After the booming voice, that demanded them to surrender or flee, ebbed away, almost everyone was momentarily stupefied. Fort Erich was rather out of the way. It also had a poorly designed city surrounding it. While it was defensible, the walls of the fort would fall under heavy siege. It was just a lookout position, why would Luxom deliberately attack such a low key fort?

Everyone had long ago swept away the idea, that Luxom would possibly attack them. They had forgotten about the key feature of Fort Erich that allowed it to exist in the first place; the underground lake. For many miles around, there was no source of surface water. Fort Erich currently had access to the only known underground water source known in the area. If Luxom had really wanted to march their troops across these plains, they would need food and water. Fort Erich was a great place to take water from, as well as use it to create a supply train from home to the war front.

As soon as the booming voice had finished speaking, Hansen had already made his decision. Have you ever heard of a peaceful take over of any fort or city during war times? He would flee with Vivienne and Adam. Hansen told Dallen, who was coming out of his stupor: “Stay with Adam and Vivienne for a moment.” Hansen then walked out of the entrance to the building, with intent in his steps.

He had stuck upon a brilliant idea. When they were first bringing Adam and Vivienne to Healer Varcian's place, he had seen a two wheeled cart by one of the shops next door. He could use that to help transport Adam and Vivienne out of the city.

When Hansen had stepped outside, there were people everywhere that had started moving as they made their own decisions about what to do. There were those who panicked and screamed, there were many who started to run home in order to grab their valuables before they ran, a few were even planning to put up a fight with Luxom. None of this mattered to Hansen. He had one goal right now, that was to get out of the city as soon as possible. On a normal day, it could easily take one at least a half an hour to move from the fort to the city's edge. Now with rubble and bodies in the road, and people running about blocking the road more than normal, it would be lucky to make it out within the hour.

Hansen found the cart exactly where it was the last time he saw it. It was actually supposed to be a horse drawn cart, however the horse was nowhere in sight. There were also no stables anywhere nearby. Hansen quickly removed anything unnecessary from the cart, leaving only a smelly bag of oats and a sack of water that all stank of horse. There was still some harnessing attached to the cart. Hansen put the harness in front of his chest and leaned into it. It took a bit of effort to start the cart rolling, but once it got going he was able to keep a steady pace up.

It wasn't even a minute before he got in front of the building Varcian was using. Hansen quickly stepped back into the building. As he was walking back towards Adam and Vivienne, he also grabbed a few rolls of bandages that were left on a table. Hansen spoke to Dallen: “Help me load them up.” as he carefully picked Adam up. Without loosing a moment, Dallen also picked Vivienne up as he followed Hansen out.

Outside, Dallen was secretly surprised at how fast Hansen had procured a cart, even if it had no horse. Loading them up, Adam and Vivienne took up almost all the room that was available in the small cart. After they were loaded up, Hansen did not even waste a breath with talking to Dallen. He just leaned into the harnessing and slowly got the cart rolling. Hansen pointed himself towards the heart of Heider. He would follow the roads out of the city and hoped to find safety further inside the kingdom.

As Dallen saw Hansen trod off, he spoke: “I will try to find Jeffery, Timothy, and Barnaby. Hopefully we will be able to gather some supplies and meet up with you down the road.”

Hansen only nodded once in response to Dallen. He needed all his concentration to pull and guide the cart through the mob of people frantically running about. He also kept an eye out for anyone who might attempt to commandeer the cart from him. Hansen undoubtedly believed that even the best of neighbors would turn on one another in a crisis. To see Hansen's point, one only had to look at how many people were pushing others out of their way, some were even knocked to the ground and trampled upon.

An hour later, the morning was in full bloom. The sun was showing itself over the horizon. Hansen had only managed to get outside the city limits a few minutes ago. Now he could hear the faint sounds of a large army marching. Luxom was on their way to occupy Fort Erich. There were many people and debris that he had to move around on his way out. Thankfully, though, he had yet to meet any one who had the heart to steal a cart that was transporting the wounded.

The closest town to Fort Erich was called Edelburg. This town was located at the edge of the plains where a river ran by, acting as it's border. The river was almost like a fence that seemed to keep the forest, that was close to the other side of the river, away from the plains. To reach Edelburg, it would normally only take three days. However, with the road being clogged full of refugees exhausted from the attack last night, as well as many barely having any kind of supplies, it would take much longer to reach Edelburg.

