As Damien fell through the portal and dropped down through the darkness, he lost his sense of direction as what was up and what was down became up. The air grew thicker and thicker turning from air to a water-like liquid,  to a .gel-like substance that dragged him back every time he tried to move forward. 

Damien turned and swam through the gel-like murk that grew denser and denser as he tried to move.

 His arms had grown tired and after what seemed like both hours and seconds flew by, he finally broke through to the surface and pulled his body out of it with a groan of effort.

“Ch.. CHAOS!” He called out in between pants.

During his fall-turned-swim, he felt his connection with Chaos get severed and the silence that followed his shout of its name confirmed his biggest fear.

 Chaos was gone.

********************************************* 

 He had been walking for so long.

 It could have been minutes, it could have been hours, the space he was in, in addition to missing Chaos’ presence, messed with his reality and time perception.

Everything was blanketed with darkness, and as much as the space was empty  Damien could feel another foreign presence with him. 

He was not alone.

No, someone or something was with him.

How peculiar…

A feminine voice whispered into Damien’s ear making him turn to confront it, his heart palpitating in his chest.

But no one was there.

Damien’s eyes searched fervently the space for the presence that made his skin crawl.

How is a human here?

The voice asked again.

Damien stopped his searched then swallowed hard.

He cautiously called out,

“Abyss?”

It knows my name?

The awe-filled voice questioned.

“I am looking for something,” Damien explained to the space.

Then you are in the wrong place child,

Only nothing is here.

“Chaos,” Damien revealed, “I am looking for Chaos.”

Abyss went silent for so long that Damien thought she had left.

Why do you seek them?

She asked.

“We…I want to fight the gods and the only way I can is by freeing Chaos.” Damien announced.

Is that what it told you?

Damien was taken aback by the venom in her voice.

“Yes.” He answered.

Human...

Oh foolish Human,

She cried out so sorrowfully that it almost broke Damien’s heart.

I shall guide you to Chaos,

“Thank y…”

But you must listen to my words,

Then decide whether or not you shall free Chaos.

Her demand cut off Damien’s gratitude.

”It is a deal.” Damien proclaimed and he swears he heard her sigh.

Alright, then sorrow filled human,

Follow the light,

And listen to my words.

At her command, a purple-lit path that stretched away from Damien appeared.

Human, what do you know of the Creator?

 Her voice asked as Damien started walking.

“Not much, Chaos does not talk about them. It is a sore subject since they disappeared.” Damien explained, “I think Chaos is too scared to admit they might be dead.”

His words were comedic to her as she burst out laughing. Her laughter was as mesmerizing as it was terrifying.

Dead? Dead??!

Oh Human, How foolish you truly are.

She began.

 Mere gods cannot kill the Creator.

How do you kill something that is not in the same plane of existence as you?

 Her words confused Damien.

 “What do you mean “same plane of existence” ?” He asked.

It is as I have said, Human.

 She stated.

“Are you on a different plane?” Damien asked, “Is that why I can feel you but cannot see you?”

It is as you have said, Human.

“What about Chaos?” Damien started, “If they are a similar being to you why are they trapped in the Abyss?”

Human, our bodies may not be similar to yours.

She explained.

But we do have physical forms,

They do not exist in your plane, in your worlds.

But on a different plane in our worlds.

“Therefore you, Chaos, and the gods exist on similar planes? However, the Creator exists on a different plane?”

Incorrect Human.

Abyss corrected.

Chaos and  are beings from a similar plane,

The gods exist in the plane below us,

And below them is you Human.

 Abyss explained.

Just as humans cannot harm gods,

Gods cannot harm The Creator.

Just as the actions of gods can influence humans,

But the actions of humans can influence the gods.

The Creator’s actions can influence ods and all that exist below them,

But no actions from lower planes can influence the Creator.

“Meaning interacting let alone killing the Creator without their permission is impossible for gods.” Damien reasoned.

 “So where is this all-powerful Creator?” He asked dreading the answer.

 Human,

Oh, foolish Human.

The Creator has abandoned this Earth.

