Letting Go

After teleporting back to their base, the Outcasts headed to the medical bay where Shift waited for them with healing artifacts. Jane took Darryl to a private room; he would need extensive treatment but he'd pull through.

"Sit down, everyone," Shift instructed as he began treating their wounds.

As Shift tended to their injuries, the Outcasts gathered around, discussing tonight's events.

"Those shadow barriers were no joke," Kento remarked, wincing slightly as Shift applied a healing salve to his wounds. "I barely managed to land a hit on that thing. This wasn't magic." he said.

Marcus nodded in agreement, his expression thoughtful. "We need to come up with a strategy to counter him," he suggested. "We can't afford to be caught off guard like that again."

As they discussed the battle, Constantine remained silent and moody, sitting apart from them.

"Hey, Constantine," Marcus said, trying to draw him into the conversation. "What do you think?"

Constantine shrugged, his expression still distant. "I don't know," he replied quietly. "I guess we just need to be better prepared next time."

Marcus nodded, grateful for the response. "Exactly," he said, his voice encouraging and soft, almost paternal.

However, no matter how reassuring Marcus tried to be, Constantine couldn't shake the nagging question burning in his mind.

"Why did that guy target Vicky so blatantly?" he asked, puzzled.

Kento sighed, looking serious. "He might know more about us than we think," he explained. "He might understand how we operate."

Constantine frowned, trying to understand Kento's words. "What do you mean?" he asked, anxious.

Marcus stepped forward, looking sympathetic. "Usually, when someone awakens as an Outcast, we bring them in our base behind the Veil right away," he said. "It's a place where they can learn to handle their new abilities and how they fit into the human world."

Constantine's eyes widened in realization. "Fit in?" he repeated, feeling uncertain.

Marcus nodded. "Yes, becoming an Outcast changes how we interact with the human world," he clarified. "It can be a lot to take in if you're not ready for it."

As Marcus explained further, Constantine couldn't help but be horrified.

"After we become Outcasts, we slowly fade from the human world," Marcus said sadly. "Everyone we knew forgets about us. Humans ignore us as if we don't exist; they can't perceive us at all except for very specific conditions, like what happened tonight, and then they quickly forget us. For example, even thinking it was a dream, Vicky will only remember you and the white haired man tomorrow. Eventually, she will forget about everything entirely. This is the nature of the Reality Break. It gives us power over the world and cuts us away from it in exchange; we don't belong here anymore. That's why we are Outcasts."

Constantine shook his head in denial. "But Vicky still remembers me," he argued. "It can't be true!"

Kento sighed, his expression serious. "It takes longer for loved ones to forget, but it's still going to happen," he explained. "That's why I kept you two apart and put Vicky to sleep - to delay the process."

Constantine's heart sank at the thought of being forgotten by everyone he cared about. He couldn't bear the idea of losing Vicky.

Kento's voice softened as he turned to Constantine. "You have to prepare yourself to say goodbye to her," he said gently. "We'll need to leave soon and go behind the Veil."

Constantine felt a surge of denial rising within him. "But maybe there's another way," he protested, his voice desperate. "We don't have to leave her behind; we can take her with us, you said Unveiled humans exist!"

Kento looked at him, his eyes narrowing. "Is this the life you want for her?" he asked with a grave tone. "To be aware of the horrors of the world, to know how powerless she is, to be constantly in danger?" he asked sharply.

"She can live a normal life, with friends, family, a home, and no pain, no memories of you. And she'll be safe; after she forgets you completely, nothing from behind the Veil will be able to even interact with her, or anyone that was ever close to you. That's the only mercy we're given as Outcasts. There are accords in place, divine laws that protect and punish in equal measure. But you have to sever the connection of your own free will." he concluded.

"There's a limit to how much any creature from the Veil can interact with the human world." Marcus interjected. "I'm sure that this bizarre man crossed the line by fighting us – but so did we. There are rules in place, and there'll be consequences if we stay here for much longer; we lingered here for you, to begin with. That was our deal." he said with finality.

"You promised I could choose!" Constantine shouted.

"You can." Kento said coldly. "You don't have to stay with us after you finish your training. But you can't change what we – what you are."

"Please…" Constantine whimpered, barely holding back his tears. "There has to be a way."

Kento shook his head sadly, his expression somewhat sympathetic. "I wish there was, Constantine, but it's inevitable," he explained. "We can't change what's going to happen. We have to protect her and ourselves by going behind the Veil."

"Trust me," he continued, his voice bitter. "Sometimes, the best thing we can do for those we love is leaving them." he said solemnly. "At least you'll get to say goodbye."

As Kento's words sank in, Constantine felt a sense of resignation wash over him. Deep down, he knew Kento was right, but the thought of leaving Vicky behind filled him with a sense of dread unlike anything he had ever experienced before. She was there for the best and worst moments of his life; she was everything. And then he thought of that white haired creep attacking her. He thought of Myra Hindley, lurking around their home. He could never put her through that again. She deserved to be happy even if he didn't.

With a heavy heart, he nodded, silently preparing himself for the harrowing goodbye that lay ahead.