FIGHT 4 US

RECKONING

FIGHT 4 US

RECKONING

Copyright © 2020 by Brian Grenda

All rights reserved.

This book or any portion of this book or the FIGHT 4 US book series may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author and publisher.

THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION.

NAMES, CHARACTERS, BUSINESSES, PLACES, PRODUCTS, COMPANIES, EVENTS, SYMBOLS, LOCALES, AND INCIDENTS ARE EITHER THE PRODUCTS OF THE AUTHOR’S IMAGINATION OR USED IN A FICTITIOUS MANNER.

ANY RESEMBLANCE OF ACTUAL PERSONS, BUSINESSES, LOGOS, SYMBOLS, OR ANYTHING STATED IN THIS BOOK OR THE FIGHT 4 US SERIES IS PURELY COINCIDENTAL.

FIGHT 4 US

RECKONING

CHAPTER 1 - WHERE ELSE CAN WE GO?

CHAPTER 2 - IS IT STARTING TO STINK?

CHAPTER 3 - COME ON BALDY

CHAPTER 4 - I’M IN CONTROL HERE

CHAPTER 5 - NOW WE’RE TALKING

CHAPTER 6 - THAT’S MY GUY

CHAPTER 7 - IT WASN’T YOUR FAULT

CHAPTER 8 - WHAT’S THE RUSH?

CHAPTER 9 - WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

CHAPTER 10 - WHO ARE THOSE GUARDS?

CHAPTER 11 - DID YOU EXPECT THEM?

CHAPTER 12 - I THINK I WILL

CHAPTER 13 - WE ARE STAYING BUSY

CHAPTER 14 - IS HE ALIVE?

CHAPTER 15 - ANYONE ELSE?

CHAPTER 16 - WHAT’S YBOR?

CHAPTER 17 - DROP IT!

CHAPTER 18 - LET THEM IN

CHAPTER 1

WHERE ELSE CAN WE GO?

“Where have you been?” asks Phil to TJ as Phil, TJ, Odin, Lauren, and I sit down on various sections of the tan sofa and matching tan love seat in Bobby G’s living room.

I look at Odin and see that he is missing some hair on his side and I ask TJ, “What happened to Odin?”

TJ looks down at Odin and answers me, “O, he was shot by some moron, but he’s okay now.”
“Who shot him? What happened?” I ask TJ.

“I’ll get to that, but first I want to apologize for leaving and for acting the way I did around Bakari,” answers TJ.

“We did wonder if you were still alive and if we would ever see you again,” I say to TJ.

“I apologize for how I acted. I let my emotions take over. I thought Bakari and his group were connected with all the craziness that happened a couple years ago with the rioting, looting, and fighting around here,” replies TJ.

“We are still working with Bakari and his people though,” I say to TJ.

“That’s fine, and I would like to meet with them actually,” replies TJ.

“But what changed? Why are you okay to be around them now?” asks Phil to TJ.

“I’ve learned who the Ghosts are and how they’ve helped a lot of people around Tampa Bay,” answers TJ.

“Where is Janet?” asks Lauren to TJ.

“She’s on the reservation with Alice,” answers TJ.

“Where?” asks Phil.

TJ smiles and answers, “The Reservation. The Native American Reservation.”

“Like the Indian Reservation?” I ask.

“Yeah, that one. It’s freaking huge and amazing,” answers TJ.

“How did you end up there?” asks Phil.
TJ tells us what happened to him, Odin, Janet, and Alice after he drove away from us in the power company parking lot after saying that he would not work with us and the Ghosts.

TJ and Odin enter TJ’s house and TJ is still pissed-off after seeing Bakari and the Ghosts.

Janet enters the kitchen and sees TJ pacing back and forth in the kitchen.

“What happened T?” asks Janet.

“I’m done with Ryan and his group,” answers TJ with a raised tone of voice.

“Why? What happened?” asks Janet.

“He’s working with a group that I refuse to work with. I can’t be around Ryan if he’s working with those people,” answers TJ with an angry tone.

“Why? Who are they?” asks Janet.

TJ looks at Janet and angrily answers, “The group Ryan is working with are terrorists and they were a big part of the protests, riots, fighting, and chaos around Tampa Bay… We lost a lot of good officers because of the bullshit they caused.”

Janet just looks at TJ and doesn’t know what to say as she feels TJ needs to let out his frustrations.

“Police officers all over the country were put in a terrible spot after all the craziness with the cops that killed several people while on duty in the Midwest and the South,” continues TJ.

“I understand T. We’ll do our own thing. It might be better this way,” replies Janet.

Alice walks into TJ’s kitchen and sees Janet and TJ. Alice opens the refrigerator door and makes a sarcastic comment to TJ, “Why are you in such a good mood right now?”

TJ, who has a short fuse right now, answers Alice with an angry tone, “Shut it, I’m not in the mood for your shit right now.”

Alice grabs a drink out of the refrigerator and replies, “Sorry, didn’t know it was your time of the month.”
“But what’s the plan then?” asks Janet to TJ.

Alice exits the kitchen and goes into her bedroom.

“I’m not sure, but I think we check in with pop at the base and go from there,” answers TJ.

Janet looks at TJ and asks, “But what about Alice?”

TJ looks at Janet but doesn’t answer.

“I doubt she wants to go back to base... And I saw that she has a bag packed and ready to go,” says Janet.

TJ gets even more pissed-off, exits his kitchen, and pushes open the slightly open bedroom door to Alice’s room.

