Henry rode his horse to the limit. Before it collapsed from exhaustion, he switched to his spare. He didn’t know how long he could keep this up but each time he switched back and forth between the two, the large beasts would snort in protest.

Inwardly, he hated driving them so hard. He feared it would eventually kill them but that didn’t matter. The only thing that did was saving Sasha.

On several occasions, he had seen groups of Thrak running across the countryside, unguarded and unhindered. Too many times to count, they came across bodies mutilated and shredded to pieces. And yet, they pushed on, hiding when necessary. Altering their course to avoid a group of roaming Thrak. Nothing stopped Henry.

To his surprise, Kyburn barely said a word to him. Only speaking when needing to veer away from distant threats.

The farther south they went, the more danger sprung at them. Narrowly avoiding Thrak became commonplace. It set his nerves on the breaking point. Anxiety and stress overwhelmed him.

His only regret now was dragging Kyburn into his mission to rescue the woman he loved. He knew the danger posed, but he also knew Kyburn wouldn’t have it any other way. He had left his king, his friend, to come with him.

He still remembered Xerath’s face. He had been so sad, as if he knew they wouldn’t come back alive. That sent a shiver down his spine for the thousandth time.

After what seemed an eternity, Henry saw it. Zulin, still standing in the distance. Not a sound, not one movement caught their attention. It was abandoned.

“I don’t see anyone,” Henry whispered.

“That doesn’t mean anything.” Kyburn tried to reassure him. “If anything this means they made it out. Everyone escaped before the Thrak came. Come, let's dismount. We can make sure before we head back to Xerixes.”

At the corner of his eye, Henry saw another group of Thrak patrolling the city. Flipping his leg up, Henry led the horses back behind the hillcrest and crouched. Urging his horse to lay down, they hid from sight.

“Any ideas?” Henry asked. “They don’t look to be leaving.” They both poked their heads above the grass to get a look.

“Wait for them to move around the corner and out of sight, then approach the gates,” Kyburn whispered. “I don’t see more than that group. We’ll leave the horses here and go on foot.”

“Good,” Henry said, holding his sword tightly at his waist. “Let’s go then.”

“Wait.” Kyburn hissed.

Henry ignored him as he bent his back in a half crawl half run. Kyburn followed a moment later, keeping his eyes on the Thrak that hadn’t gone around the city yet.

Blessedly, the Thrak didn’t see them as they passed out of sight, the walls of Zulin obscuring their vision.

Taking a running start, he leapt across the bank where the sewage ran out of the town. Henry’s back ached from crouching but he slammed his back against the wooden walls and slowly made his way to the north gate. Poking his head around, he took a glance inside. It was a ghost town and a carriage lay on its side. Hundreds of bloody bodies lay scattered on the ground, their limbs and flesh torn.

He knew that carriage. It was given to professor Gould when Kyburn had left.

Henry almost puked at seeing the rotting bodies and a sickening dread filled his entire body. Now knowing what to look for, he could see patches of grass outside of the gates where other bodies lay, dried blood caked into the grass.

Without waiting for Kyburn to join him, Henry sprinted for the upturned carriage, ignoring the dead bodies and stench around him. “Sasha!” he spoke in a loud but hushed voice. “Sasha!” he yelled louder this time. “Sa-”

Kyburn cursed under his breath and followed after him in a dead sprint. Lunging at him, Kyburn slammed into him, knocking him to the ground. “Shut up!” he hissed! “Do you want to get us both killed? Cause that’s what you’re going to do if you keep shouting like that.” he breathed angrily into his ear.

Henry shoved him off, “I have to find her. She could be hurt somewhere.”

“We don’t know if she’s even alive.” Kyburn countered. “Making ourselves known to those demons won’t help anyone. You can’t help her if you’re dead.”

“She might be in the carriage.” Henry pointed.

Kyburn turned to the upturned wagon then glanced back at him. Dark dried blood had hardened the muddy road around it. Whatever or whoever was inside was long gone.

Judging from the decay of bodies and the stench around them, Henry guessed this happened three days ago. He didn’t want to see what was inside the carriage.

“I’ll check inside.” Kyburn offered. “Find somewhere with cover and stay there.”

“Fine.” Henry frowned. “We have to-” he paused as rustling from outside the gate reached their ears.

Henry shuffled over to a large bush next to a house and scrambled into it. Kyburn scrambled around the carriage and hid.

Two lone Thrak crawled past them. One stopped momentarily, pausing to sniff the air and look in their direction. Their red eyes glanced at the carriage then to the bush in which he lay. He didn’t move a muscle.

Holding his breath, the Thrak eventually passed. Sighing in relief, Henry waited for Kyburn to jump atop the carriage. The look on his face told him everything he needed to know.

He rushed over, “Is-is she.” he stuttered.

