Chương 109: Chapter 108 – What Did One Fly Say to the Other?

"Gertrude, what are you doing out of your pen, you silly thing?" Illianna asked the goat as if it could answer her.

"Gertrude?" Roxie snorted.

"What a great name for a goat." She giggled. Moving closer to the house, more animals began to converge onto the path.

"Something's not right," Illianna said, seeing sheep, pigs, and cows roaming freely.

"Those are Joe and Rosie's animals. They should be in their stalls and corrals, not free roaming like this."

"Where is Joe?" she asked, worry creeping across her face.

"Normally he would be out here pitching a fit at Gertrude's escape. I can only imagine the ruckus he will cause when he discovers all his animals are loose." Roxie held out her arm to stop Illianna from going further down the road.

"So this isn't normal? I mean, animals just strolling around the farm like this?" Roxie asked, confused.

"City girl here, not much exposure to life on the farm."

"No," Illianna said.

"They wreak all kinds of havoc with the crops, not to mention get themselves stuck in wells, or caught up in fences." Illianna looked back and forth.

"Something is off, but I can't pinpoint exactly what. The animals are generally contained and out of harm's way." She paused, cocking her head as if listening closely.

"It's too quiet," she said, turning to Roxie.

"This time of year is usually busy. The harvesting season just began. Joe should be out by the cornfield over there," she said, pointing to an area on the left, "and Rosie would be tending to the chickens or gathering eggs over there," she added, gesturing toward a space near the barn.

"By now, they would have had the Smithers boys helping out, but I don't see anyone or any type of activity at all." Seeing Illianna's obvious distress, Roxie discreetly pulled her off the road and into a copse of trees.

"Okay, stay behind me. Keep your ears and eyes open for strangers or things that don't belong," Roxie said, placing her hand on her knife.

"I really wish I had my gun," she muttered.

"We need to go in smart and slow. I know it looks like no one is here, but there could be hostiles waiting inside to see who shows up."

"Got it," Illianna whispered, her hands beginning to tremble slightly.

"Tactically, we need to stay hidden. We can't just go strolling up to the front door. Once we get out from behind the trees, there isn't much cover," Roxie said.

"There's another way to the house," Illianna said, moving closer to Roxie.

"If we cut through the woods over there," she pointed at a small path, "then cut through the corn, that will get us pretty close to the back door," she whispered.

"Good. I wasn't thrilled about us trying to make it unnoticed in such an open area. I want you to stay behind me, but I will need you to point me in the right direction. Don't go traipsing off trying to lead the way. Use hand signals to direct me," Roxie said in hushed tones, looking around for any hostiles. Roxie paid close attention to Illianna's guidance and proximity as they traveled quickly, stopping behind large trees along the way. When they reached the tree line, Roxie could see the cornfield.

She carefully took in the surroundings, looking for any movement in the trees or the corn before darting into the field. Illianna directed Roxie to the cut-through in the corn. Roxie began to feel claustrophobic, with the tall stalks making the pathway difficult to navigate. When the cottage came into view, Roxie took a deep breath, then crouched down.

"Okay," she whispered, "good job," her eyes darting around the property.

"Stay here. I'm going to get a closer look," she said before reaching into her pocket and handing Illianna the emergency teleport button.

"If anything goes wrong, I want you to hit this button," she said, pointing to it.

"Three times. It will take you back to Elena."

"What about you?" Illianna said, her eyes widening with concern.

"You'll be trapped here with no one. I can't just leave you like that."

"Illianna, just do it. Don't worry about me, I can take care of myself. I promised Sheera that I would not let anything happen to you," she began, giving her a heartfelt look.

"I need you to promise me you will hit that button if anything goes wrong. I wouldn't be able to face Sheera or the others if something happens." She turned toward the house, then turned back to face her.

"Besides, I can't do what I need to do if I am worried that you are in danger." The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Illianna nodded in agreement.

