Chapter 447: A Bed of Sand

Silent and gentle.

Perhaps not really a word that one would associate with a man that was and is considered to be the most terrible person in the world. But more often than not, however, those that were with Riley Ross would tell you that he was, as a matter of fact, silent and gentle.

Not in a normal sense, no. It rarely is when concerning Riley. His silence and gentleness were more akin to that of a craftsman; he treated everyone as if they were objects and tools— not to be misunderstood as he deemed himself superior to others, no.

In fact, at times, it almost feels like he valued himself less— something that he would even say to you.

He will call himself a monster. He doesn't consider himself human. He considers his death to be a blessing to the world.

Riley was silent and gentle because that is the only thing he allows himself to be. If not, then the world would treat him very differently— he would treat the world very differently.

A simple enigma.

This was perhaps the best description one would say of Riley. But for now, he was silent and gentle as he placed a very large part of himself onto the grains of sand that turned itself into a bed.

Riley looked at him; his eyes, reflecting everything that he had always secretly wanted to be.

"...John? John!?"

"..." Riley then took a step back, letting those who have the right to mourn and grieve for John to approach him.

When things calmed down between Riley and Alice, Ellie, her brother, Paige, and Katherine all swiftly returned to their side. Everything seemed peaceful— with Alice slightly squinting her eyes as she stared at all the women that were inadvertently or intentionally pining for his son.

It was a fun moment, with Alice reaching the conclusion that someone as handsome as Riley deserved more than 1 legal wife. But as their happy talks reached their climax, the body of the clone Riley was possessing suddenly disintegrated into the ground.

And soon, they heard the ocean itself once again stopped moving— the waves, the clouds... everything just stopped.

And now, all of a sudden, Riley placed a lifeless John on a bed of sand.

"No... no, no," Ellie quickly rushed to John's side, tapping his face several times trying to wake him up. Her brother was also doing the same; holding John's hand and squeezing it tight.

"Oh... no," Paige could really only cover her mouth as she watched Ellie breaking down as she lifted John— hugging him tight and cradling him violently in an attempt to wake him up. She had really only been with Ellie and the others for a good month or so, but she had grown attached to them.

They were like a normal family amidst all the... bullshit that has been happening around them. Of course, he knew John and Ellie were far from normal and were even far from innocent. But staying with them in one place, she really got to know them.

But she was sure that whatever it is she was feeling now, it was nothing compared to what Ellie and her brother were feeling— they were a family. No matter how skewed, no matter what anyone says about them, they were a family.

And so, seeing them like this was just... she really had no words for it.

But there was one, however, that had spent even longer time with John— to the point that he had seen John's birth, Riley Ross. And in his eyes...

...were nothing.

Just... emptiness.

But seeing this emptiness, Paige could not help but take a step back. Riley's eyes being devoid of emotions was nothing new; one could even say it was his default—

—but this was different.

Paige then turned her eyes to the others if they noticed it, but Alice seemed to just be sighing as she watched Ellie break down and cry. Katherine, however, seemed to notice that something was wrong.

No, of course, something is wrong. Although he wasn't showing it, John is probably one of the only handful of entities in the whole world that Riley actually treats as a friend, no matter how much he denies it.

"..." Katherine then also turned her eyes to Paige, and as if a mutual understanding between the two was instantly built, Katherine shook her head— telling her not to approach Riley Ross. Alice also seemed to want to approach Riley, but Katherine stopped her.

The two women that have been close or closest to Riley knew...

...they knew that something was different.

"Riley!" Ellie gently placed John's body on the bed of sand, before rushing, kneeling, and grabbing Riley's hand almost all at the same time. She looked him straight in the eyes— and without even saying any words, everyone knew what she meant.

And to everyone's surprise, Riley answered.

"I can do it," he calmly said as he returned Ellie's begging gaze, "But are you sure?"

"..." Ellie didn't really answer and just glanced at John.

"I can create and mold another Diley," Riley continued, "With his memories of you and Elliot, with everything he has experienced, but it won't be him. He told that to me the first and last time I remade him, Ellie...

...he doesn't want to be remade again."

"...Why?"

"Because it's not—"

"...Why did this happen?" Ellie then let go of Riley's hand as she once again moved beside John, "You said... you said you would protect us."

"..." Riley could not really say anything as he just glanced at Alice, before letting out a very small but deep sigh,

"I suppose I was wrong, Ellie."

"We... we were just laughing just moments ago," Ellie almost gasped as her eyes moved back and forth even though she was just staring at John's face, "We... we were happy. Why... why did this have to happen?"

"Because of me, Ellie."

Riley then said as he took a step back— and as he did so, his long hair that was completely black... very slowly lost whatever color it had.

"He died because of me," Riley whispered as he closed his eyes— and as he opened them again, the color they had disappeared; returning to what they originally were. And with another sigh, he looked at Alice,

"You said you didn't have long in this world, mother. Then let me show you who and what your biological son truly is."

"...Riley?"

"Right on time, Princess Vera."

Vera then suddenly appeared, standing beside Paige as she scanned the situation around her. And soon, Silvie, who was supposed to be a prisoner, also descended from the sky— her breaths, quickly turning into gasps as her eyes landed on John.

"Oh no," she also said as she turned her eyes to Riley.

Riley then stretched his hand toward the ocean, and as he did so, the surface of the ocean that was completely frozen started to move— not because they were allowed to again, but because of the object that was moving on it at a blinding speed.

And without even a second later, a spiral horn was already resting in his hand— the horns, attached to the rest of Elder Zora.

"I am in the notion that you are tired of these Elders ignoring you, Princess Vera...

...so I'll talk to them for you."

"W... What?" Vera could really only take a step back as Riley started to approach him while seemingly dragging a lifeless Zora in his hand.

"Don't worry, he's not going to die yet," a smile then very slowly crawled on Riley's face, "We'll be doing that later...

...in front of all your friends."