What Following Brings by S. E. Campbell Page B

help you finish this. You are not on your own. I know I can be a coward sometimes, but we aren ’ t jewels or children you have to protect. We want to help you as mu ch as you want to help us. ”
    Warmth filled her heart. Maybe Aaron had a point. Back on E arth she had been a loner , but after she had come here, she met the only people who manage d to make her feel like she wasn ’ t a waste of space. Eden loved them too.
    â€œ Okay, ” Eden said, “ then starting now, we ’ ll begin trying to draw out Yuri. Wherever he might be. ”
    ****
    Sergeant Dale and Don glanced at each other and then at Eden. Their eyes were wide with confusion. The other prisoners behind them also appeared to be concerned with mouths gaping and eyes bulging.
    â€œ You want Don and me to bring these people to Horace? ” Sergeant Dale asked.
    â€œ Yes, ” Eden said. “ Can you do it? ”
    â€œ Well, of course we can, ” Sergeant Dale said. “ But what about you? I ’ ve… I ’ ve… grown rather fond of you. ”
    Sergeant Dale looked down and shuffled his feet, and Aaron made a grunt of annoyance.
    â€œ You will be helping me, ” Eden said. “ But we have to get these prisoners to safety, and I have to get to Yuri. Fast. ”
    A moment of silence went by and then Sergeant Dale exchanged looks with Aaron.
    â€œ There is another prison by here that ’ s been abandoned, ” Sergeant Dale said. “ It ’ s twenty miles south, but it has anti-Raider lamps and supplies. I don ’ t know if you ’ ll find him there, but it ’ s worth a shot. Yuri is a smart man and he ’ s not the type to wander around stupidly. ”
    â€œ Thank you, ” Eden said. “ And I ’ ll never regret saving you. ”
    Sergeant Dale grunted and then nodded.

Chapter Nine

    Everything inside of Cantica appeared barren without the other prisoners . Empty. Eden guessed this was a good thing, but at the same time, as she examined the first level of the prison with a hanging lamp in her fist, she felt anxious and alone too. But then Adanna and Aaron stepped beside her, and she realized she wasn ’ t alone at all . She let out a shaky sigh.
    â€œ Are you ready? ” Eden asked.
    â€œ Yes, ” Aaron said.
    Adanna nodded in determination.
    Eden raised her lantern and light flickered around her, lighting up the bare brick of the cells and the mold growing on the walls. Stepping forward, Eden opened the front doors of the prison again and then crept outside with Adanna and Aaron behind her. Once she was outside, she felt the pressing darkness choke her soul and saw the white mist upon the ground. The moment she stepped into the open plain she noted all of the faces which appeared just o utside of her lantern ’ s reach. They were w hite female masks of emotionlessness that still caused her heart to feel filled with fear.
    As she walked, Eden did her best to ignore them, but it became hard to see beyond her lantern.
    â€œ What direction should we be traveling? ” Eden asked.
    Aaron pointed south, and she began to walk. As she stepped forward, she heard the ground groan beneath her boot and went rigid. What was that? This is just like last time. She stole a frightened look at Aaron.
    â€œ What is with these weird Satan Spawn being attracted to you? ” Aaron asked. “ I have never heard a sound like that before. ”
    A moment of silence went by and the ground did not move again. As Eden began her journey , heading away from the ocean, she had the strangest feeling she was being watched.
    ****
    A day later Eden saw, apart from the large clouds of mist that surrounded her , a large, dark building with bricks that had tumbled down. A brick wall had once surrounded the building, but now it lay upon the ground in dark brown boulders. The building was completely overrun by smog and white mist, and Eden disliked even looking at it