Chapter Four
Chapter Four
The ghouls were encroaching on Rose as she slept quietly in her bed. For the life of him, Duncan couldn’t understand why she hadn’t flinched or startled awake. If the explosion couldn’t wake her or having her door busted down didn’t either, then what could wake her? Maybe these ghouls munching on her body might do the trick but even Duncan wasn’t that cruel to let that happen. Rose was out like a light and baring all of her goods for Duncan to ogle but unfortunately he didn’t have the time to enjoy the view.
“Rose! Get your ass up!” Duncan shouted as he maneuvered his way to her, chopping off heads as he moved. “Rose, Gods damn you! Fucking wake up bitch, you’re going to get us both killed!”
Several ghouls were pawing at Rose before grabbing her by the ankles and yanking her prone body towards them, their mouths salivating with a thick, greenish ooze.
SAVE HER
Duncan bull rushed forward and knocked the ghouls down on the ground. He lost his balance and fell face first on top of Rose. She finally stirred awake and through bleary eyes, glared up at Duncan.
“Duncan!” She screamed as he was inches from her face, “What the fuck are you doing in my quarters! You get off me right now, you nasty freak!”
Rose wanted to scream more at him but Duncan clasped his hand over her mouth which she bit him. Duncan grunted in pain but he bit out, “It’s not what you think Miss Macready, look around you.” Rose glared at Duncan with all the hatred she had and then he added as he forced her head to turn, “Look damn it and stop biting me. I’m trying to save your fucking ass!”
Rose’s face paled when she saw that her beautiful home was swarming with ghouls. She squirmed, trying to wiggle free from under Duncan but he wouldn’t let her up.
“Do you have a sword?” Duncan whispered as he removed his bloody hand from her mouth.
“It’s under the bed. Duncan what’s happening and why is my stomach all sticky?”
“No time to explain, just grab your boots and sword and I shall lead us to safety.”
“I want to know -”
“NO FUCKING TIME ROSE! WE HAVE TO GO NOW!” Duncan screamed out in frustration as got off of Rose. She reached down and pulled out her katana sword from under the bed and noticed that her bell was covered in blood. She looked up at Duncan as he retrieved her calf high leather boots and asked, “Were they - eating me? Holy fuck! What’s that?”
“No but they were about to before I landed on you,” Duncan swung his sword and took off another ghoul’s head, “Sully makes for a good deterrent against the Chouls.”
Rose squeezed her feet into her boots and then she cinched her bath robe tightly and slipped her sword onto her back. She pulled her katana free from its sheath and swung away at the nearest ghoul, spilling its stomach contents on the floor.
“Aim for the neck woman! Those cuts will only tickle them!”
“Hey I just woke up so give me a break will you?” Rose hacked off the ghoul’s in one clean swipe. “I need some of my better clothes, can you make a hole for me -”
Duncan grabbed Rose by her wrist and ran towards the doorway, dragging her in tow. Rose wanted to protest but several hungry glares made her think twice of it. The ghouls parted from their path as they ran towards the hole in the wall. From somewhere behind them, Duncan and Rose heard a blood cuddling scream. Unable to control themselves, they looked back in the direction of the scream and saw it was coming from one of the ghouls.
It was kneeling beside Sully’s lifeless body, shaking it as if hoping he would spring back to life. It wailed once more before casting its sickly green eyes at Duncan and Rose. It extended its rotting arm and pointed at them, “False ones! Deceivers…eat them both!” Duncan yanked Rose forward as the ghouls marched after them. Duncan used his sword and cut away at the belt holding Sully’s head. Rose looked over her shoulder and saw that the ghouls were coming faster and would soon overtake them.
“Let me go so I can slow them down!” Rose panted.
Duncan let her go without question, which surprised Rose. As they got to the flooded stream, Rose’s eyes flared as she mentally commanded, “Give us safe passage and slow the ghouls down for us, please!” Duncan halted to a complete stop as the stream parted enough so that there was only a rocky path with little traces of water between the rocks.