“What the hell?” shouts Alice, who was sitting at a desk inside her bedroom.

TJ sees the backpack that is packed and sitting next to Alice’s bed. “What’s with the bag? You going somewhere?” shouts TJ.

Alice stands up and shouts back at TJ, “It’s a freaking bag! I’m ready to leave at a moment’s notice!”

“Where you gonna go?” shouts TJ as he steps towards Alice’s bag.

Alice doesn’t answer TJ and just looks at TJ.

Odin barks.

“You got O upset,” says Janet to TJ and Alice.

Odin runs over to the living room window and barks at something outside.

Janet gets interested in what Odin is barking at and she walks over to the living room window where Odin is.

The sound of several vehicle doors open and then close.

Janet looks out the window and she sees several armed troops coming towards TJ’s front door.

“Shit, what do they want?” asks Janet to herself.

Odin barks again and Janet tells Odin to stop barking for she is afraid that Odin will attract the troops to where they are inside the house.

TJ sees a paper map on Alice’s desk, and he picks it up. Alice sees TJ look at the paper map and she worries what TJ will say about it.

Janet shouts, “We got company!”

TJ puts down the paper map and exits from Alice’s room.

Alice picks up the paper map and starts to fold it up.

TJ comes into the living room and there is a knock on TJ’s closed front door.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

TJ looks at Janet and Janet says, “There are four armed soldiers out there.”
“Take Odin into Alice’s room and I’ll handle this,” says TJ.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

Two more loud knocks are heard at TJ’s closed front door.

“Are you sure?” asks Janet to TJ.

“Yeah, stay quiet and close the door,” answers TJ.

Janet grabs her handgun that is sitting on the living room table and she takes Odin down the hallway that’s away from TJ.

KNOCK!

“I’m coming!” shouts TJ.

TJ hears Janet enter Alice’s room and Janet closes the bedroom door.

TJ moves the back strap that is around his right thigh holster, takes a deep breath, and walks towards his closed front door.

TJ looks through the peep hole on his front door and he sees four Caucasian male armed military soldiers.

“What can I help you gentlemen with?” shouts TJ from inside his house as he looks through his front door peep hole.

“We just have some questions for you Mr. Bailey,” answers the lead soldier that is in front of the other three soldiers.

“About what?” shouts TJ from inside his house.

“Just open the door, we only want to talk!” shouts the lead soldier to TJ.

TJ isn’t sure why the soldiers are at his front door or how they even know where he lives.

“Don’t make us ruin your nice white front door!” shouts the soldier that is standing behind the lead soldier.

TJ thinks about what to do and he decides to open his front door and talk to them with the door open.

“There he is,” says the lead soldier to TJ as TJ opens his front door.

“What can I help you with?” asks TJ.

“Well, that remains to be seen, but we’ll hopefully find out,” answers the lead soldier.

TJ notices the fatigues of the soldiers and they look to be part of Colonel Meyers group.

“Have you been to the power company recently?” asks the lead soldier to TJ.

“I’ve driven by, but that’s about it,” answers TJ.

The lead soldier smirks and finds TJ’s answer pretty interesting.

“Where is your dog?” asks the soldier that is standing behind the lead soldier.

TJ looks at the soldier and he recognizes him. He’s the soldier that TJ had an altercation with at MacDill and that soldier threatened to kill Odin.

TJ doesn’t answer the soldier.

“You mind if we come in and look around?” asks the lead soldier to TJ.

“Actually I do,” answers TJ.

“Now, now. Mr. Bailey. Your father wouldn’t appreciate you not being hospitable to a couple of his troops,” replies the lead soldier to TJ.

TJ notices the lead soldier has dried blood on his right hand and knuckles as he strokes his chin.

“I think we’re done here,” says TJ to the lead soldier.

TJ goes to close his front door and the lead soldier puts his right hand up and stops the door from being closed.

The soldier next to the lead soldier pushes TJ’s front door open and TJ stumbles backwards into his foyer but stays on his feet.

The soldiers come into TJ’s house and TJ feels unsure what to do. He thinks to reach for his gun, but he knows that isn’t the best move here as he’s outnumbered.

TJ stands upright and sees the four soldiers enter his house.

“You had to make this difficult, didn’t you?” says the lead soldier to TJ.

TJ sees Alice exit from her room with Odin and they run into the bedroom that is diagonal from Alice’s room.

“Check the house,” says the lead soldier to the other soldiers.

The soldier, that TJ recognized from before, comes over to TJ, leans in towards TJ, and says quietly, “I’m going to kill your dog and I’ll be back for you.”
WHACK!

TJ knees the soldier in the stomach. The soldier gets the wind knocked out of him and leans forward.

BAM!
TJ throws an uppercut that lands flush on the soldier’s chin and the soldier is instantly knocked out. The lifeless soldier falls towards TJ and TJ let’s the soldier land on his tile floor.

The other two soldiers point their guns at TJ and the lead soldier says to TJ, “You know we can’t let you get away with that now.”

“He threatened a police officer,” replies TJ.

“Go check out the rest of the house,” says the lead soldier to the two soldiers that have their handguns aimed at TJ.

“Are you sure sir?” asks one of the soldiers.

“Yeah, I got him,” answers the lead soldier.

One soldier checks TJ’s master bedroom and the other walks down the hallway towards Alice’s room.

“How did you know where I lived?” asks TJ to the lead soldier.

“We have our ways of getting information,” answers the lead soldier with a smug smile on his face.

The soldier approaches Alice’s slightly cracked open bedroom door.

