Order of the Golden Dawn (Neophyte Series 2)

CHAPTER 28 : FATHERS AND SONS

        Stepping through the fence, I was surprised to see the surrounding crowd back away in fear, but as soon as I merged with the light, they took their fearful gaze from me and went about their roaming without even noticing my presence.

   'Why did they suddenly stop fearing me?'

    'They felt your evil. Being put through such mental and physical torture can heighten the senses to the point that even when they were alive, they were well aware of an evil presence amongst them. On the other hand, they do not fear the light, for even in their darkest of hours it was all they had left. As you can see, they have moved past such hope.'

    'How do we find the doctor?' I asked as my eyes scanned through the countless souls that roamed about.

    'Your guess is as good as mine. The encryptions around the perimeter will make it quite difficult to pinpoint any particular presence. Your best bet is the traditional way.'

    'You mean ask around?' I came to a stop as I considered this. Such a basic way of looking for someone never really occurred to me. Though I was instantly saddened whilst in their presence, there was a part of me that greatly feared speaking to the dead. Regardless, we were here for this reason and I had to do what I must to locate Dr. Beiderman; if indeed he was present here at Auschwitz.

    Though I attempted to speak to many of them, it appeared as though they couldn't be bothered with me. Deciding to attempt a more direct approach, I stepped in front of a less intimidating woman, preventing her from moving, but as she screamed violently, I quickly scrambled out of her path. She was sobbing uncontrollably as she floated away leaving me utterly terrified from the unexpected reaction.

    'You will find that some within the camp can be borderline mad. Be careful to whom you speak. Try to find someone with more of an illuminating glow. Someone close to crossing over may be more willing to accommodate.' Edward suggested as I collected my courage and carried on.

    'I don't like this Edward!'

    'There are other ways, but you're not going to like it.'

    'What sort of ways?'

    'Well, as you have already discovered, they are rather frightened of you when you are connected with the beast...'

    'Scare it out of them? Not a chance! Haven't these people been through enough?'

    'As I said; you're not going to like it.' He stated with a note of understanding.

    'I'd rather try it this way, thank you very much.'

    'I respect that. Carry on cousin.'

    As I made my way through a long line of cottage-like buildings, I searched for a ghost that seemed brighter than the rest. Although some of the cottages had been reduced to rubble, life carried on as if the walls were still intact. Entities sat and conversed; in some places bodies were layered on top of one another as though the bunk beds still existed.

    'There's got to be a way to end their suffering. This isn't Hell, after all — though it is certainly not far off.'

   'There is a way. But that isn't an option at the moment. Just carry through with what we have set out to accomplish. We shall discuss it afterwards.' Far in the distance, a train whistle echoed through the air.

    'Did you hear that?'

    'A ghost train. The locomotive that brought them all here. Perhaps there is a brighter soul within the train? Perhaps someone who has not been broken like these poor souls.'