Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Day 297 - Sophie II

 Sophie II
Matthew Ryan Fischer
 
Sophie pulled Darius along with her, careful to touch only his healthy arm. The infections had spread and after being bitten by the undead dead there was no way no sure way to know what was or wasn’t dangerous. She had cast her spells and done all she knew how. Her husband was alive, but barely. She only hoped that time and a moment of peace would allow her to search for some other solution. It seemed unlikely she would find that peace, the Necromancer and his followers were too powerful and too close, but she had to try.
Her powers had waned. The cat had died to provide them a moment to gain their freedom. Sophie had known the cat helped her focus, but she was unaware of just how much power the feline possessed. Now more than ever, she needed it. She would miss that cat.
Darius staggered behind her, weighing her down, slowing her down. They stumbled their way through the ruins. Darius gasping for air, his words broken, begged her to go on and save herself. Sophie would pause when necessary, pull or push him if the moment called for it. She knew she should leave him behind but her heart would not let her.
As they approached a broken-down gazebo, Brother Janus, or what was left of him, stepped out in front of them. A group of undead came with him. Sophie prepared to fight him. She looked around for a weapon of any sort, when Darius pushed past her. He raised his stoney arm and used it as protection while charging the undead monstrosities.
“No!” Sophie screamed, but it was too late. Darius was already in the thick of things.
His arm would only protect him so long. Another bite might be the end, and he had plenty of flesh for the undead to feast upon. Sophie had to act. The night was full of insects and bugs and Sophie knew which enchantment to use.
They swarmed and covered Janus, picking and pulling him apart, eating him from the inside and out. Janus dropped to his knees as insects and bugs poured in and out of his eye sockets and ears and mouth and nose. His entire body was overrun.
Sophie grabbed Darius and pulled him away.
“That won’t be enough to stop them all, but it will buy us time.”
“Leave me. Let me buy you time.”
“Never.”
Sophie pulled Darius forward, heading for the remains of a once great manor home. “
Once inside, Sophie pushed a table against the door.
“That won’t do much to stop them when more arrive. Perhaps we can find a room the locks or the attic if it still stands.”
“Darling, it’s okay. We knew this day would come. The Necromancer and his followers are too powerful. If we this is how we go, then we go.”
“Stop talking. I’m not giving up and neither are you. We’re going to look around and find supplies and then we’ll heal you. That’s what we’re going to do. And after that, we’ll find a way to survive the rest of this night.”
When they reached the library, they found Ariadne going though the books. She turned to them, unsurprised to see them both.
“I suppose it makes sense you two would be here, considering your dark arts.”
“The others?” asked Sophie.
“Dead, undead, I couldn’t say. The forest seemed to come to life and I was lost in battle. When I finally freed myself, I ended up here. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Glad? To see a witch?”
“Tonight I am. You might be the only way we survive. I’ve been looking for answers in these books, but most are in languages I don’t recognize. Hopefully you’ll have better luck.”
“I suppose we better get to work then.”

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