The Divide_Legacy

by Mitchel Grace

  “Follow me,” he said and took her hand. They ran out the back of the house, and Roger peered around the left edge of it. A bullet immediately zipped by his head, missing him only by a couple feet. Roger quickly got back into cover and turned his attention to Veronica.

  “What did you see?” she asked.

  “The two squads we came with are dead, as far as I can tell. I saw a few bodies, and I couldn’t see anyone on our side. I did, however, see at least one enemy who nearly took my head off.”

  “What do we do then? We’re alone, and we don’t know how many of them there could be.”

  “We count.”

  “What do you mean we count?” Veronica asked in confusion.

  “I should have said you’ll be the one counting. I’ll be a distraction.”

  “Are you crazy? That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard!”

  “Maybe, but it’ll work. Do you see that well?” Roger asked and pointed to a well in the center of this particular neighborhood.

  For outsiders, water was hard to come by. They had an allowance of clean drinking water, but it wasn’t always enough, so they drilled their own wells. The water wasn’t always clean, and it led to some nasty sickness at times, but it was better than being thirsty.

  “Yeah, but what does that have to do with anything? It’s got to be thirty or forty feet away,” Veronica said.

  “I know it’s not that close, but I’m fast. I can make it. When I jump out, it’ll get their attention, and they’ll shoot at me. You need to glance carefully out and count how many there are. You’ll only have a few seconds, so make them count. After that, you’ll yell out how many there are so I can hear. Then you’ll move to the opposite side of the house and fire in the direction of the people you saw.”

  “I don’t know about this, Roger,” she said doubtfully.

  “Trust me. I can make it, and if you blind fire, you won’t be in any real danger.”

  “All right, but you better be okay,” Veronica said and gave him a quick kiss. It only lasted for a second, but it held a lot of emotion. Roger could tell that Veronica thought she was saying goodbye.

  He wanted to make her feel good about this, but there was no time. For all he knew, their enemies could be making a plan of their own right then. They had to act soon, and this was the only way he knew to do things. Roger bolted in the direction of the well and glanced at the man who had shot at him before. He was hiding at the edge of another home. Then he heard a shot and saw the dirt just in front of him fly up. He had barely been missed, which normally would have been concerning, but Roger had also seen the source of the shot. A man on the opposite side of the house had taken it.

  Finally, Roger slid foot first toward his destination. Several shots were fired in that moment. He couldn’t tell where all of them were coming from, but it didn’t matter. As the earth around him was cast into the air from bullets that seemed to land all around him, Roger felt it! A bullet ripped through his right hand and came out the other side.

  After Roger slid to safety, he put his back against the old well and looked at his wound. Thankfully, the bullet had landed in the perfect spot. It was low enough that it didn’t take off any fingers, but it was also high enough that it didn’t catch Roger in his wrist and destroy an artery. Still, it hurt like hell. There was a hole in his hand, and worst of all, it was in his shooting hand. How was he supposed to fight now?

  “I counted five!” Veronica yelled, somewhat snapping him out of his painful concern.

  Five? Roger had only counted two. Who else had he missed, and how was he supposed to help her? Veronica couldn’t fight these men on her own. They would eventually pinpoint her location and overload her with shots. One would catch her, and then that would be the end. If he lost her, nothing else would matter.

  Not today, Roger thought and put his gun in his left hand. It felt awkward, but he remembered once again how he was taught to shoot. He didn’t need to feel comfortable or even to use his eyes to shoot. He just needed to point his arm toward his enemies, envision the kill, and then pull the trigger. His instincts would get him through. In this situation, they had to.

  Roger found that things weren’t quite that simple when he blind fired in the direction he had seen the first enemy in. He heard no one cry out in pain, and the recoil from the gun moved his arm, bowing it in the process and making his instinctual shoot from the hip strategy useless. He sighed, knowing he was pinned down and no help to the woman he loved. That was when Roger heard a shot cry out from Veronica’s direction. She had begun. He heard two more shots after that, and then a man yelled in pain as a bullet buried into his gut.

