“The Reverend has asked for you to join him in the courtyard. He said it was urgent,” Lyle replied.
“Alright. I’ll be there in ten minutes,” I said.
Lyle nodded before turning away only to turn back around.
“Oh, have you seen a girl with short brown hair roaming around anywhere? Her name is Sasha. Her husband is looking for her,” Lyle asked.
“Husband,” I asked.
“Yea. He is worried sick. If you see this girl will you let me know,” Lyle asked.
Lyle held up a picture of Kiere and a clean shaved man in a grey pressed suit standing together in a garden.
“Sure thing,” I replied.
My heart dropped into my stomach. I closed the door and turned around to see Kiere standing at the top of the stairs.
“Is there something you need to tell me Kiere,” I asked.
“Dad, listen,” Kiere said.
“You aren’t old enough to have a husband. How in the Hell are you married,” I yelled.
“It’s not what you think,” Kiere replied.
“Please, explain it to me because I am this close to finding this pedophile and chopping him up into pieces to spread across this messed up town,” I yelled.
“His name is Garth. I ran into him after I escaped Warren’s compound. He was by himself wandering the wasteland out there. He traveled with me to this place where we told everyone we were married. Everyone thinks I am older than what I am. He agreed to the lie in order to help me incase Warren ever came through here looking for me,” Kiere explained.
I took a deep breath and unclenched my fists.
“I told them all our names were Sasha and Garth and that we were a married couple traveling with a group of people that died after a hoard of zombies attacked us. Garth is harmless and he helped me get here,” Kiere replied.
“Are you two actually together,” I asked.
“No. We just play the part to keep ourselves safe. He has never tried anything because he knows my true age,” Kiere replied.
“How old is this Garth,” I asked.
“He isn’t much older than you. Maybe by a year or two,” Kiere replied.
“After I have a talk with The Reverend, I want to meet this Garth,” I said while grabbing my boots at the door.
“Dad,” Kiere said.
“I want to thank him for keeping you safe,” I replied. “Nothing more.”
“Really,” Kiere asked.
“Yes really. If he was nothing but a protector and a gentleman to you then I am obligated to thank him,” I replied.
Kiere smirked and said, “Ok. I’ll bring him over tonight.”
“After I talk to The Reverend, I’m going to go find Karmen to see what I need to do to help her so we can go home,” I said. “I keep getting a strong feeling about this place that something horrible is about to happen.”
The chilled air pressed against my face as I opened the door. The breeze was incredibly strong that morning. Leaves fell from the branches and the tall grass bent at natures will. Passing through the small community, I noticed a lot more activity happening around the courtyard. People were placing broken twigs around the gigantic wooden cross that was stationed in the ground. A stage was built and being coated with a high potent foam. Debbie roamed around the mountain of twigs placing bounds of sage. As she turned to place another bound, she realized I was watching from a distance.
“Good morning Atlas. How was your sleep,” Debra asked.
“It wasn’t too bad. A lot better than what I have been used to. What is going on here,” I asked.
“Oh this. It is our time of Solstice. We pay tribute for another year of survival with sacrifice and purge. The sage banishes any evil presence that may have wandered through here while purifying us for when we finally do ascend to Heaven. It all be more explained later. It is a remarkable ceremony,” Debra explained.
“You said sacrifice. What kind of sacrifice,” I asked.
“Atlas,” The Reverend yelled. “Join me over here please.”
“Well, The Reverend has summoned you. You must oblige his request,” Debra said.
Debra walked away to place more bundles of sage amongst the cross. As I walked towards The Reverend, I noticed Serenity staring at me from the stage. Her smile did not exist as it usually did. Her eyes were focused on me, but no expression accompanied.
“Atlas my savior, how was your sleep,” The Reverend asked as he extended his hand.
“It was good. Debra was telling me about you guys performing a ceremony tonight,” I replied while shaking his hand.
