THE TEMPEST

Jolene gathered her work team in the meetings office to review all the damage that was caused, the Community of the Dawn was now installed in another place near the city of the mannequins, where they were planning their next move.

"La Resistencia stole several important documents, they rescued our hostages including Ayden and Maeko, however, it seems they still haven't found the traveler."

She took out some maps and put them on the table.

"There are still people out there waiting to be rescued, we can't let those soldiers save them, we must bring them here," she pointed at the map.

"But Jolene, are you sure?" Asked the second in command.

"Of course I'm sure Will, it's the only way I think we'll be able to invoke mother ether," she said with a frown.

"So, what 's next?"

"We are going to use the lluve project," she turned on the projector, "it is similar to Evander's virogenesis but using Ayden's water, this is going to make the citizens desperate, we will also deal with the traveler's theory," she laughed, "get ready because the coming is coming of the messiah."

Jolene got to work, her most qualified engineers began to put the project into action, completely changing the reality of the people outside.

A great storm hit the little humanity that remained on the planet, many perished on the way to find refuge and a few hid, waiting for the rain to stop.

Kylen called all backup, Maeko went back to her cell and continued to pretend she hadn't escaped.

"Something is happening, a soldier came out and came back eaten away by the rain," he said, looking up at the ceiling.

"The rainwater is poisoned," Ayden mentioned.

Ocean and Evander went outside to let a few drops fall on their bodies, this in order to find out what kind of poison it was. Ocean's skin was not damaged as it was tough and resistant, while Evander began to feel suffocated. They went back inside to discuss their reactions.

"That's not my poison," Evander commented.

"I think it's the poison of the walkers, if the soldier came back eaten away, it must be that," she cleared her throat, "Evander's poison is different, it doesn't directly attack the skin."

While all of them gave their opinion, Ronda was in a corner with her arms folded, her eyes downcast, thinking about everything that the Community was causing around her, so much damage to the planet, to people, and just because of her selfishness. She slipped out quietly and went to the room where Zev was.

She saw him still tied to the chair, with dark circles under his eyes, pale skin, and an expression of confusion and sadness on his face, head down and aimlessly.

"Hey," she approached, squatting in front of him, "Are you feeling better?"

Zev was surprised to hear her voice, it was gentle and soft, and she seemed to be genuinely concerned about him. He nodded his head without saying anything.

"I'm sorry that this is happening to you, you must feel lost, I feel that way too," she said.

He looked at her when he heard her feelings but his look was scary, he looked different, tired, tortured, traumatized. Ronda believed it was due to the fire loop, although no one would want to be trapped there.

"Ronda," he spoke hoarsely.

"What happen?"

"What is the worst loop of all?"

"I suppose the fire one but it depends on what you fear the most and the intensity that the reinforcements occupy when they make their loops, why do you ask?"

"I'm just trying to," he coughed, "is that I would like to choose one, you know, for when I die, the loops can kill you right?"

Ronda was really worried when she heard him say things about his death but she decided to answer.

"Anyone can kill you, in the end they all leave you breathless, at least the main ones that would be those of the four elements, the sound loop wasn't lethal but if it had taken you longer to escape the fire you wouldn't be here."

Zev was silent for a few minutes, then spoke again to beg Ronda to kill him once and for all, but she flatly refused.

"I don't want to go on anymore, if there's no way to go home, if Ocean is no longer with me, if only then I can free myself from the voice, then I'd rather die once and for all," tears welled up in his eyes.

He cried with all his being until he ran out of tears, likewise the sky was crying too, that poisonous rain didn't stop and the people outside felt even more desperate.

However, La Resistencia wouldn't sit idly by, Evander used his power to divert the path of the rain and take it to the outskirts of the city. A strong gust of wind gave them hope but the rain became more and more intense.

Evander was running out of air to produce and breathe, he was reaching his limit so he had to stop, still he made an effort. He went to the lab and injected himself with more oxygen while he rested.

Soon it was dark, some soldiers returned to the bunker, wounded but with more people safe. Kylen was making a report on what happened during the day while keeping a close eye on Zev.

"Why didn't the reinforcements stop the rain?" Zev asked with a mocking tone, "if they control nature, they should be able to stop something like that."

Kylen was surprised to hear him speak again even though it bothered him that he was a bit profane.

"We all have weaknesses," was his only answer.

"Tssk, what a weakness those assholes can have, they aren't even capable of letting me inside their loops," he smiled mischievously, "here I am the one who wins."

Kylen was stunned, Zev had never had the guts to say something like that, he even looked different, more confident, less doubtful and even more daring.

"I'm important, in a few words, I'm better than everyone because while they only manipulate nature, I'm capable of destroying peace and its bubble full of false illusions," he started laughing like crazy, "that's what happened with the Community and with this horrible and not at all important dimension, right?"

Kylen started to get annoyed so he went over and put a knife to his neck with the intention of threatening.

"You can't kill me, you don't have the guts," he spat in his face, "you can't kill something that was always here."

Zev laughed again without opening his mouth, only his throat produced those terrifying mocking sounds, he moved from one side to the other in the chair, as if he wanted to let go but he didn't have the strength to do so, he tried until exhaustion but Kylen let him go, injected a sleeping pill.

Within his dream, he saw many people gathered together, armed with guns and a war about to break out, from among the shots he heard the voice of his conscience.

"Where did you get the courage to tell all that to the commander?"

"It's just that I don't want to be afraid anymore," he answered with conviction.

"That's great Zev, it's time for you to show the world who you are," she smiled slightly.

"And you will too? Nix…"

For some reason, Zev named his consciousness, soon in the night sky radiant clouds appeared to illuminate the darkness as the rain turned into a storm.