TJ notices the soldier standing right outside of Alice’s bedroom door and he starts to worry.

The soldier pushes open Alice’s bedroom door with his gun raised at shoulder height.

Janet’s cat Toby exits from Alice’s room and the soldier let’s his guard down and lowers his handgun. Alice’s bedroom door creaks as the soldier pushes open the door to Alice’s room. The soldier looks at Alice’s bed and walls around Alice’s bedroom as he enters Alice’s room.

TJ sees the soldier enter Alice’s room, and the lead soldier notices TJ watching the soldier, and the lead soldier asks TJ, “You seem nervous. Who else is in here?”

TJ hears the soldier that entered his master bedroom knock something over and the object breaks as it hits TJ’s master bedroom hardwood floor.

“What the fuck man!” shouts TJ to the soldier that is in his master bedroom.

The soldier that is in Alice’s bedroom sees an object on Alice’s desk and he holsters his handgun and picks up the object on Alice’s desk.

TJ is worried out of his mind right now as he saw the soldier enter Alice’s bedroom and TJ’s wondering what is happening in there.

The soldier, who is in Alice’s bedroom, turns to check behind the bedroom door that is pushed up against the wall but as he approaches the door he hears a sound come from inside the bedroom that is across the hall from Alice’s bedroom.

The soldier exits Alice’s bedroom and steps towards the closed bedroom door that Alice and Odin are in.

The soldier raises his handgun with his right hand and reaches for the door handle with his left hand.

The soldier grabs the door handle and opens the door.             

The other soldier exits from TJ’s master bedroom and approaches TJ and TJ asks, “What did you break?”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to break your lamp,” answers the soldier.

The soldier, who just opened the bedroom door of the room that Alice and Odin are in, steps into the bedroom.

Alice and Odin are in the bathroom that is connected to the bedroom that the soldier just entered.

The soldier looks around the empty bedroom and he steps towards the closed bathroom door.

Odin growls as he hears the soldier stepping towards the bathroom door and Alice is freaking out as she hears the soldier coming towards the bathroom.

The soldier opens the bathroom door and he sees Odin standing in front of Alice and Odin’s growling at him.

“We’ve got…” says the soldier but before he can finish his statement, Odin lunges at the soldier and Odin bites him on his left thigh.

The soldier screams in pain and fires a shot from his handgun as he falls to the bedroom floor.

BANG!

TJ grabs the soldier that searched his master bedroom and uses him as a human shield.

Janet runs into the bedroom where Odin and Alice are, kicks the handgun out of the soldier’s hand and then shoots the soldier in the head.

TJ grabs his handgun and points it at the soldier’s head that he is using as a human shield.

“What are you going to do Mr. Bailey?” asks the lead soldier with some attitude.

“Drop your gun,” demands TJ to the lead soldier.

The lead soldier doesn’t listen to TJ and keeps his handgun pointed at TJ.

“Do it! Or your man here dies!” shouts TJ.

“You have no power here Mr. Bailey, drop your gun and we’ll make it quick,” replies the lead soldier.

As TJ stands behind the soldier in the showdown with the lead soldier, Janet walks to the middle of the hallway and shouts, “We have a situation TJ and we need to move now!”

“What is it?” asks TJ as he keeps his eyes on the lead soldier and his handgun pointed at the temple of the soldier that he’s using as a human shield still.

“It’s Odin,” answers Janet.

“What happened?” shouts TJ.

“He’s been shot,” answers Janet.

BANG!
TJ fires a shot from his handgun, out of emotion after hearing Janet tell him that Odin was shot, and he kills the lead soldier with a head shot to his forehead.

“Please don’t kill me,” says the soldier that TJ is standing behind still.

“We have to get Odin some help TJ,” says Alice to TJ as she stands behind Janet in the hallway.

“I’m sorry,” says TJ to the soldier that he’s standing behind.

“Wait!” screams the soldier.

BANG!

TJ kills the soldier with a shot to his right temple.

TJ drops the body of the dead soldier and he runs down the hallway and into the bedroom.

The dead body of the soldier that TJ just shot lands on the body of the soldier that TJ previously knocked out.

TJ enters the bathroom and he sees Odin is alive, but Odin is bleeding and in pain as he’s lying on his side.

“Hold on O, we’ll get you help,” says TJ.

“Get the bags and anything else you want to take. We have to leave here now,” says TJ to Janet and Alice.

TJ’s front door opens as TJ, Janet, and Alice are with Odin in the bedroom at the back of TJ’s house.

Janet runs out of the bedroom and towards the living room to check out what the noise was at TJ’s front door.

Janet sees the two dead soldiers and TJ’s front door is open. Janet closes the front door and then goes into TJ’s master bedroom.

“Go get your stuff and I’ll meet you outside,” says TJ to Alice.

Alice looks at TJ with tears in her eyes. TJ says to Alice, “I know, but we don’t have time for this.”
Alice wipes a tear away from her left cheek and exits the bedroom.

Odin looks up at TJ for help and TJ tries to stay calm, but he can’t help to get emotional at the sight of Odin suffering.

TJ wraps a towel around Odin and Odin lets out a moan. “I know O. I’m sorry, but we are going to get you help,” says TJ to Odin as TJ carries Odin down his hallway and towards his living room.

Janet exits from TJ’s master bedroom and she starts to make a pile of things she is bringing with her.

TJ carries Odin towards his front door. Janet opens the front door and TJ walks towards his jeep. Alice exits her room with her bags and supplies, and she makes her way outside to TJ’s jeep.

