Let chapter three commence. The beginning of chapter three starts off with one of our main villains. Drake Merwin. Drake had been 10 miles underground for about 3 months now with his lord and master, The Darkness aka The Gaiaphage. He had gotten used to the darkness. The only light he could see was the faint green light that radiated from his master's body. There was intense heat. No water and not much air. But that was okay because Drake wasn't necessarily alive. Time passed without him really realizing. It could have been days or even years and he wouldn't have noticed. All that was down was the eternal anger and frustration that came from the mind of the Gaiaphage. And he was hungry. A nagging hunger that wouldn't stop. A need. He needed Nemesis.
Nemesis is actually a boy named Peter Elison, Astrid Elison's little brother, and he was no where to be found. For a five year old autistic kid, he was the most powerful person in the FAYZ, but he just wasn't aware of his power. He could not plan he just reacted. And when he reacted he released incredible, unimaginable power. Like a toddle with his finger on a nuclear bomb. Nemesis scared the Gaiaphage but the Gaiaphage still needed him. Drake asked why and the response he was given was I must be born.
Then the Gaiaphage punished him with bright pains for questioning him. The answer had bothered him because he realized that his lord was not all powerful. He had sworn allegiance to a dying god? He was afraid of what would become of him if the darkness died. He tried to hide the fear inside him. The Gaiaphage might turn his attention towards him if he hears his thoughts. What life would Drake live if their was no more Gaiaphage. Will he still be unkillable?
Drake wished he could discuss this with Brittany but they were unable to do that. You see, Brittany and Drake share a body. Her mind and features take over from time to time. During those times, Drake ceases to think, see, hear or feel. In the times he was Drake he would fill his world with wondrous fantasies. He would replay the memories of the pain he has caused to people. The time where he almost whipped Sam to death and he would think the pain he has yet to cause. The pain he wanted to bring to Astrid. To Diana. Those two especially but also Brianna who he hated with a passion.
Also for how ever long he had been under the ground he noticed how the Gaiaphage's body rested against the barrier that surrounded the FAYZ that's hot to the touch. But where that Gaiaphage sat, a black stain spread out. The Gaiaphage was like a green radioactive sponge and the stain was spilled black coffee. Drake was curious to what this meant but was fearful to ask.
Suddenly the Gaiaphage's mind jolted. He had Drake lay his hand upon him. Drake immediately recoiled. Drake had touched the Gaiaphage a few times and it was never a pleasant experience but he unwillingly unwrapped his tentacle arm and laid it across the darkness' body. He screamed at the sudden sharp pain that knocked him to his knees. Images and pictures exploded into his mind of a garden, huge boats and a beautiful girl dark hair and a wry smile. The Darkness yelled for Drake to bring her to him and Drake spoke for the first time in months uttering a single name.
"Diana."
Now the scene goes to another kid named Quinn. He was unhappily pulling the oars back onto the shore and worriedly looked at the horizon where the sun would soon appear. No one talked and not a single joke had been made that day. Quinn knew the crew was upset about Cigar. They know that he was wrong to kill Jaden but Jaden had swung first. What was Cigar supposed to do? If he didn't defend himself Cigar may have been dead. But a whole day with a girl who would scar his mind. Did he really deserve that much? He was also worried. He shared the anger with himself and Albert. He thought Albert would have stock up for Cigar. But he didn't and now he was sentenced to Penny.
Quinn rowed and tried to keep the boat steady. Fishing was dreary work but he enjoyed being in the ocean. If he wasn't able to surf since there was no current in the ocean anymore he might as well fish. It gets him out onto the ocean. But as Quinn peered out onto the ocean. He narrowed his eyes and starred at the barrier and waited for the sunlight to hit the barrier. He realized that it had changed. He dived off the side and swam up to the barrier to get a better look at it. He then swam back to his crews wondering eyes. He told them that part of the barrier was just pitch black. He wondered if he should tell Albert or Caine. But the would tear him to shreds if he reported this and it was nothing. This was not the first time that he could have Sam to report this to. In fact, he really wished he could tell Astrid but nobody knew where she was. She might be dead and nobody would know but she is the only one who would look at this and try to figure it out. He looked at his crew and said that they would get on with fishing and check to see if anything changes by the end of the day.
So that's the end of chapter three. I was not surprised by this chapter at all. I see that Drake has not changed at all. In all the other books, it's pretty obvious that Drake is a sociopath. He doesn't care about anybody but himself and likes to hurt people. It makes him happy. He enjoys causing pain to other people. It has not changed at all.
I think the authors intent by putting what happened in this chapter into the book was to show how Drake was having doubts about following The Darkness. He may eventually leave the Darkness. Also to show the fear of the people who are discovering what's happening to the barrier.
