Chapter 32

The faster they got this over. The quicker he could return to stand vigil. He looked back at Dave. “We should find her to the bed and get a healer to look over her.”

“Raraf.”

“Probably level twenty-five to get her closer to the non-combatants, food support, and that sort of stuff.”

“Raraf.”

Daniel stepped forward and leant down in order to pick Ivey up.

“Ro.”

“What?”

“No,” Tamara said beside him.

“Ro.”

“I think he wants to take her up by himself.”

“Raraf.”

“Are you planning on staying with her while we go to the funeral?”

“Raraf.”

“Good. I was worried about her being left alone. How about I lift her up and then pass to you once you’re standing.”

Dave considered that for a moment and then nodded.

Daniel took Ivey’s body, and he was shocked by how floppy she was. It felt like every muscle was relaxed, so that body sort of flowed like slime. Momentarily, he remembered those twisting limbs of smoke and wished he hadn’t. “She’s hard to hold in this state.”

“Raraf.”

Once he had passed her across, Dave reorganised her. The mutated human was bigger than Daniel and that helped him support her more easily. Nevertheless, he watched amused, as he struggled to stop her slipping. Finally, he got his arms in the right position. “I think we’ll get someone to accompany you until she’s in a bed just in case.”

“Raraf.”

Luke was trying not to look impatient, but the moment turned to go he took off. They marched briskly back up to floor twenty-five to collect everyone else. The mood felt off. Personally, Daniel was shell-shocked, Dave distraught, Luke happy, and an archer had tears streaming down her face, presumably because she knew one of the people who had died yesterday because they had gone casualty free since that fight. Tamara was right by his side, looking worried, and Finigan on his heels.

“Blood Drinker will be fine,” she whispered to him.

“I know.”

The words were easy to say, but he still wanted to get this over and done with as soon as possible.

“I’m going to gather everyone,” Luke yelled out when they reached the door that exited out on twenty-four. He disappeared through it and Daniel kept walking up the stairs. They went up to twenty-five, Tamara next to him and Dave leading the way. The first person they ran into Jayden as he carried a box of food with sweat running down his face. The other man noticed them and tried to speed up.

“Jayden.” Daniel snapped at him. “Ivey’s hurt. She needs a bed and someone permanently with her. We’re doing the funeral, then the fighters are going to set up on floor twenty. In the meantime, I want a volunteer to look after Ivey.”

“Rc.”

Daniel looked at Dave, trying to understand what he was disputing.

Tamara touched his arm. “I think Dave’s intending to remain with her.”

“Raraf.”

“We need someone to support Dave,” he corrected smoothly. “And for the fighters downstairs we’ll also need to be supplied, so can you organise for food, water and bedding to get down there.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Daniel arched an eyebrow.

“I’m not contradicting you in public,” Jayden said defensively. Then looked around nervously. They were in the hallway and while only a small percentage of the fighters had stayed following Daniel, that meant there were a significant number of witnesses. “I’m just saying that the non-combatants won’t feel safe if they’re up here alone. If you leave a squad of five, preferably two, up here, I think everyone would sleep a lot better.”

Daniel thought about the suggestion. Priscilla was not there, but he was pretty sure Jayden was not using mind magic. “Did you sense any magic?” He asked Tamara and Dave.

Tamara shook her head.

“Ro.”

“I’m not using my abilities. I don’t have a death wish.”

Daniel ignored him. “Can you feel his magic, Dave?”

“Yooic,”

“Yes.” Tamara translated for him when he looked confused.

“Did it affect you?”

“Ro.”

“And he’s not doing it now?”

“Raraf.”

“And do you agree with him about splitting the fighters?”

“Raraf.”

“I told you it wasn’t stupid.” Jayden muttered bitterly.

“But you understand why I might be suspicious?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, do what I said. We’ll have two squads sleeping up here. Confirm who it’s going to be, Luke.”

“Thank you.”

“No, there’s no need for thanks.” Daniel did not have time for this bullshit. “It was an excellent suggestion. I’m glad you made it.” Job done he turned to head back up the stairs. “Now,” his shoulders sagged. “It’s time to gather for the funeral.”

“Tamara, can you help me organise everything?” Jayden asked plaintively.

She looked coldly at him.

Sweat, either nervous or from holding the heavy box was running down his face.

“No, I don’t. Plus, I have responsibilities.” With her head held high, she made shooing gestures toward Daniel and he obliged, marching away with Tamara following closely behind.

