CHAPTER 46: Knights of Cydonia…
Mina entered the barn not too long after I finished checking the rest of my gear and fully organized my inventory.
I could feel the hesitation pouring off of her as she pulled up a seat, “Hey Rick. Now a good time to talk?”
“Of course, sorry to put it off, I should have talked first.” I apologized realizing that was pretty selfish.
“No it’s alright, I don’t think I was ready before. Go ahead and ask whatever you want.”
I took a moment, I really didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.
It was obvious something happened between the time she left Conviction and now, “If there’s anything you aren’t comfortable sharing I get it. I think it would be easier if you just tell me what happened when you left the safe zone and what made you come here after your initial decision not to? Honestly, this is an entirely different Mina than the intense eye dagger shooting woman I met up there.”
Her head lowered, “I won’t make it by myself. I thought I could. The monsters are nothing, they’re fun to fight for the most part… But, It’s the people.”
“What do you mean? Who did you run into?” I asked.
She straightened her shoulders and took a deep breath, “I made it out to New York. There was a group of people in a safe zone that populated around the city of Saratoga Springs. I ran into 2 brothers who said they were heading east to look for other survivors. They had a large camp set up at the big park where they have concerts. I can’t remember what it’s called.”
I knew the area well as I attended some concerts there when I was younger, “Spac.”
“That’s it, yeah... Spac. It was late the sun was going down. I should have known it was odd for them to be out traveling in their safe zone still while it was dark. If they were heading East and actually leaving they would have left earlier. I forgot about the notifications you get when someone enters.” I noticed she started fidgeting a lot more, “They offered to show me back before leaving. When we got there everything looked, alright. Everyone greeted me with a smile.”
I had a bad feeling where she was going with this so I made sure to stay silent through the rest of her story so she could get it out.
“Some of the smiles were a bit creepy, but I didn’t think much of it. There’s always been creeps in the world. It took me too long to realize they were all men. When I asked if there were any other women that’s when I was hit by one of the Brothers. They had suppressive chokers, sort of like what you had with the chains only they ran around our necks. There were some submissive women there who cooked, cleaned, did whatever the men wanted… Then there were women like me. The ones they wanted to break… They almost did.”
She paused for a moment and skipped a section that I was completely fine with. I’ve seen and heard enough horrors, “It was some sort of wannabe cult, I think their name was Children of Infernus, whatever that is. The Collins brothers aren’t the leaders but they both act as the right hand. There was a young woman who they cherished. She was due to be sacrificed, and she was fine with it... The morning of the sacrifice she approached me and whispered in my ear. She told me, I was chosen to be next. She was fucking oblivious. I swear she was on some sort of drug, she removed my chains but not my collar, she thought I would ‘behave’. I tried to kill them all but I was pushed back. I ran. I left everyone there in that—that fucking cult... I kept heading South but ran into more of them. I barely escaped again and I didn’t know what else to do. I felt safe at Conviction. I was looking for that safety again. Everything is trying to strip me of dignity and kill me.”
I took a moment to soak in what she said, I was no good at this shit, but I wanted to help.
I wanted her to feel safe.
“I’m sorry that happened… You are always welcome to join our party if you’d like. We have some things to do first but I’m sure we can help you see your father again.” I said, my head still spinning with the story of this crazy cult.
My entire soul was fuming from the allegations and the possibilities flickering through my head.
They would die like all the rest.
Mina brushed her hair, her left wrist was covered in small welts where she pinched herself, “Of course I would like to join and stay in the party. You guys don’t have to go down there just for me.”
“It would be for all of us and for everyone else in the world. The more demons we kill the less others have to fight. I don’t want the next generation of children to witness these horrors.” I saw everyone returning and wanted to make sure she got it all out, “People coming, are you good or would you like to continue elsewhere?”
She tried to get everything out before anyone came too close, “No that was the most important part. The rest was a slog, but I did want to say… I think I came here because you and Arthur made me feel safe in Conviction, and I think I need that for a bit... Your family is great, and Brenden is a damn treasure.”