Hansen trudged on throughout the day. It was not incredibly hot, but it was warm. That coupled with his exertion of pulling the cart made his body heat up. He moved in line with the other refugees. Many had a glazed look on them as the stumbled forward. Even if they stopped to rest, there was no shade to hide under. No water to drink. No food to eat. The few who managed to grab food and water, before leaving, guarded it closely.

while Hansen made his way forward, if he got hungry he would eat a handful of horse oats. If he got thirsty, just a small sip from the water bag. At noon he briefly stopped and poured some of the stinky water down the throats of Vivienne and Adam.

During this first day, no one was quite desperate enough to try and steal Hansen's smelly oats or water. By the time dusk had fallen Hansen still had plenty of oats left, but most of the water was already used.

Hansen pulled off the road to settle for the night. He kept away from as many other groups of refugees as he could, in an attempt to guard from thieves that would flit about camps to steal food and water from others.

He decided to keep Adam and Vivienne in the cart so as not to move them around too much. Also the ground would be quite lumpy, it might be more comfortable in the cart. Hansen also began to replace Adam's bandages.

When he was finishing up with Adam, Hansen noticed a few silhouettes making their way directly towards him. Hansen quickly brought his guard up as his hand went towards his sword. Night had already fallen and even with the moon and stars, it was too hard to see the faces of the ones approaching him.

One of the silhouettes then waved toward him asking: “Is that you Hansen?”

Relief washed over Hansen as he called out: “What took you Dallen?”

As the group of silhouettes came closer Hansen could finally see who was who. Dallen was at the front. Jeffery was by his wife, Francine, who he married five years ago. Timothy was right beside Jeffery and also had his wife close at hand, her name was Sarah and she was carrying their one year old child. Then bringing up the rear was Barnaby and his newly wed wife, Mary, whom he was holding hands with.

“We only got away from Fort Erich as Luxom was entering. It took us all day to catch up to you! Though we did manage to scrounge up some food and water before we left.” Dallen gestured to the packs the others were placing down by the cart.

Hansen's face brightened when he saw the packs. “Good, as long as we can keep them from getting stolen, those should last us until we reach Edelburg.”

The others winced when Hansen mentioned the possibility of the packs being stolen. They did not want to believe that others would purposefully steal from them in their time of need. Hansen, however, was a pragmatic realist.

At this time Vivienne began to stir as an exhausted moan escaped her mouth. Everyone started to crowd around the cart to try and help Vivienne. Vivienne started to groggily look around, saying: “What.... where am...”

Hansen quickly spoke: “Healer Varcian gave you a sedative, you've been asleep for almost a full day.”

Vivienne began to snap awake, as more awareness gathered in her eyes. She felt very stiff from laying in the cart all day and tried to stretch a bit. Remembering the night before she quickly looked around to find out what was going on. She was calmed a bit when she saw Adam was beside her, but where were they? Dallen started answering her questions, telling her of the current situation.

“What!? We're running away? What about Alaric and Emilia's bodies? Everything I am and own is back there! How could you leave without taking a single thing?” Vivienne had started to break. If it wasn't enough that her husband and child were taken from her, her home and well being had also been stolen as well. There were tears and anger in her eyes as she stared at Hansen.

While the others tried to calm the blaming Vivienne, Hansen thought for a small moment. He then spoke: “In order for you and the boy to live, that was the only course of action to take. The Luxom soldiers did not guarantee the lives of those who surrendered. You very easily could have been executed or have worse done to you. The only method left to keep you and your son alive, was to flee right then and there.”

Vivienne was momentarily dazed when she heard this. She then gave a simple “hmph” as she turned her head away from Hansen. When Hansen spoke, it was not apologetic, he was only telling her the reason for what he did. She felt that she could not forgive him for leaving everything from her life behind, but neither could she truly blame him for trying to save the lives of herself and her son, Adam.

The rest of the night passed rather uneventfully. No one tried to steal anything from them, nor did anyone try to disturb them. They set out early the next morning as the sun was rising. They were a larger group now and it would be harder for others to steal from them.

As Vivienne watched Hansen selflessly pull the cart without complaint, she realized that he had been intensely laboring himself yesterday for her family. A part of her wanted to apologize for yelling at him last night, but she couldn't find the words to do so.

Over the next few days, all Vivienne could do was fuss over the still sleeping Adam. She had been told about the state her leg was currently in. Moving about on it right now would just lower the chances of a good recovery, and even still she may require a crutch after it had healed.