“Awe, yes indeed. Our time of giving blessings and thanks for surviving what we have is fulfilled with purifying our land and souls with this ceremony,” The Reverend replied.
“Debra also mentioned something about a sacrifice,” I hinted.
“I’ll explain more about our ceremony later. Right now, I need you to focus on something for me,” The Reverend informed. “Lyle needs some assistance for a supply run. My daughter has agreed to accompany him, but she hasn’t quite been herself lately. Something has influenced her mind with negativity so I’m afraid her full focus will not be with her. Would you care to go with them and provide extra hands as well as guardianship? I know it isn’t right for me to ask but with you being our celestial prophet it would ease my mind a bit.”
“What is the supply run for,” I asked.
“Just a few basic necessities. Lyle has the list of things we need. I will tell Michelle to escort you to our armory for gear. Take what you need to assure your safe journey,” The Reverend replied.
“Ok. Where are we going,” I asked.
“There is a small town just south of here. It used to be called Red Boiling Springs. We haven’t ventured that far before, but it was a really small town that we believe was never raided. There are different sections of the town so unless the locals had raided it before the complete desolation, it should have what we need,” The Reverend explained. “A nice hidden valley within the hills.”
I knew the town he spoke of. It was a small valley community in Tennessee that had a lot of bad luck with weather, but the historical value of the town was overwhelming. I hope at least a slither of it had survived. I remember walking down the Civil War trail that escaped through the forest. It had the essence of battle and fallen soldiers surrounding you with every step.
“Where is that located,” I asked.
“Lyle has the map. Keep a watch on my daughter because since her focus isn’t properly adjusted, she will need some protecting.”
“Will do,” I replied.
The Reverend gripped my hand with his and raised his other arm. His eyes shut and he immediately began a prayer.
“Watch over our prophet as he journeys for us to obtain what shall nourish and protect our community from the wickedness of the lands that have been abandoned but is awakening. Our days are dark, our bodies are tempted, but through you we sacrifice and prosper. With your prophet at our side we know you have heard our voices and you watch over us. To Atlas I relay be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them for the Lord your God goes with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy thirty-one sixteen. Amen.”
His eyes opened and I wasn’t sure if it was because of the sun’s light beaming on his face, but a black tint shortly lived around his eyes.
“Be safe my son. God is watching over you,” The Reverend said as he patted my back.
The Reverend stepped away as he signaled Michelle from the courthouse steps to meet me. Michelle seemed more presentable as she walked towards me. Her violaceous ankle length dress mixed with her velvet long sleeved blouse and French braided hair portrayed a sense of attention. She wanted me to notice that she tried. Though her walk was confident the anxiety couldn’t be hidden.
“How has your morning been Mr. Atlas,” Michelle asked.
“Doing just fine. You look pretty today,” I replied.
Michelle’s smi
le grew uncomfortably.
“Shall we go to the armory,” I asked.
“Oh, of course. Follow me please,” Michelle replied.
Behind the courthouse, there was a cellar built into the ground. The doors were barricaded by a log chain and two guards dressed in full raven riot gear without the face masks. Lyle stood next to the door waiting for us to arrive.
“Hello gentleman. We need to enter the cellar for Atlas and Lyle’s run. Please unlock the chain,” Michelle requested as she held out the key.
One guard grabbed the key and leaned to release the chain. Lyle stood while motioning for me to look at him as he rolled his eyes. From one vet to another we know when people play military and when people were military. These two guards seem to have had too many hours on Call of Duty and not enough of basic training at Fort Knox. The door creaked open and the sun illuminated just inches into the tunnel. Michelle walked in first followed by Lyle and me. Michelle flipped the light switch to her right and a blue glow surrounded the underground bunker. Two tables rested in the middle of the floor while multiple shelves were bound against the wall holding a multitude of weaponry from blades to guns and even explosives.
“Where did you acquire all of these weapons? More importantly, how,” I asked as I looked around the room.