“Hurry, they can’t hold it for much longer!” Rose hissed as she ran to the other side.
Duncan darted forward as several ghouls lunged for him. He finally freed himself from the belt and Sully’s decaying head fell harmlessly on the rock path of the stream. As Duncan stepped onto the other side of the stream bank, the water receded back but now it seemed to flow stronger than it had before they crossed. The ghouls stepped into the running water and one by one, they were swept away downstream. A few of them attempted to run across but the heavy flowing stream was unrelenting and dragged away any who tried to cross.
The ghouls wised up and stood at the edge of the stream, salivating as their mouths chattered in anticipation of food. Duncan wanted to ask Rose how she managed to part the stream, but now wasn’t the time for idle chit-chat, more ghouls were milling around the hole in the wall. Duncan thanked the Gods for this bit of luck since most of the ghouls were on the other side of the stream and that the few that were on their side would be more manageable.
Rose sat down on the ground and cut her hand with her sword. Duncan grabbed her by the arm, trying to stand her up but Rose yanked free from his grip.
Confused, Duncan yelled, “You realize that we aren’t out of this yet?”
“I do and that’s why I need you to keep them off of me just long enough for me to take them out.” She slapped her blood hand on a small patch of grass and added, “If you can manage that, then we both might make it out of this alive.”
Duncan looked towards the hole in the wall and saw the ghouls were bunching up, trying to prevent them from escaping. Several smaller clusters broke off from the main group which Duncan could see their intent was to come at them fully frontal as well as flanking them. Nowhere to go, trapped like a wounded lamb with ravenous hyenas closing in for the kill, Duncan growled mentally. He leaned down and picked up Rose’s katana.
“Come on Chouls! Dinner is served…” Duncan roared out as the first wave of ghouls charged forward and then he added as he twirled both swords, “Except this meal has teeth of its own.”
As Duncan hacked and slashed, Rose focused all her attention on the patch of grass. Her eyes glowed with energy and her long raven hair floated up ethereally despite the down pouring rain as she called out, “I call out to all of my plant friends! I ask for your aid in helping me and my companion escape from harm! I give my energies as well as my blood to you as payment for this task.”
Duncan decided that if he couldn’t behead all the ones who got close enough for him to strike, he would go for the legs instead. It may not kill them but it sure as hell will slow them down he thought as he swung the katana at a downward angle, cutting through one ghoul’s legs like it was nothing while swinging his own sword at the neck of an oncoming ghoul. The ground gave off a strange vibration but Duncan figured it must’ve been a mudslide somewhere nearby or lightning striking the ground. He was too preoccupied to care at this point and as his adrenaline was ebbing, exhaustion was taking its toll on his body.
Duncan noticed that the ghouls were all attacking at once, just enough to harass and make him fight for the ground he was protecting. Son of a bitch, Duncan thought as it dawned on him that the ghouls were trying to wear him out so that he would make a mistake and become easy pickings. The dead had all the time and patience in the world and they didn’t need rest or air to breath or catch their breath after a battle, something Duncan desperately desired.
“Hurry up…Rose! I’m good…but not…immortal…like them!” Duncan croaked.
“Just hang in there Duncan, help is coming!” Rose replied in a monotone voice, swaying back and forth in a trance. Duncan grunted in frustration but also wondered what kind of backup was she calling for and what the hell was taking them so long? Was she calling an army of snails and slugs? Duncan laughed under his breath at the thought and then he felt a pair of hands on his arm. Duncan pivoted and thrust his knee into the ghoul’s abdomen and followed up with a slice to its exposed neck. Duncan staggered back a couple of steps and took a deep breath and reset his fighting stance.
