Kira sighed and nodded.“Let’s go.”
They passed several more bodies on their way.Unlike those in the mess hall, most of them had at least had the chance to draw their weapons.Not that it had done much good since they were as dead as everyone else.
Once they reached the living area, Kira and Finn went room-to-room.
Mercifully, there weren’t many bodies to discover.Most rooms lay empty.
They were halfway through their search when that changed.
It wasn’t the woman lying face down next to her bed, a bloody hole the size of Kira’s fist in her back, her curly brown hair covering her features, that made Kira’s stomach drop and the blood rush to her head.
No, it was the tiny bed in the corner.The size a child might use.
Feeling like someone else was in control of her body, Kira crossed the room with slow steps.She reached the bed, lifting it up and shifting it so she could see behind and beneath.
Nothing.
Suddenly, Kira could breathe again.“Thank God.”
“What is it?”Finn asked, entering the room behind her.His gaze went straight to the bed Kira stood next to before shooting around the room in search of whoever had once occupied it.
His relief at not finding them was short lived as he spotted the woman by the other bed.He knelt beside her, carefully brushing the hair from her face.“Mea’Ave embrace you in death.”
Kira looked away.
For the first time, the room’s state fully registered.Unlike the rest of those on this floor, which had been left relatively untouched, it looked like a hurricane had torn through this place.The woman’s scant belongings were scattered all over the floor.
Maybe she’d put up a fight.
Kira didn’t think that was it though.Her gaze followed the trail of damage, noting grooves in the floor and wall.
“The bed doesn’t necessarily mean the presence of a child,” Finn said, rising.
“Yes, it does.”
Kira shoved the fallen dresser over several feet, exposing a hidden alcove in the process.One perfect for a small child
“She tried to hide them,” Kira said, crouching.
Spotting the stuffed animal lying on its side, Kira reached in to retrieve it.
Sewn together from old cloth and bits and bobs, it was well loved.One paw and half an ear were tattered and worn.
Finn took the stuffed animal from Kira.“It’s adiel.They’re only found on Ta Av’ba.She must have been Kashori once upon a time.”
Now she was nothing but food for scavengers.Her life fading into obscurity for a sin Kira would likely never know.
Kira couldn’t stay put.“Come on.”
There was a growing sense of dread in the pit of her stomach.The missing child put a different spin on the situation.
She recognized this method of operation.
Hit fast and hard.Leave no witnesses.Take only those young enough to not fight back.
“What are you looking for?”Finn asked as Kira quickly searched the rest of the personal quarters.
“Evidence.”
