Army of True Salvation

"Veon!" Kreiss called his name and Veon looked at him.

"What is it," he asked and he approached Kreiss, curious as to why he was called.

"I found the shed. It's three meters away from us," Kreiss said and Veon noticed how excited he was to have found the location of the amethyst.

As they were walking, they saw the shed and it really looked like it had been abandoned for a very long time. Kreiss hurriedly opened the door and they were shocked to have seen a zombie jump towards them, giving them a scare. Veon aimed his gun at the zombie and had accurately killed it. This made Kreiss look at Veon with gratitude in his eyes.

"You better be careful," Veon said and Kreiss nodded, realizing that he was being reckless.

"Sorry," Kreiss apologized and Veon just gave him a sigh, still acknowledging his apology.

"Now where's the gem," Kreiss mumbled to himself and the two already started searching in the boxes found in the shed.

While they were looking for the gem, Veon looked at Kreiss' family pictures. He found it weird that all the pictures had been burnt, specifically on Kreiss' face. Did he do this on purpose?

"Why do you keep burning your face in your family photos," Veon asked as Kreiss was rummaging in each box.

"It's because I hate my dad," he answered and Veon just returned the photos from where he got it. He noticed that Kreiss was similar with Sheloah and Shannara; they both hate their dads.

Veon searched in the shelf and noticed that there is something shining which got his attention.

"Kreiss, look at this," he said as he gestured to the object. "Do you think it's that one? The gem," he added and when Kreiss saw its faint glimmer, he rushed to get a ladder, climbed it, then reached for it under the books.

"It's the gem!"

When Kreiss saw what was in his hands, he shouted in excitement and it caused him to fall from the ladder, landing on Veon.

"What the hell, man!? I told you to be careful!"

Kreiss ignored him as he sat on the ground, admiring the gem. It was beautiful. Kreiss could not contain his excitement the moment he got the gem but his felicity died down afterwards when he realized that the reason why the gem was left behind was kept from him.

"I never thought that it's a real amethyst," Veon commented and Kreiss continued looking at the gem, slightly disappointed. "Why was it left behind? Isn't it valuable?" When Kreiss heard this, he sighed and he started mumbling to himself.

"What's with the gem? Why won't my family tell me why it was left behind?"

Veon looked at him, curious. "What?"

Kreiss continued to ignore Veon because he was lost in his thoughts. Kreiss thought that he knew everything of what happened concerning his family. He knew that he was mysterious as an individual but he did not know that his family was also enigmatic.

"Kreiss, I'm concerned about Sheloah." The kidnapper knew what he meant. "We already found the location. I want her back." The moment Veon said this, Kreiss let out a chuckle.

"Can't wait, can you?"

"Where is she?" Kreiss smirked.

"Answer my question first," Kreiss said and Veon looked at him seriously. "How much do you love Sheloah?" Veon felt enraged at this moment, being asked the same question over and over again. Even coming from a stranger.

"Why do you keep asking me that damned question?! It pisses me off!"

Kreiss shrugged. "It's just a question to be answered. Why are you so angry?" Veon couldn't answer.

'I… don't know.'

Kreiss and Veon were silenced the moment they heard a loud scream coming from the house.

It was Shannara.

Veon felt panic because he knew that Shannara was left alone. Something bad might've happened to her and they need to check on her right away.

"We need to go back," Veon said and once he said that, he ran, taking the lead, and Kreiss followed suit. Veon wanted his friends to be safe and sound as much as possible.