Into Oblivion

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

As Castor reached the gates his sudden anger at Shawn had worn away. He took a deep breath as he walked up to one of the guards and handed them the note.

“Faith sent me to get more herbs for her store.” Castor explained.

“I know, it says on the letter.” The guard replied with a smirk as he handed him back Faith’s letter. Castor looked down at his shoes. “Good luck out there buddy. You’re going to need it. And don’t bring any Cleavers back here, or we’ll assume you’re one of them.”

“I won’t.” Castor agreed and looked up as the huge iron gates began to open. The gates had names carved messily into them. They were the names of the people who had lost their lives outside the fence to Cleavers, or to another cause, only the names of the bodies that could be identified though. There were a lot of “unknowns” carved on the gates. Castor’s eye automatically locked on to two names on to the door which he had carved himself. They read Ramona Clarkson and Indigo Thomas. A lump began to form in Castor throat, but he didn’t let his feelings show on his face as he walked through the gates and bravely headed out in to the wastelands.

It wasn’t Castor’s first time outside since he had arrived at Oceanus. He often went out with Faith when she needed herbs. He went mostly for her protection but while they were out she taught him which ones were save to pick and that she would need in her shop. This arrangement went on until Castor knew the herbs by himself.

Slowly he walked through the waste lands travelling by the familiar paths that Faith had taken him down years before. He stopped a few times along the way to collect herbs from bushes as he passed them. After he collected them he put them in to his small bag that he carried with him when he went out. But Castor was more cautious as he went today. He could smell the metallic scent of human blood on the air and there was only one thing that meant to Castor, there were Cleavers around or there had been Cleavers around; recently. So as he walked, Castor kept a tight grip on the handle of his sword.

The sun was higher in the sky now, Castor had been away from Oceanus for a long time now but he still hadn’t reached the plant he was looking for yet. But finally, after walking for a long time he reached a small hill. He climbed it easily and was relieved to reach his destination.

As he reached the plant the smell of blood arose, he was beginning to taste it in his mouth. That’s when he saw the body by the bush; it was a girl who had obviously just eaten one of the leaves from the bush.

“Hey!” He shouted, running over to her. “Hey, are you okay?” He crouched over to her just as her eyes closed. “This is not good.” He mumbled to himself anxiously.