Janet brings several bags of supplies, gear, food, and weapons over to TJ’s jeep and she quickly loads them into the back of TJ’s jeep.

TJ sits with Odin in the backseat of his jeep and he tries to comfort Odin.

Janet locks the front door to TJ’s house and Alice gets into the passenger seat of TJ’s jeep.

Janet gets into TJ’s driver seat and notices that the military vehicle that was parked behind TJ’s jeep is gone.

“Where did the Army jeep go?” asks Janet.

“I don’t know, but the bigger question is where are we going to go?” answers TJ.

“Let’s go see Ryan,” answers Janet.

“We can’t. I told you I’m done with them,” replies TJ.

“Where else can we go?” asks Janet.

“I don’t know, but we can’t go to MacDill or to see Ryan,” answers TJ.

Alice, while sitting in the passenger seat of TJ’s jeep, looks down at her paper map and answers, “I think I know a place.”

CHAPTER 2

IS IT STARTING TO STINK?

As TJ is telling us his story he gets a call over is radio. “Where did you go T?” asks the person over the radio to TJ.

TJ looks down at the radio that is clipped onto his belt and says to us, “I have to take this.”
TJ walks into Bobby G’s kitchen and talks with the person over his radio.

I call Odin over and Odin walks over to me and Lauren who are sitting on the loveseat in Bobby G’s living room.

“He is walking pretty good,” says Lauren as Odin sits in front of me.

I check over Odin and see that the bullet hit him on his left side near his left hip and also exited near his left hip.

I see that Odin is still a little tender around the gunshot wound and I apologize to Odin for touching Odin’s wound.

“Everything okay?” asks Phil as TJ enters the living room.

“Yeah, Janet was asking if I went to my house,” answers TJ.

“Did you?” I ask TJ.

“Yeah I went before I came here, and it looks the same since the last time we were there,” answers TJ.

“Where did you go after you left your house when Odin was shot and who stitched him up?” I ask TJ.

“Alice took us to the reservation that she was researching and I’m glad she did because they saved Odin’s life,” answers TJ.

“What about Janet’s cats?” asks Lauren.

“We went back and got them, and they are at the Reservation as well,” answers TJ.

“They did a good job on Odin’s wound. It’s still healing, but it looks good,” I say to TJ.

“The Reservation has everything you could think of and they are self-sufficient there,” says TJ.

“Where are you staying? Are you in a tent or teepee or what?” asks Phil to TJ.

TJ chuckles and answers, “Yeah, we have an extra-large teepee for Janet, her two cats, Alice, Odin, and me. No, they have a whole community built with large homes for tons of people.”

“These are the same people from the casino that shot at us and almost killed Jon?” asks Phil.

“No, well technically yes, but they aren’t the same people. The casino is only one aspect of the Native Americans and most of them hate the casino,” answers TJ.

“I doubt they hate the money that it brings in,” I sarcastically reply.

“How far away is the Reservation?” asks Phil.

“Not far at all, especially with the highways being wide open now. You can be there in about 20 minutes,” answers TJ.

“But enough about me, what’s been going on here?” asks TJ.

“Just trying to get things under control around here,” I answer TJ.

“What’s going on with the Conquerors? I have seen more and more of their symbols popping up,” says TJ.

“Yeah, we are working on that, but they look to have come back around Tampa Bay, and they have started causing trouble again,” says Phil.

“What’s your next move?” asks TJ.

I think about TJ’s question and answer, “Not quite sure, but we have to meet with some people and then go from there.”

“Well, if you need my help, just reach me over the radio,” says TJ.

“You’ll answer now?” jokes Phil.

TJ smirks and answers, “I will, but again, I’m sorry about before and if you can setup a meeting with Bakari, I would appreciate it.”
“I’ll keep you in the loop and the next time we meet with him you can come with us,” I reply.

“Sounds good,” replies TJ.

“I have to be getting back, but I’m glad I was able to talk with you today,” says TJ.

“Me too. I’m glad you and Odin are doing well,” I reply.

I walk with TJ, Phil, and Odin over to TJ’s jeep.

“So are you done with MacDill?” asks Phil to TJ as we stand by TJ’s jeep.

“I haven’t been back since those soldiers came to my house,” answers TJ.

“Who sent them to your house?” I ask TJ.

“I’m not sure and I’m not really sure what they even wanted, but I’m just glad we made it out of that crazy situation,” answers TJ.

“What about your dad? Is he okay?” asks Phil to TJ.

“I’m not sure about that either. I want to check on him, but I don’t think going to MacDill is the best thing for me to do since I killed a couple of their soldiers,” answers TJ.

“Well stay safe and I’m glad you came here today,” I reply to TJ.

“Me too, I see the world in a different light after the soldiers attacked us and I almost lost O,” says TJ.

TJ and Odin get into TJ’s jeep and TJ exits Citrus Oaks.

“Man, what a crazy story,” says Phil as Phil and I walk down our main street and towards Shaun’s house.

“Yeah, I’m just glad they are okay. Especially Odin. He’s lucky to be alive,” I reply to Phil.

“What’s our next move?” asks Phil as we walk by Bobby G’s oak tree.

“What do you think should be our next move?” I answer Phil.

“I’ll check in with Shaun and Bakari and see what they say. I’m not sure what to do next, but I know we’ll have to get rid of the pastor’s dead body soon,” says Phil.

“Is it starting to stink?” I ask Phil.

“No, it’s just weird that we have a dead body in a freezer,” answers Phil.