  He fired blindly a few more times, hoping to at least act as a distraction for Veronica and heard yet another man yell out in pain. Then Roger glanced out for a moment, aimed, and fired at the man who had originally tried to kill him. The bullet went straight through his enemy’s eye and buried into his brain. He smiled, thinking that this might actually work out, but then Roger heard the worst possible thing. Veronica screamed just as another shot echoed into the air. She had been hit! Roger wanted to run to her. What could he do, though? Even moving would probably be suicide.

  Ultimately, Roger knew that it didn’t matter what happened to him if Veronica wasn’t okay. He readied himself, took a deep calming breath, and blanked his mind. He rose up, turned, and found his first target. Roger fired in the blink of an eye, cutting down the first man. Then he heard a shot and felt a burn on his arm as the bullet just grazed him. It only stalled him for a second, but it was too long. As he tried to recover, the final enemy in that area, who was hiding inside of a house across the street, lined up his sights and put his finger on the trigger. A shot cried out, and Roger was sure he was dead, but he didn’t feel any pain at all. In fact, all he heard afterward was a thud in one of the houses across the street. Had the bullet come from Veronica? Could she have saved him?

  Roger rushed back to where Veronica was hiding to find that she looked safe and sound. In fact, she didn’t even look wounded. He, on the other hand, had blood dripping down his fingers from a fresh wound.

  “Oh, my God! Are you all right?” Veronica asked, immediately noticing his hand.

  “That’s my line! I heard you scream. Where were you hit?” Roger asked with obvious concern.

  “Nowhere. I did that on purpose. I figured if they thought I was dead they would eventually look away from my location. When they did, I would have a clear shot at them again. It turned out that it worked, and just in time, too. That last guy was about to kill you,” Veronica said.

  “I’m so glad you’re okay! I . . . I thought I had lost you,” Roger said and wrapped his good arm around her. Then he kissed her passionately.

  “You didn’t have to be that concerned. I can take care of myself, you know,” Veronica said with a grin.

  “I know you can. I just . . .” Roger said before stopping and wincing in pain.

  Adrenaline had kept him going up until this point, but now it was becoming painfully obvious to him that he had a hole in his hand. Roger didn’t want to show how badly he was hurting, though. They were just at the beginning of this fight. How would things go if he was too hurt to continue already?

  “Hey, are you going to be okay?” she asked in concern.

  “I have to be. We need to get moving again. I’m sure everyone else could use some help.”

  “But how are you going to shoot when your right hand is messed up?”

  “With my left. Before you say anything, I already know I can do it. I hit at least a couple of guys back there, so I can help.”

  “All right, but let me look at your hand first.”

  Roger agreed to those terms, and Veronica wrapped his hand with a bandage. It wasn’t much, and the blood quickly started to seep through it, but it was better than nothing. She thought that he needed disinfectant, but at the very least, the bandage would keep anything from getting to the wound and further infecting it.

  “Ther
e, good as new. Well, not exactly, but it’ll have to do for now,” Veronica said.

  “Thank you. Now, we need to get to the next street,” Roger said and motioned for her to follow him.

  They walked to the next street only to discover a lot of dead bodies. It was deserted, which they assumed meant that it had already been cleared out by their forces. The next street was the same, only a number of civilians had gathered there. They looked afraid, and Roger wanted to say something to assure them that they weren’t in danger anymore. After all, these had been his people as a boy. He didn’t bother with words, however. They had to move. Clearing every street and giving the city back to the people would have to be enough.

  Two more streets over, they found themselves in a fire fight. Roger quickly pulled Veronica behind a house where they found another Raines’ fighter who was pinned down. He looked grateful to see that help had arrived, but he still didn’t seem very confident. Veronica wanted to know why. What had happened here?

  “What’s going on? Are you the only one left alive?” Veronica asked him.

