“Maybe, but Raines’s destruction won’t happen while I’m still breathing.”
“Well, I’ll just see what I can do about that then. I’ll talk to you in an hour, Alex,” Aiden said and walked away from the callbox.
“Damn it!” Alex shouted as he stepped away. He mentally scolded himself afterward, however. His men, and even worse, his children didn’t need to see him like this. Alex had to be composed.
“It’s okay, Daddy. I know it’s frustrating,” Veronica said and wrapped one arm around him. It was almost like she knew exactly what he was feeling. Alex was lost, but he didn’t know if he could show that.
“What do we do now?” one of the men asked.
“We have a sewage system just like New Vegas, don’t we? We could go through there,” Lee suggested.
“It isn’t that simple. The tunnels are narrow on purpose. When they were designed, a scenario was thought of where outsiders might get in, so they made sure that wouldn’t be a possibility. Keep in mind that all of this happened way before Sarah and I were ever in charge,” Alex said, making sure that the men who were here fighting for them knew that he didn’t share that same fear.
“Okay, then how about the gate? There’s got to be a way to get in,” Roger said.
“There is. We could hack the controls if anyone here was an expert,” Alex said, hoping that someone would volunteer. Unfortunately, no one did.
“So we’ll do it the hard way then,” Lee said.
“What do you mean?” Veronica asked.
“Just what I said. None of us are experts, but given enough time, we can figure it out.”
“What about supplies? We’ll need equipment to do something like that,” Alex said.
“We have an entire city full of things,” Lee said and motioned to the partially deserted town.
“It’s probably our only option. We need to move as quickly as possible, though. We’re on a tight time limit, given that someone dies every hour,” Alex said.
“But no pressure, right?” Lee asked sarcastically.
“Hey, there really is none. Your idea is all we have right now, so let’s just do our best with it until we either make it work or we think of something else.”
With that, they got started. A few of the volunteers they had knew a little about hacking, and after gathering some supplies, they got started, although it was clear that this wasn’t going anywhere soon. The locking mechanism was state of the art. Even before the disaster that changed their world forever, it would have been hard for anyone to crack it. It made Alex wonder how in the world Aiden and his men ever got into the city in the first place.
The answer to that question was simple. Raines’s leader was a weak and naïve man who didn’t understand the harshness of the outside world. He meant well, but it was his ultimate decision that had gotten their city taken and many others killed in the process. When Aiden came to the gate and asked to speak to the leader of Raines, he told him that he wanted to negotiate a surrender and a cease to all the violence. All Raines had to do was open their doors and give up. Then there would be no more pain, and the healing process could start.
Being desperate and incredibly naïve for a man who had risen so high in the world, their leader opened the gate, and chaos ensued. Hundreds were killed in the first hour. Robbery and rape were also common. By that afternoon, one thing was certain. No one thought these men wanted to negotiate peace, and nobody wanted to fight them. The insiders were a beaten people who would willingly be reduced to slaves, if only they were assured that no one else would die.
Unfortunately, an hour passed quickly, and Alex heard a familiar voice over the intercom. “How are we doing out there? Have you given any thought to my deal?” Aiden asked, sounding amused.
“Definitely not,” Alex responded.
“That’s a shame. Listen to what your reluctance has earned you,” Aiden said, and they heard a gunshot and a man screaming in pain. That was followed by another shot, and then there was nothing but deathly silence.
“Do you want to guess who the first to go was?” Aiden asked.
“You are evil,” Alex said and shook his head.
“No, I just look out for my own people above anyone else. You killed many of those, so now there must be suffering. That was your brave leader. He was a shit negotiator, and it was his fault that we even got into the city, but I will give him this. He was brave when it counted. I was going to kill some kid first to get my point across that no one was safe, but he said to take him. I ignored him, of course. He persisted, though, so I granted his wish. First, he got a shot to the groin. If you want to make people feel real fear, they need to see brave men crying first. That did the trick, but even I have a heart, so I finished him off soon after. I think my point has been made, though. Don’t you?”
“I’ve received your message loud and clear, but now you need to receive mine. Walter was my friend. We didn’t always see eye to eye on every issue, but Sarah and I helped him when he asked for it. You’ll suffer for killing him.”
“So there’s no peaceful resolution anymore, huh? You don’t want to plead for me and my people to go home and let bygones be bygones?” he spat.
“They can go home whenever they want to. You, on the other hand, are a different story. I’ll kill you myself.”
“Good luck with that, Alex. Oh, and be careful what you say in the future. I hold all of these people’s lives in my hands. If I wanted them executed right now, then they would be. Remember that,” Aiden said and walked away from the callbox.
Alex sighed and looked away for a moment. He wanted to fix things, and at the same time, a part of him wanted to just walk away from it all. How was Sarah doing? Did Travis live? Would his children make it out of this alive? Those were the main questions going through his mind. Alex knew he should be completely devoted to the people who were trapped on the inside, but he was tired. He had been captured, nearly killed, and now he was on the verge of losing the city he helped make into a haven for everyone not built for the harshness of the real world. How could he not be feeling the pressure about now?
