Genesis : Knights of Salvation Series

We set out traveling pretty quick through the forest as Enyo leads us towards the DimHollow outpost. I ride next to Clare who won’t let me out of her sight. I’ve felt her eyes on me almost every few minutes since we started out again. I’m not sure what’s with her but she’s felt off since we met again in the falls. Finally, as we turn right at a large rocky hill I turn to Clare, and whisper quietly for only her.

“Are you okay Clare?” I screw my face up with concern. She’s usually so sure of herself. the whole time I’ve known her she’s been cold still like a statue.

“I’m fine.” Her answer’s a little too quick as she furrows her brows, her blue eyes falling to her horse’s head.

“You don’t seem fine,” I say looking in front of me. I see from the corner of my eyes that Clare lookup as if she was going to say something only to look back down. Finally, she speaks up.

“You chose to go after the cure, right?” She asks. I lift my eyebrows at her with surprise. I’m not sure where this question would come from or why she would ask it now. I look down at the ground as we pass it. Chose to go after the cure? I’m not completely sure I really had a choice in the matter. So I decided to try my best to tell her my true thoughts.

“I wouldn’t say I really had a choice in the matter.” I finally whisper back. I watch her face as a hint of confusion lace in her eyes.

“Why would you say that?” She asks her face screwing up with confusion. I shrug and look forward to speaking up to her about very few aspects of our relationship. She’s always been more of a boss to me than anything but if I’m going to my death I’m going to spend my last days speaking my mind.

“I didn’t choose to be the only one with a cure, I also didn’t choose to go on this mission,” I tell her honestly she gives me a look then. I’m not sure how to explain it but it’s as if she’s dumbfounded as a pang of sadness had come over her. I’m actually surprised she’s just understanding the truth to all of this.

“Then why did you come?” She speaks up.

“What else was I supposed to do? My father and the director all but declared this was going to happen, It’s not like I had many other options either way. There’s a reason they needed a handler loyal to the director.” I say offhandedly. I know it’s a bit rude and maybe calloused but I don’t have many times I can actually tell the truth. I’m going to die clear of the lies, even if I have to spill them out as I push the virus into my veins.

Clare squints at me and I finally speak up the last of my thoughts.

“It doesn’t matter, right? My feelings, their feelings, or your’s. It’s all about the mission.” I recite her oath for the mission, and she seemed to always say it when I felt like telling them the truth. Clare nods her head as if those words knocked the sense back into her.

We continue riding, the forest steadily growing thinner until as the hottest part of the afternoon takes over we break through the forest’s cover. Unfolding before we are more rolling hills of dirt, crumbled down cement buildings, and old rusted vehicles litter out in front of us.

“Wow.” I let my surprise slip from my lips

One huge building sit crumbled to the ground, some blackened from fires, other are still stained with forsaken blood. Not one building still stands as most look as if a giant hand stomped on them, flattening them like a pancake. I’m sure this was once a grande city but now it lays in ruins forgotten by time.

“Stay alert, you never know what may still lurk here.” Enyo order’s out and my hand pulls out my bow ready to fire if needed. We make our way down the paved path, which is mostly gone or cracked from growing weeds. Out in the distance, I can make out two large mountain peaks towering over the now toppled city. Glass still sits scattered over the road and where the building once stood. Weeds have taken over standing tall through the large cement pills of the building and peeking through cracks in the once paved road. There’s not a hint of life around here, everything about this place felt dead and sad. As if we could see the remnants of our once great people in every burned-down brick. It felt like thousands of ghosts watched as we travel their street. The whole place sent a shiver down my back at the thought of it.

“This is creepy,” I whisper out to myself. I catch Clare’s eyes as she slightly nods in agreement.

“I heard this was the biggest city in the area, when the outbreak happened the place was hurt bad then the mutation happened. The town’s very own people ripped it apart.” Harrison whisper’s out to us. His commentary only adds to my stress. We make our way quickly through the destroyed city and as we come to the end of the city, I would guess by the dribbling off of destroyed houses. Enyo slows as our eyes fall on three large posts.

The dark wooden posts stand tall, towering over the once great city. Hanging from each of the three posts are once white but now grey sheets with black writing on each of them.

The first one on the right reads, ‘Go Back.’

A shiver slides through me as I read the next two.

‘Don’t touch the Blood!’

‘They’ll Come for You!!’

Each makes me even more concerned with what we are riding into.

“I’m getting the feeling we’re not welcomed,” Talon speaks up. I suddenly can’t help myself as I burst into a laugh. My hand clapped over my mouth trying to keep quiet. Enyo looks behind him at us, his eyes trying not to laugh but his face said to be quiet.

“Sorry,” I whisper out and look behind me to see Talon smiling like a madman as he tries not to laugh as well. I shake my head at him and he just shrugs foolishly. I think I’m finally understanding why Talon acts childish and is a bit of a fool. It must be hard to have seen so many disturbing and terrifying things, I bet he keeps thinking positively by making jokes.

We continue to ride in bothersome silence. It’s the kind that felt like something was about to burst out in front of us. Nothing scary happened and we don’t see any forsaken as we ride towards the mountains. Within two hours as the afternoon sun is beginning to cool down my eyes land on the DimHollow outpost.

Unlike Direfield outpost this seemed quieter. The other outpost was surrounded by fields for growing food and had guards on top of the tall walls. As we grow close enough to make out more details the DimHollow post was surrounded by unkempt dirt fields growing wild with yellow weeds. The outpost is built like the other one, with large wooden walls towering high. Yet I can’t make out any figures on the watch.

When we get close enough that someone should have seen us, my eyes land on the gate. Sitting wide open.