Abyss’ words were shocking but Damien had expected it. 

Why else would an unfathomable being let their creations run rampant with no consequences?

Either said being did not exist or the being just did not care enough.

The carefree behavior led to the gods bringing about “The End”.

Their carefree behavior cost everyone everything!

 Is Earth that replaceable?!

The thought made Damien’s anger cool off.

 Is it?

 “What do you mean by “this Earth” ?" He asked tentatively.

Abyss paused for a minute then answered,

There are,

An infinite number of Earths

That the Creator made.

"Like what? In the universe?" Damien mocked.

Yes, some do exist,

in this universe.

Other exist,

In other Universes.

Damien felt sick to his stomach at Abyss' revelation.

"You mean to tell me that there are other universes where I exist, my children exist and this whole Apocalyptic bullshit exists?" He cried out. “And the Creator bailed on this one and hopped off to the next?”

Yes and No.

"What does that even me..."

Human, there are infinite Earths,

within infinite universes.

In some, you exist,

In others, you do not.

In some, The End exists,

In others, it does not.

 She continued,

The Creator has abandoned this earth, that is true.

However it is not that the Creator left this Earth to another,

But this Earth has been expelled from their presence.

Abyss’ words had him spiraling.

So that meant...

"Earth has been deleted." He murmured to himself, his feet faltering in their steps.

“Do the gods know of this?” Damien asked.

The gods of this Earth,

Are ignorant to the existence of other similar Earths.

The Creator made them that way.

So we are all pawns to the Creator? Why does it feel like his Earth was some kind of...

"Failed experiment?" Damien whispered out.

"And Chaos?” He dared to ask.

Abyss paused for a second.

No other Chaos exists,

Whenever a new one is created,

They get assimilated by Chaos,

Becoming part of Chaos,

Creating only one Chaos.

It knows of the Creator’s habits,

They have lived through thousands of Earths in similar situations as yours.

But it is blinded by their Loyalty to the Creator.

It knows  the truth,

But they refuse to accept it.

Playing along to the Creator’s whims,

Entertaining them for eternity.

If Damien could, he would have vomited. However, thanks to Chaos’ influence eating was not a necessity.

“So everything was planned? From Chaos’ imprisonment to me meeting them, my children…” he pleaded.

You have my apologies, Human,

Having fallen victim to the Creator’s whim,

Is a Creation’s tragedy.

Damien went silent after the revelation, not even his footsteps were audible as he continued robotically on the purple-lit path.

**************************************************

We have arrived Human.

 Abyss announced drawing Damien out of his trance. Her words still lay heavy in his mind making him blind and deaf to his surroundings.

At her words, Damien looked out before him and saw a golden wall which after another close turned out to be an array of golden chains crossed over each other densely creating an illusion of a wall. They disappeared into the ground and stretched upwards, or what Damien had perceived as up, as far as he could see. When Damien tilted his head to the right and left, he did not see where the length of the wall of chain started or ended.

If you wish to free Chaos,

You will have to cut off every chain of Order that is holding them down.

 Be mindful Human that if you do,

you will be acting true to the Creator’s will.

Abyss warned.

 But Damien had already made his decision.

Abyss let out what resembled a sigh.

Take this human,

She ordered and a sword appeared in a bright light floating before him.

The Chains of Order can only be cut by my sword.

The sword had a black blade that mimicked the darkness in the Abyss.

“Thank you.” Damien stuttered out the apology in a monotonous voice.

Do not thank me, Human!

 Abyss snapped.

 I am doing this to alleviate my guilt for failing.

 Keep the sword,

 She advised,

It may become helpful.

 ...Goodbye Foolish Human.

Abyss’presence disappeared leaving Damien alone. 

This time he was truly alone.

The silence was deafening as it was maddening.

 He raised the sword and struck the nearest chain with a mighty swing.

The result was a tiny chip on one link.

Damien let out a maniacal laugh as he struck the chain again, and again and again.

He was laughing at the absurdity of his situation.

He was laughing at the madness of his situation.

He was laughing at the hopelessness, of his situation.