Chapter 11

Aftermath

Making our way back to the other side of the town is silent. The girls have surrounded me, their hands on their fallen friend in my arms. Zack and Rod walk behind, their heads held down. It started to rain as if the heavens above were crying for their fallen child. I cannot believe I failed this child no younger than me who got caught in the crossfire. Zayden may be dead, but the general of the Army is still out there. The war they seem to be fighting is helping no one, and I need to learn more about it as soon as possible.

I walk across the bridge above the small stream. Seeing Angel’s café on the other side. She is passing out hot drinks to a few sets of families, I assume them to be the families of the girls. Angel spots me, her face lighting up for a moment as she runs over to me at the end of the bridge. But her face changes once she looks at the girl in my arms. “What happened...?” She asks looking me in the eyes. I can’t hold it in anymore, I feel like I am going to burst. I bow my head, the girls hug their fallen friend, then run back to their families. One family remains without a child. A tall man with dark hair, and a small thin woman with green eyes. They both slowly make their way over to me, Zack and Rod standing at my side.

The father of the girl stares down at his daughter, “Say it isn’t true.” He says the tears are impossible to hold back now. My hands shake and I begin to cry, “I-I’m so sorry... I couldn’t save her...” The mother reaches out for her child, the weight releasing from my arms. “Thank... Thank you for bringing her home to us.” She says through tears and a broken voice.

How could she thank me? I failed, I failed her daughter, I feel Zack’s hand on my shoulder. I watch the family walk off to the other side of the town back across the bridge. The others make their way over, each of the girls thanking the three of us as they walk by. I look over at Angel, and I feel her arms around me. “You did your best Lilly, at least you brought the others home safe.”

I continue to cry hugging her back, “I’m so sorry Angel!” Zack leans over, “We did what we could, we didn’t expect the general and Zayden to show up.” Angel lets go of me and gives Zack a strange look. “The general was here? I thought you were going after the church.” Rod cuts in, “We did! He just was there when.-“ Angel cuts him off, “Let’s go elsewhere to talk about this.”

Zack’s permanent smile grows wider, “Let’s go to Rod’s bar, hm?” Angel sighs, “That dusty old place? Fine.” She grabs ahold of my arm gently leading me along, “Come on, Lilly. Everything will be all right the girl will have a proper burial. I know it’s sad... But we have more important things to talk about now.”

Nothing to do about it, I tried and failed... I’ll hope I don’t fail another again. We make our way to the tavern, Angel still leading me along. Zack pushes the door open, and we walk inside. Angel looks around the room, letting go of my arm and putting her hands on her hips. “This place really is dusty, damp, and gross.” Rod rolls his eyes walking to the bar, “Thanks.” Zack leans down to face her, “It’s not so bad! We quite like it here actually, don’t we Lilly?” He says looking over at me.

I give Zack a soft smile and nod, “Yeah.” Angel makes her way over to one of the bar stools. She stares at it for a moment then dusts it off with her hand and sits down. “So, you said you saw the general?” Zack looks at me and pats my head, then walks over to the others and sits down. I guess there is no more time for me to mope around. I walk over and sit next to Angel, and Zack sits next to me. “We did.” He says tapping the table. Rod looks over at him and glares, “If you want something go get it.”

Zack shrugs, “But I’ve already sat down.” Rod begins to argue with him further but Angel cuts in, “Boys! Please! The general?” They look at each other, Rod then groans and looks behind him grabbing a beer and then slamming it on the table. “Here have a warm beer.” He smiles and Zack takes it. “Thanks, sounds perfect to me!”

I look over at Angel, “He was complaining about the fact I escaped from the laboratory thanks to Zack. That’s why Zayden was also there, he’s the one that was in control of the Lab.” Rod leans on the bar table, “What was that place exactly? Why do they want you back so badly?”

“And who is Zayden?” Angel cut in. I look over at Zack, he just nods at me. I assume that means I should be the one to talk. I don’t know why, but I feel the need to ask for Zack’s help. I focus on Angel and Rod and clear my throat, “Well, it’s a bit hard to explain, considering I don’t fully know why myself. I have been in that... Place... For as long as I can remember. I don’t know if I was created or born within the facility, but that is what they wanted me to believe. For years I was trained to be used as a weapon for war, little to no details about this war were even told to me.”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

I look over at Zack, “Zack had to tell me what it was even about. I knew demons were involved and against humans, but I didn’t know anything else. For years I was told I would be training to see the general. That one day he would come and decide my fate. If I was useful for war, or to be discarded as a useless project.” Zack crosses his arms and leans back in his chair, “Looks like they were lying to you partly.” Rod then cuts in, “Yeah, because the general seemed pretty pissed off about you being missing. They may have said all that to keep you afraid and controllable.”

