Lexi took the knife, dropped it into a deep pocket of the dress they had them wear, and ran out of the building just as a group of armed men came in the opposite door.
Lexi had avoided being implicated in the attack and was able to hide the knife.
Carey had been correct that no one would miss it. The chaos and confusion provided the necessary cover, but for how long.
Justice in Rahab’s camp was swift and without mercy. There was no trial, no jury, only Rahab’s word.
Rahab had Carey brought to him after she was cleaned up. He told her what she already knew. Her fate would be death and the sentence would be carried out immediately.
Tears streamed down Lexi’s face. This was it, the moment she dreaded more than anything. What was about to happen was the one thing she tried so hard to prevent but couldn’t. Today, Carey would die, and there wasn’t a thing she could do to prevent it.
In an attempt to show his people he had mercy, Rahab allowed Lexi to see Carey just before the execution.
Lexi stood a few feet away and looked at Carey. She was so calm and peaceful.
“Can I step closer to my sister?” Lexi asked the armed men surrounding Carey.
“Sure,” one guard said.
Lexi didn’t hesitate; she stepped forward and took Carey’s bound hands. She looked down at the cuts, bruises and scabs that covered them.
“Lexi, I need to tell you something,” Carey said softly.
Lifting her head, Lexi looked into Carey’s eyes. “What?”
“I know you hate Mom for what she did…”
“Carey, not now, I don’t want to talk about her now. We only have moments left—”
Interrupting Lexi, Carey continued, “Listen, please.” Tears began to gently slide down Carey’s red cheeks. “I’m saying this because I’m able to let go. I know it seems weird, but I’m fine with what’s about to happen. I’m not even scared.”
Lexi could barely breathe. “This can’t be happening, no, this can’t be.”
“I love you, Lexi. I love you for so many reasons. You’ve been there for me every step of the way. Even while I acted selfish, you always were there, and I wanted you to know I knew that. I knew I could always trust that. You’re a solid person, a beautiful woman, a loving sister and most importantly a survivor. Know that what I did, I did for you, okay.”
Lexi gulped for air and continued to sob.
Commotion and yells came from outside, signaling that the cleansing ceremony was about to begin.
“I don’t have much time, I just want to say that I know Mom was not the best mother, and after you told me what happened, I find it horrible, almost unforgivable, but you can’t go through life like that.” Carey caressed Lexi’s cheek and continued, “You need to forgive Mom. I’m not asking you to forget, I’m not asking you to go back and find her and be one big happy family. I’m saying you need to forgive her so that some of this anger that’s inside of you dies. You can still be tough without it; in fact, you can be better because your judgment won’t be clouded by it.”
Lexi shook her head.
“Please do that for you and me, forgive her.”
The doors opened, allowing in the light of the midday sun.
Carey looked through the doors and beyond to the cross or large X that they used for the ceremonies.
“Will you do that for me?” Carey asked.
Lexi nodded.
“It’s time to go,” the guard said.
Lexi hugged Carey tightly and squeezed.
“Goodbye, big sister,” Carey whispered into Lexi’s ear.
Lexi replied by giving Carey a tighter squeeze.
“Let go, it’s time to take her out,” the guard ordered.
Lexi wouldn’t let go.
“Pull her off,” the guard barked to the other men.
They swiftly snatched Lexi by the arms and one by the waist and pulled her free.
With no strength to fight, Lexi looked on as they paraded Carey out.
The men let Lexi go and followed behind the procession.
The doors swung closed and the room became dark, leaving Lexi alone in her grief.
Carey’s last words repeated in her head, over and over, but she resisted. It was too much for her to forgive her mother. How could she do it? How could anyone forgive someone for allowing a child to be harmed? How could her sister find that appropriate?
A thud sounded outside followed by a gasp then a brief silence.
Lexi lifted her head and held her breath. That was it, Carey was dead. The only person in the world that mattered was gone forever.
February 26, 2015
“Nothing inspires forgiveness quite like revenge.” – Scott Adams
One Mile North of Rajneeshpuram, Oregon
The weather wasn’t cooperating for Lexi. The rain had stopped, but was replaced by a frigid wind.
Hearing Lexi’s story gave hope to the woman that she would be set free. “I’m so sorry about what happened to your sister, I truly am.”
“I am too. You took from me the most precious thing. She was my world, she was everything. I was not only her sister but her guardian in many ways.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, I know you’re sorry, but were you sorry when it happened? You’re only sorry now because you’re my prisoner and your life hangs in the balance. I’d believe you if you helped us, but you didn’t. You get caught and now all of a sudden you’re regretful for what happened,” Lexi snarled. She shivered and goose bumps appeared on her arms. “I’m wet, cold, hungry and bored.” She stood up and shook to get warm.
The woman shivered too. She looked up at Lexi and said, “I’m hungry too.”
“Sorry, no food.”
The woman noticed that Lexi still had the knife gripped tightly in her right hand.
