Chapter 28 - Orders from the Baron

Bang! The deafening roar of a shotgun echoed across the desolate terrain, shattering the stillness. On one end of the blast, the infected’s head erupted into a spray of blood, decayed flesh, and brown, rotting roots intertwined within its brain. The roots twisted and coiled unnaturally, their dark tendrils hinting at a sinister role in the creature’s horrifying existence. The body crumpled, lifeless, revealing a hollow-eyed seer behind the weapon, his face as cold and unfeeling as the act itself.

Seven more thunderous shots followed in quick succession. The first two tore through the father who had shielded his family, his body jerking violently as he fell to the ground. The remaining shots were aimed at the fragile wooden boat, the splintering wood sending echoes of destruction into the air. The craft, now riddled with holes, sank further into uselessness, trapping the family in place.

The seer’s gaze remained unyielding as he strode forward, his gun trained steadily on the mourning woman cradling her late husband. Her sobs filled the air, raw and heart-wrenching, as she tried to calm her terrified children.

“Step off the boat with your hands on your heads,” the seer commanded, his voice sharp and devoid of emotion. His measured steps crunched against the gravel, each step closer heightening the tension.

“Don’t look back, baby. Raise your hands. We’re gonna be okay,” the mother whispered, her voice trembling as she attempted to soothe her children. Tears streamed down her face as they slowly stepped off the boat, their movements shaky with fear.

The seer did not flinch. His voice remained cold and methodical. “Like I said, under my Baron’s orders, no one is to leave the island. We will escort you to the nearest camp if you’d prefer.”

“But we’re not from Rivermirror! I was born and raised in River, and so are my children. I don’t understand,” the woman cried, her voice cracking under the weight of terror. “Under River law—”

“River and Rivermirror laws are no longer valid,” the seer interrupted, his tone final. He lowered his gun slightly but maintained a menacing stance. “The Barons are your sole rulers now. Follow their ways, and you get to live to see another day.”

“We never voted for them,” she protested, her voice breaking with desperation.

“You’ve got the wrong impression, woman. This has nothing to do with politics. This is a siege. Move it!” the seer barked, his tone growing harsher.

Meanwhile, a separate scene unfolded elsewhere. “Ms. Evee, does it hurt you when you burn?” asked Sofia, her small voice tinged with curiosity and concern.

“Sometimes. It’s not too bad,” Evee replied with a soft smile, though her keen eyes caught movement in her peripheral vision—men approaching.

“My mom always said not to play with fire. Be careful, okay?” Sofia pleaded, her innocent face locking onto Evee’s, ensuring she understood the weight of her words.

Evee’s smile faltered slightly as she gently prodded, “Speaking of which, where are your parents?”

Sofia’s expression darkened, her small hands clenching tightly. “They left me.”

“A lot of families were separated when the infection started,” Evee comforted, wrapping Sofia in a tight hug. “I’m sure they’re out there somewhere looking for you. We’ll find them.”

“No, they left me before the infection,” Sofia murmured, her voice trembling. “They went to work, and then there was a really big fire. I waited for a long time, but they didn’t come back.”

Evee’s breath caught. “Where did they work? We can start looking from there.”

“Ebonspire Academy,” Sofia whispered. The words hung in the air like a dark omen. Evee’s face paled as realization struck. Her hands trembled, but she steadied herself, pulling Sofia closer. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you until we find them.”

Her thoughts were interrupted as one of her men approached. “Evee, we secured the perimeter. But there’s something you need to check out. A large group is outside our gates seeking refuge.”

Evee reached into her pocket, pulling out a bloodied, creased book. The pages were worn, marked by time and desperation. She flipped to a red string she had used as a bookmark and read the familiar text:

On the 11th of the second month of the infection, a large group will approach your camp. Taking them all in will cause a shortage of supplies and food. The shortage will cause greed, and the greed will be the downfall of your camp. However, a portion of the group should do no significant harm. Do nothing, and they will all die five minutes after you have been notified of their presence. Interpret that as you may.

Closing the book, Evee’s expression hardened. “Why don’t you go play with the other kids?” she gently excused Sofia, sparing her from the grim decision ahead. She waited until Sofia was far enough out of earshot. “Are there any capable people in the bunch?”

“As far as I know, two vitaecers, a blacksmith, and an engineer,” the man replied.

Evee’s gaze sharpened. “Get them in. They could prove useful. We don’t have room for the rest. Get it done in four minutes.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the men responded in unison, their voices resolute as they moved to carry out her orders.