Genesis : Knights of Salvation Series
Chapter 37: DimHollow

Sounds of movement erupt as the team pulls out their weapons. All prepared to defend themselves against whatever could be in these walls.

“Talon, Harrison stay here with Clare and Aspen.” Enyo order’s out as he, Orion, and Foxglove head into the quiet outpost. From where I sit I can only see a few feet into the outpost before the gate door blocks my view. An odd sensation comes over me as the hair on the back of my neck stands on end making me quickly look behind me. I look behind us at the rocky hill’s spanning back to the destroyed town, and I can’t see anything that would give me such a feeling but it’s there. I would recognize that feeling of being watched anywhere, I’ve spent my life receiving stares around me.

“Aspen? What are you looking at?” Harrison notices me. I look back in front of me to see the others watching me curiously. I shake my head and blink trying to get that feeling to dissipate.

“It just feels like someone watching us,” I speak up looking back behind us. I turn around to see them looking around too only for them to screw up their faces in confusion.

“I don’t see anyone?” Harrison shrugs. They don’t understand the feeling of being watched as I do. I doubt they spent so many hours being stared at and whispered about.

“It’s just a feeling.” I shrug too only to look around me again. When I look back Clare’s eyes are watching me, or more like evaluating me.

“How are you feeling?” She whispers leaning closer to me. I squint a bit confused. What does my health have to do with this?

“I’m fine,” I say tightly but Clare’s eyes stay on me when we hear Enyo speak up.

“It’s clear.”

We ride in through the gate, the outpost is completely void of people. The dirt road’s empty of any carts or livestock. The houses are made of wood like the other outpost but the wood is far darker. Houses line the main street yet most houses’ windows and doors sit ajar oddly. Not a single tower of smoke rises from a chimney or anywhere in the camp as the quiet seems to suffocate any sound made.

We follow Enyo through the ghost town, a few door’s slightly creaking in the afternoon wind. Every dark shadowed corner seemed to dance in the corner of my eye like they were taunting us.

“This is creepy.“Foxglove speaks up looking to the side of the road where what looks like an empty bassinet is. The pink fabric was dull and slightly ripped.

“Was it the forsaken?” Clare questions.

“No, there would be signs of the attack,” Talon says shaking his head.

“It’s like they disappeared,” I speak up looking at what was once a small stall to sell food, now empty. We ride through the town street not a sign of life around, when we reach the mayor’s house in the middle of the town, I am thoroughly freaked out. I would honestly rather sleep out on the rocky fields than in this ghost town. The mayor’s home is a larger horizontal house with only one story to it. A small rickety deck allows access to the forced open door. The inside of the house I can see is dark, the setting afternoon sun creating a dim light of the building.

Enyo climbs from his horse his sword ready to swing at any hint of movement.

“Harrison, Talon, we are clearing the house.” Enyo order’s out launching the three of them to walk slowly up the three stairs that look like they will snap at any moment. Enyo’s hand pushes the door open a little more as the three of them quietly enter the house.

“Yeah, right now I would rather sleep in that old city,” I speak up in a whisper. Orion looks back at me squinting skeptically.

“This place is pretty creepy, I mean where did they all go?” Foxglove backs me up.

“It doesn’t matter. This is the safest place for us to rest tonight. You’ll have to deal with your fear like big girls and get over it.” He says snidely and I’m a little surprised. The times I have heard Orion talk, they aren’t filled with so much sass.

“You’re telling us, this place isn’t creeping you out?” Clare says tilting her head. If anyone was going to sass him right back it would be Clare. I don’t know what’s gotten up with these two but I’m starting to get the feeling the time they spent with each other wasn’t very pleasant.

“I’m saying it doesn’t matter. If it’s safe then get over your childish feeling.” He snaps back. And like that, I could feel the friction between them as Clare squints at him ready to argue.

“I think you should get over your spiteful attitude first!” She snaps back just as hard. Just as Orion’s about to yell back at her Enyo walks out the door giving us a ’what the hell are you doing look.

Clare and Orion give each other glares as Enyo rolls his eyes and speaks up.

“It’s clear, bring your horses into the gated yard and bring your things in for the night.” He order’s out and like always we obey. We ride around the house to the side where a medium-sized fenced yard sits. The area is unkept as weeds grow to our knees. I jump down from my horse and grab my weapons, and bedding and undo the saddle allowing my horse to relax. I trudge my things up the deck and into the house.

The inside of the house is now lit up with a growing fire in the fireplace allowing me to see the rough wooden flooring and the oak walls. As I walk through the door I’m greeted by the living room, a wooden framed couch with a green upholstered cushion sits in the middle of the room facing the fireplace on the wall to my left. The fireplace is made out of rocks from what looks like just outside the outpost. The place is pretty empty with only a few pieces of furniture in the living room like a handmade wooden side table with its matching coffee table sitting between the couch and the fireplace.

I place my saddle by the wall on the right side between the two doorways, one leading to a simple kitchen with only the most essential equipment like a wood stove and a sink. Although there’s no table n the kitchen, which is a bit weird. the other door look’s to lead to a room. I walk to the couch and slump down on it welcoming the feeling of no longer being on the horse. It feels like I’ve hardly walked for the past few days. My but and thigh’s felt like jelly and I relax as I stretch out my legs and arms. Harrison strokes the fire building it up to get the house a little warmer as the night’s beginning to set in.

Before long the rest of the team sits in the living room, all stretching and welcoming the warmth of the fire. Enyo finishes closing the last window and walks to the fireplace. Rubbing his hands in the warmth of the flames. I pull up my sleeves and lean my head back against the wooden frame of the couch. I feel a nudge from next to me and I open my eyes to see Talon sitting next to me, a concerned expression on his face. I squint confused until his eyes fall to my arm. The vein on the inside of my wrist is black reaching up my arm. It’s the same place it was that morning a week ago. I quickly pull down my sleeves and look around most of the team is relaxing watching the fire not paying attention to me.

I grab talon’s hand pulling his attention to me. I nod to him telling him it’s fine.

“Clare, Can I have your help really quick,” I say as I stand up as Clare follows me to the kitchen area. When we are both in the kitchen I pull up my sleeve showing her my blackened veins.

“It’s getting worse,” I speak up. Although in this light it’s a little hard to see my dark veins in the barely lit kitchen, I know Clare sees what I’m talking about.

“How long has it been there?” She says taking the bag out of my hand and shuffling through it for the medicine pouch.

“I just noticed it, but I didn’t see it this morning so It had to have just happened,” I tell her. I mean I didn’t have it at the waterfall so it had to have happened on our way here. She quickly pulls out the syringe and that clear liquid. I’m still unsure of what it is but all of these medicines are given to us by the director who said they are meant to keep me as healthy as possible on the trip. As she fills the needle up with the liquid I look over Clare’s shoulder making sure no one is wandering over here. When I’m sure no one’s around I look back to Clare who finishes filling the syringe.

“It’s getting worse. It’s beginning isn’t it?” I mutter out, My eyes connecting with Clare’s. For a moment something flashes through her eyes.

“There’s still time, enough to get to ground zero.” She flicks the syringe a little of the liquid spraying out.

Clare grabs my black vein-covered wrist and gently sticks the needle into my vein, a slight pinch as it enters the vein. As she pushes the liquid into my vein the black coloring begins to dissipate. Relief floods me as my body relaxes with the medicine.