“Yeah, but what do we do with it? Give it back to the church?” I ask Phil.

“We could do a drive by and leave the body with a note,” jokes Phil.

“Let me know what you find out and I’ll talk with you later,” I reply to Phil and then I enter my house.

I hear Lauren in our master bedroom, and I enter my master bedroom.

“I can’t believe the story TJ told us,” says Lauren as I enter my walk-in closet.

“Yeah, it was pretty crazy,” I reply as I remove my shoes and gear.

“Do you think the military will show up here?” asks Lauren as she stands up from sitting on the edge of our bed.

“Maybe, but let’s not give them a reason to come here,” I answer Lauren.

“What if they do though?” asks Lauren with a concerned tone.

I feel the concern in Lauren’s voice and I quickly answer, “Then we’ll listen to them and see what they want.”

“Do you think they know about our community?” asks Lauren.

I walk into my master bathroom and answer Lauren, “I’m sure they do, but we aren’t a threat to them.”

Lauren still seems very concerned and she stands at the doorway of our master bathroom and looks at me.

I dry my face with a towel and look at Lauren. I know she’s concerned, and I decide to tell her how I see the world.

“Look sweetie, we are doing pretty good all things considered. People will always want to take what we have and that’s never going to change… But we’ll keep fighting and working together on whatever or whomever comes at us,” I say to Lauren.

Lauren hugs me.

“I love you, forever and always,” I say to Lauren.

“Always and forever,” replies Lauren and then Lauren kisses me.

“I’m going to shower,” says Lauren.

“Okay, I’ll be in my man cave,” I reply to Lauren and then I exit my master bedroom, walk across my house, and enter my man cave.

I step into my man cave and sit down in a chair; I think about everything that has happened so far. I think about who I’ve met, who I’ve hurt, and what could be in store for me and our community.

I close my eyes and try to relax. I’ve been feeling more anxious lately, more so than my normal anxiety levels that I had before the zombies took over.

I ask myself, “Who will attack us here at Citrus Oaks and why?”

I do some breathing exercises and continue to try to relax. With my eyes still closed I start to see something, and it gets clearer and clearer to me.

I see a person, it’s a person that is leading a group of people. It’s a man and it’s Jacob, he’s with DK and they are planning something.

I open my eyes and see the bottle of tea that Isiah gave me. I didn’t drink any tea today, but I feel that I just saw a vision as it felt similar to what I have seen previously after drinking the tea.

I look around my man cave and I don’t see my radio or the walkie-talkie that DK gave me. I exit my man cave and decide to go over to Bobby G’s house.

I enter Bobby G’s house and see a radio and DK’s walkie-talkie sitting on the kitchen counter.

I pick up my walkie-talkie and think about calling DK as I’m worried that Jacob and DK could attack us or the Haven.

“Come in DK,” I say into my walkie-talkie.

I wait for the reply over the walkie-talkie and there is no reply.

I think about using the radio to call Brad, but I’m not sure that’s a good idea after our last radio conversation.

“Are you there DK?” I ask into my walkie-talkie.

A couple seconds go by and the no reply from DK starts to make me worry. I didn’t think DK would answer, but I had to give it a try.

I’m about to switch off the walkie-talkie to save the battery, when I hear over my walkie-talkie, “Why are you calling me?”

“I needed to talk with you,” I answer into my walkie-talkie.

“What do you want?” asks DK over the walkie-talkie.

“I want to know what Jacob is planning and if we should be worried since your group attacked the Haven recently,” I answer DK.

About five seconds go by and DK doesn’t answer me over the walkie-talkie.

“You don’t need to worry for now,” says DK over the walkie-talkie.

“Why did you attack the Haven?” I ask into my walkie-talkie.

“I didn’t attack the Haven,” answers DK over the walkie-talkie.

“Well, the Conquerors did. I saw the bullet holes in the walls and the wounded Haven residents from the attack,” I reply into my walkie-talkie.

DK doesn’t reply over the walkie-talkie.

“I figured the agreement with Jacob is done, but I need to know if we need to worry about being attacked here,” I say into my walkie-talkie.

“I’ll be in touch,” replies DK over the walkie-talkie and then I hear DK’s walkie-talkie turn off.

“What does that mean?” I shout into my walkie-talkie.

There is no answer from DK over the walkie-talkie and I shout, “What a fucking lunatic! With his bullshit cryptic replies!” I then toss the walkie-talkie onto Bobby G’s kitchen counter.

Someone knocks on Bobby G’s front door.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

“Come in!” I shout.

Bobby G’s front door opens, and I hear the person enter Bobby G’s house along with the sound of small footsteps tapping on the tile floor.

I look towards the front door and I see Matt and Chewie.

Chewie runs over to me and I pet him on his head.

“Everything okay in here?” asks Matt as he walks into Bobby G’s kitchen.

“Yeah, what’s up?” I answer Matt.

“I heard you yelling as I was walking Chewie,” replies Matt.

“I just talked with DK and he did his usual cryptic creepy thing over the walkie,” I say to Matt.

“What did he say?” asks Matt.

Chewie sits down on the tile floor.

“Not much, but that he would be in touch and he didn’t attack the Haven,” I answer Matt.

“Do you believe him?” asks Matt.

I think about Matt’s question and then I answer, “Yeah, he’s weird and he has a creepy voice, but I think he tells the truth. Even if it’s too direct at times,” I answer Matt.

“Well, that’s important. You have to know what you are getting with people. And trust is pretty important,” replies Matt.

