Chapter 316 - Broken

Helio woke up. 

He looked around- an unknown roof; oddly familiar. 

There was someone by his bed- Marg. 

She was sleeping on a stool. 

Helio sat down. 

Some furniture was here- he recognized them…

Enira immediately manifested. "So, which one are you?" She spoke softly. 

The door was locked, the curtains were drawn. 

Helio smiled. "I wonder." He looked normal- as in, too normal. 

Enira grimaced slightly. "He won't come out? Or-"

"Let's forget about the worthless." He gripped his hand. His wounds were fully healed. "Still, this body is amazing. Where did he acquire such healing capabilities?"

He was wearing pants, just pants. 

"You showered in her blood if you recall. She was one of the first few- hench even that had its effects. Perhaps a bit of her blood slipped inside you through a cut and that blood chose you as an heir?"

"I suppose." 

Marg started waking up. The moment she did, she hugged Helio. Her eyes immediately shimmered. "I'm so sorry. Mother and grandma made me swear not to go and-" She started crying. 

There were dark circles beneath her eyes and she was restless- perhaps-

The shadow- no, he was the shadow no more. He was Helio- he touched her hair, gently patting. "It's okay."

"But they-"

"I know." Helio remained expressionless. He just patted her head. "I'm glad you're okay."

Marg looked up in surprise. "What are you saying? Aren't you concerned-"

"And why should I be concerned about the dead? Shouldn't I be more concerned about the living? About you?"

"Who are you?" She spoke in disbelief. 

"Well, I'm your husband."

"No," She took a step back towards the door. "Your father, your uncle, your grandmother, they all died for you. And yet-"

"Well, father was eventually going to die by the end of this month, and this dragon here was only slowing his death down. Meanwhile, the rest of them died on their own accord. We tried to warn them- they didn't listen. So, we have to respect their wishes and their decisions. Mourning their death would only mean disrespect for the dead."

Keyword- we.

Marg breathed erratically, tears welling up even more. "You're not Helio…" She got out of the room, terrified- almost like she'd seen a ghost. 

"You could have at least pretended," Enira murmured. 

But Helio just lied down again. "Unfortunately, we don't have time to play pretend." He glared at the roof. "Assuming they're in your world, we have one week till she gets here. Assuming she's in theirs, it'll take three. WE can only assume she'll be far stronger this time, and maybe she'll be here tomorrow, who knows…. And though even if we destroy her, the army would be next. We have to find a way to cross the gate and destroy them from within. Otherwise-"

"About that-" Enira paused. She was unsure if it was wise to tell him. But she took another deep breath. "We manufactured a special chip in the future just to make sure we didn't accidentally teleport to the wrong places. But that chip also acted as our beacon of identity. It's possible they too-"

"So. You're saying, if we could get one of those-"

"Yes."

Helio finally grinned. "Alright, let's go get stronger."

He got down and searched for a shirt. 

"How?" Enira mumbled.

The two got out of the room. 

***

Helio and the rest were in the Romswell mansion. 

People were wailing here and there. Some were just staring into the distance- not quite focusing on anything. 

Some nurses and doctors were walking by. 

"This way-" Enira led him around. 

Helio followed her, not quite asking anything. 

He had to first see his mother, tell her what he was about to do next, and then move on. There was a reason for that. 

As they moved about in the mansion, a lot of people looked at the two, some with heartbroken eyes, while others, a furious glare. But no one said anything. 

Helio just ignored everything and arrived at a room in the corner- his mother's old room. 

He remembered this place- albeit vaguely. 

He knocked twice. 

Inside, he saw his mother waking just as he went in. "Mother, we have to talk."

She groaned and tried to sit down. "Didn't' I tell you to call me mom?" She couldn't, so she just stayed like that. 

She was alone. 

"You don't have to push yourself." Helio took a sit by the bed. "I need you to take care of Marg."

"Wh-what are you saying?" She looked at him with surprise. "Helio?"

"I'll go search for cores. She'll be back and I need to kill her this time to get something from her. I'll go to her world and destroy it. And there's a chance I won't be coming back." He spoke fluently and without pausing too much. "So- I need you to take care of her. I'm sure you have enough money. I'm sure, you can just-"

"The hell is wrong you!" The scream came from behind him. His sister was here. "You run the first chance you get!?"

Elsa and Marg came inside. 

Helio just ignored them and stared at his mother. "Mother, I'm not asking for your permission. I'm just letting you know before I go."

His mother just stared at him. "So, the seals have broken." She smiled faintly. "And so has this family." She stared at the two newcomers, unable to maintain a straight face. 

Helio sighed and turned around. "We're leaving."

Enira followed him. 

Helio noticed a lot of people were poking through the door, and his Auntie was among them. 

He wanted to apologize on his other self's behalf but his own morals came before that. So, he decided not to. 

Just before he could get out though- Elsa grabbed his hand. "Why are you leaving!? Why? Because they died for you? Because you couldn't save them!? And that's why you're abandoning your mother? Your wife? Your sister? Don't you know what it feels to live without a dad?" Tears streamed and she broke down on the floor, still clutching onto his hands. "Your family. They did this for you, you have to stand by them when they need you!"

Helio didn't bat an eye. "Perhaps I am running away. I know for a fact, that woman would return and when she does, you'll all die." He spoke in a matter-of-fact manner. "He couldn't save- no, we couldn't save them. And frankly, I won't be able to either if I stay here. Therefore, it's best I leave now, destroy them instead. After all, my powers work best, when I'm alone." He looked back. 

And Elsa just let his hands go, almost shrinking in fear. She hadn't felt that fear ever since that day when Helio broke someone's legs for her. "You're really not him."

She saw those same eyes- those same furious eyes that day…

Helio grinned. "I assure you, I'm me."

He proceeded to leave, and without saying a word to Marg. 

"Helio…" His mother tried to lift her arm- toward him, eyes shimmering…

But he didn't look back. 

Marg grabbed him and hugged him from behind. "Don't go…" She whispered. 

She knew it wasn't him. 

She knew it. 

And yet- she couldn't unlove him. 

Helio, exhaled, didn't say anything, and just left. 

Enira followed him.