Based on the information the torturer had given , and my own knowledge of the cathedrals layout, I had two options. Either I could make my way through small side halls, or cut directly through the main hall in the center. Both had their advantages and disadvantages. If I moved through the smaller side passages, it would take longer, and there was a greater chance I would be recognized when I passed soone. If I cut through the larger church room, there was a lesser chance of passing by anyone close enough to be recognized, but if I was then the alarm would be raised far more quickly. There was the third option. I could simply leave, and make a run for it, but since I now knew that Mary could track , it would an pursuit the entire ti, and shed be far more likely to catch unaware than I would be to catch her.
I drew my hood close, and made my way across a few halls until I ca to the opening to the large anteroom. I started to push the door open, and hesitated. I moved back to the room where Id killed the two researching deadn and found a box. I piled it high with random odds and ends and closed it, then made my way back to the main door. I pushed it open, and started walking across the wide open, well lit hall. I made a point not to move too fast or too slow, rather focusing on looking deliberate and like I had soplace to be. One of the first things Id learned as a Postman was that when you're carrying a lot of things, and moving like you had soplace to be, very few people get in your way, even if youre a deadman.
I walked through a small group of deadn who cleared the path without giving a second look, and made my way all the way to the far door. A deadman there gave a look as I approached the door.
Can you get that for ? I asked.
He shook his head, and pulled it open. I walked through. Id made it to the other side. I inhaled deeply and kept walking, a notification appearing in the corner of my eye that I pulled up.
Congratulations Citizen! You have earned a rank in loading/unloading! Even the statue of liberty was shipped here one piece at a ti!
Well that made being captured and all the torture worth it. I moved through the hallways, and started taking deep breaths through my nose. Mary had a distinct scent, and just like she had her eyes to track , I had my nose to track her. I passed by a few deadn, but the halls were clear by the ti I got to the room that her sll led to. Ozone, and blood, the sll was wafting between the gaps in the door. I slowly placed the box on the ground and drew my sword. Id need to move quickly to prevent her from being able to raise an alarm. I knocked on the door and raised the sword. I listened as footsteps slowly approached the door, then stopped.
First, is that She hesitated, Wait.
I slamd the door open, but she dodged backward before the door could hit her. She seed faster than she had been. I activated my Freeze ability once I had her in sight, but she didnt stop moving, instead grabbing a nearby table and throwing it at . I rolled under it and attempted to close the distance between us. She was stronger than I rembered too. I closed in, activating Freeze again, and placing her Under Arrest, but she didn't slow down, and managed to pull a long knife off a nearby table and start striking at . I heard noise approaching. Id been too loud, and Mary was a stronger foe than Id anticipated. Likely from the Eucharist shed had earlier. She was fast and strong, but I could tell she wasnt experienced as a fighter. I didnt have ti to kill her, but that wasnt really what I needed to do anyway.
As the noise of footsteps grew, and I started to hear yelling, I pretended to stumble and when she stabbed at I grabbed the blade of her knife and struck out with my own sword. She hesitated to let go of the knife, and my sword cut deep into her face, across her eyes. She scread and brought her hands to them. I didnt make the killing blow, I needed to move while I had ti, and the more confusion about what had just happened, the better.
I approached the window on the far end. I was about three stories up, but I used my jump pack to slow my descent, and from there I bolted for the woods. Id need to put as much distance between myself and the cathedral as possible, so I ran, not worried about creating a trail for the first several miles. Once I was certain Id put enough distance between myself and the cathedral, I started to make an effort to cover my trail. Without her eyes, Mary wouldnt be able to track as easily. Id have preferred to have killed her, but Id take what I could get. I just had to hope she hadnt also developed enhanced healing, but given the distance shed kept from when I was captured, and caution Id seen her exercise, if she did have it, it was new, and it may well not allow her to fully regrow her eyes as they were.
I began to move through the woods, and decided to keep my laspistol handy rather than my usual 9mm. It had served well, but with the amount of deadn that had healing abilities around, I wanted sothing handy that could pack a bit more of a punch.
My head began to ache as I moved, and I rembered that I hadnt eaten in nearly a week. I reached into my bag. Id been out of fresh food for so ti, but I was able to find a few of the Russian rations still inside. Based on the guns Id seen being used in Eden, theyd probably seen these quite a bit in their looting of the tal Wastes. I tore one of them open while moving, and ate whatever looked even moderately organic, putting the trash into my pack to keep from leaving a trail. It wasnt enough to fill , but I at least felt sustained.
I dipped out of the deadzone outskirts of Eden, on the way back to where Id stored the explosives. I detoured slightly at the scent of an animal and was rewarded with a feral hog and its piglets that I was able to quickly dispatch for a quick snack. As I chewed through them I felt the tingle of radiation co over . I swallowed. I hadnt been moving, the radiation had co to . It wasnt as strong as a full deadzone, though it was definitely deadly for humans in the long term. There was only one explanation I could think of for the rads moving over . The First was after himself.
I started moving again, picking up the pace as I finished tearing into the dead piglet I was carrying in my hands, eating it practically whole. I was finally starting to feel full, and my strength was returning, but I still wasnt sure if I could take the First in a straight up fight. If just consuming his flesh could grant abilities like the improvents to Mary's strength and speed, I was certain he had so advantages that were even more dangerous.
I was less than a mile away from the bombs when the rads build more.
Donny! You clever fucker! Thought we couldnt follow you without Mary, huh!?
I kept moving, not bothering to respond even though the voice was getting closer with every word.
Well, I dont know if you noticed, but my eyes have a bit of a glow to them too dont they? Maybe you couldve put two and two together, huh? There was a pause and when he spoke again he was even louder.Ive decided, I dont think its going to be worth working with you after all! Too much fucking bullshit co with it!
I was hearing a single pair of footsteps rapidly closing in. It was nightfall, and I could also see a glow slowly overtaking . I stopped running, drew my laspistol and sword, and shot in the direction of the oncoming footsteps. They stopped, and I hesitated for a mont, then the glow grew brighter again, and I saw the First walking through the brush, one of the massive brute axes in each of his hands, that he lifted and moved with ease, brushing a hole in his black robe casually with the back of his hand, through which light was spilling.
You know, I havent had to heal like that in quite a while. Good to know everything still works.
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