'Okay so tomorrow we'll leave earlier, we could spend hours searching the town,' the watchtower comes into sight, Nix has been fixated on finding whoever done that to Leah and Lisa since they left the credit union.
They set off the flares before they left and presumed a patrol had seen them. It reminded Daisy of Lily, and how she gave up her life to guide the horde into the mass grave, without her Daisy's not sure she'd be standing here today.
That horde would've stripped them to pieces in seconds. She misses Lily, in the bunker they hardly spoke, Daisy always felt as if Lily didn't like her but towards the end they'd become closer. Lily was someone Daisy respected and cared deeply for, she just wished she'd gotten to spend more time with her.
'Actually...' Daisy searches through her bag and pulls out a map 'I found this'.
'You fucking genius,' he smiles as he looks at the map 'Sam's settlement is marked as the start point leading to the town. Where Joey died is marked off, same with Lisa and Leah, each number 'one', 'two' and 'three'. No sign of 'four' for Ciaran, maybe he did get away. There's the town hall circled with 'base' written above it. That must be where they are'.
'We can...hang on,' he stops dead in his tracks 'fuck!'.
Daisy watches as he runs ahead of her, she listens carefully, she can hear the ringing of the bells in the distance. Ringing frantically.
She climbs the ladder as fast as she can. Nix stares onto the beach, his eyes wide with fear. He brushes past her and begins ringing the bell.
Daisy can feel her heart thumping against her chest, as if all she wants to do is just run, the adrenaline taking over her mind.
Dozens of wooden ships line the beach. Cult kids appear on the deck, they seem to cut rope that releases the back of the ships, from under the ships hundreds upon hundreds of Freaks run out. Falling over each other, climbing over each other.
'Stop!' Daisy pulls Nix away from the bell 'it's attracting them'.
'Who?' He frowns.
She takes his hand and pulls him over to the edge. His face drops as he watches the Freaks run towards the watchtower. The other towers have seized their bells too, in hopes the Freaks will run straight past them. Daisy can tell he feels the same as her, hopeless, there's no way they're getting passed this many Freaks.
'Get down,' Nix gets out of sight as the cries begin to get louder and louder.
'What the fuck do we do?' Daisy feels herself shaking.
'Okay, look at me,' he cups her face 'there's no way they can get up here, the tower is sturdy enough that they won't knock it when they pass, we just have to wait it out'.
The two of them put on their gas masks.
Daisy wanted to die, for four years, but she's finally beginning to see the good in life again and she doesn't want to lose that. Not being ripped to shreds by Freaks.
He holds her hand tightly as the Freaks begin to pass. Daisy can't even bring herself to breathe properly, she keeps holding her breath, as if the Freaks would be able to hear her breathing. The tower begins to shake slightly as they run past, but nothing to indicate it's about to fall.
Daisy looks at Nix, as if to find comfort in him, but he looks just as scared as her, even more scared. He has a strong front and is a tough person but she can tell he doesn't want to die either, nobody wants to die to Freaks.
'Sorry,' he says, looks away 'I just don't want to die, and I know that's not very comforting'.
'We're not going to die'.
'Yeah,' he says quietly, unconvinced.
The tower still shakes as the Freaks pass under it, it's hard to even hear themselves think with all the cries and shrieks below, however it sounds as if they've slowed down, as if they don't know where to go anymore. If they don't move on Nix and Daisy have the trouble of needing to clear the ones left behind, whereas if they all keep going it'd make the journey back to the next outpost a lot quicker.
The last few pass by, Daisy stands up to check the beach for more but there's nothing, the ships are gone and there's no sign of cult kids. She turns to face the town and can see the horde in the distance, there must be at least six hundred, it's the most she's ever seen.
'Hello? Come in,' Nix finds his radio, he's trying to radio the nearest outpost but there's nothing.
'Horde must've reached them,' Daisy says 'we need to warn James and Zoe'.
'James, this is Phoenix at the beachfront watchtower you've a horde en route, easily six hundred Freaks, cult brought them from the island,' he says.
'We know,' James' voice comes through 'we're retreating back to main camp, it's not in the way of the horde, we're loading everyone up as we speak'.
'Is Ciaran there?' Daisy takes the radio from Nix.
'Yes, he led the first group back, he should be at camp now,' he says 'he told me of an attack at the credit union, and I assure you once this horde is dealt with I will make sure to make those people answer for the actions'.
'Thank you'.
'Look you guys stay safe, I've advised the other patrols in the towers to return to base and I advice you two too'.
'We'll be back,' Nix says.
YOU ARE READING
Aer II
Horror*unedited Four years after the events of Book One. The groups are thrown into war with the cult. Above ground has turned into a war-zone where nobody is safe. As the groups prepare for one last battle one member finds herself stuck in the middle...
