Chapter 7 - The River of AshThey reached the surface at dawn.
Alex expected to feel relief.
Instead she felt hollow.
Daren was gone.
Kael didn't speak.
Neither did she.
They walked through a forest of dead trees.
Black ash covered the ground.
Halfway through, Kael stopped.
Alex nearly collided with him.
"What?"
"Listen."
She heard nothing.
Then leaves moved.
A human figure stepped from behind a tree.
Alex reached for her weapon.
The stranger raised both hands.
"Don't shoot."
Kael's rifle was already pointed at him.
"Name."
"Joren."
"Affiliation."
"None."
"That's not an answer."
Joren looked at Alex.
"You want the coast."
Alex narrowed her eyes.
"How do you know?"
"Everyone does."
"Why?"
"Because people think the coast is freedom."
Kael asked:
"Isn't it?"
Joren laughed.
"No."
He lowered his hands.
"It's a graveyard."
Alex felt uneasy.
Joren continued.
"There hasn't been a human settlement on the coast in four years."
"Then why are we going?"
"Because the Vael let you."
Alex froze.
"What?"
Joren looked at Kael.
"You're not escaping."
Kael's jaw tightened.
"Stop."
"You were pushed out."
Alex looked at him.
"Pushed?"
Kael said nothing.
Joren smiled bitterly.
"They want her to reach the coast."
"Why?"
"Because that's where the trap is."
Alex raised her gun.
"You're lying."
Joren nodded.
"Maybe."
He pulled a folded map from his coat.
"Or maybe you should see this."
On the map were dozens of marks.
All leading toward the coast.
"Everyone who has tried to reach it has vanished."
Alex studied the map.
"How many?"
"Forty-three groups."
"And you're telling us this because?"
"Because my daughter was among them."
His voice cracked.
"I want to know what happened."
Kael looked at Alex.
"We continue."
Joren stared at him.
"Of course you do."
"Why?"
"Because you already know."
Joren's eyes moved to Alex.
"You know what's waiting."
Alex felt cold again.
"What?"
Joren whispered:
"Your mother."
That night, they camped inside a ruined church.
Alex couldn't sleep.
She took out the key Daren had given her.
On the metal surface was the symbol.
The circle.
Three lines.
She pressed it against her palm.
Nothing.
Then she remembered the recording.
Your species has more than one history.
She turned the key.
A tiny needle pierced her finger.
A drop of blood touched the metal.
The key lit up.
Kael woke instantly.
"Alex."
The floor beneath them opened.
Alex fell.
Kael jumped after her.
They landed in darkness.
A massive door stood before them.
At its center was the same symbol.
The key slid into the lock by itself.
The door opened.
Beyond it was a room filled with hundreds of glass chambers.
Most were empty.
One was not.
A woman stood inside.
Older.
Scarred.
Alive.
Alex stopped breathing.
The woman opened her eyes.
"You're late."
Alex whispered the only word she could say.
"Mom?"
Her mother smiled sadly.
"No."
May you like
She placed her hand against the glass.
"I told them you'd come."
