Chapter 75 — The Memory Beneath
Brook stared at the figure.
The white symbol on its hand was still glowing.
Michael's symbol.
But something about it felt wrong.
Not evil.
Not threatening.
Familiar.
Too familiar.
Brook tightened his grip on his sword.
"Who are you?"
The figure didn't answer.
Instead, it stepped closer.
Brook raised his weapon.
"Stay there."
The figure stopped.
"You've changed."
Brook frowned.
"Everyone keeps saying that."
"You used to cry."
Brook's expression hardened.
"I don't remember you."
"I know."
The figure looked at Brook's hand.
"That's the problem."
Brook felt something move inside his mind.
A pressure.
A memory trying to surface.
He closed his eyes.
Nothing.
Then—
A flash.
White.
A ceiling.
A woman's voice.
"He's awake."
Another voice.
"How long?"
"Three minutes."
Brook opened his eyes.
His breathing was heavy.
"What was that?"
The figure smiled.
"A memory."
"Whose?"
"Yours."
Brook shook his head.
"No."
The figure tilted its head.
"You've spent your entire life believing your first memories were real."
Brook stared.
"What are you talking about?"
"Your childhood."
The figure stepped closer.
"The house."
Brook's eyes narrowed.
"My mother."
The figure nodded.
"Yes."
Brook's jaw tightened.
"Don't talk about her."
"Why?"
"Because you don't know anything about her."
The figure smiled sadly.
"I know more than you do."
Brook's hand began glowing.
White light.
The room brightened.
The figure didn't move.
Brook's voice became low.
"Talk."
The figure looked at him.
"Your mother wasn't there when you were born."
Brook froze.
The light around his hand disappeared.
"What?"
The figure continued.
"You were already inside the facility."
Brook's heart began pounding.
"No."
"You weren't born in a home."
Brook stepped backward.
"No."
"You were created there."
Brook's breathing became uneven.
"Stop."
The figure didn't.
"You weren't given a childhood."
Brook clenched his fists.
"Stop."
"You were given memories."
Brook's eyes widened.
Then the room disappeared.
Brook was standing somewhere else.
A small house.
Sunlight through a window.
A woman sitting at a table.
She looked familiar.
Too familiar.
Brook stared.
"Mom?"
She looked up.
Smiled.
"Brook."
He stepped toward her.
"Is this real?"
She didn't answer.
Brook reached out.
His hand passed through her.
He froze.
The scene began flickering.
The walls disappeared.
The table disappeared.
The woman disappeared.
Brook was standing inside the white facility again.
The same woman was there.
But she was wearing a white coat.
She stood behind glass.
Watching him.
A baby.
Brook.
Lying inside a containment chamber.
The woman placed her hand against the glass.
"I hope he gets to live."
A man beside her shook his head.
"He isn't a child."
She looked at him.
"He's still alive."
"That's not the same thing."
The woman looked back at Brook.
"He deserves a chance."
The memory shattered.
Brook fell to his knees.
The figure watched him.
Brook's hands trembled.
"My mother…"
"Was real."
Brook looked up.
The figure continued.
"But the memories you have of her aren't entirely yours."
Brook stared.
"Then who gave them to me?"
The figure didn't answer.
Brook stood.
"Who?"
A voice answered from inside his mind.
Michael.
Brook froze.
The figure looked at him.
"You heard him."
Brook's eyes widened.
Michael's voice echoed again.
You were not ready.
Brook whispered:
"Not ready for what?"
Silence.
Then:
The truth.
Brook's anger rose.
"You knew?"
Michael didn't answer.
"You knew!"
The white light returned.
The figure stepped back.
Brook's body began shaking.
Three Sources reacted simultaneously.
Michael.
Lucifer.
Death.
The room trembled.
The figure looked genuinely concerned.
"Stop."
Brook didn't hear him.
The power continued building.
"Tell me!"
Michael appeared.
Not physically.
Inside Brook's mind.
The enormous white space returned.
Michael stood before him.
Brook charged.
"You lied to me!"
Michael didn't move.
Brook struck him.
His fist passed through light.
"You knew my memories weren't real!"
Michael stared at him.
"I knew they were incomplete."
Brook screamed.
"That's the same thing!"
Michael's expression remained calm.
"No."
Brook froze.
Michael stepped closer.
"You were given memories."
Brook stared.
"By who?"
Michael looked away.
"I cannot tell you."
Brook laughed bitterly.
"Of course."
He stepped closer.
"You always do this."
Michael looked at him.
"Because the answer would change your path."
Brook's eyes narrowed.
"What does that mean?"
"Your first test."
Brook frowned.
"What about it?"
Michael pointed toward him.
"You believe the test is about controlling my power."
Brook waited.
"It isn't."
Michael's voice became quieter.
"The first test is about controlling yourself when you discover something you cannot accept."
Brook stared.
His anger slowly faded.
