FULL NOVELXO Chapter 17: Waiting
Within ten minutes, Joshua had gathered his team and with those who were standing guard around the portal, proceeded into the city to secure a half-mile perimeter around the front gate. Nathanael closed the portal behind them as they headed toward the city. An hour and a half later, Thomas, Jonathan, Jacob and his team reached the citadel. It took less time for them to reach it since they already knew the way and didn’t need to scout the area. As they approached, Arabella became fearful again, hearing someone coming. She hid behind Morrison as they watched from the shadows. Once it was evident who was coming, they came out to greet Thomas and his companions. Thomas looked at the great gates with great unease of spirit and asked, “Where are Harry and the others?”
“They went in the citadel,” Morrison replied with Arabella latched onto his arm like a frightened child. “Arabella got really spooked by the courtyard and refused to go in, so I stayed here with her to stand guard and meet you guys.”
Thomas and his companions edged toward the threshold and looked through, seeing the vast field of gleaming bones through the gates. “I don’t blame her,” Jonathan said after seeing the courtyard. “It’s like something out of an old B horror movie.”
“What’s the word from Nathanael?” Morrison asked.
“They’re going to set up a perimeter around the front gate of the city,” Thomas replied. “I believe the plan is that they’re going to use it as a base camp to explore and secure the rest of the city.”
Morrison rubbed his chin with his hand, replying, “That’s a good strategy. This place is so big and the feel of it is so bad that trying to secure the citadel right away isn’t feasible. I don’t know about you, but I hate this place. It’s like, I don’t know, like someone or something is watching. It’s unnerving.”
“That’s what we told Nathanael,” Thomas said.
Suddenly, everyone heard an echoing wail on the air that hung there for a moment before dissipating...a wail that didn’t sound human. It shook the confidence of everyone present. Arabella clenched Morrison’s arm so tightly that she began to hurt him. “Honey, ease up. You’re hurting my arm,” Morrison told her gently, knowing that her fear was rising again. He looked into her eyes and saw the terror building again. “Jonathan, could you take Arabella back to the gate where they’re securing the perimeter?”
Jonathan nodded and said, “Sure. Come on, Arabella. It’s pretty obvious that you’ve had enough of this place.”
Arabella looked into Morrison’s eyes with a pleading look and he said, “Go on. I’ll be all right. We’ll be along as soon as Harry and his team return.”
“What if they don’t come out?” Arabella blurted out fearfully.
Morrison looked her directly in the eye and said confidently, “They’re coming back. So are Hannibal and Selina. God will not abandon them. Trust me. They’re coming back and I’m coming as soon as they come out.” His words seemed to satisfy her, and she hugged him before letting Jonathan and a couple of Jacob’s team led her back to the main gate. Morrison looked at Thomas, Jacob, and the rest of the team that had come with Thomas and Jonathan, saying, “Come on. Let’s go after Harry and the rest of the team. They may need us.”
Thomas’ face fell, as did the faces of most of those present. “You want us to go in after them?” Jacob asked hesitantly.
Morrison saw their fear and altered his order accordingly. “No, we don’t have to go in the citadel,” he stated. “But I think we should at least secure the courtyard, if you guys think you can handle it.” That order went over much better with them and they agreed to secure the courtyard and wait for Harry and his team to come out. Within ten minutes, they searched the square, securing it, and then waited for Harry’s team to return.