With Shenyo’s tail around her waist, Lydia found the strength to carry on. The light seeping in from over head made it possible to close her hand to extinguish the magical flame that was sapping her energy so badly. His encouragement of Slowly breathed life into her mind as she allowed him to set the pace.<br/><br/>Most of the damned did not turn to look their way, only one old crone raised her head and made eye contact with Lydia. She shivered, not knowing whether to look away or to maintain the eye contact. When the woman did not alert the others, she focused her attention on following the man.<br/><br/>Once outside, Lydia relaxed, glancing back toward the cellar as Shenyo led her on. The farm house in the distance was a likely destination but Lydia said,<br/>“That is out in the open. Everyone for miles around here must know it is there. How safe would we be there? For all we know, those people down there are the owners of that house, perhaps they use it to lure unwary victims to their death.”<br/><br/>She felt like she was being ridiculous and finally shut up her babbling. Lydia was tired of being strong and tired of fighting the odds. Was this apathy what had killed the others? Was it just the hopelessness of fighting the inevitable? She didn’t realize she had spoken her thoughts aloud until she felt the jerk of the tail around her waist.<br/><br/>Shaking her head, Lydia allowed Shenyo to continue to lead the way.<br/><br/>“Following you seems like the best idea I can come up with now.” She sighed, wistfully.<br/><br/>They did not see the old woman pop her head out of the cellar and stare at them as their way across the field, with the meadow grasses being crushed by the passing of their feet.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>