“Child the petals serve no purpose in our presence. They are merely a distraction from what matters most.”

  The cult leader put his hand up in the air . His mask has the shape of a skull with cracks in it

  “You are corrupted by their ways.”

  The cult leader moved both arms up in a wide arc now shouting. Screaming to the heavens above

  “THE PETALS ONLY DELAY THE TRUTH. WE KNOW BETTER WE KNOW WHAT THE TRUTH IS. THEY IGNORE US, CAST US AWAY YET WE REMAIN. THEY FEAR US FOR WHAT WE CAN BE. DAISY RAISE YOUR ARMS IN THE AIR REJOICE. VEYTHE DOSNT LOVE YOU, THE CITY DOESN'T LOVE YOU. BUT I LOVE ALL OF YOU.”

  Sonnia eyes shifted to left and the right as people listened to the man and surrounded her. They cheered and screamed with him. With people holding torches on the outside. Few of them already had black lines flowing up their arms.

  “HE CAN SAVE US.”

  “WE WILL LIVE.”

  “REJOICE.”

  Sonnia pushed her way through the crowd reaching the cult leader at the edge of the collapsed house.

  “I am Sonnia, I just said that. I’m not part of your group. Stop yelling, and get talking. Did you see my jar? Yes or no?”

  The cult leader stood silently and lowered his arms. As he did the crowd gradually got silent waiting for him to speak standing in anticipation.

  “I know nothing of your Jar of fake hopes, Daisy. I know you seem to be lost. Come with me child, perhaps you are not too late to be saved. Remember Gar loves you. CITIZENS OF LOWMERE, DISPERSE FOR NOW. TONIGHTS SESSION IS DONE. STAY SAFE GAR LOVES YOU ALL. THE CURE IS CLOSE.”

  He walked away trying to hold her hand as he walked away down the street. Sonnia though snatched her hand away but followed. Trailing behind were six bodyguards remaining silent.

  As they got deeper into the city there were bodies stacked more neatly. All of them had vibrant flowers growing out of them.

  “You are new here child, you said Chester employed you and promised a big house? The plague though isn’t to be feared however. It's an opportunity to learn more about ourselves. Daisy you need not find a cure, for we already have it. With it we can embrace our future and clean out the unworthy.”

  With each word said Sonnia’s body grew more and more cautious. She turned her head to see the same people trailing still. Forward a house came into view. It was only one story tall with a hole in it poorly patched with scrap wood. On the outside bodies lined up with flowers sprouting out forming a garden with a bad odor of corpses. Sonnia covered her nose and stared at the body as they walked, she couldn’t stay silent anymore.

  “How can you think this is cute or cool? Clearly your cure doesn't work. There are flowers everywhere. I bet it would be easy to kill you and take your cure.”

  The bodyguards stepped forward lifting their heads, all of them looking at Sonnia.while keeping their distance. Yet the cult leader raised his arm keeping them at bay.

  “Formally first I am Gar. Just remember Gar loves you and everyone. Our cure does work, the proof is behind you. They are all my most trusted members and have been ‘infected’ for weeks yet they remain true. I don’t tell any lies Daisy, come I see potential in you.”

  Sonnia looked behind, observing his entourage. The black lines were hard to miss, they had bumps all over their skin. Sonnia called out to them.

  “Are you all really cured? What’s your names?”

  No response was heard, Sonnia walked backwards keeping her eyes on them. Slowly pacing back until she felt the walls of the building behind her. Turning around she walked inside following Gar. Sonnia still

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  Looked over her shoulders to watch the group. They stopped moving forward, refusing to cross a cracked line in the ground.

  “I see….have a goodnight then weirdos.”

  Inside Gar waiting for Sonnia to join him. The interior was remotely clean and tidy up, a barrel laid against the wall. A table had a tray of what seemed to be petals torn apart. Pulling out a chair Gar motioned for Sonnia to join him.

  “Come and sit and we can talk all about things, you are special and you deserve answers.”

  Sonnia stayed standing, giving him a straight face as her eyes focused on the room around.

  “I’m good here, sadly, you’ll have to enjoy my company from afar. This place gives me the creeps. Now talk, don’t waste my time Gar. What do you know?”

  Gar nodded his head and sat down in the chair reaching into a pot of soil he pulled out an earth worm letting it wiggle around in his hand.

  “They all lie to you Daisy. They believe they know the truth but lie. The petals are a waste of time. They are a finite resource, a temporary solution. If it worked they wouldn’t need this zone. The more they share the more sick we get. They only delay the inevitable. I have the truth.”

  Sonnia peered out a piece of plywood next to her watching the people. Five figures remained standing still watching the house.

  “Sooo you have the magic answer, what is the cure? Otherwise the petals seem to be the best answer. This part of town has way more dead than the other, it’s hardly a utopia.”

  She glared at Gar waiting for a response. Her hand tightening around her staff anticipating action. Gar got up walking to a barrel opening it and holding out a purple fine dust in this gloved hand then letting it fall back in. While gripping the worm tightly.