Michael continued:
"You are angry."
"Yes."
"You are afraid."
Brook looked away.
"Yes."
"You want someone to blame."
Brook clenched his jaw.
"Yes."
Michael nodded.
"Then control it."
Brook closed his eyes.
His breathing slowed.
The white energy disappeared.
Michael smiled.
"Better."
Brook opened his eyes.
"Is that the test?"
"No."
Michael stepped backward.
"That was preparation."
The world shattered.
Brook woke on the floor.
The mysterious figure was standing over him.
"Brook."
Brook opened his eyes.
The figure extended a hand.
Brook ignored it and stood himself.
"Where are the others?"
"Above."
"Are they alive?"
"Yes."
Brook exhaled.
"Good."
He looked around.
"Who are you?"
The figure finally answered.
"My name doesn't matter."
Brook stared.
"Everything matters."
The figure smiled.
"Then call me the Keeper."
Brook frowned.
"Keeper of what?"
"The memories."
Brook looked toward the dark corridor.
"Then you know what happened to Elias."
The Keeper nodded.
Brook's expression hardened.
"Where is he?"
"Not where you think."
"What does that mean?"
"He has already made his choice."
Brook stared.
"What choice?"
The Keeper looked toward the ceiling.
"The same one every vessel eventually makes."
Brook's stomach tightened.
"Which is?"
The Keeper answered quietly:
"Whether to become what they were created to be…"
He looked back at Brook.
"…or become something worse."
Brook's expression darkened.
"Elias wouldn't."
The Keeper said nothing.
Brook stepped forward.
"You don't know him."
"No."
The Keeper smiled.
"But I know what was put inside him."
Brook froze.
"What?"
The Keeper turned away.
"You should ask him yourself."
Brook followed.
"Where?"
The Keeper stopped at a large metal door.
He placed his hand against it.
The door opened.
Beyond it was a massive chamber.
Hundreds of sealed containers lined the walls.
Some were empty.
Some contained strange objects.
And some contained—
people.
Brook stared.
"Who are they?"
The Keeper looked at the containers.
"Failed vessels."
Brook's blood ran cold.
Then he saw one.
A familiar face.
Brook stepped closer.
His breathing stopped.
It was Elias.
Not the Elias he knew.
A much younger Elias.
Sleeping inside a glass chamber.
Brook stared.
"No."
The Keeper watched him.
"That is B-00."
Brook looked at the chamber.
"Then where is the real Elias?"
The Keeper smiled.
Brook turned.
"Answer me."
The Keeper pointed toward another corridor.
"He left this place years ago."
"Where did he go?"
"He went looking for you."
Brook froze.
"Why?"
The Keeper's expression became unreadable.
"Because he believed you stole the life that should have been his."
Brook stared at him.
"That's not true."
"No."
The Keeper nodded.
"But truth doesn't matter when someone has spent their entire life believing a lie."
Brook looked at the younger Elias.
Then toward the corridor.
His voice became quiet.
"Elias…"
The Keeper walked away.
Brook followed.
"Where is he now?"
The Keeper didn't turn.
"Closer than you think."
Above them, Henry pushed himself out from beneath the rubble.
Sera was helping Kael up.
Crowley stood nearby.
Everyone was alive.
But Brook was missing.
Henry looked around.
"Where's Brook?"
Crowley frowned.
"He fell farther than us."
Kael looked toward the collapsed corridor.
"We have to find him."
Crowley nodded.
"Yes."
Sera suddenly looked toward the darkness.
"Wait."
Everyone stopped.
Footsteps.
Someone was walking toward them.
Henry raised his sword.
The figure emerged.
Elias.
Henry's expression changed.
"Elias!"
Elias looked at them.
He was covered in blood.
But he was smiling.
Henry rushed toward him.
"Where were you?"
Elias looked at him.
"I got separated."
Kael frowned.
"From Brook?"
Elias nodded.
"Yes."
Crowley studied him.
"Where is he?"
Elias looked toward the collapsed passage.
"I don't know."
Henry looked worried.
"We're going back."
Elias grabbed his arm.
"No."
Henry turned.
"Why?"
Elias's grip tightened.
"Because it's dangerous."
Henry pulled his arm free.
"So is leaving him."
Elias stared at him.
For a moment, something cold passed through his eyes.
Then it disappeared.
"You're right."
Henry nodded.
"Then let's go."
Elias looked toward the darkness.
"Yeah."
He smiled.
"Let's go find Brook."
But behind his back…
his hand slowly closed around the black emblem.
And far beneath them, Brook stood before the chamber containing Elias's younger self.
He stared at the sleeping boy.
Then at the empty space beside him.
A thought entered his mind.
If that was Elias…
Then who had been walking beside Xcution all this time?
Brook's blood ran cold.
He whispered:
"Elias…"
The chamber lights flickered.
And somewhere deep within the facility…
a door opened.
End of Chapter 75