During these days, there were a few people who asked to also use the cart but were quickly denied by Hansen and the others. Even if they were tired or injured, how could they possibly kick a boy who was still unconscious and couldn't see, as well as his mother who had a broken leg she couldn't walk on, off their only mode of transport. There was no extra room for the free loaders, so the answer was no. There had been a few feisty people who called them callous and selfish for not sharing the cart, they quickly shut their mouths and walked the other way as soon as they saw the hands of the former guardsmen reaching for their swords.

Hansen had been the only one to pull the cart during this time. The others had offered to help, of course, but Hansen refused them. He had put forward some kind of excuse that it was better that only one of them was tired from pulling the cart in case they were attacked. He also felt a sense of pride for keeping the family of his long gone friend safe.

Finally, they were on the last day of travel to Edelburg. It was now Sonntock, a full four days had passed since they fled. They would be arriving at Edelburg either late tonight or early tomorrow morning. They had stopped around noon for a rest and some food. Vivienne had fallen asleep due to the fatigue of constantly fussing over Adam, and being cooped up in the cart for so long.

As Hansen was eating his food while sitting down beside the cart, he heard a young boy's moans followed by a terrified “Mom? Where are you mom?” Hansen quickly got up and held onto Adam's grasping hand that was groping around in his personal darkness. “Your mother is asleep beside you Adam, don't wake her though. She has been constantly watching over you and she needs her rest.” Hansen's voice called out to Adam.

Adan was quite frightened. He had been groggy as he was waking up. A moan escaped as he moved his muscles. Even if it was just a cut on his face, his entire body felt exhausted. He wasn't even sure what was going on. He had yet to remember that terrible night that occurred just a few days ago. Adam could only see darkness right now, and it frightened him. This terrible abyss of darkness was unlike anything he had seen before. Even if something was black, it would have some sort of light or something to differentiate it from everything else. However, this blackness was all encompassing. There was no faint lights of stars. No vague forms of his sister's bed that was supposed to be beside him. It didn't even feel like a lack of light or color, this was simply nothingness stretching out before him. Adam could only instinctively call out: “Mom? Where are you mom?” as he stretched out into the nothingness to try and find if anything was there.

Adam then felt his hand getting grabbed by a much bigger one. A gruff voice then came to his ears: “Your mother is asleep beside you Adam, don't wake her though. She has been constantly watching over you and she needs her rest.”

Adam was quite startled by this voice. It was certainly not his mother's, nor was it his father's. That voice did sound awfully familiar though. “Who are you?” Adam timidly asked.

Hansen was a little hurt at Adam's response. Though it did not really effect him as he knew Adam was quite scared of the current situation. “I'm Hansen. Do you remember me? I worked with your father. Dallen and the others are with me too.”

At this time Dallen and the other had started to excitedly gather, they had also heard Adam call out. They were all happy that Adam had finally awoke and could more easily start his recovery. Dallen happily spoke: “Heya Adam. We are all here. Hansen is right to let your mother sleep, she truly needs it. We are all here for you though.”

Adam started to relax a bit. These people worked with his father. They had even been invited to The Dancery quite a few times by Alaric. While he was not overly familiar with these adults, he did know them and knew that he could trust them. Though he was confused, why were they all at his house? Why couldn't he see? Did he get sick or something? “What's going on why is everyone here?”

The hearts of everyone surrounding Adam started to break a bit. How could they tell this child that his father and sister were dead? That he was blind and his mother likely crippled? Who had the courage to tell him? The first to begin to speak was once again Hansen. He could never, not answer this boy's questions. He would also always answer honestly, even if Adam's parents would rather he wouldn't, and was consequently chased out of The Dancery on more than one occasion for doing so.

“Do you remember the night where your mother tried to get you to the fort? The night when there was fire, high in the sky, and ghouls attacked?”

That night was like a nightmare to Adam. He had also forgotten about it like a dream until it was mentioned to him. The events of the flame colored night presented themselves before his mind. Adam started to visibly tense up as he remembered. In a panicky voice he started to speak: “What... What happened? Is everyone all right?”

Hansen Promptly replied: “Ghouls were summoned and attacked us that night. Quite possibly they were summoned by Luxom, as their forces quickly came to take Fort Erich after the ghouls had left. We are currently on the run, trying to get somewhere safer.”

“What?” A frightened Adam responded.

Everyone around Hansen started whispering with clenched teeth: “Shut it, Hansen! You are scaring Adam.” They started to move Hansen away from Adam so he would not do anymore damage. They were able to calm Adam back down telling him that everything was under control and that it would be alright.

