The Phantom’s Gambit

The entity's expression turned ominous, its voice taking on a darker tone. [At inception, I am called the Loophole. At dissolution, people call me Void.]

"Void? Like empty?"

[Exactly!] Void responded cheerfully, his tone a stark contrast to his ominous introduction.

"So, that's your name?" Octavius asked, genuinely interested.

But Void misinterpreted Octavius' question, thinking he was mocking his name. [Unlike you, we don't have parents who give us silly names. We are called by our essence.]

"So, you're empty?"

Void clutched his chest, feigning mock pain at Octavius' question. 

Octavius continued. "So empty you need someone else's body to survive?"

[I don't need anyone to survive.]

"To thrive then?"

Void's face contorted in frustration, his mouth opening and closing several times as he struggled to find the right words.

Octavius stared at him, intrigued by the contrast between Void's intimidating appearance – complete with red scales – and his goofy demeanor. The fact that Void shared the same face as the Fates Octavius had met during his slumber only added to the mystery.

'Could he be related to them?' Octavius wondered.

As if reading his mind, Void finally found his voice. 

[They are my brothers. We were all created at the same time, but they didn't like the idea that I could butt in with their essence and make interference. So they all teamed up and agreed I was useless and they were pretty much cooler as PPF. You know, present, past and future. With all of them combined, I got nullified. Still very much immortal but not in existence. And just when I think I've got a chance to live and thrive, you but in from no where and steal my shine.]

"I don't understand." Octavius countered. It wasn't his business, he shouldn't worry about things that weren't his concern, but he asked anyway. "You must have done something to make them discard you the way you did. What did you do?"

[Nothing but my job. They just felt I was out of place. And one day when I was not expecting to be backstabbed by my family, I got discarded. I guess they didn't like the idea of having something around they did not understand.]

Octavius studied Void's face, noticing the casual tone belied something else. Even though Void was no longer in his body, he could feel the hurt. 

And he couldn't help but relate to Void's experience, having gone through a similar betrayal himself. Except in his case, they had killed him. Tried to kill him.

"This has been nice," Octavius said finally, "but I've got to go."

He turned to leave, noticing for the first time that they were inside a cave. As he walked past Void, he caught sight of fragments of Void's body beginning to peel away.

Void's eyes widened in alarm as he realized what was happening. He attempted to jump back into Octavius' body, but an invisible barrier repelled him. More fragments broke off from his body, drifting away like sand in the wind.

[Let me back in], Void urged, his voice devoid of its usual arrogance. What was meant to be an order sounded more like a desperate plea.

"Find someone else to hijack their body," Octavius muttered, not bothering to stop as he continued walking away.

Void quickly followed. [I can't do that. I used up all my powers to heal your body, and you're just going to kick me out. I need this – I need your body!]

"Why do you need my body?" Octavius asked, still walking and not bothering to look back.

When Void failed to respond, Octavius muttered a dismissive "I thought so" without breaking stride.

Void hurried to catch up, his movements frantic. It became apparent that the further Octavius drew away from him, the more fragments of his soul disappeared, leaving him increasingly fragile.

[I need to get back something they took away from me. I've waited this long, and I'm only able to occupy your body], Void explained, his voice tinged with desperation.

The only response was silence.

[Let me in], Void tried again, his words hanging in the air.

After a pause, he added a hesitant [Please?], a hint of vulnerability creeping into his tone.

Octavius' response was abrupt. "No."

Without another word, he walked past Void, leaving him standing alone. Octavius couldn't afford to care about someone else's well-being at the moment. He needed a clear space to think and strategize, to focus on his own survival.

[Oh, come on! You act like you have some kind of magic to take down your enemies], Void said, sounding sarcastic.

When Octavius didn't respond, Void's frustration grew. [Where are you going, damn it?]

"Away from you."

[You can't do that!]

"Watch me," Octavius let out, his eyes fixed on the path ahead.

Void rolled his eyes and disappeared, only to reappear in front of Octavius. [You can't do that. I'm part of you – your body, the body, whatever. I'm part of it now.]

Octavius remained silent, his jaw clenched in annoyance. He longed to shove Void aside and continue on his way, but the Fates' warning still lingered in his mind.

…A great evil.

[How about we strike a deal], Void suggested.

Octavius' gaze snapped to Void's face, intrigued despite himself. He remained silent, waiting for Void to continue.

[You can't go out looking like... You], Void started [And I can't do anything I want to do outside of you. So, I'll help you with a makeover and conceal those... distracting features of yours.]

Octavius' eyes flashed with Amusement. "Certainly, I must appear to be a mirror in your eyes, and you're seeing your own reflection."

[Rude, but no. I'm big on unfiltered honesty], Void said in a matter-of-fact tone.

Octavius scoffed. "Girls love me!"

Void's response was dry. [Again, don't be shy to use the past tense. And your mom and sisters don't count as your admirers.]

Octavius' eyes narrowed, and he walked past Void once more.

Void's voice followed him. [What? You can't possibly believe you're good-looking. You haven't even Smashed yet.]

Octavius stopped in his tracks, his back still turned to Void. The word "Smashed" sounded strange and foreign coming from Void, but Octavius knew exactly what he meant.

Void, thinking he had found a way to change Octavius' mind, quickly added, [I can make you look attractive, and you'd be the most desirable to women —]

Octavius muttered again, "No," and resumed walking.

Void watched him go, looking as though he had just witnessed something inexplicable. When he noticed fragments of his body beginning to dissipate, he rushed to catch up with Octavius.

[That was a one-time offer]

"Don't need it," Octavius replied, dismissively.

[Are you into M—] Void began, before his words trailed off into a gasp.

Octavius stopped and looked at him strangely while Void observed him intently, and finally let out.

[You've not smashed from either ends? Are you celibate?]

For some reason, Octavius understood exactly what Void was implying, and he scoffed in disgust at Void's shallow superficiality.

"Look here, Empty," Octavius said with a firm tone.

[It's Void. And you've got to admit, it's better than Ovavius]

"Octavius," Octavius corrected him.

[Really? That sounds even sillier]

Octavius let out a deep breath, his patience wearing thin. "I don't know what you or the Fates have—"

[I am nothing like them], Void cut him off, his tone suddenly serious and contrasting his playful demeanor from earlier.

"That's what you think, but you're doing exactly what they did. I don't want any of your offers, and I'd appreciate it if you left me alone. Your presence will only disrupt my plans."

With that, Octavius continued his walk, leaving Void standing behind him.

After a while, Void yelled out, [What if I do a makeover to make you look appealing to the guys??]