“Are you okay?” Roger asked.
“I’ve been better,” Alex whispered.
Roger motioned for Alex to walk with him, and they stepped away from everyone else. Then he continued. “It’s going to take time, but we’ll fix this. You’ve been coming through for us since I was a kid. You’ll do it again.”
Alex wished he had that kind of confidence. He knew they would eventually figure things out, and a fight for their survival would begin, but Alex didn’t feel like the same person he was in his twenties. He was tired and beaten down. He knew the man his people needed him to still be, but was he in there anymore? Alex had been hailed a hero after he met Sarah and helped her take Raines, but what did that mean now that he was older and too injured to be the man he once was?
“I know what you’re thinking, and you shouldn’t worry about it,” Roger said.
“What’s that?” Alex asked.
“The same thing I would be in your shoes. You’re hurt, and you have a million worries on you. This shouldn’t fall to you, but these people aren’t looking to me, Veronica, or Lee for guidance. They’re looking to you.”
“And what if I can’t be what they need? When we get those doors open, they’re going to need the fighter you used to know. I’m wounded, I can’t run, and as much as I hate to say it, I’m getting older. I’m not the man I used to be, and these people think I’m some hero. I never was. I just did what I needed to for you and Sarah.”
“You don’t get to decide if you’re a hero or not. To me, you’ll always be one, and to most of these people, you will be, too. You changed everything about our society, married the most famous woman in the city despite being a commoner, and now you’ve taken back part of Raines, saving thousands in the process. That sounds like a hero to me.
“As for you being worried about not being as physically capable as you once were, you’ve still got some f
ight in you. I know it, and you do, too. Even if you didn’t, that isn’t what being a hero is about. Just be there in whatever way you can. That’s all anyone wants.”
“What can I do now?”
“Lie to people.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just what I said. Put on a false face, and tell everyone this is going to work out in the end. It won’t be easy, but it’s what they need. Then when those gates open, lead the charge. I’ll be right there beside you.”
“You’ve turned into an incredible man. You know that, don’t you, Roger?” Alex asked with a grin.
“Well, I don’t remember a ton about my parents. I can’t say if they taught me much, but I learned a lot from you. Do you remember what you told me when I was afraid of the dark back on these streets?”
“It’s all right to be afraid. Bravery isn’t about the absence of fear, but instead, it’s our ability to keep going when fear is at its worst.”
“Exactly, and I’m scared. I know you are, too, but you didn’t teach a coward, and I know better than to think you’re one. Now, are you ready to do this?” Roger asked with a smile.
“More than ready. Let’s talk to them.”
Alex told everyone to rest until they made some headway on the door. Many of the men and the citizens who had been imprisoned in the city started to gather and ask questions as he did. They worried for their safety and the future of Raines. Alex did his best to reassure them. He didn’t lie and pretend that nothing bad would happen before they could get those doors opened, but he did assure everyone that a day would come soon when all of this was a far cry from the near-perfect lives they would be living.
It was enough to calm the people’s nerves, and they broke off after a minute. The people went to their homes or camped outside getting rest while they could. They knew a battle was coming, and being anything less than one hundred percent wouldn’t do. As the last person walked away, Alex turned his attention to Roger. He had calmed everyone’s nerves, but now he needed someone to do the same for him.
“I need a favor,” Alex said.
“Anything. What is it?” Roger asked.
“Take Veronica and Lee to the evacuation zone. There will be trucks waiting there. Take one of them to the medical area and find Sarah. I have to know that she’s okay.”
“I’ll do it. What about Travis?”
That was a good question. Would he want to know if Travis had died? It would certainly hurt his chances of looking like everything was fine to the others. Then again, if he didn’t know it would drive him crazy.
“Make sure he’s alive, too, and if he is, tell him we’re all thinking about him.”
“Okay, but don’t get that door open until we get back. I have to be a part of this fight,” Roger said and walked away toward Veronica.
The truth was, however, that Alex hoped the door opened as soon as they got out of sight. The one thing he feared most was taking his children into another bloody battle, and he wasn’t wrong. This was going to be a battle filled with death and one defining choice. Was Alex Morgan a hero who could make the ultimate sacrifice?
Chapter 24
Finding A Way
As Roger, Veronica, and Lee walked back to the evacuation zone, they looked around at the outside of Raines. It was sad. Dead bodies littered the streets, and many of the huts were destroyed. Women and children were crying out in the open as they looked through the bodies for the men in their lives. Most of them had gone with Roger and Veronica to rescue Alex and the others. Some had died there, and given that many of the family members hadn’t found their loved ones yet, it seemed likely that hundreds more lay dead in the streets. Veronica wanted to say something to make it better. She would have given anything to help these people get their lives back, but how could she possibly do that?