Lexi looked around. It was quiet and peaceful save for the subtle sounds of raindrops dripping and hitting leaves on the ground.
Hoping to find an answer concerning her fate, the woman asked, “Did you forgive your mother?”
“You were listening.” Lexi smiled.
“If you think killing me is revenge, it’s not. There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness. That’s a quote from someone wiser and smarter than both of us.”
“It’s getting late and I don’t think my friends are coming. I need to get moving,” Lexi said, looking around the clearing.
“Can you please cut me loose? I won’t hurt you or anyone,” the woman pleaded.
“I did forgive her. It took me a while, but I finally did.”
“Good, good for you, that is a positive step.”
Lexi laughed and said, “I did on the way here, it took me that long to do it. I just couldn’t let go. My hatred for her was buried so deep. You can’t just do it so easily. Yeah, in theory people say you can, but it took a lifetime of nurturing that hatred. Not until I looked back on your camp did I know that the chapter of my life that included her is gone. Today I’m beginning anew.”
The woman nodded. The hope she had that Lexi would free her grew.
Lexi stepped back in front of the woman and lowered herself until she was face to face. “I forgave my mother, but forgiving you, that is tough. I think I might find a way someday, but you and the others brought such great harm that forgiveness is not enough. I believe that you can forgive someone, but the crime they committed must still be punished.”
The hope the woman had began to wane considerably.
“The concept that killing a killer is somehow morally relevant is a lie. It is about intent. Do I stand on moral high ground if I let a killer go knowing they might murder again? How is that moral? In fact, that makes those righteous people culpable in some way. No, I think people who grandstand and say that killing an evil person makes you evil is a cop out because they don’t have the fortitude to do what is right. You want to quote someone wise, well, I’ve got a quote for you: evil exists because good people do nothing. That is true now more than ever.”<
br />
“Please, you don’t have to do this,” the woman begged.
“You’re wrong, I do have to do this,” Lexi said then slid her blade across the woman’s throat.
The woman gagged and choked. Blood gushed out of her throat and down her chest, pooling in her lap.
Lexi stood, cleaned the blade and put it back in her sheath. She stayed until the woman took her last breath.
Remembering there was a farmhouse a couple miles north, she decided that would be her next stop. She didn’t know if it was occupied, but it was the only place she could think of.
Just before stepping away, she looked back at the dead woman. All of it, everything to date since that fateful day in early December seemed like a horrible nightmare. Here she was in central Oregon, her body beaten, bruised and bloodied. Her life since the lights went out had been one tragic event after another with each one growing in intensity from the previous one. All of those events culminated in an epic battle. This was the end of a chapter of her life. Things would be different for her going forward and in some ways she felt lost, and who wouldn’t? Even if she found the Marines, where would she go? Back to Crescent or with them? Would she be talked into going somewhere safe? She knew that was a lie; no such place existed. No. She couldn’t go back, she wouldn’t. Her life was out on the road.
She had been born again, but this baptism was with blood, sweat and tears. She looked down the trail ahead and saw that it turned left and went out of sight. This trail was now symbolic of her life going forward, an uneven and rocky path that led to somewhere unknown.
NOTE TO READERS
I hope you enjoyed NEMESIS: INCEPTION. For those who’ve read my series, THE NEW WORLD, you have already had the pleasure of meeting Lexi and for those who haven’t you have now been introduced to a fan favorite character from my bestselling series.
If this was the first time you were exposed to Lexi and want to read more, pick up my series, THE NEW WORLD, there you’ll find her in book two, THE LONG ROAD and book three, SANCTUARY.
Stay tuned, I’ll be writing a second book in the NEMESIS TRILOGY soon. Look for it to come out in early 2016.
Thanks for reading and as always, stay frosty.
- G. Michael Hopf
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
G. Michael Hopf is the best-selling author of THE NEW WORLD series. He spent two decades living a life of adventure before he settled down and became a novelist full time. He is a combat veteran of the Marine Corps and former executive protection agent. He lives with his family in San Diego, CA
Please feel free to contact him at [email protected] with any questions or comments.
www.gmichaelhopf.com
www.facebook.com/gmichaelhopf
THE NEW WORLD series continues with...
BOOK 5
BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS
All Gordon Van Zandt wanted was to find a safe place for his family to settle down after civilization came to an abrupt end following the detonation of a super-EMP over North America. Through hardship and loss he found a sanctuary in the mountains of Idaho; however, the realities of the new world again come crashing down when his brother, Sebastian, is murdered by a deranged U.S. Army officer hell-bent on crushing a secessionist movement Gordon had no part of. Forced to take sides in a conflict he sought to avoid, he comes to realize that if his family is to have peace, he'll have to go to war to secure it.
With revenge in his heart and an army at his disposal, he goes on the offensive against the very country he once swore an allegiance to defend.
President Conner's forceful determination to prevent the country from fracturing only hastened it. Faced with all-out war against the newly formed Republic of Cascadia in the Northwest and with other secessionist movements gaining steam, he discovers he's an isolated man with few options for victory.