“I’m glad you feel that way, and thank you. Just don’t fill their heads with that shit.” I said joking around as everyone returned.
Arthur, Brenden, and Cole were back, they entered the barn, Brandi stayed back by the door. I guess I spent more time than I realized going over my notifications and inventory.
Arthur jogged to me with his tongue hanging out and tail wagging energetically, B-Rend did the talking, “Arthur is indeed excited about the idea your brother has put together. We ran into the first by the high school, your brother expertly sniffing them out with Arthur, I expected no less from a Weston! The second Flayed one, as you mentioned, was walking toward the monument. Both empty handed.”
“Well that’s good, let’s hope they didn’t hurt anyone else. Hey Cole, take these. See if they help with the Collar.” I handed over my tuning fork, the square, and the etching stylus which looked like a normal pencil with a steel tip.
Cole looked over each item as the room broke into multiple conversations. I pet Arthur and smiled at Mina to try to make her feel welcomed and like a part of the team.
Cole’s eyes lit up as he read the description, “This is actually exactly what I need to start working on it. Do you have some Beast Leather?”
I removed a dark red item from my inventory, “I’ll do ya one better, Demon Hide. Higher tier, more Mana flowing through. Should make a much better item than the lower tier basic beast shit. I was saving that to have someone make me hoodies that wont rip so easy.”
“Perfect! Take the Leather to Ava, she’s a Leathersmith now. She should be able to help with that. She can make light armor I’m sure she can make a hoodie.” Cole said, laughing at the last word.
“What’s so funny about a hoodie?”
“I don’t know, you’re clear obsession with them maybe? I figured you would have grown out of that phase.” He said.
“Being cool is not a phase. Everyone likes a nice hoodie. Early dinner anyone?” I felt like I hadn’t ate in days and my stomach was growling.
Mina was the first to speak up, “Yes please! I’m getting hangry.”
Brenden and Brandi spoke together, “Indeed!”
They gave each other a shy grin.
Cole answered, “Yeah, I could eat.”
“Woof!” Arthur made it the entire gang.
I went out to start a fire but Ava and my mother had one going already and were prepping sides before I even showed up.
Everything looked delicious so far, “Oh man, what do we have here? I have some venison beast meat and the regular small beast meat steaks. What would you lovely ladies rather have?”
Ava was the first to answer, “Why not cook both? I’d rather have the beast meat since it’s more akin to regular steaks and I’ve had a ton of the venison lately, but I know Evelyne will say the venison.”
“Evelyne will say the venison thank you Ava. Ava is making some pasta salad and I think I’m making some sort of veggie casserole, who knows. I’m whippin’ stuff up like I used to when food was low.” Mom replied.
“Okay, I’m going to search for some stuff to make a marinade or rub, be right back!”
I went into the woods and used my Survivalist profession to identify everything I saw.
I should have done it more often but there was never the time before. I was going to look into switching my professions soon so I figure I would try to make use of this while I could.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
After a half hour of foraging I came across bushes of Dewberries that I plucked and a new plant that sounded and even looked similar to peppergrass called, Northern Territory Spicegrass. The seeds were deemed edible and supposedly were a sought after spice in the big ole universe.
The spicegrass were long green weeds that had seedpods on top, each about the size of a small blueberry. The preparation sounded super easy so I grabbed a few handfuls, loaded them into my inventory, and set back to our little clearing in the woods.
The safe zone was nothing like Conviction. Where they had the wide open meadow, Reprisal had more of an opening, like a small clearing in the middle of a camp ground with dirt rather than grass, but there was a field a short hike away that I found while foraging.
When I reached camp they had a fire roaring in the lean-to they built.
I prepped the Spicegrass Seeds in a small pan over the fire as instructed by the system, the aroma intoxicating. Once that was finished and they cooled, I crushed the seeds and stole a little tap on the finger for taste. The flavor was incredible. First a citrus, sweet and salty flavor gently touched my tongue, followed by the bite of the warm sharp woody pepper taste that very slightly numbed the tongue with grace.
I rubbed the shit out of the steaks with the new spice. The fire and juices would steal that flavor and seal it in for my family and friends to enjoy.