More vibration came, but this time it was stronger and closer. Earthquake? Rose stood up and wiped her hands on her bath robe and stated, “Time to kiss these dead fucks goodbye, stand back and watch.” Duncan backed up and stood beside Rose. The ghouls marched in unison towards them with their arms extended and mouths gaping open. Duncan tensed and gripped his swords tightly so Rose touched his forearm and whispered, “Trust me Duncan, for once okay?”
“Against all this? I-I can’t Rose…I just don’t know if I can!” Duncan’s breathing came in quick, shallow spurts, ready to go down fighting.
The ground between Rose and Duncan exploded and dozens of creeping vines shot out. The creeping vines were a vibrant green, almost glowing, and were also two times their usual size. The vines wrapped around some of the ghouls and pinned them down to the ground. The ones that weren’t pinned down got corralled and herded them to the heavy flowing stream.
“I told you that you could trust me.” Rose said as she took her katana from Duncan and sauntered for the hole in the wall.
Duncan grumbled as he followed her, stepping with care on the loose chunks of rocks and avoiding the splintered razor wire that stuck up like thorn brush, “It will take more than a few magic tricks to earn my trust sorceress. We aren’t out of this yet, the others are on the move. I’m not sure that we can make to the forest fast enough.”
“Tired already?” Rose asked as she kicked a downed ghoul in the head, “Someone needs to work on their stamina, especially if you plan on keeping up with me.”
Duncan snarled - “Damn it woman, I’ve been fighting all this time while you either slept in your bed or played in the dirt!”
“Aww poor wittle Duncan, boo hoo! Should I bake you a cookie or draw a hot bath? Will that make it all better?”
“I’m warning your Rose, don’t poke at me right now. I’m not in the mood for it!”
“Oh what will you to me? Spank me for being bad?”
“Keep it up and I might do it!”
Rose grinned as she looked over her shoulder, “Here’s a little motivation for you to catch me then, big boy” she flipped up her bath robe, revealing her curvy ass, “Come and get it Duncan…if you’re man enough for it!” Duncan stopped dead in his tracks, his gazed fell on her and that bare ass as she made a run for the forest. She didn’t bother to cover herself up either, which seemed to stir a lustful growl from Duncan.
“I heard that!” Rose called over her shoulder.
Duncan rolled his eyes as he sprinted after Rose. She wants to play with fire, he thought, then I will burn her ass. More ghouls were coming around from both sides of the Melona walls, their moans alone gave Duncan more motivation to move. Duncan could sense their unblinking stares were on him and for some reason, he felt something surge up inside of his body. In this haze of confusion, Duncan tripped over a tree root and went face first into a mud puddle. Rose looked back and shouted frantically, “Duncan! Get up! They’re almost on top of you!”
Duncan rolled over on his back and started crawling backwards on his elbows, but his crossbow on his back got snagged on something in the mud, making it more difficult to get up. Panic set in as Duncan frantically tried to remove his crossbow but the strap was at an odd angle and pressed tightly against his chest. Rose looked around for anything she could use to distract the ghouls or maybe lure them towards her. She couldn’t let Duncan die that horrible death after he chose to save her from being eaten alive while under her potion’s spell work. As cold as it felt to her, Rose focused a ball of energy in her hand with the intent to kill Duncan. Several ghouls reached down and yanked Duncan out of the mud like he weighed as light as a leaf, grunting in pain as the crossbow strap snapped. One ghoul got in his face and spoke, the stench of death and decay assailed Duncan’s nostrils, “Heathen! You will…be cleansed…of your flesh…our judgment if final!”
More ghouls swarmed all around Duncan and prevented Rose from getting a clear shot at him to give him a mercy kill. Sheer terror flooded Duncan’s mind as he saw all these decaying faces leaning forward, all their maws chomping feverishly. He screamed in anguish as the first of many bite-size amounts of flesh and muscle was ripped and torn away from his body. Tears streamed down Duncan’s face but as the pain intensified, he felt that strange surge building up to the point that he felt like he was going to explode.
