Day 286 - The Outlaw IV

 The Outlaw IV

Matthew Ryan Fischer

 

Selena paused to catch her breath.

“What are you doing? We have to keep moving,” commanded the woman. Selena knew the woman had been an ally of Doctor Manning, but it didn’t make her any more likeable. Selena had little desire to help this woman.

“He’s dead!” Selena screamed. “They’re all dead.”

“That’s why we have to keep moving.”

The woman looked to Karla and Delania for assistance, but they were obviously in a state of shock as well. The woman shook her head, her face reflected inner struggle. Selena realized the woman was contemplating what to do. As much as Selena resented her, if she left, then all three of them were unlikely to survive the night.

“Don’t go. Just give me a moment to calm my nerves.”

The woman nodded, still unsatisfied, but willing to oblige.

Doctor Manning had warned her that evil was afoot. She knew it. She thought she had prepared for it. Manning had her searching for ancient texts in the homes of the Lords and Ladies. He suspected the elders of the village had made unholy alliances. Selena doubted Manning had expected to confront the living undead, or worse become one himself.

“They were dead.”

“Yes. And if they catch up to us, so are we.”

“No, you don’t understand. Those were the dead, risen and walking again. Dr. Manning had warned me of spirits and spells and those that would try to control the ghosts. But those were dead, returned to live as… as… something else.”

The woman considered Selena’s words. It was obvious that Manning had given her similar warnings, but no one had expected what had actually occurred.

“An easy mistake. He was guessing at what might happen, but couldn’t have known.”

“But the books he had me gather. The books he had me give to you. None of those will be of any use now.”

“Perhaps. Or perhaps we have to find different passages.”

“Janus was the one who knew about such things. And now he’s dead. I can’t even read the language the books are written in. Can you?”

The woman was silent again, thinking.

“We have to get to town,” the woman finally said. “Janus and Manning had friends. They’ll know what to do. One of the other Brothers will be able to use the book to stop this madness.”

It was a plan. Better than any plan that Selena had, but she was fairly certain the woman was just as unsure as she was. The monastery was on the far side of the village. If the village had been overrun, there would be no way to get there. And there was no way of knowing who was friend or foe. But a plan was better than no plan.