes shifted, and landed on Seris.

She blinked. "Vice Principal?! You’re here too?"

Seris expression didn’t change. But her eye twitched slightly.

Once.

Twice.

They had both ignored her earlier. She was used to being feared, respected, noticed immediately. Not brushed aside like a wallflower.

She set the apple down on the windowsill. Slowly standing up and smoothing her coat.

"I’ve been here," she said plainly. "Since before the two of you barged in without knocking."

Neither instructor replied.

Seris closed her eyes, inhaling deeply like she was trying to hold back a sigh.

"I wanted to ask Kyle some questions," she said, brushing invisible dust from her shoulder. "But that can wait. He needs rest."

Then she looked at the two women.

"Aurelia. Seraphina. I’d like a word with you both. Let’s step outside."

They exchanged a glance. Neither spoke. But both nodded.

Aurelia leaned down and gave Kyle’s hand a gentle squeeze. "I’ll be right outside," she said softly.

Seraphina gave him a brief smile. Touching his arm gently before turning away.

The three women walked toward the door.

Seris paused in the doorway. She looked back at Kyle, her golden eyes steady.

"You did well, Kyle. You’re still here. That’s what matters."

Then she turned and left. The door clicking softly shut behind her.

The room fell quiet again.

Kyle lay there, staring up at the ceiling.

The beep of the monitor beside him was the only sound.

His body ached. His mind was foggy.

But the worst part was over.

Kyle lay there, alone again.

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