War is hell and now many will find out how true that is.
ORDER
BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS
Additional books by G. Michael Hopf
THE NEW WORLD SERIES
THE END
THE LONG ROAD
SANCTUARY
THE LINE OF DEPARTURE
BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS
DETACHMENT
DETACHMENT BOOK ONE
THE VAN ZANDT CHRONICLES
EXIT
READ AN EXCERPT OF THE NEW G. MICHAEL HOPF BOOK AVAILABLE NOW
EXIT: THE VAN ZANDT CHRONICLES
_________________________
JANUARY 22, 2015
“The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which to burn.” – David Russell
Outside Bishop, CA
“Hunter! Hunter! No!” Gordon cried out as he tossed and turned in his sleep. His sweat soaked shirt clung tightly to his lean muscular torso and the white bandage that covered the slash on his face absorbed the building sweat from his brow.
Every night since witnessing the brutal murder of Hunter he had the same nightmare. Like a horror movie that replayed only it’s most grisly scenes his subconscious mind subjected him nightly to the same shocking and grotesque moments from that day.
The first time Gordon had his nightmare, Brittany tried to wake him. It took her that one shove to realize it was best to allow him to process his demons and that called for leaving him alone. She didn’t know what haunted him but she had a good idea. He had only shared tidbits of his past. She knew he came from San Diego, had been a Marine once and that Idaho was their destination. Having lost her husband to the barbarism of the new world she could understand why someone wouldn’t openly share the loss of loved ones because doing so brought back the memories of their passing. She didn’t want to relive it so didn’t press him on his past. The gold band on his ring told her he was married and the name Hunter made it clear he must have had a family. The fact that he was alone gave her the impression they were dead.
Gordon roughly turned and mumbled out loud, “Don’t do this! Don’t do this!”
She looked at him and frowned with sorrow because the pain he was experiencing was painful to watch.
“Don’t do this!” Gordon whimpered, tears streamed down his face.
Brittany reached out to touch him, but stopped short when her son, Tyler said, “Don’t, Mom, remember what happened last night?”
“Your right, I just feel so sorry for him.”
His dreams were tormenting him and when he began to shed tears a natural urge to embrace him came over her. She didn’t know him well, but her brief time told her he was a good man.
They had been together for four days and he only showed caring and compassion. Never once did he make a sexual advance and the way he was with, Tyler was great. He took time to engage him and showed a true desire to help.
Tyler was like Gordon. He had witnessed the murder of his father and it ate away at the young boy causing him also to have a tough time sleeping.
“Mom, is he okay?” Tyler asked from the soft but worn sofa that he called his bed.
“I think he just saw some bad stuff,” Brittany replied.
Gordon thought this best to keep everyone close as a precaution, so all three were sleeping in the same room of an abandoned house they had found the day before.
Not one to need a break he had to find a place to rest. The large cut on his face had become incredibly painful, to the point of making it difficult for him to do much. He tried to suck it up but couldn’t.
Brittany was supportive of the decision to stop as she could see Gordon was suffering and she felt his wound had become infected.
“No, no, no!” Gordon cried out.
Tyler got up from the old sofa he called his bed and came over to Brittany who was laying on a mattress tossed on the floor.
“Close your eyes!” Gordon cried out.
Tyler snuggled closer to Brittany who brought him in closer. Their eyes were fixated on Gordon as he shifted and twitched, his facial muscles contorting and his eyes rolling around behind his eyelids.
“He scares
me a bit.”
She sighed and said, “I think he’s fine, he’s just been through a lot.”
“If he has dreams like this every night, we’ll never get any sleep.”
“You should try to sleep sweetheart,” Brittany said looking at her watch. “Honey, close your eyes, it’s five in the morning.”
“I can’t.”
“How about I rub your head, you loved that as a little one?”
“I’m not a baby anymore, Mom.”
“You’ll always be my baby; I don’t care how old you get.”
Tyler lifted his head and asked, “Why don’t you have dreams like that?”
She petted his head and replied, “Oh, I have nightmares too honey, we can’t judge him. Something very bad must have happened to him.”
“I feel sorry for him,” Tyler softly said.
“I do too,” Brittany said.
Deep in Gordon’s mind the images flashed of Rahab holding the knife high above his gentle and sweet boy. He could see his son’s beautiful face, his deep blue eyes and light brown, wispy hair.
“No, please, God, no,” Gordon whimpered just before the final image of his nightmare came. Gordon’s breathing increased as did his movements. His legs moved up and down along with his arms. “No!” he screamed out as he once again witnessed Rahab driving the blade deep into Hunter’s chest. Like an electrical shock to the system, he woke. His exhaled heavily and sat up. Sweat streamed down his face and he looked around the room. His eyes were wide as he scanned the dimly lit space and not only adjusting his vision but reacquainting himself to the present.
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