I thought it was over, but Luke isn’t done. “Where is Ash?”
David flashes Chase a bloody grin before answering Luke. “She’s at the compound where she belongs. She realized she was on the wrong path, and she is more committed than ever to The Way.”
“Bullshit,” Chase growls, lunging forward once more.
The next part happens in what seems like slow motion. One of David’s men slides down from his horse. I wouldn’t have noticed the knife in his right hand if not for light glistening off the shiny metal. The blonde, Talon I think, rushes forward, pulling a similar style knife hidden in a sheath on his back. Chase, Talon, and the man with the knife clash together at the same time, David being knocked back by the force. And that’s when a loud bang reverberates through the trees, sending me to my knees. Luke dives on top of my body, protecting me from whatever comes next.
Through the ringing in my ears, the next thing I hear is a scream. “Talon!”
Easton takes off at a sprint, diving to the ground and pulling Talon to his chest.
Did Talon get shot? But why would Tommy shoot one of his friends? Unless maybe it was an accident?
That’s when I see it, the knife sticking out of Talon’s chest. There’s blood pouring from the wound, Talon’s skin already unnaturally pale. There’s blood everywhere on the ground too, but it’s not from Talon. It’s from the man that pulled the knife and the bullet wound in the middle of his back. Chase is scrambling backward, trying to get away from David who now too holds a knife out at the ready.
“Enough,” Luke shouts over Easton’s cries. “Enough. You’ve already cost two men their lives. Walk away and you get to fight another day.”
David seems to think this through, eyes flitting back and forth between Luke and the blood soaked ground at his feet. Without another word he nods to his men as he stomps to his waiting horse. They turn as one, heading back in the direction of the compound, leaving their friend lying cold and lifeless on the ground.
Tommy never takes his eyes off their retreating backs, the gun still held firmly at his side. Chase and Cody join Easton on the ground where he holds Talon’s too still body. From my place on the ground, I watch Luke join them, a single tear slipping down his cheek. They must all be close. With a quick glance, it’s obvious Tommy wants to be with his friends, so I walk over giving him a quick hug.
“I’ll keep an eye out, Tommy. Go say goodbye to your friend.”
His eyes are glistening with unshed tears as he thanks me and makes his way over. Turning my back on the group and keeping my eyes toward where I know the
compound sits, I try to keep it together for their sakes; for Luke’s sake. Two men just died, and for what? So the church could maintain control? So they could try to get us back? We can’t be that important. And to make matters worse, all this little fight did was put an even bigger target on our backs. David has to go back to the church, back to Vater Henry, and tell him not only does he not have us, but he got one of his men shot and killed.
David will want revenge, and if I’m not around for him to enact that revenge on, who do you think he will take it out on?
Ash.
Chapter 3 - Stages Of Grief
DAVID
When the crumbled remains of the compound’s north wall came into view, I still hadn’t decided how to play this. Not only would I have to explain I hadn’t been successful in retrieving the girl and her friends, but one of my men was killed. Shot in the back by a member of the Diablo gang. We had no choice but to leave his lifeless body there, and I’d be lying if I said I gave two shits. The Vater however, will care very much. I’ll probably have to send a couple of my men back to retrieve his body. Seems like a waste of energy to me. What does it matter at this point?
The Vater is a problem, along with a handful of elders and their wives. They’ll have to be dealt with at some point, but for now our priority is the girl. Anna Cress knows too much, and her moral compass won’t allow her to just walk away. No, if I was to guess, that little bitch will be a thorn in my side for some time to come. I have no doubt her intention is to reveal to everyone in the compound what the Elders are really doing with the girls they claim don’t have faith. Not to mention, how we obtain a lot of our supplies from outside these walls. I wouldn’t even be surprised if she isn’t satisfied with just stopping the local sect and sets her sights on bigger picture stuff like California.
The church has been doing things this way for two decades. It keeps our people alive and happy. And our people are all that matters. We are the chosen people. Chosen by God to rebuild the human race; to rebuild civilization in his eyes. And I’ll be damned if what we’ve built here is destroyed by a bunch of children.
I haven’t been made an elder yet. After Elder Jacobs untimely death, as his second in command, I stepped up and took the lead, but nothing has been made official. With what just happened under my command, well, that could certainly effect my promotion. I need to make sure Vater Henry makes the right decision. I need to play this
