The Outcast and the Survivor: Chapter Ten

he could break me. But though his voice is stern, there is a peacefulness to it that gives me confidence in him.

“What is your name?” I ask.

“Brogan,” he replies kindly, “and while I’d like to be polite, it’s not safe here. We need to—”

“We need to save Helena,” I interrupt. “There’s not much time left.”

Cassandra looks at me confused, and then toward Astor, who remains cool and expressionless.

“Why do you say that?”

It’s so hard to not tell her. I want to, but for some reason I feel like mentioning the Necromancer will undo whatever Astor has in mind. But how else can I convince Brogan and Cassandra to try again what they surely have already tried and failed? I ignore this doubt and just start talking.

“The festival is only weeks away now. There is no time left for caution. We can’t finish this without her.”

I stop there, hoping that if I remain vague enough, they might believe that I know what I’m talking about. And sure enough, my words seem to have their desired effect. Cassandra glances back and forth between me and Astor, her eyes eventually landing on Brogan. He sighs, taking another deep breath.

“My men can be ready at sundown if they start prepping now.”

She nods, and we all start moving toward the stairs.

My stomach twists inside of me. I don’t know what I’ve set in motion, but I immediately feel the weight of it on my shoulders. Whatever tonight brings, the guilt and blame will be on me if harm befalls anyone. And I’m not sure how, but I can already sense it in my heart.

Not everyone is going to make it through the night.