"Alright, I promise, I'll do it." Knowing exactly how crafty Illianna could be, Roxie asked, "Do what?" For all she knew, she could be promising to make dinner for them later that evening. Illianna looked at Roxie with the most innocent of expressions, hoping to remain silent. Roxie glared at her, waiting for a response.

"Oh, fine!" Illianna said before rolling her eyes.

"I promise I will hit the button three times if something goes wrong." Roxie smiled warmly at Illianna.

"Thank you, I feel better now." She turned toward the house, goosebumps rising on her arms. She turned to Illianna and nodded.

"I'll let you know when and if it's safe. Don't you dare come in after me no matter what you see or hear. If after a half-hour you don't see or hear from me, press that button." Illianna nodded.

"If I come out of the house and do this," Roxie said, making a fist and placing a hand on top of it, "hit that button. It will mean we are not alone." She gave Illianna a serious look.

"If the coast is clear, I will wave you in. But if I wave you in with both arms, press the button. It means hostiles are behind me, telling me to do it. Got it?"

"Yes," Illianna said, "after half an hour with no sign, push button, hand on top of fist, push button, wave with one arm, come on down, wave with two arms, press button," she confidently reiterated.

"I know this should go without saying, but if you get nabbed or see someone getting close, push the damn button. Don't try to warn me or alert me, just press the button," Roxie added.

"Okay, I'm off. Eyes and ears open," she said before running to the back of the cottage. Illianna could only watch from the safety of the corn. She could see Roxie quickly press herself against the building between two windows, then carefully peek inside, before moving closer to the back porch. Roxie made her way onto the porch. She stopped suddenly and winced. The sound of a loose board creaking under her weight seemed as loud as a thunderclap. Her heart raced.

She stood motionless, listening for any sound of movement inside. Hearing nothing, she made her way to the next window and peered in. The inside of the room was in shambles; furniture had been overturned. Were those feet? she asked herself as she carefully approached the door, her hand wrapped around the hilt of her dagger. She slowly opened the screen door, grimacing as the loud screech made her cringe. When was the last time they oiled the damn hinges? she wondered, carefully listening for any movement.

She saw the internal door had been left wide open, a large footprint visible on the paint. Roxie sighed as she slipped inside. Chaos and destruction were everywhere in the tiny home. The smell assaulted her senses, making her gag reflexively. She rushed back to the door and breathed in the fresh air before resuming her search, carefully breathing through her mouth. She heard no sounds of movement, and based on the unmistakable smell of rotting meat, garbage, and death, no one was here… at least no one living.

She knew making assumptions got agents killed, so she decided to give the house a thorough once-over before allowing Illianna anywhere near it. Carefully, she went up the staircase to the second floor, every step betraying her location. Her ears finely tuned to even the slightest sound that could mean movement. The smell of death seemed to permeate through the closed door at the top of the stairs. She slowly reached for the door handle with one hand and unsheathed her dagger with the other.

The stench in the closed-up room hit her like a fist when she opened the door. The smell was so strong she could taste it, causing bile to rise quickly to the back of her throat. She tried to make sense of what she was seeing. Are those dogs? she asked herself taking in the horrific sight. One of the animals was laid out on the bed, while the other lay on the floor, discarded like a piece of garbage. Whoever did this took their time; they made sure the dogs didn't just die, but suffered before death came.

The deafening sound of thousands of flies feasting on the dogs' remains filled the room.

"Why did they have to kill the dogs?" she murmured, while quickly backing out of the room and shutting the door. She stood silently, shaking her head in disbelief while regaining her senses after the horrific sight.

"So where are the Abernathys?" she whispered, genuinely afraid for them and their plight. She quickly resheathed her dagger and checked each room before heading back downstairs. She checked the kitchen, where a meal was still sitting on the table, never eaten by those it was intended for. The flies buzzed merrily from one dish to another in the grotesque buffet. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the overturned chair and a pair of feet firmly tied to it. She moved closer and saw more than she wanted.

Based upon the discovery of the deceased older Elven woman, Roxie could only assume that Rosie Abernathy was no longer among the living.