The Creed's Emergence

Chapter Seventeen: Turning The Tide

With Bramble back, the Decrepit seemed a little bit calmer now. Their family was together again. Now, they could face all types of danger now that they weren't separated. Although, they were still waiting for someone to finally rise from their slumber; a new Decrepit that was about to join their ranks. But for now, they were more focused on the rumors of the raid that would likely happen. The Church was still on edge. More Wretched were on duty, waiting for signs of the raid beginning to appear. However, there was nothing. The day was still beginning and everything was normal. Windows of buildings lit up one by one as people began to wake up from their slumber. Civilians began to emerge from their houses, walking to work or setting up their stands and signs. Wispy clouds of smoke began to rise from chimneys. But the Church was dark as usual. However, it gave off a tense aura. Some civilians were even wary of the aura that the Church gave off. They didn't know what was about to happen if it ever happened. But they would have to know at some point. Many members of the Church did not want them to be caught in the crossfire of the chaos. The bloodshed would be chaotic. Members of lower ranks were hunkered down in dormitories. Up to five were crammed into rooms like cans of sardines. They pressed their ears to the door, listening for any signs of a battle. They were silent except for the sounds of their anxious breaths. Low ranks were always easy targets for the enemies due to their lack of knowledge about proper combat.
The Decrepit were wide awake and already outside, awaiting the first signs of enemies. Anika had been told to stay behind as she didn't know how to fight. She slowly sat up from Thorn's bed, wrapped up in his blankets. The dormitory was dead silent and it felt awfully cold. The warmth it had when the Decrepit were present was gone. Anika held the blankets up to her nose, taking in Thorn's scent. It calmed her down enough to where she simply sat there, close to falling asleep again. Thorn had reassured Anika that he would be back soon and that everything would be alright if she stayed in the dormitory. No one would be able to get in. Anika had weapons to defend herself as well, despite not knowing how to use them. A rack of different blades, maces, hammers, and other things sat outside of the room. There was also the sleeping Decrepit in the next room over. There was a chance that he would wake up to defend Anika, or stay asleep. But Anika knew that the chances of someone getting in were little to none, she trusted Thorn's words.
She got out of bed and walked over to the room. As she opened the door, she stared at the sleeping Decrepit. She came over to him, crouching in front of where he lay. She put a hand on the glass. It felt warm to her. Something was odd about it but it didn't give her an unsettling feeling. She instead felt relaxed.

"It's just me and you. Your brothers are outside waiting for the enemies." Anika told the sleeping Decrepit. She knew he likely wouldn't hear her. The soft hum of energy drowned out most of the sounds around the glass. The room didn't feel as cold as the rest of the dormitory. But the darkness all around them both felt strange. The new Decrepit's room was void of personal decorations and belongings. Every Decrepit had a unique room with things they found on trips or trophies from battles. Anika wondered if she would have a unique room if she became a Decrepit. Maybe she would have pretty things like jewels, dresses, and other things relating to her passion for the arts. But she couldn't imagine herself losing her humanity to become someone like Thorn. Monsters with a thirst for bloodshed, that is what Decrepit were. She looked at her reflection in the glass, brushing her hair out of her face. She would have no hair, nine eyes, bony horns and spikes, and jet-black skin. What if she kept her humanity, but was controlled by this thirst for blood? Would she be able to stop herself from harming people? She recalled the crazed madness that Bramble unleashed on his own brethren. Would she end up like him? For a moment she could still hear the screams from that day.

Anika soon stood up and decided to leave the Decrepit alone. She closed the door behind herself and went back to Thorn's room. As curious as she was about the conflict that was supposedly coming, she couldn't risk dying. If she died she would be gone forever. She sat down on the bed and picked up one of Thorn's spare cloaks. He had left one for Anika if she needed to keep warm. It was tattered by the edges, but it was still wearable. She let the blanket fall from her shoulders. Then, she wrapped the cloak around herself. She stared into a nearby mirror, wondering about what she had thought about earlier. What would it be like being a Decrepit? On one hand, she would be taller, have better senses, gain powers, and have superhuman abilities. But then again, the bloodthirst. She couldn't see herself blindly attacking people.