Chapter 61 - What Was Found

Blue rummaged through piles and piles of discarded jewelry, mana stones, and other junk for hours. "Damnit. All of this shit and it's not here. That's all three gates on the map Aaron gave me. What now?"

Blue opened his system. "You've been awful quiet lately. You gonna fucking help me out here?"

Nothing appeared. Blue stared up at the ceiling.

"I'm just supposed to figure this out on my own or what?" Blue kicked some of the rubbish on the ground and sent it flying across the warehouse. "What good are gods if they can't help me find the thing they are forcing me to look for, huh?"

Blue made his way out of the warehouse and across the street to the building Jon had pointed him toward. Blue stepped into the building, and the three men who guarded Jon escorted him into a back room. As the door opened and Blue stepped through, Jon smiled. "Did you find what you were looking for?"

"No, but my goodness, you have a ton of mana stones and other junk stored up."

"Well, we don't need many mana stones to keep things running."

"So, have you guys come to a conclusion?" Blue sat in an open chair.

Mr. White sat forward in his chair. "We have. When we arrive back in Columbus, we will let Titus know what we found here. We will then start building accommodations for these people. The plan will be to bring them from here to Columbus in waves, so as not to flood the stronghold with more than we can handle. We will also be bringing trucks to carry supplies and those mana stones you mentioned with us."

"Sounds like you don't need my help at all."

"We do not," Mr. Black said. "We have plans in place already for this exact scenario. The Association is prepared for this exact situation."

"Well, good. So can we head back home now? I am all out of patience at the moment."

Jon stood. "We have worked out the details. We will have the children and their mothers, along with the elderly, ready to go in two weeks when you arrive." Jon shook Mr. White's and Mr. Black's hands. He looked at Blue, who stood with his arms folded. "I am sorry you came all this way and did not find what you were looking for."

"It's fine. It is important, but just as important are the lives of civilians. So either way, I'll count today as a win. When you get to Columbus, come search out the Eclipse Guild. I think we could use your ability greatly. Although, I'm sure Titus will snatch you up for himself."

"I will do so. It was a pleasure meeting you all, and I look forward to continued cooperation through this process."

Blue and the two S-rankers walked outside, got in the truck, and headed back home toward Columbus.

"That was a productive day. Very melodramatic." Blue looked at Mr. White.

"I would say so. It's always a good day when we can find other survivors and bring them into the stronghold." Mr. White rolled his window down.

"It has been a while since we've found a large group of survivors. The last time we came to Dayton, we found traces, but couldn't pinpoint their location. The density of monsters was too high, and it was too dangerous to push forward," Mr. Black said.

"I guess Midnight's failed attack turned into a blessing after all." Blue smiled as they continued the drive back home.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, they were a few miles from the stronghold when they noticed an explosion coming from the city. Blue looked at Mr. White and Mr. Black. "You're kidding. Again?"

Mr. White squinted his eyes. "It appears to be an explosion from inside the walls. Maybe an accident or more foolish awakeners fighting."

"I concur," Mr. Black said from the back.

As the truck got closer to the gate of the stronghold, two more explosions occurred.

"Okay, now it appears to not be an accident." Mr. White looked at Blue. "Step on it."

Blue floored the gas as the truck raced toward the gate. Blue slammed on the brakes and held down the horn until the gates slowly opened. As soon as they did, Blue slammed on the gas as the truck peeled out and raced toward the explosions.

"No way. It's coming from... my guild."

Blue sped through Columbus until he reached the gates of Eclipse. Black smoke billowed from inside. Outside the gates, bodies lay dead on the ground. Aaron, Olivia, Arthur, and Titus stood at the center of the carnage.

Blue stepped out of the truck and walked toward the gate. Aaron and the rest simply hung their heads and didn't say a word. Blue walked through the gate and into his guild's compound. Inside, bodies lay to his left and right. Some of the bodies were new awakeners who had recently joined the guild. Others were civilians he had been training in qi. Blue walked through the carnage and looked at the guild building. The front doors had been blown off. Glass was shattered and left lying on the ground.

Blue walked through the front door threshold. In the distance, he noticed Eve, Chris, Darrien, and Samantha standing together. As he got closer to them, he noticed a white sheet lying in front of the four of them.

Blue stepped next to Eve and saw Yuki. Chris, Darrien, Samantha, and Eve all stared at Blue and were completely silent. Blue looked between them all and then back at Yuki. Her arms were tied behind her back. She sat against a pillar with chains wrapped around her body. Her eyes were swollen shut, her cheeks were bruised and swollen, her lips cracked, and blood spilled from her mouth and other cuts on her face. Blue looked down at the sheet and bent down. He lifted it and saw Cynthia's face. It was pale, the blood having left her body. Her eyes were wide open.

Blue pulled the sheet down farther, just past her stomach. That's when he saw it. A hole in her chest, right through her heart. Tears started running down Blue's face as he bent down, placed his cheek next to hers, and whispered, "I'm sorry."

Blue sat back up, wiped his nose, and pulled the sheet back over her body. He stood and looked at Eve.

"Who?"

No one answered. All of their heads hung towards the sheet in front of them.

Blue screamed, "I ASKED YOU FUCKING WHO?"

Everyone flinched. Darrien finally looked down at Yuki, then back to Blue. "Midnight."

Blue took a deep breath and pulled the map Titus gave him out of his pocket. He looked at it, saw 5 new circles with no x's through them. He folded it back up, and put it in his pocket and turned. As he did, he let all of his qi shoot outward, no longer restraining himself. His qi flooded the entire complex, bringing Eve, Chris, Darrien, and even Samantha to their knees, struggling to breathe. They watched as Blue slowly walked away with his fist clenched, the floor cracking beneath each of his heavy steps.