It was in that moment when they saw the true horrors of war. It wasn’t the actual fighting and the death that happened during it that was traumatizing. It was the end result. People often thought that there were clear winners and losers in fights like this, but as Roger looked around, he couldn’t tell who they were. Even if Raines had won the battle, it felt like they had lost far more than any of it was worth.
“Are they going to be okay?” Veronica asked as they walked over to another street, now only two streets away from the evacuation zone.
“In time, they will be,” Roger said.
“How do you know?”
“Because I lost my entire family when I was four. I barely remember them, and it was absolutely devastating, but I’m still here. Time doesn’t erase the past, but it does dull the pain. When that happens, they’ll move on as best they can. The important thing is that we make sure they have something to move on to.”
“What does that mean?” Lee asked.
“It’s simple. They don’t ever want another attack like this to happen where they can be blindsided. Getting inside the walls will prevent that. They’ll need work to concentrate on, and the perfect job will be finishing the third part to our city. They’ll also need an increase in rations.”
“But there are less people.”
“True, but what would we do if this happened on the inside?”
“You’re right. We would probably have a memorial honoring everyone who died and a celebration in their memory after an appropriate amount of time. Then we would give all the families of the victims anything they needed.”
“Exactly. These people need to know they’re equal to anyone behind those walls and that the people they loved who died for Raines were heroes in our eyes.”
“Then that’s exactly what we’ll do. We’ll have a memorial, a festival after a month or so, and increase their rations. Hopefully we’ll have the city finished soon, too,” Veronica said.
Lee nodded in approval, and they stepped into the evacuation zone where Roger quickly asked one of the men waiting near a truck to take them to the medical area. He did as he was asked, and before they knew it, they were on their way. As Roger glanced back at the city, now a mile away, he saw the glow of fire as the sun started to set. He would have guessed that a fourth of the homes in Raines were already destroyed and close to another fourth were still smoldering. What could they do, though? With no access to the inside, they didn’t have the supplies necessary to put the fires out. All they could do was rebuild.
Roger shook his head in regret. Veronica immediately noticed it and took his hand. Knowing she was with him calmed Roger down somewhat. At the very least, he knew they would find a way to get through this together.
Once they were in the medical area, they found dozens of men and women who were wounded. It was almost impossible to find Sarah, but thankfully, someone showed them the way, and before they knew it, they were standing beside her bed. Sarah’s leg had been wrapped in bandages, and she looked like she had been through quite an ordeal. Overall, however, she was fine. Sarah would live.
“Thank God you’re okay!” Veronica exclaimed and immediately hugged her. Lee quickly followed suit. Meanwhile, Roger simply smiled for the first time in a while. At least they had this good news to hang onto.
“How did things go in the fight?” Sarah asked, looking toward Roger.
“That doesn’t matter right now, Mom! We want to know about you. How bad was your leg? Will you be up and walking again soon?” Lee asked.
“It’s fine. I lost some blood, but it was nothing I couldn’t handle. They sanitized the wound and closed it up. As for walking, I don’t know. These people are doing their best, but they aren’t really doctors, so no one gave me a timetable on that. Now, someone tell me what happened. Where is Alex?” Sarah asked in half curiosity and fear. She didn’t want to learn that he had been hurt, or worse, killed.
“Alex stayed behind to help. He sent us to make sure you were okay, though,” Roger answered.
“Okay, but did we win?”
Roger recapped everything that had happened for Sarah, and then she sighed. At the very least, she was hoping that
they would come with news that this was all over. Here they were again, though, with one more fight ahead of them. Sarah wanted to be helping, but what could she do if she couldn’t even walk? She felt helpless.
“Hey, it’s all right. We’re going to figure this out,” Lee said.
“I know you will. I just wish I could be there,” Sarah said, now looking more composed. She didn’t want her children to see how worried she secretly was. They needed to only see strength now, especially when it would be them who was taking the biggest risk that night.
“I’m really glad you’re okay, but I have another question. Do you know where Travis is?” Roger asked, almost afraid to learn the answer.
“Walk to your right for a few yards, and you can’t miss him,” she said and shook her head. Roger knew what the gesture meant, so he didn’t even ask. He motioned for Veronica and Lee to stay where they were and walked away.
Roger only had to walk about forty yards before he saw Travis. He was white as a ghost, and he had an IV in his arm. As for what was being given to him, Roger had no idea. He did notice that Travis’s shirt had been cut off, however. The wound had been singed shut in a quick but also crude attempt to close him up. That wasn’t the problem. Travis’s skin around the wound was already turning a reddish color, and it was very inflamed. That indicated that infection was setting in.
The next thing Roger noticed was that Travis wasn’t even awake. Maybe it was pain medicine that was making him sleep. If so, that was probably for the best. He knew for a fact that they didn’t have any antibiotics, so that couldn’t be it. They had brought a few pain meds with them, however, just in case some men needed peace in their last moments. Was that what Travis was going through? Was he dying? If that were the case, then why was no one with him?
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