Chapter Fifty-Six

As the sun began to reach its peak in the morning sky, Alex raced through the trees and across the hills on his horse. He had never before seen the valley of Ravenna, but he was following a trail that Rowan once told him they used to escape the invasion of the Domineers. She said that Ravenna rested near the base of the tallest mountains in the north of the Dark Zone. As Alex soon began climbing higher and higher, he knew that he was close.

Eventually, the trees atop the mountains began to break apart as Alex approached the peak. Once he emerged from the trees and into the open sunlight, Alex brought his horse to a halt. He looked out over the white, winter scenery all around him, and he was almost completely mesmerized by the sheer beauty of it all.

Amidst the astounding silence atop the mountains, Alex’s ears soon captured the disturbing sound of shouti