  “New Vegas decided to make a stand here. We’re only one street away from the entrance of the indoor portion of the city, so as long as they didn’t get in there, I would assume this is the end of the line for them. The problem was that when my squad got here we were outnumbered three to one. We got separated early, and as far as I know, they’re all dead.

  “A few more people came to help, but I think they’re gone, too. It’s just me now. Well, I guess technically it’s us against somewhere around twenty people. You shouldn’t have come here,” he said and sighed.

  “Yes, we should have. We’re going to take this city back, and then we’re going to honor every man who died today. I promise you that.”

  The man nodded and partially stepped out to fire across the street into what he hoped would be a crowd of enemies. Before he could even get off a shot, two bullets buried into his chest, and he hit the ground. Veronica was shocked. She had just been talking to him. How could this happen when she had just told him they would succeed?

  Thankfully, Roger was still clearheaded, and he grabbed the soldier by his legs and dragged him back to cover. Then he looked at the wounds. Blood had soaked through his clothing, and when Roger removed the man’s shirt, it became painfully obvious why. Blood was everywhere. He guessed that an artery had been hit, but Roger was no doctor. He had no way to save this man or even truly know exactly what was wrong with him.

  “What’s your name?” Roger asked.

  “C . . . Collin Henderson,” he answered weakly as his face started to grow pale.

  “Well, Collin, is there anything I can do for you?” Every man deserves a last wish, and Roger intended to give Collin a chance at making one.

  “My wife . . . her name is Hailey. Find her, and make sure she’s taken care of,” he answered before coughing up a mouthful of blood.

  “You have my word that I’ll find her. I have connections, Collin. Hailey will be an insider when this is all over, and we’ll make sure she lives like royalty.”

  “Thank you,” Collin said and closed his eyes.

  A deep sleep took him from all the blood loss. He wasn’t dead yet, but he was mere seconds away. Roger held his hand until, with a sudden jerk, Collin opened his eyes as a blistering pain shot through him. Then, like a bad dream that’s fading away, all of the pain ended, a gentle peace overtook him, and he closed his eyes for the last time.

  “I can’t believe we let that man die,” Veronica said, obviously grief-stricken. Veronica hadn’t known him long, but just being that close and seeing someone’s life fade away had affected her.

  “We didn’t do anything wrong. It was them. Now, let’s find a way to make them pay, so we can get out of this alive. We have to find his wife and keep that promise, too,” Roger said.

  Veronica nodded, now looking more assured, and she and Roger moved to the edge of the home. They had no idea how they could possibly hope to defeat so many enemies. Unfortunately, they also didn’t know one other fact. Their enemies had sent a team of three men around the opposite side of the house, and they were just about to come around the corner behind Roger and Veronica. Even if they wanted to keep their promise and see Raines restored, it appeared that the two of them were only moments away from meeting the same fate as so many other brave souls that day.

  Chapter 23

  The Door

  Just before Roger and Veronica were about to step out and fire away, they heard a barrage of shots coming from the east side of the street. Roger glanced out to see a welcome party of people that included Alex and Lee. They had dozens of men following behind them. It had looked hopeless before, but their newfound comrades made quick work of the men in front of them and even shot the soldiers coming from behind Roger and Veronica as they rounded the corner. At that point, Roger and Veronica came out of their hiding place and walked over to them. Alex immediately hugged his daughter and gave Roger a thankful nod for protecting her. If only he knew that Veronica was the one who protected me, Roger thought and smiled.

  “I’m so glad to see both of you. We’re not sure, but we think that’s almost the last of them. Now all that’s left is for us to check the inside,” Alex said.

  “What about Mom and Travis? Where are they?” Veronica asked in concern.

  “We can talk about all of that when we’re through,” Alex answered, although his eyes betrayed him. She could see the worry and anguish in her father’s eyes.

  “No, tell me now!” she said louder and more childishly than she meant to.

  “I suppose you have the right to know. Sarah was hit, but it wasn’t a fatal wound. In fact, I know she’s fine. We escorted her and Travis back to the evacuation zone, and they’re getting the treatment they need.”