“No.” Kyburn gagged. “Sasha isn’t…” he looked away to take a breath. “Sasha isn’t in there.”

“Who is it? Do we know them?” Henry asked.

The pause and dead stare from Kyburn once again told Henry what he wanted to know. Henry frowned. “Who?”

“It doesn’t matter now,” Kyburn said as he jumped to the ground.

“Why wasn’t the town warned?” Henry asked.

“I don’t know, Henry.” Kyburn sighed. “But by my guess, we were only a few days away from warning them in time.”

Henry looked at Kyburn with a sickened expression. Kyburn noticed it and patted him on the shoulder.

“We’re leaving. Sasha isn’t in that carriage so I’m hoping she got out of Zulin in time. We can search for her on our way to Xerixes. And we need to-” Kyburn trailed off, looking over his shoulder.

Henry glanced to where he was looking and he let out a breath of shock. “Sasha,” he whispered.

Without thought or care, Henry rushed to her, grabbing her by the shoulders and embracing her. She smelt like human waste but he didn’t care, only thanking Hashem that she was still alive.

“Sasha.” Henry pulled back from the hug and noticed her tangled and matted hair. “You’re alive. Are you alright?”

Kyburn stepped up behind them and gently guided them to a relatively safe spot. All three crouched behind bushes as Henry looked her up and down. He examined her, lightly patting her down, making sure she wasn’t wounded but when he stared into her eyes, Henry froze.

She looked so different.

Pulling her red but blackened hair from her face he saw her eyes for the first time. They were dead eyes, empty and void.

“Sasha?” fear crept into his voice. “Can you hear me, Sasha?”

She glanced up at him but not even the slightest recognition passed those eyes. She looked back to the ground, avoiding his gaze.

“What’s wrong with her?” Henry asked.

“S-she’s seen things no one should have to see.” Kyburn frowned. “I don’t think she is in her right mind, Henry. We have to get her out of here.”

“Can she ride?” he asked.

“She will have to ride with you,” Kyburn responded. “We’ll wait for the next group to pass the city, then we will move.”

“Sasha. Look at me.” Henry whispered. “I’m here. Don’t worry. I’ll get you out of here. Everything is going to be alright.”

She looked at him with her dead eyes, as if noticing him for the first time. She raised her arm, pointing to the carriage.

“What?” Henry asked. “What is it? What’s inside?”

“No,” Kyburn said coldly. “Nothing is in that carriage.”

Henry knew he was lying but also understood why.

“O-okay.” Henry stuttered.

If Kyburn was troubled by it, then he knew he was serious and Henry didn’t want to know who may lay inside. Not able to keep the images from his mind, he thought of Mrs. Kebin and Gould. Perhaps Gus Opin. Maybe even Zip and Kip. The thought wasn’t a pleasant one so he shoved it from his mind. Forcing himself to focus.

Their situation slowly grew more and more frightening as Henry took in the carnage around him. His stomach clenched and he nearly threw up again but held it down.

The blood and bodies were taking a toll on him. He realized this was why Sasha was in such a state. The sight of this must be devastatingly traumatizing for anyone. He forced himself to ignore it, shoving it deep into the back of his mind. His priority was to get Sasha to safety.

“Quiet.” Kyburn tapped his shoulder again as he pointed.

Henry placed his hand over Sasha’s mouth just in case, and for extra measure, he turned her away from the sight of Thrak passing the northern gates. There were nearly twenty Thrak this time slowly passing by, their bodies jerking in unnatural ways. Their horrid mouths twitched and stretched out and in, their leech-like jaws dripping saliva. For an instant, as their red eyes passed over the bush once again, Henry could have sworn they had been spotted, his whole body locked up in terror.

A moment later, the last creature disappeared and Kyburn shifted nervously. Both of them let out a sigh of relief and Kyburn nudged him to follow.

Kyburn crept past the carriage and toward the gate, Henry and Sasha close behind him. He held up a fist and all three of them froze. Kyburn glanced back at them then his eyes went wide.

Henry whipped his head around to see a Thrak clambering over the carriage directly behind them. Part of the wood collapsed beneath its weight, almost distracting it from their presence. However, it lifted its head to stare straight at them, its eyes glowing brighter as its gaze focused on them.

A terrifying scream escaped its throat, signaling to the surrounding Thrak. Kyburn slipped a dagger from his belt and flung it at the creature without hesitation. The dagger buried in its throat, cutting the screech short as it stumbled to the dirt, clawing at its throat.

Kyburn looked to the hill in which their horses waited, then to the castle behind them. Henry knew they wouldn’t make it to the horses and so did Kyburn. Another sickening feeling washed over him.

“This is it.” he thought. “Xerath was right. We aren’t getting out of Zulin alive.”

His hand started to tremble as the fact dawned on him.