Duncan wanted to close his eyes and never open them again but unfortunately for him, that strange surge of pressure forced them open wide and as he let out a high pitched cry, Duncan was awash with a bright white light. Rose saw the flash and took cover behind a nearby boulder. The heat from the white light took her breath away but Rose also noticed that it had speckles of other colors, like red and purple.
Rose was both terrified and intrigued by this new facet of Duncan, but now she wondered if it would all be a moot point. As far as she knew, Duncan was lying down in mud puddle deader than a door nail. As the last of the white light dissipated, Rose looked around at her surrounding and saw a lot of scorch marks everywhere. Rose stood up and touched the nearest tree. Despite being blacken and scorched, it was cool to the touch and she could sense that it wasn’t that badly damaged from the blast. How odd, she thought as she turned around to look at Duncan.
Rose was taken aback by what see saw. No ghouls anywhere, only ashes and black scorching on the ground like a bomb had just went off and Duncan was at ground zero for it. He was on his back, half in the crimson mud puddle, convulsing and twitching. Rose slowly made her to Duncan with her katana in hand, her eyes darting around just in case there were any surviving ghouls nearby wanting to pounce on her. Rose cupped her hand over her mouth as she dropped down by Duncan on her knees, seeing the terrible work the ghouls had inflicted on his body.
Rose set her katana down and grabbed Duncan under his arms and pulled him away from the puddle. For some reason, Rose wasn’t sure why it would matter but it seemed like the right thing to do even though it was still raining. It wasn’t like she could go snag a blanket from her hut and cover him up. He looked bad and cold, probably from the blood loss. Normally, bites from the ghouls didn’t let much blood escape the body because they wanted their victims to remain alive as they devoured them. The green ooze they produced seemed to coagulate the blood flow around the bite areas and help break down the flesh and muscles better. One could survive a ghoul bite or two, but their mouths were filled bacteria that caused infections to spread throughout the body. Duncan’s body had bite marks but most of them had no signs of the green ooze which meant he could bleed out. She grunted as she struggled with his limp body, her feet slipping and losing traction. Duncan was still breathing which Rose was glad to see but also knew that he was in a world of pain. Duncan needed his wounds tended to and the only way see could do that was to take him back to the village or somehow drag him into the forest while hunting for the herbs as they traveled.
Rose looked back at her beautiful little village and saw the ghouls were moving around, going into huts and setting the doors back up; they even took the time to close the main gate. They were making Melona look normal, like nothing had happened so the next group of traders would walk into the village like cattle for the slaughter. Fuck! Rose looked down at Duncan and then back to her village. She had to do something to warn people of the dangers that waiting inside, but how? Rose didn’t want to leave Duncan out here all alone in the elements, vulnerable to another ghoul attack.
Wait, why do I care so much, Rose thought? Duncan was a good man who had his little quirks and temper but he didn’t need her in any way because they were so different in many ways. Duncan believed that he was still married and shied away from all female advances but Rose got the sense that it wasn’t a happy marriage and yet he stayed true to his word even though his wife was reaped. Rose looked at Duncan and put her hand on his chest gently and looked him over.
He wasn’t that bad looking, despite his full body bite wounds. Duncan was a good foot and half taller that Rose and ruggedly handsome. He had a strong square jaw covered in blond stubble and had a slight cleft in his chin, which gave Rose the urge to trace finger over it. Rose shook her head, where did those thoughts come from? As more thunder crackled overhead, Rose silently called out to her wolves. She figured they could protect Duncan while she went to make a warning sign or something about the ghouls inside her village.
An intentional rustle of leaves to her right let Rose know one her wolves was nearby. In the brush, Rose could make out it face and knew it was the alpha of its pack. It was a fairly large female with black fur speckled with gray throughout its muscular body.
