Book 2 Ch. 26

Drew had worked through the night, and into the morning. He’d found and rescued more people than he could keep track of, or rather he’d stopped counting as he didn’t find it to be an accurate measure of success or failure either way. The Descent had come, and with it, the population of Earth had been decimated. At least, that was his theory. Too many people were missing, too many were dead. That’s why he stopped counting survivors, as it put the reality of the situation at the forefront of his mind.

Realistically, he’d known what he was going to find. He knew that humanity was in serious danger. But knowing something, and experiencing it firsthand were two entirely different things. Car doors had ripped open like tuna cans with dried blood trails leading away and into nearby sewer drains. No house had remained untouched, doors missing, windows broken in, brown smears coated the interior walls of homes like some kind of sick Jackson Pollock painting gallery.

Seeing a tiny hand covered by debris, Drew went to work removing the fallen wooden beams and roofing, quickly working his way to the small figure below. A toddler, no older than four years old, held a brown teddy bear in his arms, his face frozen in time, most likely crying for his parents. Drew sighed, kicking a nearby brick as it was pulverized into dust. The child was gone, the bottom half of his body simply missing, and Drew cursed in anger at the thought of the toddler dying while so alone and in so much pain.

He wanted someone to blame. Something to blame for all the needless death that had descended onto Earth, which only left him even more frustrated. This is no one’s fault… The System intervened to prevent a mass extinction event. Without its assistance, we’d all be dead. Drew finished searching the house, not finding anyone left living. He took out a can of yellow spray paint he’d looted from a hardware store before drawing a large “X” on two sides of the home. His people needed to know which homes had been searched, and which ones needed a second set of eyes down the road.

The city was a hellscape. A living ghost town. Sounds of collapsing buildings occasionally broke the eerie silence that permeated the area. Rubble filled the streets, and burnt down buildings and homes were scattered about, most likely from uncontrolled fires that started from the original survivors, or lightning strikes.

The living people he’d found came from various backgrounds and were found in various situations. Some were just lucky, plain and simple. Some were preppers, having built safe spaces in or near their homes and gathered supplies either from before The Descent, or they risked their lives to loot and scavenge afterwards. All of them were petrified, like cornered animals, and many were afraid to speak, lest they bring dangerous attention to themselves and the ones around them.

The elderly were gone. Drew hadn’t found any still living. Unable to care for themselves, unable to get their daily medicines refilled, they had all perished. Hospitals had become ransacked graveyards, as desperate people had braved them in search of antibiotics and life saving meds. The rooms inside were stacked with dead bodies. It told a grim story of how ER doctors and nurses had likely spent their last days and weeks alive, trying to save everyone they could without power, water, or anything else.

Nursing homes were worse, and Drew hated going into them to search for survivors. Low paid workers had deserted the residents. Grandfathers and grandmothers, veterans, and everything in between had passed away with only their neighbors for company. Drew knew they’d been left to rot too, medicine carts were still full of prescriptions, the residents having died covered and coated in their own waste. A whole generation, wiped out without mercy.

Drew picked up a nearby abandoned tire, chucking it with his full strength towards a mutated coyote who had been sniffing a dead body in some bushes outside a house. The tire shot forward, and the beast was turned into paste as it was shoved against the house with massive force. It won’t bring anyone back, but at least I can rid this area of the predators who killed them.

He wasn’t the only one having a bad time either. Robert’s forward operating base had been attacked during the night, the living shadows had finally been found. There were few casualties thankfully, but the threat was immense. When Drew had used an undead crow to check in with the base early in the morning, he’d heard the news. Amber had used her most powerful ability to cull the horde of Slosth, as they were called, and yet a nest was somewhere nearby still, and it needed to be taken care of sooner rather than later.

Knock Knock. Drew rapped on the front door of a small chapel. The double doors were locked tight, and the windows had been boarded up. He could hear the sound of whispers coming from behind the door.

“Hey, just looking for survivors. I’m going door to door and looking to help folks out if they need it.” Drew called out. He waited, listening for further sounds. Silence greeted him for several moments, before the whispers broke out again, this time with greater urgency.

“I mean you no harm, I have supplies if y’all want to stay here, and a safe place with defenses if you want somewhere to go.” Drew called out again. This was an hourly routine, it was like trying to gain the trust of abused animals, difficult. Some people joined, others wanted to stay. He knew the folks that stayed were likely going to die, but he wouldn’t force people to go against their will, even if they were stubborn or just plain stupid.

“Last chance folks, I can hear the whispers coming from inside. Once I leave, I’m not coming back, but some other people might check in with you.” Drew counted to thirty seconds in his head before turning around and walking away from the chapel.

“Wait…” A voice called back, it was neither loud, nor urgent. Drew turned to find an older man in a minister’s robe poking out of the door slightly.