“We have scavenged over the past couple years. Karmen was a main source of finding weapons. She seems to have a real knack for discovering things. She did find you,” Michelle replied.
“Also, when I came here, I had a convoy full of weapons that my team left behind when it all began,” Lyle replied.
Rows of M4s were resting against the shelves along with Pythons, UMPs, Katanas, Country Style Hunter Blades, Magnum 45, Glocks and even a claymore. This was a warrior’s sanctuary.
“Grab anything you need Atlas. Mark it on the inventory sheet with the time you have taken it. This is how we keep track of all of our weapons, so we know what we need,” Michelle said. “I’ll be waiting top side if you need me.”
As Michelle walked up the stairs, Lyle asked, “Not a bad arsenal, right?”
“I am honestly impressed with this set up,” I said as I looked around. In the corner of the armory was a glass case containing different vials of liquids. I assumed it was the same medicine that Debra created for the Red Death. “Do you ever have to log in your weapon,” I asked pointing at his side arm.
“Every day. Michelle is the confidant in which we must disclose when we take anything from the armory. She is the only one who has the key to this place. If I don’t log in my weapon at the beginning of my shift every morning, she finds me and presses a piercing fire to my eyes. She may look adorable and sexy, but she has some darkness to her when the rules aren’t followed.”
“Sounds like you have feelings for her,” I said as I slowly opened the glass case door and reached inside to grab a vial. I placed it into my side pocket.
“What I would do if she gave me the time of day. She is always fresh on my mind,” Lyle explained.
“What about that Allison girl? She seemed nice and into you,” I asked.
“She is a very lovely girl. So lovely that other men have found her to be lovely as well. In turn I would like to make her faithful, but my heart is set on Michelle if the day ever presents itself,” Lyle replied.
“So why not go for Michelle,” I asked.
“Unfortunately, Michelle is off limits for two reasons. The Reverend has forbidden her from being with anyone in the community because he wants her to stay pure and true to the faith. The Reverend’s words, not mine. Two, if she could be with someone it would be the almighty prophet. You,” Lyle said as he grabbed a Glock from the shelf.
“Dude, I am no prophet. These people have their screws loosened to a fault where it isn’t even humorous. Plus, you would be her escape from madness. She seems wound up so tight that even her footprints dust themselves off. Just because Michelle is infatuated by the story involving me, doesn’t mean you can’t be the ending of her love story,” I explained as I gripped an M4 from the wall. “You Lyle are a man of stature and greatness. I can see it in you. Use that greatness to sweep Michelle off her feet and make her actually see God in your bedroom. Regardless of what The Reverend wants. He isn’t her father and you sure ain’t his lacky. Do what you believe feels right.”
“You guys geared up yet,” Karmen’s voice echoed as she walked down the steps.
“You’re late Karmen. You were supposed to meet me at the doors twenty minutes ago,” Lyle explained.
“Oh, don’t get all true follower on me. Time is on our side today because we are obtaining what we need to shut it down,” Karmen said. I turned quickly to Karmen with widened eyes. “Oh yea, Lyle is in on taking down this place too.”
I turned to Lyle and he patted me on the back. “I figured you were too smart for “The Word of the Reverend”, Lyle said while loading his weapon. “At first I was a bit skeptical, but when I saw you turn down the seduction of Serenity out there, I knew you had a different heart.”
“How does Serenity play into all of this,” I asked.
“Karmen and I have determined a way to size down people of this community. If they are brought high regards to their status and milk it for all that it’s worth, then they will submit to anything if they get the tiniest bit of praise. I can walk up to one of our gardeners out there and tell them that their tomatoes are the best tomatoes I had ever eaten in my life. They have two choices. They will either say thank you and keep gardening or they will express how they grow their produce it to portray to you how hard they work.” Lyle explained. “You pushed away the possibility of being a divine intervention for this apocalypse and walked away from a very seductive woman that has a body like a goddess and the persuasion of Medusa. You are a different breed my friend. Most men would have tackled Serenity the first chance they got. I did.”
