[073.] Faded to Grey.

Edeline stood, incredibly uneasy, in Braeden's midst. He was motionless and it almost seemed like his spirit was completely drained. There were dark circles and bags under his eyes. His gaze was distant and lost, his hair a mess, and his clothing tattered and torn. Edeline gathered he had ruined his clothing on his own due to other signs of self-destruction. His knuckles were bleeding and there were obvious signs that he had been abusing the walls and other parts of the room. Of course, everyone had heard him at the start of his outrageous outburst.

At that moment, though, Braeden sat in his bunk, so lifeless, so completely lost. He must have been drowning within himself and all the darkness he had become and once had been had all faded to grey.

"Braeden..." She began to speak, slowly, trying not to let his gloom sway her resolve. "I understand a man called Morpheus had a hand in your path set to take revenge out on Gallagher and his family." Braeden didn't speak. He didn't move. His gaze never shifted. "Do you have any idea who Morpheus is?" Edeline asked him. No response. "Or were you so consumed by your hatred that you never stopped to think about it?" Her tone changed a bit. "Believe it or not, Morpheus is a part of the family you sought out. He is the oldest of all his siblings, Gallagher's mother being one of his youngest sisters. That's right! Morpheus is the eldest son of Chronos. And he is a bit of a hateful creature himself, you know."

Edeline had noticed that Braeden's eyes had widened a bit at her story. "Now why would Morpheus have you kill his nephew, I wonder, Braeden?" She continued. "Why would he set you on that path? What good would it do him?" Edeline continued drilling, practically begging for a response. Braeden looked up at her, almost like a lost, frightened child. He must have felt his entire life had been a lie. "Perhaps it was because Chronos proclaimed Gallagher as the rightful heir as the Keeper of Time. The rightful heir to the very powers the Extraordinary Chronos took charge of. Morpheus hated Gallagher and his parents to begin with. Gallagher's father was an ordinary human, after all. But Morpheus's assumed place as heir had been taken and presented to another, and someone he did not approve of, at that. Now that we have motive, it begs the question, 'who actually hurt you to begin with?' And how does killing Gallagher help you? it will not take your pain away. You would really only be helping the very man who destroyed your life to begin with, would you not?"

Edeline then realized what terrible news she had just thrust upon Braeden. She had only wanted to protect Gallagher, but she had just intensified the greyness of a person who had decidedly lived his life in darkness.

He really was drowning inside himself. He was lost in a grey world he was not used to. It was a grey world he knew nothing about and did not understand. It had all just faded to that gloomy grey.