After he had calmed a bit, Adam's mind wondered for a moment. He could feel the arm of his mother, who was beside him, but he had yet to find Emilia and his father. He asked the one question that no one was prepared to answer: “Where is father and Emilia?”

Even Hansen had a raging battle inside him. He wanted to answer Adam, but the only answer he could give would surely hurt the boy. Noticing that Adam was tensing up again at the sudden silence that assaulted his ears, Hansen decided that the boy needed an answer. Even if that answer was not pretty, and would negatively effect the boy. Adam was smart and could begin to realize something had happened to them. Seeing that there would be no hiding it Hansen finally decided on his answer: “Alaric and Emilia are dead. Your father succeeded in saving you and your mother's lives, at the cost of his own.”

Only silence followed after Hansen spoke. Dallen and the others stared at Hansen with an incredulous face. How could he tell Adam about their deaths without even softening the blow? Adam's own face slackened a bit when he heard this news.

Death. What was death? Adam knew what it was, but not what it felt like. He knew that animals died to give them their meat. He knew that people died during wars. He knew that death meant that someone lost their life. But he had never been close to or seen death before. He did not truly understand it. Then he remembered that ghoul he killed. How it twitched and then became limp and lifeless. He had just been told that his father and Emilia were now the same as that ghoul. They are limp, lifeless, and would never rise again. Picturing them in the ghoul's place in his mind, he became grief stricken and started to cry. How could they possibly be dead?

Vivienne quickly woke up when she heard Adam crying. She became quite flustered. Her son was awake and was profusely crying before her. She quickly clutched Adam in to her embrace and said: “Adam, you're awake! Come now, why are you crying?” She could barely make out Adam's reply as he fiercely hugged her and heavily sobbed: “Mama, Papa and Emilia area dead!”

Vivienne looked up at those who were surrounding the cart with anger starting to appear in her eyes. They then all looked over at Hansen, as if pointing out the culprit. Hansen looked like he was at a loss, he did not have an air of guiltiness for answering Adam's question, but he was worried about how the boy was taking it. Anger started to surge up in Vivienne, she did not know what to make of Hansen anymore. He was always an odd ball. These past few days she had been swinging between wanting to cuss this man out of her life, and apologizing for her angry outbursts. Adam's wails quickly brought Vivienne's attention back to her son. She started to try and console the poor boy.

Eventually Adam did calm down somewhat, though he never did release his hold on his mother. Everyone decided it was time to move forward again, they needed to get to Edelburg as soon as possible to get away from the war front. Hansen led the group forward as he pulled that cart. He felt many gazes on his back that seemed to be condemning him. As he slogged forward, Hansen tried his best to ignore them, as he felt no guilt for telling Adam what he wanted to know, the boy would find out sooner or later anyway.

Sometime in the afternoon, Adam started to distract himself. He wanted to stop thinking about his father and Emilia being dead. Instead he started to concentrate on this nothingness that seemed to be all that he saw. As he moved his hand towards his eyes, he felt the bandage on his face. “Mother why do I have a bandage on my face? Its covering my eyes and I can't see.”

Vivienne's heart wrenched a little at her son's question. She tried to think of the best way to tell him about his current condition. “Well, Adam, you got hurt when trying to protect me remember?” Adam nodded his head a little as he remembered the pain before he passed out. “Well your eyes got hurt during that time. For now you cant see and the bandages are helping you recover. If you are good and don't disturb the bandages too much, you'll be able to see again. They were hurt pretty bad though, so it may take quite a while before you see again.”

Adam continued to ask his mother questions about things he heard, or anything at all. He did not have a happy face while doing this, rather it was somber. but he was trying to move away from the depressing sadness of the death of his father and sister, so his mother encouraged him to ask her anything at all to pass the time by.

As night arrived, Edelburg could be seen, only a handful of miles away. Hansen and the others did not plan on trying to march through the night to reach the town as it was already visibly over flowing. Many refugees had made it to the town before them. There also seemed to be a few army banners hanging from some poles and many tents surrounding the town. It appeared that Heider had already started to react to Luxom's invasion.

As they ate their evening meal, everyone was silent. Adam had already fallen asleep, as he had eaten a light meal on the cart, before they had stopped for the night. They were all thinking about what should be done after they got to Edelburg. No one had a definite answer.

Hansen broke the slightly awkward silence with a question that he was mostly directing towards Vivienne: “Edelburg is just the first stop. We need to move farther away. Where do you want to go?”