The guards also told the group to wait and someone else would be found to accompany them as a representative from West Providence So they waited Both Affina and Ezekiel seemed to be stoic types satisfied with their own thoughts which suited Hank just fine What he didn’t like is that they both seemed to mill around him as if he were a particularly smelly cheese and they were coons out scrounging for food
A migraine was brewing behind Hank’s brow he didn’t like to have an entourage
The pretty direct speaking redhead was almost a relief after these two mysterious additions to his team even if her forward manner reminded Hank of Laurel But Hank had accomplished the first of his mission and now was free to do anything he wanted for two days Hank wanted to go home
After the new areas opened they were tasked with scouting out dangerous areas until another Zone connected and then he would need to chart a path between the two places It would likely be some time before another Zone connected and Hank didn’t plan on scouting with much focus prior to that
So I’m going home Hank announced to the group We can meet up in two days
Ezekiel was the first to speak with a shrug Honestly I have nowhere to stay I’ll just hang around your place for two days
I as well will be partaking of your hospitality Affina announced
Katie scratched her head awkwardly I’m from one of the D C suburbs that ended up a little north of that so I’ll be staying with family there But it will be good to stay close You live in Mottles right
Nodding to Katie Hank spoke to the other two It might be more comfortable to stay in a hotel or something My place isn’t very big
I brought a sleeping roll Affina said seriously her blind eyes staring upwards Hank opened his mouth but wasn’t even sure how to respond to that
I’ve been in a jail for most of this year Ezekiel said with an amused smile Your hospitality no matter how pitiable is likely an upgrade
So the group traveled together A few drinks in the train car was enough to mellow Hank’s mood to accept his new charges improving his mood considerably Not enough that he might be affected by it in all but the highest level of battles but enough to calm down a bit Relaxation came only unwillingly to Hank these days
They waved goodbye to Katie as they all got off the East/West line and she went towards the outer circle train heading one stop North As the three remaining left the station they were stopped by someone yelling Hank’s name
Hank Howard
Hank turned and the other two did so too after a pause An old woman likely 70 or so one of the oldest people Hank had seen since the System arrived stalked up to him She was sprier now but Hank wondered how difficult it had been to get through those first weeks before she had accumulated enough Stats to ameliorate age’s effect on her body
She spat on his shoe My son worked in Tomhold
Then she turned and walked away Hank said nothing looking down at the spittle trailing a line down his boots People around whispered as they recognized him and the people who didn’t know the story were told it by those who did Instantly their eyes changed looking at him with shock and judgment
The hot beginnings of rage were born in Hank’s chest but he said nothing just starting to walk again He moved quickly but Ezekiel and Affina followed closely like persistent ghosts of the past
To Hank’s surprise there weren’t any smart comments from Ezekiel but rather the words came from the stoic Affina Rhoda Khan’s squad would have done nothing to save that town That woman would not order her forces into such danger
Hank grunted saying nothing He agreed with her assessment but there was always that chance Maybe that sociopathic woman had a family member in the town and would have fought to save its inhabitants
The world would never know because Hank had stopped that squad and put that woman down for unrelated crimes The world was a better place without Rhonda Khan but that is not what the world saw They simply saw Hank with his own private vendetta interfering with the army’s work His pride and selfishness had meant 99% of the population of Tomhold had died that day
The whole situation left Hank bitter He might have just stayed home and become the sort of drunk his father Rick would have been proud of raising had not the army secretly sent a representative to visit him expressing their understandably private thanks for handling the Khan problem That representative was Laurel
Hank pressed his forehead to the glass of the manatech train’s windows At least he would be home soon albeit with some new borders Even with a little extra company home meant a break
Chapter 490
The kid with the orange hair from the run in with the Dungeon Divers was leaning up against Hank’s door snoring obnoxiously loud Ezekiel chuckled quietly to himself as Hank clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles popped
This was not what he wanted to come home to
So he decided to ignore it entirely With the pale wan light of the morning sun behind him Hank stomped passed the kid silencing him with a look He took out a long metal key that he had made himself and unlocked the door Leaving the door open he walked straight through the messy hallway past the living room and kitchen to his room
When he was in his room Hank popped the top off of an old whiskey bottle that he had been nursing for about 6 months Although people were gradually getting the hang of it back the homebrewed whiskey they had access to now wasn’t near the quality of the stuff they could make before the System hit
For whatever reason alcohol hadn’t really been considered as a luxury good worth stockpiling in that frantic few months between the contact from the System’s representative and the actual arrival of the System In a lot of ways their Zone 1 was blessed But for this way only Hank resented his Zone viciously
After taking a careful swig and savoring the taste Hank got into his bed and leaned back into his pile of pillows His eyes flickered then closed He didn’t need to sleep per se but right now there was very little else that would clear away the annoyance Hank felt towards the world
Am I really going to do this ’ Hank asked himself
If you won’t who will ’ Hank’s father’s voice replied
In his dream Hank was standing on a mountain looking down over a long valley But the valley was shadowed in a thick fog completely covered by moving air currents Blinking away some of his bleariness Hank peered closer
Although he couldn’t get more than shapes in the fog something was moving It crept insidious but it was clearly spreading from the depths of the valley winding its way up the ridges and around streams Hank did some quick calculations in his head if things continued as they were the strange tendrils spreading from the monstrosity down there would reach him in a few hours He raised a hand to cover his eyes and looked up
In the sky there were seven spheres each a different color making up the rainbow red orange yellow green blue indigo violet The light filtered down and sizzled strangely against his skin
Abruptly Hank’s father was next to him Do you know why I hate the aristocracy
Hank just looked at him
Because they are the veneer of civility on the collar of the great Beast Hank’s father announced the flesh of his face falling away revealing the bones underneath And when Beelzebub hunts for the rest of us they are nowhere to be found
Hank blinked coming awake immediately Someone was in his room
Hadn’t he locked the door
No he hadn’t although he had meant to when he had stomped away from his hangers on leaving them on the entranceway Sitting up Hank found himself face to face with a very familiar face framed with a cascade of deep auburn hair
He cleared his throat Hello Laurel
His ex something or other regarded him with a critical eye You were dreaming again weren’t you What did you see