Angel shoots them both a glare, “Your input is useful, but I think we should let her finish speaking.” There is a long pause then I speak up, “Anyway if I could continue, I never met him. Because Zack pretended to be a soldier that took his place when he rescued me. So, I have no idea what this guy is like or how we deal with him. As for the reason Zayden and himself acted like I was so important? That I don’t know either. When I asked John, the only man in the facility that cared for my well-being, he said there was a power lying within me. The thing is though, I have no magical ability.”

The three of them just stare at me and then look at each other. Zack looks like he knows something he’s not telling me, and the other two just seem confused. Zack sighs heavily, “You know, I feel like... If they thought there was some kind of power in you, but there truly wasn’t they would have given up by now.” Rod snaps his fingers, “Zack’s right! Maybe there is something there.”

I sink back into my seat feeling terrified. I honestly don’t want to secretly have any hidden power at all. Angel picks up on my body language, crosses her arms, and gets up from her seat. “This is making Lilly uncomfortable clearly. We will accept her powerless or not. Now, we need to devise a plan to eliminate both the general and Zayden. But first, we need to find out their plans, this war affects everything.”

Zack scratches the back of his head, “Well, about that. Zayden is dead actually.” Angel looks at him with a puzzled expression, “What?” Rod looks at her, “Yeah, Zack killed him because he almost took Lilly.” Angel looks back at me, “What are you...” She says under her breath, the same question going through my own mind. They risk adults and children just to get their hands on me. Zack interrupts my thoughts, “We will figure something out, for now, let's just get some rest. The lab's rubble is still out there in the woods, maybe we can go look through it tomorrow.” I nod, “Yeah, that sounds good.” Zack gives me his large smile, “Great!”

Angel sighs, “Yeah, go get some rest. Meet back at my café tomorrow, goodnight boys and girl.” She walks out of the tavern, the bell on the door ringing as it opens and closes. I look at Zack and Rod who are standing there awkwardly. “You guys, ok?” I ask. Rod nods and walks over patting my shoulder, “Of course we are, we are just worried about you Lil.” I feel his hand on my shoulder, and for some reason, I pull myself away and smile. “I’m fine, don’t waste your worries on me.” Zack looks at Rod then at me, “C’mon Lil, Let’s go back to the Inn and get some rest.”

We make our way back to the inn, leaving the tavern. So many things go through my mind, and the idea of having to go back to the lab tomorrow is terrifying. It’s still raining outside, and I feel the cold drops in my hair. In the corner of my eye, I see purple in the air, then an umbrella forms above me. Zack bends down to my height, “Don’t want to mess up your pretty hair, right?” I smile at him, but he wasn’t looking at me, he was looking past into the distance. He stands up straight still holding the umbrella over me, then signals forward.

I look back and I see people carrying a wooden coffin on the other side of the town. Before I know it was running, I’m running to them. “Lilly! Wait!” Zack yells and runs after me. I feel my feet hit against the stone bridge and I see the grieving people up ahead. I slow down and then walk in the back of the crowd. But I don’t go unnoticed. Zack catches up to me and everyone stops and looks back at us. Someone yells, “Go away demon!” But the small woman I saw before, the mother of the dead child, tells her to shut up.

“Come here.” She says to me, holding her hand out as the crowd separates. I walk over and grab ahold of her hand, and she gives me a sorrowful smile. Zack stands behind me, like a guard. Everyone begins to move again, towards the cemetery. “Thank you.” She says softly, the father and two other men were holding the coffin. I look over at her, “What?” I ask. She looks down at me, “You may not have been able to save my child, but you still brought her home to me, and you saved her friends.” She looks up at Zack, “And you saved her sister the other day.” Zack’s smile grew wider, “I knew I recognized you, ma’am, your other child was the one attacked by the soulless being.”

She nods, “Yes, you are both just children as well. You may be demons, but you are a children. Children that have clearly chosen the path of human life. To protect us, I have seen it now twice.” She looks forward, “So walk with me because, without you, I would still be wondering and hoping that Emily was still alive.”

I walk with her, I walk with this sad mother all the way to the cemetery. I see her second child with golden hair, that was gripping onto her father's hand. I watch them bury their eldest child. I watch, I watch, and the emotions fill inside me and overflow. Zack puts his hand on my shoulder, “Lilly, Lilly if you stay with me, and Rod we will save so many others. But you have to know, that we can’t save everyone. Things like this will happen...” The mother looks back at me from her child's grave, and slightly bows her head to me. “But.” Zack continues, “You, we, will still touch people’s lives no matter what we do. We just have to make the right choices.”

I look up at Zack, the rain has stopped, and the sun starts to shine, “I want to find out what I am, so I can help people like that little girl. So, I can prevent as many deaths as I can.” I heard a British voice from behind us, “That sounds like just the right choice.” Where did Rod come from? I look back at him and he was holding flowers in his hands. He walks over to the grave and sets the flowers down on top of it. The family thanks him and he looks back at his town. He looks like he was contemplating giving something to say, but he has decided against it. He walks back over knowing what everyone needs, is silence.