“What is it?” Drew called back, not wanting to walk back and spook the man.

“Shhhh…” The man shushed him, a finger held to his lip. Drew sighed before trekking back up the property and stopped near the small flight of stairs leading to the double doors.

“Well, what is it?” Drew asked.

“Are you with Lakeside?” The man asked in a hushed tone.

“Lakeside? What’s that?” Drew asked, hearing the word for the first time.

“Truly, you don’t know?”

“No, I don’t live around here and I’m just passing through looking for survivors.” Drew answered. He was curious as to what the minister was talking about.

“Why?” The man asked in an even lower voice.

“Why am I looking for survivors?” Drew asked. The minister nodded his head slightly.

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“To make a very long story short, I live over the border in Oklahoma. My friends and family rescued the nearby locals after The Descent came and we’ve built up a settlement with defenses, farms, and we’re working on running water right now. Our people became strong enough that we’ve begun scouting nearby towns and cities looking for survivors and offering them a safe haven if they want it.” Drew said, repeating the same lines he’d uttered countless times already. The old man seemed to consider his words for a few moments before replying.

“Come in, please. Share with us what you know, if you would be so kind.” The minister gestured for Drew to come in with his hand.

The inside of the chapel wasn’t large by any means. It was one of those tiny churches that had a very small and loyal group of people that came every week. The pews had been piled up in one corner, forming a sort of makeshift defensive wall, and the rest of the chapel looked much like city shelter would during times of emergencies. Simple beds and cots lined the floors, and several propane fueled grills sat in the middle of the building with stacks of paper plates, canned goods, and other necessities nearby.

The minister motioned towards a nearby cot before sitting on the one opposite to it. Drew joined him, having done this many times in the last day. People slowly came out from the defensive area and gathered around the old man, several held bibles close to their chests, and makeshift weapons to defend themselves.

“Tell us about your settlement if you would.” The minister asked.

“What would you like to know?” Drew responded.

“You said your people had farms and defenses, that would be a good place to start. Also, what’s your stance on religion, and how would the people here make the journey safely?” The man asked. He sounded tired, but also concerned, and Drew didn’t miss how many of the people nearby seemed tense.

“I was made aware of The Descent by The System prior to it happening. My family and friends gathered and we took the time to prepare. When The Descent hit, we fought off hordes of monsters and beasts, and went looking for local survivors. Most of our people are pretty strong, and I’ve already shut down an incursion of invaders. We have stone walls, like a castle almost, fresh food and water from manual pumps right now. The current citizens all have newly built homes, and we have farms producing crops at almost ridiculous rates. The economy is just getting started, but previously we all traded or bartered for goods. Now we use a contribution system via a System Store.” Drew began.

“As for religion, I don’t really care one way or another. People are free to worship whoever or whatever they want, as long as it does no harm to the other citizens and people don’t push their views on others. As far as getting to Sanctuary, that’s the name of our settlement, we have a lot of people here that will help. We started at the Air Force base up north before working our way down throughout the night and today. Needless to say, your people would be pretty safe on the journey, and I’ve dispatched many of the local monsters nearby.” Drew finished. He waited, watching and gauging the reactions of the people present. Some seemed hopeful, others were cautious, but regardless, some people were still very tense.

“Mhm, if what you’ve said is true, you’ve given the people here a lot to think about.” The minister replied in a noncommittal way. Something weird is going on with these people. The promise of food and shelter should have swayed a few of them, but if anything they seem more tense now than they did when I came in…

“I’ve got a couple questions if you have time.” Drew remarked.

“I’ll answer whatever I can, but I don’t hold all the answers.” The minister said. That’s definitely something a priest would say.

“Y’all mentioned a Lakeside, what exactly did you mean?” Drew asked.

“Ah, another group of people, much like yourself, have settled in Lakeside City.” The man answered in a very careful manner. Drew felt many of the other people tense up at both the question and the answer. Interesting…

“I’m not overly familiar with the area. My family and I used to come here from Oklahoma to shop on occasion, but we never went exploring around. Where is Lakeside City, and more importantly, why do the people here seem incredibly on edge when I mention it?” Drew asked. He didn’t have the energy to tiptoe around whatever issue there may have been when he could be out saving and helping other people.

“To the first question, Lakeside City is just south of here, on the other side of Wichita Lake. It was a small suburban area before …you called it The Descent, yes?” Drew nodded his head at the man’s question. “Right, a group of people came together and built a camp there of some sort. They have walls made of wood and sheet metal, and they’ve erected some lookout towers.” The minister replied. Drew motioned for the man to continue onto the second half of the question, and found the man sighing. He took off his glasses, and used his robe to clean the lenses as he spoke.

