Chapter 15

Melnox paused on the edge of the Void. His heart was heavy from all that had transpired, but his heart was heavier for what he was about to tell them.

"Are your wounds healing?" the Toa of Fire asked. His voice was tense. This was important. They needed to survive.

"Yes." answered Shardak. He could hardly believe what had happened. Silencer had killed the Fury...then died at the hands of the Ix himself. His eyes sparkled with unshed tears of both pain and sadness.

Why? How could anyone let this happen?

Silencer had rescued him from the Spire. He'd pulled Shardak from the brink of death, and helped the Toa escape the Circle and the Labyrinth. He'd mentored Shardak, accepted him in a way no one had done since Arcturas' death. The Fury had torn all that away from him, just like he'd killed Arcturas.

And even Arcturas could have been lying. If he'd escaped the Circle, why did he never mention this to me?

Shardak had no answer.

"Listen." said Melnox finally. His voice was carefully composed "Silencer thought that the Ix girl who was with you and Arcturas- Nightshade - is one of the highest ranking Ix, the Fury's direct subordinate."

"Really?" asked Shardak. He honestly didn't want to think about Nightshade now. Everything she'd done had torn a hole through his heart that felt like it would last forever.

"Yes. Which means she'll take over the position of commander now that the Fury's dead." Melnox stared at Shardak and Blast with such intensity that it made them shiver. "Which means the Ix won't stop until you're dead. No matter how much danger you were in before, you're in the greatest danger. You are marked now forever as an enemy of the Ix and the Empire."

"So if I go to Intax, to Kor-"

"He's dead." Melnox said simply. "The Ix won't leave behind any witnesses."

Shardak's eyes grew shocked as he realized the implications of what Melnox was saying. "But I didn't ask for this. I don't want this." he pleaded, aware of how pathetic the words sounded.

"It was always your destiny to fight the Ix, Toa." said Melnox quietly. "Arcturas was their mortal enemy."

"What?" asked Shardak. His voice was shocked. "I've heard he was the only being to ever escape the Circle and live, but-"

"There is much we still do not know about Arcturas' motives. But he fought them all his life. Just like Silencer." Melnox had tears in his eyes now as well, and his voice was cracking.

"Kyhrex told me he lost everything he loved fighting them." said Shardak. "The Toa of Water that the Fury killed?" he guessed.

Melnox sighed. "He was not perfect. He blamed himself for her death, as well as the deaths of all those others during the battles that raged after the Year of Darkness. But he could not escape them. Nor can we. This means we'll all need to lose ourselves now."

"The Abyss?" guessed Shardak. "Silencer was always planning on taking us here, wasn't he?"

To his surprise Melnox shook his head. "No. His plan was to let us all escape to the surface world, to continue your training. But this is better. The void is a dangerous place, but it won't kill you outright. Ion will explain everything."

"You're not coming, then?" asked Shardak. "Where will you, Ion, and Kyhrex go?"

"Kyhrex and I are coming with you." said Ion. "As Melnox said, I will explain the rest of Silencer's plan once we've entered the Void."

"Where will you go, then, Melnox?" asked Shardak.

"Once the Ix are finished with Silencer, they'll come after us. I'll lead them away, and if I escape, I won't go back to the Circle. Too risky." Melnox sighed with regret. "I guess we're all homeless now."

Enter the Void? Never return to Intax? Shardak's head was spinning, but he realized it was truely their only alternative. Melnox tried to make it sound like he'd survive and escape, but in reality Shardak knew he was sacrificing himself to buy them time. It was either risk death in the Void, or die at the hands of the Ix.

Despite his grief, Shardak's mind was beginning to spin with questions again. "What-" he began.

Then he heard footsteps, and the Ix's nasal language shouted in the distance.

"They're coming." whispered Melnox. "Follow me."

He led them toward a massive, crumbling stone arch. Once magnificent, one of the pillars had collapsed in on itself, leaving the entire structure leaning to one side.

"The gateway to the Void." said Melnox. "The only neutral point in the Upperdark, where no being can be pulled in against his will. Once you walk through the gate, you will enter the Void. Remember that the Ix rule there as well. They will follow you, and will attempt to cut you off, to trap you within. Shardak, this is your only hope of survival."

It's our only chance, thought Shardak. Looking back at the Labyrinth tunnel, he made a silent vow.

I will return. I will return one day. For my friends, for Kor, for Melnox, for Arcturas and Silencer. I will return.

Then the sound of footsteps was heard again, and Melnox urged them to go. Shardak hesitated for only one moment, then stepped through the stone arch- and into the Void beyond.