It was a lot of steps to get to the top of the building for the funeral, but it had to be done. The community needed closure.

“Maybe I should have stayed to keep watch.”

“Priscilla is doing that, and two scouts,” Tamara scolded him with a smile. “You need to be up there. You’re important to the others.”

He laughed softly. He knew all that. It was why he was here rather than downstairs watching over Blood Drinker like he should have been doing it.

Tamara patted him on the back. He kept walking and by the time he reached the floor where the octopod battle had occurred his quads were burning. He wondered how those with fewer physical stats were faring. He surreptitiously studied Tamara. She appeared to be puffed and when they stopped climbing, she discretely rubbed her quads with a grimace. Daniel concluded he was not as badly affected. All those physical attributes he had got from his class also extended to aerobic performance and not just burst strength.

They were the first people up. The two of them and Finigan the only two that were alive. Sadly, Daniel studied the reason they were here.

He swallowed and rubbed both eyes.

The bodies were laid in the same spot they had fallen, but someone had gone through and processed them. All seven now lay on individual sheets, their eyes were shut and cloth had been moved to hide noticeable wounds with one face completely covered. He did not want to know what had happened to that one.

He could also see the sheen of ice crystals over them. With concern, he glanced at Tamara. “Did you have to freeze them?”

“Not me,” Tamara told him her voice hoarse with emotion.

It was like Anthony, and the people who had died to the termites. Daniel could feel his eyes watering.

There was a soft whine next to him, and he knelt and hugged the dog. He used the dog’s presence as an excuse to pause and gather himself.

It had only been a single day! But it felt longer. The fact he didn’t need to sleep and how much volume his magic could create meant that what he could achieve was frankly mind blowing. He suspected that practically he could do more work than someone in the old world who had access to a tractor. It was honestly scary.

While Tamara and he were first and had outdistanced everyone else, he could now hear the noise of the rest coming. Not everyone was expected there were some tasks that couldn’t be delayed. Someone had to look; after Ivey, dinner, scouts on level twenty and a few of the older survivors presumably lacked the stamina to casually walk all the way up here for people they didn’t know. The important people Daniel knew would all be here. Alex and the rest of his family arrived. Cindy waved at him. Then, in a continuous stream, the fighters entered. Cirano, the cook, was with them, but not Judy. He guessed she probably fell into the category of being too old. Or possibly she was looking after the food and allowing Cirano to attend because he might have known someone.

In a short amount of time, everyone was up and Luke came and stood next to him.

“Do we want me to do the talking?” Luke whispered.

“I’ll do the first speech.”

Luke put his hands behind his own back and lowered his head, eyes downcast.

Daniel cleared his throat. “We all know why we’re here. Last night.” He rubbed his eyes, pushing away the gathering water. “We had a battle for our very survival. Every able-bodied fighter freely came to help defeat the octopod and in that desperate battle these seven brave souls lost their lives. It’s difficult, no impossible to truly express the loss that they represent. Every single life is precious and the people who fell here to preserve our community had hopes and dreams.” He paused and looked over the gathered crowd, focusing on their foreheads so not to get distracted. It was a trick he had learnt to make them all think he was making eye contact with all of them. “I’m going to be honest. I didn’t know any of those who died particularly well because I’ve sort of been busy. I wish I could have spent more time with them, with all of you.” His voice caught, and he wiped his eyes again. “I don’t have that luxury. There are monsters out there. Less than half an hour ago we had a battle on the nineteenth floor. Because of that battle, Ivey is unconscious and we don’t know if she will pull through.” Daniel stopped talking to compose himself. “It had to be done. We need to destroy the monsters before they come for us, because they will. This octopod would have killed Alex’s family and then descended downwards.” What that meant was left unsaid, but everyone understood what that result would have been. It had been almost a day for the gossip mill to function and everyone here knew how deadly the octopod had been. “It is in the monster’s nature. Everyone who died here were heroes, everyone fighting against the monsters that oppress us are heroes. I am petrified before every fight, but the best test of bravery is not never being scared. It’s pushing forward even when you’re afraid. These people were brave. Today we’ll grieve their loss, we’ll mourn the future we won’t have together, but after all that we’ll emerge refreshed and galvanised and ready to meet the next challenge.” Once more, he swept the room, making eye contact. This time, he met those looking up at him. There was sadness, determination, and anger. “We will prevail. For them and for us,” he promised.