“Duncan is hurt badly. Would you and a few of your pack watch over him while I make a warning sign for the village?” Rose mentally asked
The wolf gave a slight nod and then she came forward with five more wolves in toll. The pack formed a protective circle around Duncan, keeping a watchful eye in every direction. Rose picked up her katana as she stood up and thanked the wolf pack for their aid and started walking towards Melona. Rose looked down and saw the alpha wolf was padding along softly beside her.
“I asked you watch over him, not me. He needs you more than I do!”
No response.
“Fine! Come along since you listen about as well as all the males that I’ve known.”
The wolf growled slightly which made Rose smirk. As she snuck along the wall, Rose looked around for anything that she could use for a warning sign. Rose didn’t want to use her magic unless she absolutely had to because it took a toll on her body physically or she would’ve had the creeping vines encase the whole village. Think Rose, think! Drawing a blank and being soaked like a drowned rat wasn’t getting her anywhere so Rose grunted as she summoned a magical flame in her hand. She crept up to the main gate and carefully etched her warning in the wood.
Even with the wolf at her side, Rose kept darting her eyes around so that she wouldn’t be taken by surprise and made a meal for the ghouls…like Duncan. Okay, why am I lamenting about him and now when I’m in more danger than he is in at the moment? Rose focused on her magical flame, trying to spell the words “GHOULS INSIDE!” and not alert the ghouls inside was difficult because the wood was burning and they had better olfactory than wolves.
Rose could barely hear the ghouls shuffling around in the mud inside and the fact that none of them were making any grunting sounds or speaking was good, but then again Duncan did mention long ago that they could commune telepathically so for all she knew the ghouls could be setting up an ambush for her and she would never see it until it was too late. As she was finishing up her warning, Rose noticed that something kept sizzling in her blue flame. It wasn’t the rain because it hissed as it made contact. Whatever it was it was thicker and green?
Rose’s face paled as realization hit her so she looked up and saw a gangly female ghoul staring down at her with hunger in it putrid eyes. Rose let her flame die out as she stumbled backwards away from the door as the female ghoul leaped down at her, just missing her with its outstretched hands. Rose steady herself as the ghoul sprung to its feet and she unsheathed her katana. The wolf lunged at the ghouls, biting down on its leg and thrashing its head back and forth violently. Rose seized the opportunity and lunged forward, swinging her sword like a baseball bat at the ghoul’s neck.
The ghoul’s body dropped like a sack of potatoes and Rose had to stifle a happy squeal. The wolf used its nose and pushed the decapitated head towards her. Rose looked at it for a moment and then she made an O shape with her lips.
“You want me to use this as part of my warning?”
The wolf nodded its head slightly so Rose picked up the ghoul’s head by its matted and sticky hair. The smell that wafted up from it nearly made Rose empty the contents of her stomach so she ran to the main gate and set it beside it. Rose put her hands on her hips, thinking as she looked at the door and the head. She created the blue flame once more and went to work on the spot just above the “I”. She burrowed into the wood deep enough that she feared if she wasn’t careful, her flame would burn a hole clear through the door.
Rose stopped and extinguished the blue flame and then she bent down and grabbed clumps of mud and slathered it in the hole. Rose then snatched up the head and wedged it snuggly into hole. It oozed a nasty black ichor from its neck but she felt confident it would stay in place. Rose backed up and nodded in approval of her handiwork. That’s one way to dot your “I’s”; Rose giggled inwardly as she walked away.
Rose leaned down and rubbed the wolf on its head and behind the ear. The wolf growled low but Rose could tell she liked it. Now that she was finished with that crisis, Rose had to figure out how to get Duncan somewhere safe so she could tend to his wounds, get him food and water, and possibly give him a bath if he was lucky. For some reason, just the image of doing that made Rose’s core respond, even in the rain she noticed she had gotten wetter.
Rose pointed at her core, scolding it like a parent would a naughty child, “Oh for goodness sake’s! He handsome and a decent person, but what hell is wrong with you? I don’t want him like that, you horny toad!”
