The Marenon Chronicles Collection - By Jason D. Morrow Page 0,3

Garland spoke, ripping him from a brief moment of comfort.

“They haven’t moved,” he said. “They’re waiting for us.”

“Then why don’t we leave?” Silas whispered. “Let’s steal their truck and go down the mountain.”

Garland shook his head. “No. We must fight them. They know that I need to get into the cave.” He pulled the shotgun to his side and set it next to Silas. “You take this. I’ll confront them first. I know how the possessed think. When they see that I have a sword they will want to fight me with their own. A gun is weak in their eyes.”

“How do you know they carry blades?”

“They always carry blades,” Garland said. “Once their rifles are down, I want you to try and fire at them.” He pointed hard at Silas. “Don’t shoot me by accident!”

“It’s a shotgun, Gramps, you better stay low.”

The situation felt too dangerous. Not only were they about to go in for the kill, they were setting themselves up for being killed as well. It was an impossible situation, but Silas had to follow his grandfather.

Climbing down the steep rock in the middle of the night was no easy task. Garland reached the ground first and did his best to steady Silas on his descent. He decided they would flank the cave from the left to avoid any noise made by walking through the dead leaves of the wooded ground. At the slow pace it took several minutes to find the dirt pathway that led to the side of the cave. The two of them hunkered low, being mindful of their steps as not to alert Marcus or Theron. Surprise was key. After several minutes of moving slowly they finally reached their destination just yards from the cave opening and both of them knelt behind a bush. Silas wiped his wet, shaggy blonde hair to the side and gripped the shotgun. The sword weighed heavy on his back.

He watched as his grandfather surveyed the best way to enter, taking notice of the old man’s movements. He was looking his age. He was active and could hold his own against anyone, but the years that wore on his 70-year-old frame were beginning to bring him down. This was something Silas had begun to notice several years before. Garland was the only parent he had ever known. The change he had undergone over the past seventeen years was subtle but apparent. Silas hated the thought of losing his grandfather, but he knew old age was just a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. He didn't know what he would do without Garland.

These thoughts pulsed through his mind, as they were about to meet death face to face. What was about to take place could go terribly wrong. Not only may he lose a grandfather, but he too could die. He had only one more protest in him.

“Are you sure this is what we should do?”

Garland was still studying their approach. “Yes,” he said. He looked at Silas and slowly pulled the sword from its sheath. “Stay ten paces behind me. When I drop to the ground, fire your first shot where the threat is highest. Save your last shot for the other. From this distance, a shotgun will only wound them. After the second shot, come in with your sword and we will take them.

Silas nodded. He was as ready as he could be, considering. He gripped the gun tighter as his grandfather gave him another firm squeeze on the shoulder and stood from his crouch. He counted the steps until he reached ten paces. He immediately stopped when a deafening sound roared through the air. He jumped to the ground and expected his grandfather to do the same, but he didn't. Garland just stood there. The bang sounded again and Silas knew it was from a gun. Still, his grandfather stood motionless. Silas wanted to call out, but did not want to give away his position. Where had the shot come from? Garland then turned, revealing a stain of blood spreading across his shirt, and fell to his knees.

“No!” Silas cried, just above a whisper, seeing two gaping wounds crying out of Garland’s stomach. Silas could not stay where he was. With his gun in hand and the sword on his back he ran to his grandfather's side.

“Sil…, run Silas...”

“No, no, no, you can’t die like this!” Where had the shot come from?

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Theron and Marcus charging to where