“Is everything okay? How’s your mom and Kylie?” I ask Matt.

“I was actually going to see if you and a group wanted to go back to the Haven for Kylie to get checked out by Dani,” answers Matt.

“She was just checked by Dani. Is everything okay?” I reply to Matt.

“I think so, but she’s been having these weird pains at times. She says it’s nothing, but I’ve read that baby book like three times now and I just want to make sure it’s nothing,” replies Matt.

“Yeah, see if anyone wants to go with you tomorrow,” I say to Matt.

Matt, Chewie, and I exit Bobby G’s house.

“Should we be worried about Jacob and DK?” asks Matt as I stand with him in Bobby G’s driveway.

“I think we have to be ready for anything, and I think it’s only a matter of time until Jacob and his group come here,” I answer Matt.

“Are we ready to fight them?” asks Matt.

“I’m not sure, but we will be,” I answer Matt.

I say goodbye to Matt and Matt walks towards the main entrance of Citrus Oaks with Chewie.

I look at the Armory house and decide to go check it out.

I enter the Armory house and check over our weapons and supplies inside the Armory house.

It’s still so weird to me to be walking around one of my neighbor’s homes, that I never really met before, and no one lives here now.

I see a variety of guns, gear, bullets, and knives, along with the usual stuff you’d find in a house like sofas, chairs, a dining room table, and that room that no one uses.

I see a shotgun and it looks to be one of the shotguns that I got for the guys for our guys trip to Tennessee.

I think to myself, “Why did I think it was a good idea to get the guys, let alone a police officer, shotguns?”

I grab the shotgun off the rack, and I think about the trip where all this zombie stuff started for us.

I remember that morning when I went for the run and seeing those two zombies biting that hunter.

“What is really going on with all these zombies? How did they start? How will they end? Will they end?” I ask myself.

As I stand with the shotgun in my hands, the Armory house front door opens, and two people enter.

Out of instinct I aim the shotgun at the two people that entered the Armory house and it’s Brody and another entrance guard.

“Don’t shoot,” says Brody to me.

I quickly lower the shotgun and reply, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to aim it at you guys.”

“What are you doing in here sir?” asks Brody to me.

“I was just checking out our weapons,” I answer Brody as I put the shotgun on the rack where I found it.

“What are you fellas doing in here?” I ask Brody.

“I was going to get a bow and some arrows for a bet of ours,” answers Brody.

“What’s the bet?” I ask Brody as I look at him and the other entrance guard.

“We are doing headshots with arrows on the dead. Most headshots wins,” answers Brody.

I hand Brody a bow and a quiver that is filled with arrows.

“Thank you sir,” says Brody.

I exit the Armory house with Brody and the entrance guard and then I lock the Armory house front door.

“Are there even enough dead around the walls for your bet?” I ask as I walk with Brody and the entrance guard away from the Armory house.

I stop in the driveway of the Armory house and Brody answers, “Yeah, actually. There has been a lot more today for some reason.”

“Any idea why?” I ask.

“Not sure, but we’ll put them down,” answers the other entrance guard.

“What’s your name?” I ask the entrance guard.

“Drew,” answers the entrance guard.

“Nice to meet you Drew, I’m Ryan,” I reply to Drew and then I shake Drew’s right hand.

Drew smiles and says, “I definitely know who you are sir.”

“Have fun guys. I’m going to check out the Medical house before turning in for the night,” I say to Drew and Brody.

“Thank you sir,” replies Brody.

“Keep up the good work. I appreciate you guys protecting this place,” I say to Brody and Drew.

I say goodbye to Brody and Drew and then I enter the Medical house.

I step into the Medical house and close the front door. The smell of cleaning products fills the air as someone must have just cleaned the floors and tables in the Medical house.

Every time I enter the Medical house I feel the need to check our supplies and see if anything is missing.

I check our supplies in the cabinets and containers and everything looks to be okay with our inventory.

The Medical house front door opens, and two people enter the Medical house.

I look at the people and I see that it’s Jon and Kelly.

“Oh hey Ry, everything okay?” asks Kelly.

“Yeah, how about you?” I answer.

“We are good, we just needed a bottle of headache medicine,” answers Kelly.

“Jon giving you a headache?” I joke.

“I think it’s my allergies or something, but I’ve been getting more headaches and sinus pressure lately,” replies Kelly.

“Yeah, I know what you mean. I take an allergy pill every morning and my allergies still bother me,” I reply.

Jon grabs a bottle of headache medicine and he writes his name on the inventory sheet and that he took one bottle of medicine.

“What are you doing in here Ry?” asks Jon.

“Just checking things over. I’ve been a little worried about this place lately and I wanted to make sure our armory and supplies are in good shape,” I answer Jon.

“Should we be worried?” asks Kelly.

I see the concerned look on Kelly’s face and I’m not sure how to answer. Should I tell her what’s going on and everything I know and possibly have her worry more or tell her the basic version of things?

“How was the trip to the zoo?” asks Jon.

I quickly answer Jon, “Good. Everything is good there and we even talked with TJ.”

“At the zoo?” asks Jon.

I smile and answer Jon, “No, TJ was here when we got back, and Phil and I talked with him.”

“I was going to say, I wouldn’t think TJ wanted anything to do with Bakari after storming off like he did,” replies Jon.

“I’m going to head back home and lie down,” says Kelly to Jon and me.

Jon hands Kelly the headache medicine and replies to Kelly, “I’ll be home in a minute.”

“Bye Kel, I hope you feel better,” I say to Kelly.