The wolf looked up at Rose quizzically and then snorted several times before tearing her gaze away. “What’s so funny, little missy? You think you know my body better than I do?” The wolf patted along beside Rose, quietly looking everywhere but at her.
Rose gasped - “You do! What the hell, girl? Now you’re agreeing with my greedy little pussy? Sometimes I do wonder if you were a male in a previous life and obviously its showing!”
The wolf let out a low growl and darted in front of Rose with her snout at her crotch, sniffing. Rose was appalled and wasn’t sure what she should other than try to push the alpha wolf away but she wouldn’t budge. The wolf looked up at Rose for a moment and then she turned and trotted away towards the rest of the pack. Rose found herself petting and touching her crotch and then she called out mentally, “Now you’re sniffing me up? Why, do you think I’m in heat or something?” The wolf careened its head and gave her a knowing look, as if to say “You are so don’t deny it, bitch.”
Rose babbled on mentally - “Hey, I know I’m yearning down in my nether region but that doesn’t mean squat! I’m not a dog who will fuck the first man I comes across. I have a selective taste and I refuse to be judged by you! Not to say haven’t had sex but many men have tried to woo and win my hand and have yet to cross my threshold.”
The alpha wolf sat down and silently watched Melona as Rose walked up. Rose stood their thinking about how to move Duncan as well as glaring at the alpha. Rose kneeled down beside Duncan and squeezed her palm that she cut earlier to draw more blood. A small amount trickled out but it was enough for what Rose needed to do as she placed her bloody hand on a patch of grass, she hoped.
“Hear my call and take my blood as payment for what I ask of you in return will end your own life cycle. My friend Duncan is severely hurt and I need a way to move him to somewhere safer than here. If any will come to my aid, I would greatly appreciate it and thank you.”
Rose sat down and took Duncan’s hand and squeezed it. He was still twitching and shaking but not as violent as it was when it first started which gave her a small glimmer of hope. Then again, Rose wasn’t a doctor and he wasn’t a plant or animal, though at times that was debatable. Rose heard a soft snort and saw the alpha wolf was watching her before looking away.
“Piss off!” Rose grumbled.
The ground vibrated beneath Rose and continued to grow stronger. Rose gasped as the vibrations got stronger and shot up to her core, it responded by getting wetter. Rose quickly stood up and growled, “Don’t even go there, wolf.” But the alpha sniffed the air and gave her a quick glance to say, “I told you so!”
Creeping vines slowly pushed their way out of the earth and awaited Rose’s instructions. “Thank you for coming. Will you please weave a bed for my friend here?” The vines moved in unison, crisscrossing and overlapping each other and Rose added, “Oh and I will need a sturdy strap on it so that I can somehow drag him around until he gets better.” Rose saw that there was grass squeezing through the slits, making more of a cushion for Duncan to lay on which surprised her.
As the vines and grass finished making themselves into a make-shift gurney, Rose kneeled down and inspected it before the plants could fully sacrifice themselves for hers and Duncan’s needs. Each of the weaves was tighter than she could’ve ever done and would’ve taken several strong, well-skilled men to craft it like this. She was amazed to say the least and filled with pride but Rose also knew that they had to die so she pulled out her katana and said, “This is more of a blessing than I expected to receive from you, my friends. Thank you for your sacrifices and be at peace.”
Rose cut the vines with one quick stroke with her sword and then she place a hand on the severed ends and gave it some of her magic to show her gratitude. She sheathed her sword and grabbed a hold of Duncan’s clothes and tugged at him, trying to move him onto the gurney. The wolves stood up and gently bit down on his clothes and gave small yanks to help Rose. Duncan groaned and half-heartedly flailed his arms and legs.
Rose perched her lip, concerned that Duncan believed that he was still being attacked instead of being helped. Poor guy, she thought, probably thinks the ghouls are still swarming over him. Rose gave one last tug to get Duncan all the way on the gurney and then she slipped and fell on her ass, mud splattering everywhere. Rose crinkled her nose as she wiped the mud off her legs and hands.
