Day 47: The Museum
The group moved carefully through the ruins, their footsteps echoing in the stillness of the day. The oppressive heat from the Listener had faded, replaced by a cooler, almost eerie calm. Eli kept his head down, the cloth covering his face hiding the worst of the burns, but he could still feel the others' eyes on him. Despite their best efforts to be discreet, the discomfort was palpable.
The silence between them was heavy as they navigated through the broken streets. Cass led the way, her movements purposeful, but even she seemed more subdued than usual. Ben stayed close to her, his small hand gripping her sleeve, while Luke and Raya flanked the group, keeping watch for any sign of danger.
It wasn't long before they reached a large, imposing building, its stone facade surprisingly intact despite the devastation that had befallen the world. The structure loomed before them, its grand columns and wide steps a stark contrast to the crumbling ruins that surrounded it.
"A museum," Cass murmured, her voice carrying a note of surprise. "It looks… untouched."
Eli looked up, squinting against the light as he took in the building. It was large, with heavy doors that had somehow survived the chaos, and the walls were thick, made of stone that had withstood the test of time. The windows, though dirty and cracked, were still intact, and the plants that had overtaken so much of the surrounding area seemed to have avoided this place entirely.
"It's big," Luke observed, his tone cautious. "Could be a good place to set up for a while."
"It's strong too," Raya added, running her fingers along the stone. "We could hold up here, at least for a little while. Those plants haven't made their way inside."
Cass nodded, considering the idea. "We need a place to regroup. This could work."
Eli stayed silent, but he felt a sense of relief at the thought of staying in a place where they might be safe, even if only temporarily. The museum's size and strength made it an ideal base, a place where they could rest and plan their next move without constantly looking over their shoulders.
With a nod of agreement from the group, Cass led the way up the steps and pushed open the heavy doors. They creaked on their hinges, revealing the museum's interior—a vast, dimly lit space filled with displays, statues, and artifacts from a world that no longer existed. The air inside was cool, untouched by the heat of the outside world, and the silence was almost reverent, as if the museum had been waiting for them.
"We should check the place out," Cass said, her voice echoing slightly in the large room. "Make sure it's secure."
The group split up, each person taking a different section of the museum to explore. The space was enormous, with long, echoing hallways lined with display cases and ancient relics. The ceilings were high, and the walls were adorned with faded murals and artwork from a time long past.
Eli wandered through the museum, his footsteps quiet on the marble floors. The dim light filtered through the dirty windows, casting long shadows across the exhibits. He passed by statues of ancient gods, paintings of battles long forgotten, and cases filled with relics from civilizations that had crumbled long before the world he knew had fallen apart.
But it was in one of the side rooms that something caught his eye.
The room was filled with medieval armor—suits of metal that had once been worn by knights in shining armor, standing tall and proud. The pieces were arranged on mannequins, each one posed as if ready for battle. Swords and shields lined the walls, and in the center of the room, on a pedestal, was a helmet—a knight's helm, made of burnished steel, its visor down, giving it a stern, almost menacing appearance.
Eli approached the helmet slowly, his eyes locked on the polished metal. The helmet was old, but it had been well-preserved, the metal gleaming faintly in the dim light. As he stood before it, he could see his reflection in the visor—a distorted, blurred image of his face, still hidden beneath the cloth.
He reached out hesitantly, his fingers brushing against the cool metal. The helmet was heavy, solid, and as he lifted it from the pedestal, he felt a strange sense of connection to it. It was a piece of the past, a relic from a time when warriors had fought for honor and glory, a time when people had worn armor to protect themselves from the dangers of the world.
Eli turned the helmet over in his hands, the metal cool against his burned skin. He hesitated for a moment, then slowly lifted the helmet and placed it over his head. The inside was padded, surprisingly comfortable despite the weight, and as he lowered the visor, the world outside the helmet became a narrow slit of vision, focused and confined.
The helmet was a perfect fit. It covered his face completely, hiding the burns, the blisters, the shame. Inside the helmet, he felt different—protected, shielded from the world in a way he hadn't felt since the Listener had burned him. The cloth he had wrapped around his head felt flimsy and inadequate compared to the weight and solidity of the steel.
He could still feel the pain of his injuries, but it was distant now, muted by the helmet's presence. The metal was cool against his skin, a welcome relief from the heat that still lingered in his memory. The weight of the helmet was comforting, grounding him in a way that made him feel less vulnerable, less exposed.
"Eli?" Cass's voice echoed through the hallway, snapping him out of his thoughts. She appeared in the doorway, her eyes widening slightly when she saw him wearing the helmet. "Are you… alright?"
Eli turned to face her, the visor hiding his expression, but he nodded. "I'm fine," he said, his voice muffled slightly by the helmet but firm. "I needed something… stronger."
Cass looked at him for a moment, her gaze unreadable, but then she nodded. "If it helps, then it's a good choice."
He didn't say anything, just adjusted the helmet slightly, making sure it was secure. The metal visor made his voice sound different, more distant, but he didn't care. The helmet made him feel safe, like he could face whatever was coming next without flinching.
"We're going to set up here for a while," Cass continued, her tone more practical now. "This place is strong, and it's big enough for all of us. We'll be safe here."
Eli nodded again, the helmet's weight a reassuring presence on his shoulders. He wasn't sure how long they would be able to stay in the museum, but for the first time in a long while, he felt like he could rest—like he wasn't just a burned, broken version of himself.
As he followed Cass back to the main hall, where the others were beginning to gather, Eli kept the helmet on, the metal a barrier between him and the world. It wasn't just a piece of armor—it was a shield, a way to hide from the looks of pity and disgust, a way to protect himself from the scars he now bore.
The museum, with its stone walls and ancient relics, would be their sanctuary for now.
And Eli, behind the mask of the knight's helmet, would find a way to face the world again.