  “This is the cure, this dust. I don’t have a lot of it, not enough to eradicate the plague but it does hold it back. I made it myself, the petals are not strong enough alone but grinding them up and adding some extra ingredients from a generous donator. Those people outside were on the verge of death. Now look at them.”

  Sonnia briefly took her eyes off of Gar to look at the dust, thinking to herself lightly. She then spoke.

  “Your people look dead…and creepy. I don’t think it’s working well….why are you playing with the worm.”

  Gar continues letting it wiggle through his fingers.

  “This isn’t merely a worm Daisy. It is hope, this worm gives everyone hope of a better future. The plague can’t affect this worm it never has. Put it on dozens of bodies and it remains itself.”

  He puts it into the pot letting it submerge itself into the dirt.

  “This worm is the cure for the lost and hopeless, a reminder that not everyone is doomed. Daisy, hope is a powerful thing. Would you agree?”

  He got up and glared into her direction. Taking small steps towards her. While taking a small handful of dust in his hands.

  “Daisy, what do you think of Chester?”

  Sonnia stared at him, holding the end of her staff in her hands pointing it at him before he could close the distance.

  “Stop getting closer to me. Chester is a weird scared man. He is paying me a lot to figure this plague thing out. Based on what you are saying I have the answer. I’ll be taking your dust now.”

  She now started approaching in slow steps to the barrel. Moving past ignoring him staring at the lid. Gar for a moment raised his hand to protest but stopped.She kept her staff at his neck while she walked to the barrel.

  “I would prefer you didn’t. It’s for our most loyal followers. Chester and them are not. Gar’s love isn’t free you know. There would be consequences for you and the people.”

  Sonnia though already took the lid off staring at the purple dust, it pulsed with life. It felt like smooth sand when she dipped her hand in it. She looked around for a container. Eyeing a small box and taking handfuls of dust to fill it.

  “Thank you for your donation Gar. I’m sure everyone will appreciate it. I want to leave this place soon.”

  Gar stayed silent watching Sonnia, brushing his thumb against his fingers. He appeared to be in deep thought.

  “Stealing is a crime, Sonnia. Wouldn’t you reconsider, I've been very hospitable. You shouldn’t be so rude. We need the dust more than them. You’ll be punished for stealing it.”

  Sonnia glared at him, setting the box down. She pushed hard into the wall with a hard shove. The wall creaked under the impact of his body against crudely repaired walls.

  “Don’t threaten me Gar. I am more than a harmless woman. I’m done playing games. It’s been a bad day. I’ve seen a lot from you all. I’m leaving now, don’t follow or do. See what happens. Same goes for your creepy cult.”

  Chester stood silently watching Sonnia take hands full of dust to fill her container. He crossed his arms.

  “I see, then you are hereby promoted to Rose then. You are free to take it.”

  Sonnia frown turned into an evil look as she clutched her small container. Cradling it like her own child while her staff stayed aimed at him. She smacked plywood on the wall creating a hole big enough for her to get through the hole. Up ahead Gar’s group already dispersed leaving an empty street full of decaying bodies and flowers. Sonnia took a pinch of dust and threw it on the body. A purple glow engulfed the body. The flowers on it went limp and fell over. A small chuckle was heard from the blonde woman.

  She continued looking around while walking down the streets. Some people she passed stared at her. Though as she walked past she flickered dust at all of them with a goofy smile. The dust that enveloped each person glowed purple, the glow lingered with each person. Lighting up various alleyways as Sonnia walked past. She laughed to herself. Approaching the wall though she still had the same problem.

  “How do I get over without issues mmmmm. I need a Thanomancer. HEY ANYONE ON THE OTHER SIDE I HAVE THE CURE OPEN UP.”

  Silence lingered after her words, it made Sonnia yell again.

  “Helloooooooooo open up. Golems goooo.”

  Still no response. She got more annoyed about smack her way through the wall with her staff. After her first smack she heard a familiar voice from the other side.

  “Sonnia, is that you? Why are you on the other side of the wall? Did you get sick?”

  The tender female voice belonged to Freeg, her voice made Sonnia light up a little. Looking up at the night sky, Sonnia called out.

  “Freeg! You also escaped? I’m here and no, not sick. In fact even better, I cured your plague in less than one night. Cause I am awesome.

  Waiting for a response while she gloated and basked in her success.

  “Sonnia, stay where you are, I’ll go and find you. It won’t take too long. I’m sure Marm misses your company as well. We can talk more once I reach you.”

  Sonnia yelled out in a happy voice.

  “Marm! I miss you too! Freeg I’ll stay right here just don’t take too long. I have a lot to tell you, so much has happened tonight it’s crazy.”

  Hearing one last reply from Freeg.

  “I’m on the way, stay put. I know my way around this city.”

  Sonnia sat down against the wall putting her head against the wall humming and smiling. She stuck out her tongue.

  “In your face Sonnia, I saved the city my way. You always doubt me but now look at me. A hero who’ll be rich, I’ll even donate a chunk of my rewards.

  From a distance though eyes watched her.