Daniel stepped backward, allowing his emotions to show through and twin tracks of tears running down his face. After all, these people who died could just as easily have been one of his friends. Luke stepped forward and said a few brief words about everyone who had died and Daniel sort of wished he had taken the time to get a cheat sheet together to personalise the message.

He hadn’t thought about it.

His mind didn’t work like that and usually Ivey was around to help correct for his weaknesses.

After he had finished speaking, Luke invited friends to come up and speak. Not a single one of the people who had died had any family or friends from before the event, but that did not stop the emotion.

Bonds formed quickly in life or death situations. Five different speakers broke down mid speech and couldn’t continue. Daniel’s throat felt tight.

Luke coughed. “Let’s take them upstairs for their final rest.”

It had obviously been pre-determined because exactly fourteen people came forward with one person standing at each end of the corpses. The cloth was folded over the bodies and when they were fully covered and only then did they reach down to pick up their side of the body wrappings. Then they with no noticeable struggle they started walking, a body between them like it was a on a stretcher. They marched straight up the steps to the penthouse.

When they reached they reached the top floor, Daniel was amazed by how luxurious the space that Alex had lived in was. He could have fitted two of his farmhouses within the open spaced kitchen and living room. Despite the solemn air, there was more than one sharply indrawn breath in response.

“Beautiful,” Tamara whispered.

Daniel squeezed her hand that he hadn’t realised he had been holding. She smiled sadly at him water glistening on her lashes.

They kept walking, following the procession of bodies. He knew he shouldn’t but a small part of himself was responsible for their deaths. If he had thought to secure them…

No!

That was faulty logic. They had to fight it when they did. Nobody could get every single decision right.

Daniel had been aware that the plan was to cremate the bodies, but why they had gone up instead of doing it where they had fallen made little sense to him till he entered the apartment. Glass doors were opened, and they walked out onto a wide balcony. It was larger than a cricket pitch. The bodies were placed down on what looked like marble pavers, and then all the various fire mages stepped forward. Flame spewed outward, and the neatly packed pile of bodies erupted. The entire group, some still caught indoors stood in silence and watched while the intense heat consumed their former friends.

Forty seconds later Tamara and the other mages retreated. They all looked wane with pain reflected in their eyes. Daniel had seen sufficient casters to recognise the signs of mana exhaustion.

Whatever they had done was enough for the bodies to continue to burn by themselves. The heat was extraordinary, but another power came into play to push the smoke away.

Daniel stood for over two minutes, and then he attempted to disentangle his hand from Tamara’s.

She resisted and rotated to face him.

“I need to check downstairs,” he whispered. “Make sure the ferals are not planning on doing anything.”

She studied him with a sad smile that told him she knew one hundred percent that he was lying. “That’s a good idea. I’ll see you soon.” She turned back to continue to watch the burning bodies in silent vigil. As Daniel’s eyes scanned the crowd, he saw Jayden. The man was looking at Tamara and he could see pain in the other man’s face.

Serves the fuck-head right, Daniel thought savagely. He had hurt her. Then Daniel looked at Tamara once more and his eyes softened. A tear was running down her face before he changed his mind he hurried away.

Blood Drinker, and just as importantly, time by himself was required to settle his emotions. Barely able to stop himself from going dangerously fast he jogged downstairs at a reckless pace. When he exited on the floor, Nigel, one of the four scouts they had left downstairs, flagged him down.

“Daniel.”

“Nigel.” He responded stiffly not wanting to engage.

“How was the?”

Daniel shook his head warningly. He did not want to talk about the funeral. The pain, the sadness, the reflection of their mortality was too close. “Anything?” He asked instead.

“Silence.”

“Yeah, Priscilla thinks similarly.”

His mouse had seen no sign of focused resistance, but there was no reason to be sloppy.

Animal Sense.

Energy swept out of him and focused down the building. All the distinct life forms glowed within his perception and before drilling into the specifics he focused on the overall picture. Scattered groups, no noticeable stillness, regulars mixing with elites but no ultras in the areas he could reach and only roaming ferals below him.

It was clean.

“They feel disorganised, animalistic. It’s almost like we killed the intelligence holding them together.” Even as he told Nigel that he remembered the super. That creature that Ivey had used whatever unholy power she possessed to presumably kill. It had been powerful enough to warp the world around it. Daniel would not be surprised if it was the only reason that ferals had been acting intelligently.

“That’s good.”

