Free What Following Brings by S. E. Campbell Page B

shattered them on the floor.
    A fine mist coated the ground and then white faces appeared all around her, glowing. All of the faces became “ white ladies, ” glowing beings of white with long, winding hair and Victorian style dresses which wrapped around them and flowed in an invisible wind. One of them glided forward and put her hands on Eden ’ s shoulders.
    â€œ Wait , ” Eden said. “ I ’ m releasing the other Raiders. You need me . ”
    The Raider leaned downward and then Eden felt pain fill her forehead again. She cried out and the Raider stared at her forehead with yet again no emotion. Eden expected this Raider to say something, as the original Raider had done, but instead all ten of the glowing white women disappeared into white faces and then, finally, a fine mist upon the ground. The mist left her and disappeared.
    Eden repeated these steps in each room she came to. After Eden left th e fourth room , she heard the sound of running feet on the stairs. She had a hard time seeing around the white mist which surrounded her. She saw that somebody parted the mist like Moses parted the sea. She tried to focus and saw it was Yuri . He held a glowing white lantern to keep the mist at bay.
    â€œ Yuri, ” Eden said.
    Behind Yuri, Eden saw another person. A familiar person. It was Aaron, holding a lantern.
    â€œ So it ’ s you who is doing this, ” Yuri said. “ A week in this prison and you ’ ve destroyed i t. How is that even possible? ”
    â€œ Yuri, you should get out of here, ” Eden said. “ Just leave the prison. It won ’ t be here when this is all over. ”
    â€œ You humiliated me, ” Yuri said, unsheathing his sword. “ I don ’ t know why the Raiders aren ’ t touching you, but I won ’ t let you go. ”
    Eden stole a frightened look at Aaron, who still lingered behind Yuri .
    â€œ Don ’ t do this, Yuri, ” Eden said. “ Just go. ”
    â€œ Keep the light aloft, Colonel, ” Yuri said, passing the lantern to Aaron.
    â€œ Yes, sir. ”
    The moment Aaron had the lantern in his hands, he placed it on the ground and tackled Yuri from behind, wrestling him to the ground. Yuri swore in surprise and confusion, but he managed to flip Aaron onto his back. Behind them the Raiders began to form and Eden ran forward to seize the lantern, shining it on the fighting pair. Eden knew without that, they would not be protected. She had bought freedom only for herself and the other prisoners. At least, for now.
    As Eden watched with wide, horrified eyes, Yuri gained control, straddled Aaron, and began to punch him in the face. Aaron groaned in pain and covered his eyes . He struggled and squirmed, but Yuri was much tougher than Aaron was and kept punching him.
    â€œ So it was you who has been helping her, ” Yuri said , still pounding Aaron ’ s chest . “ I thought it was odd you volunteered to come get her with me, even though every man who has gone up that flight of stairs has not come back. You are a traitor, Aaron. A traitor. ”
    â€œ Stop, ” Eden said.
    Yuri gazed up at her and scowled , locking Aaron ’ s arms above his head . “ Give me one good reason why I should . ”
    â€œ Because I ’ m not the only one who is a prisoner here, ” Eden said. “ You are, too. You put yourself here to punish yourself, am I right? ”
    Instead of responding, Yuri stared down at Aaron who was still being pinned with his wrists above his head. Aaron ’ s eyes were wide with fear . Eden didn ’ t think Yuri would finish Aaron off, but she didn ’ t want to risk it. She had to get Yuri away from him.
    â€œ Your Dawn wouldn ’ t have wanted you to do this, ” Eden said. “ And I bet she ’ s never blamed you for the car accident. I don ’ t either. You shouldn ’ t have killed yourself, Yuri, and you shouldn ’ t be here. You can