“Your dead weight better be worth all this hassle.” Rose snarled her frustration, but then for some reason guilt crept into her mind, “I-I’m sorry, Duncan.” She reached down and squeezed his hand but got no response but only felt the tremors in his body. He wasn’t shaking much now but his body would jerk into a spasm every couple of minutes now. Now the he was situated on the gurney, Rose lifted her head, closed her eyes and mentally called out, “To any of my four-legged friends, I ask for the aid of a strong back that can carry me and haul my injured friend to the safest part of the forest. Help us please and I shall give you tribute in the form of food you like.”
Rose knew she had nothing readily available to give to whatever animal came her way, but she could encourage plants and seedling to grow faster and have an abundance of food for harvesting. Rose crawled over to Duncan so she could examine his wounds more closely. If I’m going to be waiting, I might as well pass the time by doing something productive she thought as she removed his bug-out bag from his back and sat it between his legs. The bites looked inflamed and the one that were still bleeding had a malodorous smell, which meant infection. If all his bites are like this, then maybe I should kill him and put him out of his misery, Rose thought bitterly but then she saw a way to stop his bleeding. Duncan still had green ooze covering most of his bites so Rose figured it was better to use it to stop the bleeding. Crinkling her nose, Rose ran her hands through what remaining green ooze that covered his body and applied it to his free bleeding wounds. Duncan had spoken of how the ghoul bites work when he first arrived at Melona with a trader that had several bites on his back. Rose could hardly believe it but what he said was true as his bleeding stopped on instant contact with the green ooze. Still, he never said anything about bite victims having convulsions or the tremors that he was experiencing, even the trader who was freshly bitten long ago didn’t have them either, just infection a lot of pain too.
Rose heard the sound of slouching heavy footstep coming from the forest to her left. It was a large ox with horns as big as Rose’s thigh. Rose stood up and splashed her through the mud puddle and greeted the giant beast. She stroked it head and neck and murmured, “Thank you for coming. I don’t have any food right now, but I promise I will make the grasses larger and more abundant on our long journey ahead. If this isn’t what you want then you can go…I will understand and wait for another creature to come.”
The ox nodded and licked the side of Rose’s face, leaving a thick, slimy trail from the wake of it huge tongue. Rose smiled as she crinkled her nose slightly and said, “Thanks…I guess.” She walked over to where Duncan was and called for the ox to follow her over. It lumbered slowly, kicking up mud and water as it maneuvered its massive body in position. Rose grabbed the long vine reigns and looped segments of it around the ox’s horns and left enough slack in it to make reign for her to hold on to as she rode on top of the beast. The wolf pack scattered and went back into the forest, but Rose knew that they would be close by to protect her from unseen dangers.
“Okay big boy, let’s get out of here, preferably somewhere safe and possibly dry.” Rose commanded. As the ox lumbered towards the forest, Rose made it a habit to look behind her and make sure Duncan was safe and hadn’t rolled off the gurney. She didn’t think of tying him down but then again, if something were to happen, Duncan wouldn’t be completely helpless. Rose shook head and kept wondering why she was concerning herself over Duncan’s well-being. Maybe because he saved my dumb ass from being eaten? Possibly but to Rose, that explanation didn’t fit right into this emotional puzzle.
She had more questions for Duncan if he ever regained consciousness. Like what happened to her beloved village and how did the ghouls breach the walls in the first place, besides the gaping hole in the wall? What was the story behind Sully and why did the ghouls retreat from his severed head? Did Sully have a talisman or some sort of spell on him that made the ghouls avoid him like the plague and if so, what the fuck was it? Rose wrapped her soaked bath robe close to her body as she sensed someone was watching from somewhere but she couldn’t say if it was human or ghoul eyes. Whoever it was, it was giving her the creeps and they better stay far away if they wanted to live.