“Yeah, I’m going to keep monitoring.” He waved toward where they had launched their attack from.

Nigel thankfully got the point and shut up and Daniel jogged the entire way to the window and looked down. The sun was low, leaving long shadows. Luckily, he could still see Blood Drinker at the top of the tree. Waiting… He did not know what he would have done if something had happened to it.

Even from here, he could feel the club, or at least he thought he could. Not enough to communicate, but they could sense each other. I’m coming to get you.

Was that an acknowledgment? Unshakeable faith? His imagination? The wind blew and the top of the tree rippled and the club slipped deeper.

Gone…

He leant closer and then pulled himself backward when he realised he had almost tipped out the window. The leaves rippled again and beneath the leaves, but still at the top of the tree he got a glimpse of Blood Drinker. Still there, waiting and was now safe because it was protected by the tree.

He stood watching for an interminable amount of time. Every now and again he would use an Animal Sense pulse, but everyone of them reinforced his hypothesis. They were leaderless and tomorrow they would be easy to defeat.

“Dan.”

Daniel flinched and spun around and raised a hand as he did so. Electricity arced in his fingers and he saw Tamara standing in the doorway.

Cheeks burning, he closed his hand, and the lightning vanished. “Sorry.”

“I understand.” She walked forward put her arms around him and tried to draw him into a hug. He resisted, but her hands were like steel and he relented and she drew him in, so his head rested against her shoulder.

“My club.”

“I know.” She pulled him in close. “It’s okay,” she whispered.

With a shudder, he shifted to separate them. He had promised Ivey to be good and… His eyes dropped to the tree below. “It’s not.”

“Dan, we’ll get down and save it. I promise.”

“We don’t!”

“Dan.”

She stepped forward and hugged him from behind. Her presence stilled him.

“Sorry. Just with Ivey.” Then looked down at the tree. “It’s hard.”

“I understand. We’ll do everything possible to help, but what are doing about the zombie war? Will they come up at us?”

“If the super is still alive?”

“If,” she asked.

Daniel shrugged. “I can’t sense it, but I didn’t sense it before.” He laughed. “And we don’t know if Ivey’s spell would have killed it. It’s not like we can ask her. It feels like it’s dead and that’s made the ferals headless.” Daniel shrugged. “If it’s alive, then all bets are off. The thing’s smart enough to trick us.”

“What do you want us to do? Wait till Ivey is awake?” Tamara let go of him and walked deeper into the room.

“The prudent response is to have fighters sleep on this floor. Non-combatants act as sentries at night and Priscilla and I will make sure they’re not up to anything. Jayden’s doing the first and we’ll draft some of the non fighters to stand watch.”

“And then?”

“Tomorrow we’ll do the same tactics. If we can kill ten ferals and an Ultra, every engagement we’re going to win.”

“Providing the supers dead.”

He snorted. “Yeah. Till I know otherwise that’s the assumption, but we’ll build our plan under the expectation that it’s still alive.” The leaves on the tree below shifted, and he was sure he got a brief glimpse of his club. It looked like it had strapped itself fully to a branch.

“Are you going to try to get it? Belay down or something like that?” Tamara asked him.

“It’s tempting, but no. I think I’ll be too exposed. Both.” He pointed at the top of the building in the city and the flittering shapes. “And the ferals.”

“Oh year. I could see them throwing themselves at the window to attack and with their claws and strength they would probably get through.”

“Me too,” Daniel agreed. “So belaying is too dangerous, but I’m trying to work if I can drop a conduit all the way down and then use it to carry it up.”

“Will it work?”

“Technically yes. I did something like that to capture Priscilla and I’m stronger now.”

“You should do it.”

“I’m not certain.”

“If I was in your position, I would.”

Daniel shrugged, then shook his head. “It might not work and it will definitely take most of the night.”

“Dan, it’s okay to put yourself first.”

He massaged his forehead. “That’s easy to say but harder to reconcile to all the people out there and the trapped kids.”

She stepped up close to him once more and her arm encircled his waist and together they looked down at the tree that contained the club and the nearby dead ultra that had been hit by multiple arrows.

“It might have gotten closer to disaster than we liked.” She whispered. “But it was a good plan.”

“I know.” He glanced up at where they knew Ivey was.

“I feel sad for her, too. But it was her choice and I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

“This…” he bit back on the vulgarity, but not the anger. “World.” He hissed.

“I know! Fuck it.” Tamara said angrily next to him.