  “Where was she hit?” Roger asked, showing his own deep concern. Sarah had been an important mentor in his life after he got to live on the inside. Losing her would be just as devastating for him as it would be for her children.

  “It was only a leg wound, and before your imaginations run wild, know that she wasn’t hit in any area where a major artery could have been clipped. Sarah is fine. I saw to that myself,” Alex said and watched the color return to everyone’s faces before an important question came to Roger’s mind.

  “What about Travis?” he asked.

  “That news isn’t as great. He was hit in the stomach, and it was obvious that he was losing a lot of blood. I don’t think the wound was immediately fatal, and I got him help in time, but you know the situation we’re in out here,” Alex said and shook his head.

  “Well, I don’t know. Tell me!” Veronica said anxiously.

  “He means that the doctors out here have no education. Sure, they have hands-on experience, but that might not be enough given their limited supplies to save him,” Lee answered and looked at the ground.

  They shouldn’t have been close. In fact, all Travis should be to Lee was the boy who left his sister to shoulder a tough mission alone. They had gotten to know each other well when they were imprisoned in the palace, though. Lee had come to think of him as a close friend over that time. Seeing how Travis reacted to being constantly singled out by Charles with strength and resilience was an inspiration for all of them. Losing him now might be too much for Lee.

  “Exactly, but we can’t worry about that right now. We have to finish this,” Alex said.

  They all nodded in approval, and then Alex walked to the middle of the street where the gate to their indoor city was located. He stepped up to it, punched in the passcode to lower the gate, and watched as he was denied access. This wasn’t good, and Alex knew it. No one would have changed the password unless they were forced to. Odds were that some of their enemies were already on the inside. Finally, Alex hit the call button.

  “Alex Morgan, I presume?” a deep voiced man asked.

  “I am. Who am I speaking with?” Alex asked.

  “The leader of New Vegas’s army. You did quite
a number on us out there, but we had already taken the inside. They’re not much on fighting in here, so it was incredibly easy.”

  “I don’t doubt that. We both know there’s a difference between insiders and outsiders. That isn’t the point, though. What will it take to get you to leave my city?”

  “Every supply that was on the list I got from Mr. Boyd, ten thousand slaves, and your head on a spike. I don’t know how you escaped the palace, but you’re not getting away with what you’ve caused here.”

  “I won’t give you any of that, and you should know something about your leader. As your people were coming to kill mine, Raines sent an army to New Vegas. They took the city, and I personally killed Charles before we left. It doesn’t matter what his orders were anymore. The only thing that does is rebuilding your city. What do you say we call it even? I won’t retaliate for what you’ve done here, and you’ll show me the same courtesy. Does that sound fair?”

  “You’re lying! Charles Boyd wouldn’t go down that easily!”

  “I nearly lost my family and my life in the pit. Then I had to watch as they served him for weeks. Trust me when I say Charles wasn’t an easy man to kill. That doesn’t matter anymore, though. The only thing that does is rebuilding our cities,” Alex said, trying to reason with this man.

  “No, I don’t believe that it is. If what you’re saying is true, you’ve killed the man who made New Vegas what it is and damaged my city quite possibly beyond repair. Blood requires blood. Give me supplies, slaves, and your head, or everyone dies. Those are my terms, and until you decide to fulfill them, one insider will die every hour. Stay near the door, and you’ll be able to hear the screams of your people, Mr. Morgan,” he said with a certain sick satisfaction.

  “What’s your name?”

  “Aiden, but why?”

  “Because I wanted to tell you personally, Aiden, that if you hurt one more of my people, I’ll rip your throat out.”

  “Good luck getting in. I have a feeling this is going to be a long wait, but luckily for us, we’re in a city that borderlines on paradise. There’s even a second city connected to this one, making them almost like the same place. I saw outside where you were building a third. It’s a mistake, you know. Making everyone equal and weak like these insiders will only lead to your destruction, even if I can’t destroy this place.”