Chapter 22: Confrontation

-10 MONTHS REMAIN-

Aurora and Miryam watched in horror as something crawled down the gap in the wall. Despite being massive, its slender frame allowed it to easily slip between the rock and wood. Long claws dug into every nook and cranny. Its body twisted and contorted to squeeze through the narrow passageway. It looked as if its bones weren't even connected. Its skeleton was merely a suggestion to its form rather than a set framework. As the creature worked its way through the wooden planks it became unmistakable. The zombie from outside. It hissed and both Aurora and Miryam backed into the table. They wanted to flee but they didn't have really anywhere to go. The basement was cramped and going upstairs would only lead them to Noah. Besides, Aurora felt that the beast could easily catch them before they made it to the first step. She knew they only had one option.

"Miryam! The straps!" She commanded, whipping back around to continue working on Lilith's wrist. Miryam nodded nervously and began to work at a more frantic pace. By now the straps had loosened only slightly. Lilith had a bit more freedom to move but she certainly couldn't escape. 

"How hard is it to undo some leather straps?" Lilith snapped. Aurora glared at her and stopped working. She lifted her hands slightly.

"Is this really the time to be complaining?" She hissed. "I'm trying to do something out of the goodness of my heart despite not exactly being in a very caring mood. This place could burn down with everyone inside for all I care." 

"She is a very petty individual." Miryam chimed in, still undoing the straps. Lilith looked at her, then back at Aurora. She continued to glare at Lilith. 

"Alright. I'm sorry. Please continue." Lilith said quickly. Aurora put her attention back on the strap around Lilith's wrist. She was just about to finally untie it when the beast made its way through the wooden planks. It roared and ran at the group of girls. Miryam reflexively casted her barrier to stop the monster. Its claws and teeth sank into the divine shield but made no progress in getting through. Aurora let out a sigh of relief, but her anxieties would quickly return. She glanced at Lilith and found her writhing and whimpering in pain.

“The shield.” She whispered. “She can’t stay under it.” Aurora didn’t notice it before, but the inside of the barrier did produce a heavenly glow. The air around them was charged with light magic. “Miryam, drop the barrier!”

“But, Miss Vale!” Miryam protested as the creature continued to chew on the outside of the shield.

“So weak… so hungry…” Lilith groaned. Her breathing became heavier.

“Just do it! I’ll figure something else out! Just focus on helping Lilith!” Aurora drew her dagger and faced the zombie. Miryam frowned at the idea but did as she was told. The zombies stumbled a little as the barrier disappeared. Aurora charged forward and plunged the blade into the beast’s stomach. It screamed and began thrashing around. Aurora was thrown off, hitting her head as she fell to the floor. The beast tried to pounce onto her, flaring a set of talons on its feet, but it was stopped by another barrier. It turned its attention to Miryam, somehow recognizing her as the source of the magic. It lowered its body as if it was about to pounce again. As it did, a red aura began to surround it. Aurora could see it emanated from a small stone placed into the back of the creature’s neck. The red aura pooled around the creature’s head and formed a set of spiraling horns.

“Horns?” Aurora grunted, picking herself back up.

“Like the ones that man back home had.” Miryam whispered.

“I… kill… child…” The monster wheezed. Talking seemed to be a struggle for it, like it was something it wasn’t supposed to do. Or maybe it was something it wasn’t allowed to do. “I… be… useful…” It said before leaping forward. Miryam attempted to cast another shield but she wasn’t quick enough. The beast rammed into Miryam and sent her toppling over the table. Dazed, Miryam tried to crawl away. The monster descended upon her and stopped her using her dress. It hissed and flared its claws, ready to kill the girl. It swiped at Miryam, but something stopped it from reaching her. A green bear caught the creature’s arm with its teeth.

“Ursa?” Miryam whispered. “So that means-“ Miryam’s words were cut off as the door to the side room was blown off its hinges. The wooden door spun through the air and struck the zombie. Falling onto the ground where the door once stood was Noah, with Ulric looming over his head. The man was covered in cuts and bruises and Ulric’s fists were similarly covered in blood.

“Now Ulric! I don’t see the point in such violence!” Noah objected. “What problem could you possibly have now to warrant this reaction that you didn’t have before?” Ulric jumped onto Noah and continued to beat him.

“Nothing’s changed!” He shouted. “I’m just tired of pretending there’s no problem! I’m tired of biting my tongue! I’m tired of being complicit!” He punctuated each of his points with a punch to Noah’s face. Noah quickly waved his hand. The beast immediately stopped what it was doing. It quit resisting Ursa’s bite and quit trying to attack Miryam. Noah flicked his wrist and the beast followed the command. It leaped off of Miryam, letting Ursa tear away its flesh to get away. It had shifted its focus to Ulric, tackling him to free Noah.

“Come now Ulric!” Noah said, stumbling up off the ground. “Where’s the logic in this? These aren’t people you knew, not truly! You didn’t care for these people! Whether they lived or died was irrelevant!” Aurora and Miryam went back to Lilith. Ulric struggled against the monster as it tore into his flesh. Blood sprayed out over the floor, though it was hard to tell what was fresh and what was old stains. “They were crooks and criminals! They had no business staying inside our kingdom!” Ursa ran over to pull the beast off of Ulric. It bit down into its neck and dragged it off of him. Ulric wasted no time getting back into the fight. His body was in excruciating pain, blood cascaded from his wounds. But that didn’t matter. He could push through it like he always had. Ulric focused his rage onto the monster, beating it as Ursa continued to drag it along. “They’re monsters! They don’t deserve the same rights as you and I. They don’t even deserve to live! They’re an inferior species! Can you honestly look at the girl over there and tell me she’s the same as us?” Noah gestured over to Lilith. Ulric took a break in his assault to look at her. She was crying. She was chained up, striped half naked, and crying. Ulric hadn’t seen her before now but Aurora and Miryam knew something had changed in her. She had remained strong presumably this entire time. But now she was crying. Because of the words Noah said, Aurora thought. They must’ve gotten to her, attacking some great insecurity deep within. Aurora didn’t blame her. Ulric didn’t know this. He only knew what was in front of him. He could only figure that she was crying in general, and that the only reason she was seen as a monster was because they made her a monster. “She’s not even human!” Ulric whipped around towards Noah in a great fury.

“SHE MAY NOT BE HUMAN, BUT SHE’S STILL A PERSON!” He screamed. The walls seemed to shake against his booming voice. Lilith gasped slightly. Her lip quivered and her eyes filled with even more tears. The straps came undone.

“You said you were hungry, right?” Aurora asked gently. Lilith blinked, finally taking her eyes off Ulric and glancing at Aurora.

“Y-Yeah.” She stammered. Aurora wordlessly took off her glove and held out her arm in front of Lilith’s face. She gave her a smile as if to say it’s ok. Lilith hesitated, looking back at Ulric.

“I’ve got plenty of scars.” Aurora reasoned. “What’s one more?” She winked.