“Lyle was a sucker for women flaunting their business onto him,” Karmen informed.
“Not going to lie. I was a bit of a whore when I first came here. Possibly still quite am, but Michelle is the one I want. If we pull this off tonight, I’m going to rescue her from this place,” Lyle said. “Kind of like how you’re rescuing that vial from its case there.” Lyle pointed at my pocket and smiled. “Is there someone out there who needs that medicine?”
As slid my hand into my pocket grazing the glass vial with my fingertip I answered, “Actually, there is. Once I get back home, if he is still alive, I’m going to have to force it down his throat.”
“So, you weren’t prone to the Red Death either? That virus was a pain in the ass, but curable,” Lyle said. “Debbie does some miracles with herbs. When that virus came through, this town almost lost everything, but by Debbie’s talents, she figured out a way to reverse its affects.”
“So, I can call her Debbie? I just don’t like the ring of Debra. Very Victorian and formal,” I added.
“Agreed. Debbie seems like the name of an aunt that would give you ice cream before bed. Debra sounds like she will hit you with a swan feathered fan for putting your elbows on the table,” Lyle explained.
Is Debbie on board with any of this? Is there anyone else involved with what you guys are planning to do,” I asked.
“No. It is just us,” Karmen replied. “Debbie is a miraculous herbalist, but she is a close confidant to my father and would never dream of going against him.”
“I know someone else who is going to help us,” I said as I gripped a hunter’s knife from a shelf and placed it into my boot. Karmen and Lyle turned to me with worry in their eyes. “My daughter Kiere.”
“You have a daughter,” Lyle asked.
“Yes,” I replied.
“Where is she? Who is she,” Karmen asked.
“Her name is Kiere. She has actually been here longer than I have,” I replied.
“There is no one here by that name,” Lyle said.
“You know her as Sasha. She came here with a man named Garth,” I replied.
“
Oh shit,” Karmen said. “Why was she here?”
“She was taken from me years ago. I took her out to spend a day with her. Try to get her to escape everything that was going on back home. Allow herself to be a kid again. There was an old town that had a store where I used to go as a teen. It had comic books, toys and just about any nerdy thing you wanted it had. The shopkeeper was a great friend of mine. I hoped it still stood and I could take Kiere there to help her forget the world we lived in for just a little while,” I explained. “As we were there, we were ambushed by people that call themselves The Followers. They have red crosses painted on their faces and they follow a man with relentless anger and displaced information. These men took Kiere from me and I searched for her up until now. Kiere found me last night as I was walking back to the house from that gathering at the graveyard. She told me she had escaped and fled here with a man she met on the roads by the name of Garth. She changed her name so if the men came looking for her, they wouldn’t be able to find her by name.”
“Are the red crosses painted on their faces and stretch from their forehead all the way to their chin,” Lyle asked.
“Yes,” I replied with a concerned tone as I cautiously rose from securing the knife in my boot.
“He’s talking about Warren,” Karmen said.
I gripped my gun and held it towards Lyle and Karmen while walking backwards. “How do you know of Warren Cross?”
“Easy Atlas. It’s not what you think,” Karmen said while raising her hand.
“Then tell me how you know him,” I said while placing my finger on the trigger.
“He is the cause of what is about to happen tonight,” Karmen replied.
“Have all of you gotten lost down there? Day light won’t be here forever, so I suggest you get out of the cellar and make your run before tonight’s festivities,” Michelle said from the top of the staircase.
“We will explain it to you along the way. Just put your gun down and come with us,” Karmen suggested.
I searched around the cellar for another exit, but it was one way in and one way out. I had nothing to gain from shooting them at that moment.
Z.E.D.S. Series (Book 2): Z.E.D.S. Wayward Son Page 23
