The Dead Scout's Handbook of Afterlife Survival

Chapter 44: Decisions and Consequences

"What do you mean you'll go? You just got here, young man," Vin said.

"We killed them before," Cayden replied.

"I'm sure if you asked them, they would beg to differ."

"I mean, we stopped them. If we could do that again, it would buy time for help to come back from Cody."

"I can't allow you to jump into a war zone and embark on a suicide mission."

"You have to help, though!" Jessica insisted. "What if they trap us in this city with no way out?"

"There are plenty of passageways and escape routes The Four wouldn't find," Vin said.

"And can those methods accommodate a full evacuation?" the badge woman's voice hissed among static.

"Well, I suppose not."

"We just got recon speed users returning from Cody, Bozeman and Billings. Despite getting torn apart, they brought something. I'll to bring it in to show you," the voice from the radio called.

"A small team will b-be mobile."

"I'm not in charge of this. We must go higher up on this than the elderly school principal," Vin said.

"No, we don't," the voice on the radio responded. "You have control over the transporter here since you're overseeing the intake of those refugees." Vin rubbed his temples and muttered to himself. "You don't have to give the order to send these guys, you only have to grant access to the transporter."

"And you're in support of sending random kids into the mix?" Vin snapped.

"No, Sam and a couple high officers can do their best," the radio woman's voice scratched. "I'm coming in."

"So there are high officers, outside of your group, you trust to keep a decision secret if it goes wrong? Secret from the Major General? Secret from the mayor? Even Jessica is one of the higher ups with the Bellethos and you sure as hell can't trust her."

Jessica booed from her seat in the back.

The door swung open and banged into the wood paneled wall, denting it into the underlying metal as the female soldier with the yellow badge stepped in. Without a word, she flopped three objects on the carpeted floors with a soft thud. One of the objects Cayden recognized immediately, with its porcelain face, cracking features and hollow, empty eye sockets. It was a doll from Eden. Next to it, a steel, eight-legged monstrosity twitched and opened to reveal fangs, a dozen glassy eyes, and two body segments. The last object remained motionless, limply coiled on the floor, its long form extending to a head with an open mouth and two fangs.

"We have a porcelain doll, a spider and a snake robot," the woman with the yellow badge said.

A weight lifted off Cayden's chest. The creepy doll, the mirror girl, the horrifying costumes, it all struck Cayden at once. The objects carried no symbolism, or at this point, even a theme. Suddenly, The Four became less Lovecraft tale and considerably more Scooby Doo mystery.

Vin remained silent so Cayden filled the void. "We killed them before, we can do it again. These guys are clowns. If you don't trust us, Sam can lead while Rebecca, Sarah, myself and Sergei take them out on our own."

"Not a chance, Cayden." Sarah shook her head. "Do you recall what I told you outside of the Cody Town Hall? No violence and no fighting. If that isn't something you're willing to promise, forget about any dates or even a friendship. Also, regardless of which route you choose, I'm not headed to Idaho Springs."

Cayden remained silent for a moment. He cleared his throat. "Look, we can make a difference here. I want to make a difference here."

"No, you want combat, grandiosity, and adrenaline. I know your face when you fight and when you're preparing for a battle. The new me never met the old you, and while I might like the man you are, I'm terrified of the people we'll become on this path. I'm not traveling to Idaho Springs with you. I'm not scared of the risk in fighting The Four, I'm afraid of the risk of embracing that lifestyle." She turned to Vin. "Can I leave, please?"