“Some of the people from the camp have come by before, and offered us refuge. However their views and ours do not mesh, so we’ve declined their offers. Recently, the people coming here have been more… assertive in their requests.” The man said, as he finished with his glasses and put them back on.

“I see, may I ask what these views are that have your group refusing their offers?” Drew asked. He found it strange for people to turn away the prospect of safety in times like these. The man paused for several moments, likely thinking of the best way to answer.

“There were… theological differences. Their offers came with the stipulation that we renounce our faith, and embrace the one they believe in. Additionally, and more troubling was their stance on the current state of the world and our place in it.” The man answered carefully, several of the people were gripping their bibles or weapons hard now, with several close to having white knuckles.

“Right, so they’re from a different religion or denomination. I get that y’all would refuse to renounce what you believe in, but what do you mean when you say their stance on the current state of the world?” Drew asked, leaning forward a bit, but showing his hands as to help put the people’s minds at ease.

“Well…” The man began.

“Please speak plainly, there are other houses and businesses that I haven’t checked yet, and there could be people there whose lives are in danger.” Drew interrupted, not wanting to hear another batch of carefully manicured words.

“Ah, right. It is my understanding that the leadership of Lakeside City believe that these are the days from the book of Revelations, and that we’ve been left behind because we’ve been found wanting in God’s eyes. They believe everyone should be united under God’s banner, their banner, one way or another. They also believe… to put it plainly, that all species other than humanity must be exterminated as they’ve been corrupted by the Devil.” The minister answered.

“Ah, yeah. I could see why that would make people extremely uncomfortable. Before I go, I should make you aware of some things, just in case you weren’t already. The invaders, the ones from the incursions, all seem to be sapient beings from elsewhere in the cosmos. Some have come with negative motives, and some have come as potential friends.” Drew responded.

“What do you mean, sapient beings?” The minister asked.

“They’re like us, to a degree. They think, they speak, they have their own cultures and societies. I’ve personally met three separate races so far. One, unfortunately, was too alien and unwilling to engage in diplomatic relations. The threat of their presence on Earth has been removed. The other two races however, have become allies of Sanctuary.” Drew replied. Several people who had been close by, began talking amongst themselves, and the minister seemed to be taken aback.

“...Allies, you say? Can you elaborate?” The man asked. Drew had a hard time figuring out what the man was thinking at the moment.

“Briefly, but sure. The first race are called Dark Elves, specifically they come from the Dusksorrow Clan, which is pretty much like a large extended family. They are a bit taller than most humans, pointed ears, with a grayish-blue tinted skin. They’re well spoken, and very polite. The other race are from the Redtoof Tribe, sapient and evolved Goblins. They’re very casual in how they speak, they're short, green skinned people that enjoy engineering and chemistry. Of the two, the Dark Elves are passably human if viewed from a distance. The Goblins stick out like a sore thumb.” Drew responded.

“And you say they are allies, they’ve proven themselves to be trustworthy?” He asked, leaning forward slightly as more people were listening intently. Drew shrugged.

“No more or less than other human beings I suppose. They’re out there, in the city, looking for survivors with us. Last night, the refugee encampment we’ve set up North of here was attacked by a massive horde of monsters, the Dark Elves and Goblins stood shoulder to shoulder with our people, fighting off the monsters to protect people just like yourselves. I’m not sure if that makes them trustworthy, but I’d much rather have friendly faces nearby when the world’s gone to shit.” Drew answered honestly. The people nearby rejoined their conversations, each person speaking their thoughts to their neighbors.

“This is a lot to take in, but thank you for your candor.” The man said, at a loss for words.

Drew stood up, and started removing supplies he had stashed in his inventory. Tanned hides, fur blankets, a couple of swords and shields, and some spears. He placed them on nearby cots before removing a large crate of fresh food, several jars of spirits, and a large ten gallon jug of fresh water.

“We… we cannot accept all this. We have nothing to trade…” The man started, but Drew waved him off.

“They’re gifts from the people of Sanctuary. We need nothing in return, just stay safe, and please don’t try to harm any Dark Elves or Goblins that can speak. The feral ones that act like animals are fair game.” Drew answered, heading towards the exit. He’d spent enough time in one place, and he had other places to check. And Lakeside, I need to check that place out at some point. Maybe I can talk some sense into them. Although I have the feeling they won’t be receptive…

As Drew opened the door, the minister came rushing after him, Drew turned his head, only to have the old man hug him.

“Thank you, truly thank you. How can we contact you if our people decide to take up your offer?” The minister asked, holding Drew tightly. Drew returned the hug and patted the man on the back.

“My people will swing by here sometime soon, or I’ll come back to check on you.” Drew answered.

With that Drew left the small chapel, and headed towards the next group of suburban homes.