I took all of the Dewberries and squeezed them into a juice. Then, using a bottle of sparkling water, made us a tasty flavored fancy drink.
Once dinner was finished we sat around the table that my Mother somehow managed to stuff into her inventory, making it clear that I could probably go back for that pool table at some point unless someone beat me to it.
Leave it to Brenden to make a toast.
He stood next to me at the table, his eye’s actually looked watery for some reason but his smile looked like it might rip his face in two, “Achem! May I?”
My mother smiled back at him, “Of course sweetheart.”
“This guy.” Cole said smiling.
“Do it! Just do it!” Brandi joked while flexing her muscles.
“Woof! Woof! Woof!” Arthur egged him on.
“I just wanted to say, thank you again. To the entire Weston family. You all have welcomed me, a goofy and sometimes downright annoying kid into your family with open arms, as if I were one of your own. I can not thank you all enough.” Everyone chuckled but let him continue, “I also want welcome the newest members of our weird little family. Last, I know it may sound odd coming from me and it may be inappropriate, but, your Patriarch, Grant... I didn’t know him and unfortunately, I wasn’t lucky enough to meet him, but I DO know that he, was a great man! Alongside Evelyne, he raised this family, with love and passion. He will never be forgotten! He is in each and every one of you. May his legacy live on!”
Everyone clapped, Cole was rubbing his eyes which completely took me by surprise, I honestly expected him to get pissed off, but he smiled at Brenden and stood up to give him a hug.
Arthur suddenly howled at the sky over the tears and laughter, silencing everyone.
The howl again ripped me open to my core.
I howled with him, “HOOOOOWWWWWW!!! Good boy… He heard you. Good boy Buggy…”
We all ate our food and drank, Ava brought out some stronger stuff once we unfortunately ran out of our delicious fancy drink.
We all sat around the fire and drank until nightfall. Each of us sharing some of our favorite memories of my Father. Then Brandi, Brenden, and Mina shared stories about their families. It was one of the best nights I’d had in a long time, even before the fall of the world.
The next morning I was the last to wake. I walked out where everyone sat around the fire together, still getting along great, I was happy to see it wasn’t just the alcohol.
I sat down with everyone to share a cup of coffee. I looked to Mina and thought about what she went through, but suddenly something in my mind finally clicked.
“Shit! Mina, come with me.” Something she said yesterday had dawned on me.
I opened my Safe Zone page as I frantically walked away from the fire with Mina tailing me.
“What is it?” She asked jogging to keep up with my quick panicked strides.
“You said the name of the brothers, it was Collins? Do you know a first name?” I asked.
I was navigating to the town notifications that I kept separated and haven’t been checking.
“Shit. Shit. Shit.”
“Yeah Collins, why? I can’t remember the smaller one, he didn’t talk much… The bigger one who wouldn’t stop talking was... something french, Antoine?”
“Armand?” I asked.
“How do you know that?” Her voice turned flinty.
“No…”
“How do you know his fucking name Rick!” Mina yelled grabbing everyone’s attention. Brenden and Arthur ran up.
“I have a page for Conviction. A few days ago, I noticed 2 new people enter the town. One returned with a team that went out. The other went in solo. I stopped checking after that. I didn’t think anything of it.” I started to explain.
“We need to go there now! They won’t be alone. How did they find them… This is all my fault. What do the newer notifications read?” She paced with me, filling the area with anxiety.
I saw my Nephews pause their playing across the small clearing, “We will, the kids are out and we don’t want to scare them, let’s go into the barn and figure this out, teamwork and all that.”
As we entered the Barn I filled Brenden and Cole in on what was happening, Cole took me aside, “Is this something you really need to do? You gained the safe zone but you left two capable people in charge of it, right?”
I shot back with searing steam in my voice trying to be quiet so I didn’t upset Mina before getting back into the barn, “Yeah, but there’s 23 children there, most orphaned. There are adults and I noticed them going out before but most of them were only level 1-3 when I left, they were all women except for 4 guys, one of which didn’t come back from a recent run and as far as I can tell he’s either missing or dead, he was only 18.”