“Move.” Kyburn hissed as he sprinted for the castle doors.

Distant howls reached their ears, indicating the Thrak were onto them. Henry dragged Sasha by the hand and followed after Kyburn. Slamming against the door, Kyburn strained to pull the large metal doors open. Henry let go of Sasha and helped pull on the door.

A scream from Sasha warned them of Thrak approaching. She simply collapsed to the ground in a heap and cried.

Henry rushed to her, lifting her to her feet, and started dragging her limp body toward the gate. Kyburn continued heaving and jerking the door open. Sasha started thrashing and screaming as the Thrak rushed straight toward them.

“Sasha please!” Henry groaned.

“Get her inside,” Kyburn said as he drew his sword.

Henry didn’t object as he pulled Sasha inside, the door opened just enough. Looking up, Henry saw Kyburn kill the first Thrak to reach him. Two more rushed him and pushed him to the ground. He killed both in one swing but their momentum pinned him to the ground.

“Kyburn!” Henry yelled.

Brandishing his sword, Henry decapitated another rushing them and Kyburn scrambled to his feet. Blood pooled in the dirt and Henry noticed it wasn’t just Thrak blood. Kyburn’s shoulder was shredded from a bite that sunk deep into the flesh.

Thrak poured in from the outer gate now, closing in on them. Henry yanked Kyburn to his feet and they started stumbling to the castle’s gate. They were too slow, Henry’s eyes went wide in shock as Kyburn was shoved forward. A spike protruding from his chest. Projectiles whizzed past them, planting themself in the walls of the castle. A female Thrak had shot its bone projectiles through his chest, impaling him. Henry ducked to the side next to Kyburn and kicked at another Thrak coming at them. Jumping to the side he shoved his sword through its neck and it collapsed to the ground, writhing in its own blood.

Kneeling, Henry grabbed his shirt and heaved with all his might, dragging his lord toward the open door.

Kyburn reached up and as he was dragged, Henry slipped in the dirt and fell next to him. Kyburn brushed Henry’s cheek lightly, “L-Live.” he coughed up blood. “I lo-love yo-you, son.”

Dozens of Thrak were moments away from reaching them. No time to think, he ran toward the door. Whipping his head around, Henry screamed in horror as Kyburn was pounced on, defenseless. He turned his head away before his body was torn to shreds.

Tears streaming down his face, Henry slipped into the castle and began to pull with all his might. A Thrak slammed its body against the door, nearly closing it, and poked its arm inside, catching his arm with long sharp claws.

Henry bellowed in pain as his left arm was sliced open, a huge gash spraying his blood to the floor. More bodies slammed against the door, which snapped the arm off of the Thrak slashing at his arm. The severed limb flopped to the floor and howls of rage came from beyond the door.

Clasping his bleeding arm, Henry stumbled over to the bolts, sliding them over the door, sealing them inside.

Sasha’s whimpering echoed through the stone walls and Henry slumped to the ground putting pressure on his wrist. He quickly realized that his artery had been severed. It was only a matter of time now until he bled out.

Utter hopelessness washed over him, his desire to save Sasha dimming as his body did. Blood ceaselessly gushed out of his wrist, making another pool of blood at his side.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I don’t know what to do.”

Sasha looked up at him, her eyes puffy and full of tears, and stared at him with blank eyes. Her green eyes, lifeless and without their usual spark. She crept over to him and laid her head on his chest, ignoring the blood soaking her dress.

Henry kissed her forehead, as his vision blurred, unsure what to do. He had failed miserably and Kyburn had paid the price too.

“Father.” he whimpered in pain and fear. “I’m sorry.” he started sobbing.

“I don’t want this,” he groaned. “I want to live!” he shouted through the castle.

Sasha hugged him tighter at his outburst and Henry shook his head in defeat. His life was draining from his body and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

“Hashem. Please. Help us.” he prayed desperately. “Save us,” he cried. “Hashem! Where are you?” he raised his arm into the air. “Why have you forsaken us! Please. Hashem. Save us.”

A window shattered from somewhere inside the castle and he knew Thrak had gotten inside. He waited for them to come, his sword half-raised in his right arm, holding Sasha with his left.

She whimpered and cried aloud. She was terrified and Henry knew what was coming. He knew the carnage that was about to begin.

Dropping his sword, Henry struggled to pull his dagger from his belt.

Red eyes peered around the corner and brightened at the sight of them. He had a moment to decide. Let Sasha be torn apart, or end her suffering now. He knew what he had to do.

With tears streaming down his face, Henry sunk the cold steel through her heart. He felt her body jolt and the cry of pain that followed. Then she was dead. Dread and sorrow filled him as he knew he had failed. Failed the woman he loved. He had failed everyone.

Before he could turn the knife on himself, the Thrak reached him, claws and teeth outstretched.

It was over in an instant.