No matter what

Tommy could see the evil smirk that played across Theodore's face...

Theodore was already basking in excitement at Tommy's downfall...

And then, when the Transcendent robot released this beam, it left a trail of destruction in it's wake, creating deep spatial cracks and then...

Slamming unto Tommy.

The only thing that Theodore saw is...

Blood and flesh tearing apart, leaving bloody visceral around.

Meanwhile, the girls had already fainted from shock at Tommy's instant death.

Infact, seeing his guts and then... his bloody bits was a grotesque scene that almost caused them to wrench in disgust and fear...

Theodore had wanted to continue his ordeal with the girls, but ...he fled realizing that the police had arrived and surprisingly, there was a Transcendent in their midst.

A Transcendent robot can never match a Transcendent human, so Theodore used his last trump card Instantly vanishing without even a single trace found...

The only thing left behind is, the terrified ladies and the already dead bits of Tommy's body.

. . .

"What happened?"

A question was asked.

Then a silent sob came, followed by a depressed wail from all three ladies.

"He killed CrossWood..."

Then a deafening silence permeated the place covering it with an intense chill.

They actually delayed...

The entire police Corp were deathly silent, knowing that they had been the one to delay the operation leading to the young man's death.

"Hold on a bit... Isn't CrossWood the one kidnapped yesterday?"

The Deputy Police officer in charge yesterday nodded.

"Casey sure won't take this story lying down."

The corps continued from staring at the ladies and then, at the scattered bits of Tommy's body.

"Let's leave the dungeon... Before that, we have to tell Casey."

Then, the police left the dungeon.

Within the park, at the epicenter of it where Tommy had actually broken the ground into parts with his strength and Instantly falling into that tunnel, the corps surrounded the area.

The Vikings were captured since a Transcendent was in their midst making the operation much easier.

But when Casey heard the lastest news, his entire world came crashing down.

"You said what??!!"

Casey bellowed.

"My son cannot die!"

"I'm really sorry Mr CrossWood, the attacker is a Transcendent and your son merely Awakened so as an Awakened, he wasn't able to last two seconds to a Transceded."

Casey was shocked for the second time.

"My son was an Awakened?"

"Yes, didn't he tell you? Anyways, I'm sorry for your loss. I'd advise you come pick his body bits so that his soul might rest in peace wherever he is."

Casey's entire world came to a standstill.

His wife had left him...

And now, his precious son too? Why was the world too cruel?

The world is a vast entity filled with utmost cruelty, that even the righteous suffer for no reason at all.

The phone fell from his grip, and Edward, Riele with many others who awaited Tommy's return stood up from where they sat to help him stay put.

"What's going on with him?"

"Is Tommy kidnapped again?"

"Didn't you he that he's already Awakened?"

But then, Casey's entire world blackened as he succumbed to the unyielding call of the Underworld.

Though... he didn't die.

After Casey slumped into coma, Riele had picked up his phone, inquiring from the corps all over again, but then her face turned extremely pale hearing the latest news.

"Tommy is dead? But how is that even possible?"

Riele shouted causing every body within the apartment to stiffen.

Edward's body Instantly went ice cold.

My best friend...

Edward hurriedly snatched the phone from Riele, and spoke into it.

"You're lying... Tommy can't just die like that..."

Edward chipped in. But after waiting for the person at the other end to explain, a horrifying expression appeared on his face.

"A Transcendent?"

Riele's blood went ice-cold just like it had done to Edward earlier.

Where is it ever heard that a Transcendent attacks an Awakened?

An Awakened that hasn't even been guaranteed to be a full fledged Awakened, attacked by a Transcedent.

Edward did not even think it was possible to survive. But if Edward had been with Tommy when he had dodged those beams, he also would have been shocked.

Tommy was actually an exceptional among all Awakened.

However, the next three days Edward Riele and her mother stayed with Casey in the New hospital that had recently been restructured in California...

And that was all it took, Casey finally got out of coma only, he came out a bit depressed at the thought of having lost his wife and then son...

Although he appeared not to cry, still... his dampened expression showed Immense tears.

"We're here for you Casey, no matter what... what happened have already been set up by God, so we do not know what God have in store for us."

Ricky, Riele's mom spoke with a soft tone.

Edward was silent.

Riele monitored Casey in case of a sudden emergency...

"He was my only son.. the only and the last."

Casey whispered almost incoherently.

"But God is the only reason why he left..." Ricky jumped in and Riele casted a look– at her.

"Mom!"

"Stop it honey, Casey is a very strong and agile man, he'd get over this the normal way."

Riele was upset.

"Not right now mom, Jesus Christ, he lost his son and you keep blaming God, that he knows why?"

Riele added again frantically. "God did not contribute to Tommy's death... it's simply the cruelty of this world."

Meanwhile, Edward remained quite to the mother and daughter bickering and eventually, he stood up and left the ward feeling the immense grief of losing his best friend.

_____

Author's Note:

I'm sure this particular chapter might not suit most readers well... Indeed it's sad. But before you decide you want to drop the book, Tommy's death did not actually signify his death forever, in fact the book is merely pushing from its initial stage to the action kind everyone wants.

So before you think of dropping this book, I plead that you give CrossWood Tommy a chance.

PS~ Our voting poll is opened, I'd appreciate kind gestures. 😊Smile.