Chapter 16 - Secrets and Symmetry
The inn was dimly lit, the flickering lanterns casting soft golden glows on the cracked walls and aged wooden beams. Though the stone foundation suggested sturdiness, the creaking of floorboards under each step hinted at years of stories soaked into the wood. A modest fire crackled in the hearth, its warmth only slightly touching the chill that lingered from La Jar's recent explosion.
Raymond sat with his elbows on the table, posture relaxed but eyes sharp. Tayla sipped from a chipped mug, the corner of her mouth twitching at Joel's sarcastic remark. Kaido sat beside her, fingers idly drumming the table. Frank leaned forward, both hands wrapped around his cup like he needed its warmth. Elias stood behind Tayla, arms crossed, watching the group with calm detachment.
"So," Joel said, breaking the silence, "anyone gonna talk about the walking copy machine over there?"
Frank exhaled and gave a faint grin. "You mean me?"
"No," Joel deadpanned. "I meant Kaido."
Kaido shrugged, unbothered.
Frank leaned back, eyes tracing the warped lines in the wooden ceiling above. He had known this was coming. Maybe even welcomed it. Still, something in his chest tightened.
"I call it Reciprocate."
Elias tilted his head, the faintest crease in his brow. Tayla's gaze lingered on Frank, cautious curiosity in her eyes. Even Joel leaned in, attention sharpening.
"It's a skill," Frank continued slowly. "It mirrors what's used against me. Physical, magical, skill-based... It learns through contact."
"Like an adaptive sponge," Raymond muttered.
Frank nodded. "Yeah. But... not always immediately. Some things take longer. Some—only temporarily copy."
Kaido raised an eyebrow. "So that's how you copied Spike?"
Frank paused. His hands gripped the mug tighter. "I didn't mean to. It just happened. I was... scared. The moment she struck, the skill activated instinctively."
Tayla frowned. "But that means... she could've killed you before it kicked in?"
"Maybe," Frank admitted. "If she hadn't toyed with me first."
Joel let out a low whistle. "Sounds like you're walking around with a ticking time bomb in your head."
Frank glanced down. There was something dark simmering under the surface. Something he didn't dare say. A memory. A voice. A name whispered in the back of his mind that Spike should never have known.
Elias spoke up. "You copied her. But she didn't target you until the end. Why?"
Raymond turned his eyes toward Elias, thoughtful. "You sensed her early, didn't you?"
Elias didn't respond right away. His gaze was fixed on Frank.
Frank caught it. The faint crease in Elias' brow. That sharp, calculating glint. Like he wasn't just listening—he was trying to solve a puzzle he didn't have all the pieces for.
"She ignored you until she had no choice," Elias finally said. "Maybe she didn't see you as the priority."
"Or maybe," Joel added, "she didn't expect him to fight back the way he did."
Frank didn't answer. But the chill that ran down his spine didn't come from the draft seeping through the windows.
Tayla, meanwhile, tried not to stare too long. She was beginning to notice things. How Frank's expressions would falter when no one was looking. The way his knuckles stayed white against the mug. She wasn't sure what it meant, but something about it unsettled her in ways she didn't have words for.
—
Deep in an underground facility somewhere beyond La Jar's borders, the lab was buzzing—literally. Neon-blue tubes crisscrossed the ceiling, pulsing with energy. Glass cylinders filled with odd liquids bubbled on the edges. The metal tables gleamed, but some were stained—burn marks, dried chemicals, something that looked worryingly like blood.
Spike leaned over a glowing console, swiping through layers of projected data.
Barn, with his sleeves rolled up, stood beside a massive weapon rack. He pulled out a sleek-looking blade with a serpentine edge and gave a low whistle. "Damn. We've got some spicy toys here."
Spike snorted. "Took you this long to notice?"
Barn flashed her a grin. "C'mon, Spi, let a guy have his moment."
Spike paused at the nickname but didn't comment. Her eyes flicked to the screen. "Leader Jack wants an update on Vance's progress."
Barn's expression darkened slightly. "You sure we can trust that lunatic?"
"Nope," Spike said. "But Jack seems to."
They moved toward the main chamber where a massive, black obelisk stood. It pulsed gently, casting eerie shadows across the floor. Their reflections shimmered oddly in the metal walls—distorted and elongated.
Spike placed her palm on the console beside it. "We're getting close. Once we calibrate the gate, we'll have more than just chaos. We'll have control."
Barn gave a mock bow. "As you command, mistress of mischief."
Spike rolled her eyes. "Don't call me that again."
Barn grinned. "Got it, Spi."
The chamber's lights dimmed, and the air took on a faint charge. Something was coming.
Something—or someone—was about to step through the veil.