349 Insecure

Daylight illuminated the bloody imprints of the slaughter that had taken place during the night. Dried and congealed spots of blood alongside human bones and scraps of clothing lay strewn all over the quarry grounds.

Artemus carefully stepped past the skeletonised body of a victim as he scanned the area for ghouls. There were none in sight because the monsters were all hiding away from the sun. They were inside the cabins and in the shadows of the forests. He could smell the rot surrounding the quarry and warning him of stepping out of the sunlight.

The little girl whom he had stashed away under the house was only nine years old but braver and more sensible than anyone her age had any right to be. When Artemus had told her to stay quiet while he explored, he had seen fear swimming in her eyes. She hadn't wanted to be left alone but nodded anyway.