[b]THIS CHAPTER WAS LONGER THAN THE CHARACTER LIMIT ALLOWED. THE SECOND HALF IS IN THE COMMENTS.[/b] [spoiler]Pardon my dust. This is a repost of chapter 45, made to fix problems caused by annoying complications in the original post.[/spoiler] [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/246624086/0/0]Table of Contents[/url] [b]Book 1: Beginnings[/b] [i]The sound of a fist hammering on the front door snapped Gwen Yegorov out of a dreamless sleep. She blinked a few times, fighting against her weariness and wincing at the sharp ache in her neck. It was morning, and the light of the rising sun was softly illuminating the room through the drawn curtains. The memories of the previous night slowly returned, and a sense of dread swelled out of her tired haze at the thought of what monstrosity could be trying to enter the house. She could feel Hayden pressed against her back, his body heat a relief from the chill of the floor on her skin. He moved, having just woken up, too. “Daddy?” Natalia murmured drowsily, shifting and squeezing Hayden between them. “Quiet, Nat,” Markos whispered. The doctor’s boots shifted at the foot of the bed, and her husband’s legs spread out across the floor from where he sat behind the shelter of Ru’s dresser. She wondered how much sleep the men had gotten. She had hardly slept, but had stayed under the bed with the children all night. Gwen flinched as the knocking started again, louder than before. She fumbled to grip the pistol that had been lying on the floor in front of her, praying to the Traveler that the aliens hadn’t found them. But this time a man shouted over the knocking, “HELLO?! Anyone here?! It’s safe now!” Gwen sighed thankfully, resting her head on the ground. She could hear the front door open, and recognized Ru’s muffled voice as he greeted the man who had delivered the good news. Alexei stood and went to the bedroom door to open it. “C’mon out,” he urged from the doorway. “Where’s Daddy?” Natalia asked. No one replied, but Gwen was sure the child’s question was answered by the sound of her father speaking. Gwen planted her hands on the floor and dragged her stiff body forward, grunting from the effort. By the time she managed to get to her feet, the children had already slipped out under the foot of the bed. They waited expectantly, restless but quiet. Gwen took Hayden’s hand and followed Alexei. Markos and Natalia were close behind. Ru filled the frame of the front door, with one hand against the blue wood and the other at his side, letting his pistol dangle lazily. A man stood before him, bundled up in a large coat and carrying a bucket full of a dark, oily substance. Gwen recognized him as Fedor, one of the three magistrates who served as leaders for the town of Flats. “-markin’ the houses,” Fedor was saying, lifting his bucket slightly, “Circle means good, line means empty, cross means whoever lived there is dea-“ Fedor cut off as he noticed Markos and the Yegorovs. “This ain’t you’re house, doctor…” he puzzled, “Who lives ‘ere?” “My daughter an’ me,” Ru grunted. Fedor frowned and pointed at the Yegorovs, “An’ them?” “Across the street,” Ru said, pointing over Fedor’s shoulder. The magistrate turned to look and sighed. “Have to change the mark…” he grumbled, turning back, “Doctor, we thought you’d run off. Marked your house. Coulda used you a few hours ago.” Markos frowned, “What for?” Fedor shook his head, “When we were sure the raid was over we came out to see the damage. Found one o’ the gunmen alive with his-“ Fedor cut himself short, glancing down at the children, “Um, we thought you might’ve been able to save ‘im. Maybe. But you weren’t home. Thought you’d tried runnin’ durin’ the attack.” Markos‘ lips moved as he silently cursed himself. Fedor rubbed the back of his neck and sighed, “Listen, I gotta keep checkin’ houses. Elena is in the square, organizin’ things. Please, go an’ see what you can do. We need all the help we can get.” “The square?” Alexei inquired, “Why not in the town hall?” Fedor shifted uncomfortably, swallowing as he took a moment to decide what to say, “Don’t…don’t take your kids out…”[/i] • • •