Kelly exits the Medical house and goes home.

“What did TJ say?” asks Jon.

I look at Jon and answer, “He was attacked by some soldiers from MacDill. Odin was shot, but he’s okay, and he’s living on an Indian reservation now.”

“Man, I missed a great meeting,” says Jon.

I exit the Medical house with Jon, and I lock the Medical house front door.

“I’m worried about this place Jon and I have a feeling that Jacob will attack us,” I say to Jon.

“What makes you say that?” asks Jon as I stand with Jon at the bottom of the Medical house driveway.

“I have a feeling about it and I’m just wondering why he hasn’t yet,” I reply.

“Well what can we do about it?” asks Jon.

I look in the distance at our graveyard and think about Jon’s question.

“What about the agreement with Jacob?” asks Jon.

“I’m sure that handshake agreement has fallen apart,” I answer Jon.

“Well whatever you need Ry, you know I’ll do whatever I can to help,” says Jon.

I look at Jon and reply, “I know. You have been a great friend all these years. I’m glad you and Kelly are here with us.”

“Me too, but try to get some rest you look like shit,” jokes Jon.

“Thanks. I’ll see you later,” I reply to Jon and then I head home for the night.

CHAPTER 3

COME ON BALDY

A short Caucasian man exits his bedroom and enters his kitchen. The man hears two people talking in his living room and he walks over to them.

“Morning dad,” says a pre-teen Caucasian boy, who is sitting in the living room with his Caucasian mother, to the man as the man walks into the living room.

“Morning babe, you want some breakfast?” asks the woman to the man.

“That would be great, thank you,” answers the man.

The woman stands up from the living room sofa and kisses the man on the lips.

“Are you going out with DK today?” asks the pre-teen boy to the man.

The man looks at the boy and answers, “Brandon don’t worry about what I’m doing today. You just keep working on your studies.”

“How many eggs you want this morning?” asks the woman to the man.

The man walks into the kitchen and answers, “Three should be good. Did you and Brandon eat already?”

“No, we were waiting for you,” answers the woman.

“Sorry about that, but your brother and his crew kept me up late last night,” replies the man.

“Anything you can tell me?” asks the woman.

“You know I keep my home life separate from my work life,” answers the man.

“But that was the problem before, and our therapist told us both to open up more. Beth and Jacob can’t be so distant from each other she said,” says the woman.

“I don’t think you want to know all the details your brother tells me,” replies Jacob to his wife Beth.

“Well, maybe I can help you with things. You know, give you a different view and provide guidance,” says Beth to Jacob as they stand in their oversized kitchen.

Jacob doesn’t like hearing that he needs help from his wife Beth and he angrily replies, “I’ll be out back, tell me when breakfast is ready.”

Jacob goes out onto his back patio and Beth says to herself, “I was only trying to help.”

Jacob steps out onto his back patio deck and he looks out onto the beach and the Gulf of Mexico that is directly behind his house.

Jacob looks to his right and he sees a group of Conquerors sparring and fighting in the sand.

“Okay, who’s next?” shouts a large Hispanic male Conqueror to the group of male and female Conquerors as he stands over another male Conqueror that he just knocked out.

No one in the group of Conquerors says anything to the large Hispanic male Conqueror.

Jacob, while standing on his deck, sees a person running on the beach towards the group of Conquerors that are gathered around.

Jacob notices that the person running on the beach is a bald Caucasian man that is shirtless and he’s wearing black athletic shorts with black running shoes as he’s moving pretty fast along the water line of the beach.

“No challengers! You’re all a bunch of pussies!” shouts the large Hispanic male Conqueror.

The bald shirtless Caucasian man approaches the group of Conquerors and the large Hispanic male Conqueror shouts to the bald man, “How about you DK?”

The bald white man slows down his run, but he doesn’t stop running.

The large Hispanic male Conqueror shouts to DK, that is a couple feet away from him now, “You don’t want any of this DK!”

DK hears the remarks from the large Hispanic male Conqueror and stops running.

The large Hispanic male Conqueror sees that DK stopped running and shouts, “Come on baldy, let’s do this!”

Jacob hears the large Hispanic male Conqueror yell and he says to himself, “You shouldn’t have said that.”

DK slowly walks through the sand and approaches the large Hispanic male Conqueror.

“Rules?” asks DK to the large Hispanic male Conqueror.

The large Hispanic male Conqueror smiles and answers, “Anything goes.”

DK looks down at the sand and checks the area around the large Hispanic male Conqueror.

“You scared DK? The big bad bald DK is scared!” shouts the large Hispanic male Conqueror to the group as he walks around with his arms raised at shoulder height with his palms up towards the sky.

The group of Conquerors have mixed expressions on their faces. Some of the Conquerors are laughing and smiling, and others look worried.

The large Hispanic male Conqueror looks at DK and asks, “You down DK?”

DK, while looking down at the sand still, answers, “You sure you want to do this?”

“I’ve been waiting to get my hands on you,” answers the large Hispanic male Conqueror and then he removes his sweaty sleeveless blue t shirt.

Jacob sees the entire interaction with DK and the large Hispanic male Conqueror.

The large Hispanic male Conqueror screams and puts on a show for the crowd.

More and more Conquerors have gathered around DK and the large Hispanic male Conqueror.

DK looks at everyone that has gathered around, and he sees men, woman, and even a couple kids.

“I’m going to give you one last time to back out,” says DK to the large Hispanic male Conqueror.

