Darius and Miko explored the cave separately, each drawn to different marvels hidden within its depths.

Darius wandered deeper into the cave, his steps echoing in the ancient silence. His eyes caught sight of a faded portrait on the rough stone wall. He approached it, running his fingers lightly over the worn surface. The portrait depicted a group of people, but it was so old that the details were almost entirely eroded, leaving only faint outlines and shadows. He squinted, trying to discern any recognizable features or symbols, but the passage of time had rendered most of it indecipherable.

Meanwhile, Miko ventured into a different section of the cave. Her attention was drawn to a metallic scrap lying amidst the rocks. She picked it up, brushing off the dust and grime with her sleeve. Etched into the metal were the phrase "My most beloved," followed by a series of symbols and words that were too corroded to read. She furrowed her brow, turning the scrap over in her hands, trying to piece together its significance.

Miko (calls Darius) - Hey! come over here.

Darius comes, still in the volkermord form.

Miko - Why are you still like this? Turn back human.

Darius - I can’t. All the time I transformed back is when I was exhausted from all those fighting.

Miko - If killing you turn you into this, maybe killing you turn you back human again

Miko pulls out Darius knife and stabs him, and the knife bends

Darius - Woah.

Miko - Does that hurt? Of Course It does. It looks like it hurts. Well you didn’t die so……

Darius - So what?

Miko pulls out a gun from his bag. And shoots in Darius' head. Darius falls on ground and his body crumbles to dust as he falls and comes out of his body, back to his normal state.

Miko - Your clothes are still there. Magically. How the transformation felt.

Darius Vomits.

Miko - Not good I guess

Miko points the gun at Darius 

Miko - Let's see how many times you can transform.

Darius - Wait, what if I actually die? I never transformed again instantly. Don’t you think it’s a risk too great for your curiosity?

Miko - I think you are right.

Miko puts the gun down, and darius snatches the gun from him and points it on Miko

Miko - If you wanna shoot me, shoot me, I am curious how death feels as well.

Darius - I’d Shoot you, If I was a psychopath like you.

Miko - You think you are not?

Darius yells - I am not……….. Where did you get this gun?

Miko - From dad.

Darius - You stole from Fernando's armory.

Miko -  He has an armory. It's not like he would be looking if 1 or 2 disappears, besides I need to have protection all the time when I do all these things ………anyway can you read this?

Darius - My most beloved and, (Tries to read but can’t) Rest is corroded.

Miko (to herself) - There’s so much history in this cave. Maybe it’s a clue to something.

Miko’s phone beeps. Adin drops a message - what happened, you guys are ok? you should move, they are planning to fix the powerstation.

Miko - It's Adin’s message. We should move, wait let me have the Vessel first.

Miko holds the vessel and puts it in her bag. They both run to get out from the cave.

Darius - How did Adin contact you?

Miko - I fix the local telecom tower, It just doesn't have power, so I powered it with solar panels then I created a private network that works in a range of a few miles.

Darius - And you didn't tell anyone about it.

Miko - It's a work in progress

Miko stops.

Darius - Why did you stop?

Miko - Because we are running in the wrong Direction, just think of it……if they were in the powerplant's basement they would find us and we are screwed. We should go from a different way………….and…………..this bag is heavy.

Darius - we will divert our path from the river. Now, gimme the bag.

Darius takes the bag and they both run out.

IN THE CAMP

1:45 Pm

Darius and Miko come back to the camp. They head into Miko’s room.

Miko (opens the room) - welcome to Miko’s lab.

Darius sees Adin, and Adin sees both of them exhausted. Miko sits on her couch.

Miko - I never thought this would be this exhaustive.

Adin - So how was it?

Darius - Lemme catch my breath first Adin.

Miko - Dude after all those powers, you have a stamina issue.

Darius - I am only human after all, don’t put the blame on me.

Adin - can you guys tell me what happened there?

Darius and Miko - Not now Adin.

Darius - Let’s talk about it after dinner.

Miko - Right.

After Dinner 

Miko - Ok let's see what we know.

Adin pays full attention.

Miko - we know that you got your powers from this vessel-like thing, and you transform and transform back after killing yourself, But we still don’t know how many times you can do that. Apart from that we know THE FALL book author wrote some truth in his book, I recommend you check out that book Darius, it might help you to understand your power better.

Darius - Yeah, right, Okay.

Miko - Apart from this do we know anything else?

Darius - Ah that phrase, My most beloved.

Miko - yeah that's a mystery as well.

Darius - I saw a photo in there as well.

Miko starts looking at Darius.

Darius - I didn’t tell you because that picture is almost unreadable.

Miko - You said almost, that means something is readable about it.

Darius - all the faces are unrecognizable Miko and the text faded out too.

Miko - I'll spare you this time.

Darius - Ok so what are we gonna do next.

Miko - I am gonna check out the vessel. If I get some info on it, I’ll tell you.

Darius - Yeah ok.

Miko - In the meantime, you read the story I gave you.

Miko throws her phone to Darius.

Darius - what? I’ve other important stuff to do.

Miko - Then make time for it…(sees the look on Darius face)… Now what?

Darius - It's your phone, how can you give it to me so casually. don't have some personal stuff in it?

Miko - First - there is nothing personal that you can know about me. My life was one hella boring before all this, and secondly I have 2 other phones as well, so you can have that one for communication purposes……....Now what are you waiting for? Go and Read.

Darius - fine

Darius steps up and starts moving, as he is about to open the door

Miko - and Darius, one more thing, have a knife or something with you all time. There is no saying when you are in the need of killing yourself. 

Darius nods and gets out.

Adin - You guys look so serious, what happened there?

Miko - Honestly, I don’t know what happened there. But I do know that our lives are gonna change forever.

Adin gives Miko a look of tension.

Miko - No need to worry Adin, (she hugs Adin) I will find a way to save us. To save us all. By the way, I have good news.

Adin - and what is that?

Miko - we have our hero’s name. His name is Volkermord. He is our hero, I know one day he will save me as well.