We all entered the barn, standing in a circle Mina started, “Who didn’t come back? I heard you outside.”
This was the strict no bullshit woman I remembered, “Zack… A few of the women as well, Sheryl and her friend Bobbi among them.”
“Fuck!” Mina yelled in frustration. I felt my core stir as her anger resonated with my own.
“The safe zone had 17 Women, 3 men, and 23 children. As of now its 12 women, 10 men and luckily, still the same amount of children. We going to get rid of the infestation. No one has to go with us, it’s been a hell of a week. We’ve been through so much already. It’s not anyone’s responsibility.” I said trying to talk my friends and family out of going.
My mother who was in the other room finally walked in and stood next to my brother as she spoke, “You have done so much already, why? Why do you need to go?”
“I’m not doing this again. Every person up there is a part of my extended family now, they are amazing people. They’re survivors. Whatever these fucks are doing to them, I can promise it’s not anything that they deserve. They have seen hell and lived through it… I left out what happened to these women because I didn’t want you to know about all of the horrors in the world.” I lifted my shirt and pointed at my scars before continuing, “This is nothing compared to what those women enndured.”
I understood my mother doing her part to back my brother and try to get me to stay but I couldn’t. Even if I didn’t think it was my responsibility, that wouldn’t matter. I will always fight for what’s right.
Brenden and Arthur walked forward, Brenden grasped my forearm to shake, “I’m always with you Sir Rick.”
“Woof!”
“I don’t think I can kill a person…” Brandi squeaked.
“That’s fine Brandi, you are more than welcome to stay here. No matter what happens. Make yourself at home, these guys will help you get comfortable and help you build your own shelter. Right?” I said looking to my mother who looked like she was going to be sick.
She smiled past the nerves, “Of course, come on honey. Let’s get you some breakfast then we can find a nice spot for ya.” She led Brandi away.
Brandi looked back and smiled at Brenden, his face turning as red as a rose while she reciprocated the shy spark they shared.
Cole looked hesitant, so I spoke for him, “You need to stay here and work on that collar and ring and take care of the kiddos.”
“Fuck you, don’t speak for me. But yeah, that’s my plan.” He said grinning, “Take care of yourselves. Make sure you keep an eye on this one.” He said pointing at Brenden as he spoke to Arthur.
We all walked out to the Waypoint together, Me, Arthur, Brenden and the newest party member Mina.
I looked to Brenden and gave him a sly smile elbowing his side, “She turned just as red as you did that time.”
“What ever could you mean sir?” He tried to deflect poorly with a big smile on his face.
“You know, I think it’s clear, she likes you back B.”
His face lit up like a stop light, “She gave me a kiss last night, my first.”
“Attaboy! It’s good to have some beauty in this dark world. Come on B-Rendonian. Let’s do our thing!” I said patting him on the back with complete happiness for him.
We reached the Waypoint.
As we stood on the large circular stone everyone equipped their armor and I called my main armor preset in a flash of light.
Everyone burst into laughter.
Brenden and Mina were hunched over nearly crying, even Arthur lost it falling to his side, tail wagging, while he literally howled in laughter.
They were all laughing at my boots…
“Yeah, yeah. Get it out. Ha ha!”
Arthur, “Barooorooroooorr!”
Brenden, “The Pumpkin King Pimp walks again, Ohhhoho, Dear Lord those are ugly sir.”
Mina, “It’s like a cowboy got lost in a Miami Hurricanes universe and fought through a pack of bros and traffic cones. Haa! Look! The feather!!! HA!”
“I was thinking Nick-Not-At-Night,” I said.
As they attempted to get back to their feet I selected the Waypoint for Conviction in my HUD, a small menu with names came up and I selected the entire party, including myself.
“Ready?” I asked.
Mina nodded as she exhaled a long breath to stop laughing, her face turned to grim determination, “Yes.”
“Indubitably Sir.”
“Woof!”
“Here we go… Those who slay together.”
“Woof Woof!”
I smiled down at Arthur, itching behind his ears as I called my sword whispering, “We’re going to visit some family.”
I selected Accept.