“No way, I’m ready to embarrass you in front of all these people,” replies the large Hispanic male Conqueror.

“Okay then,” says DK as he looks directly at the large Hispanic male Conqueror.

The large Hispanic male Conqueror has an intense look in his eyes as he stands about three feet away from DK.

“Whenever you are ready big man,” says DK to the large Hispanic male Conqueror.

The large Hispanic male Conqueror charges straight at DK.

DK easily side steps the charge from the large Hispanic male Conqueror as DK is much more agile than the much taller and heavier Hispanic male Conqueror.

As the large Hispanic male Conqueror turns towards his left, after missing DK with his charge, DK lands a devastating right hook squarely on the left jaw line of the large Hispanic male Conqueror.

BAM!

The large Hispanic male Conqueror is instantly knocked out and he falls like a large sack of potatoes on the soft sand.

“I knew that was coming,” says Jacob to himself as he looks at the large Hispanic male Conqueror lying motionless on the sand.

The crowd cheers for DK and a female Conqueror

checks on the large Hispanic male Conqueror DK just

knocked out.

Jacob shouts, “DK! Come here!”

Everyone in the crowd of Conquerors looks at Jacob

and a female Conqueror says to another female Conqueror,

“What does that little twerp want?”

DK hears the woman say that about Jacob and then

he runs over to Jacob.

“Pretty nice punch there. I knew he didn’t have a

chance against you,” says Jacob to DK.

“Got lucky I guess,” replies DK.

“Going for a run this morning huh? I gotta get in

better shape,” says Jacob.

DK notices Jacob rubbing his belly fat as he finishes

his statement and DK chuckles to himself at the sight of

Jacob rubbing his belly.

“Did you take care of those two last night?” asks

Jacob to DK.

“Yes sir, my men took them out last night,” answers

DK.

“Good, you are a loyal soldier DK. I’m truly blessed

to have you and your men working for me,” says Jacob.

Beth opens the sliding glass door and says to DK,

“Hey bro. Make sure you put sunscreen on your head.

Don’t want a bad sunburn on that dome.”

“Thanks Bethany,” jokes DK to Beth.

Beth replies, “Don’t call me that, it feels like dad

yelling at me when you call me that.”

“Is breakfast ready?” asks Jacob to Beth with an

assertive tone.

DK notices the tone that Jacob had towards his sister

Beth and he didn’t like it. DK is very protective of his

younger sister Beth and he doesn’t like it when people are

rude and disrespectful to her.

“Yeah, it’s all ready to go,” answers Beth to Jacob.

“You want some breakfast?” asks Beth to DK.

Before DK can answer, Jacob answers, “He’s good.

He doesn’t need anything.”

Beth looks at DK and DK answers, “I’m good sis,

but thank you though.”

“Okay,” says Beth and then Beth closes the sliding

glass door.

“Let me know if you hear anything about Ryan and

if Brad from Channelside did what he was supposed to

do,” says Jacob to DK.

“I haven’t heard anything yet, but I will tell you if I

do,” replies DK.

“Thank you, I’ll see you later,” says Jacob and then

Jacob enters his house through the sliding glass door.

DK looks at Jacob’s closed sliding glass door and

feels disgust and hatred for Jacob.

“Yeah, I’ll let you know all right. I always let you

know when the dirty work is done,” says DK to himself

and then DK continues his late morning run down the

beach and he arrives at his house.

DK isn’t sure what to do about Jacob and he thinks

about all the different scenarios that could easily happen to

Jacob.

“I kill Jacob, but Beth and Brandon hate me forever.

I kill Jacob, but make it look like an accident. I get

someone else to kill Jacob and then the heat is off me, but I

still get what I want,” says DK to himself.

DK thinks about what to do and he’s torn over what

should be done with Jacob. DK is a complicated guy and

he holds himself to a different standard and code than

Jacob and the other Conquerors.

DK looks at the walkie-talkie that belongs to the one

that he gave me and thinks about trying to reach me.

“Maybe I can get Ryan to kill Jacob?” asks DK to

himself.

DK thinks about the plans that were put in motion

by Sal and Jacob and how he can alter the plans and get

away with taking Jacob out.

Jacob sits at the head of his dining room table with Beth and Brandon. Brandon looks at Jacob and asks, “Do you think DK will show me how to fight?”

Jacob looks at Beth with an annoyed expression.

“I hear he’s a great fighter, do you know how to fight dad?” asks Brandon to Jacob.

Jacob looks at Brandon and answers, “DK is a soldier and I’m more of a general.”

Brandon nods his head in agreement with Jacob’s answer and then he eats some of his breakfast.

Beth looks at Jacob and asks, “Is this our new home? Is this definitely where we are staying now?”

“For the foreseeable future,” answers Jacob and then Jacob eats some of his breakfast that Beth made him.

“I enjoy Sarasota and everything around here, but I just want to make sure we won’t have to move again like we did for the fourth time now,” says Beth.

Jacob drops his fork on his plate, and he looks at Beth with a frustrated expression.

Beth and Brandon look at Jacob.

“Like I told you before, we needed to keep moving to get away from the people that wanted to hurt us. I did it to keep us safe,” says Jacob as he glares at Beth from across his dining room table.

“I know, I’m sorry for asking,” replies Beth.

“Are those people still looking for us?” asks Brandon.

“Yes, but we are taking care of it,” answers Jacob.

“I bet DK is, he’s so badass,” says Brandon.

Jacob gets pissed after hearing Brandon’s statement about DK and he storms away from the dining room table and he walks back into his bedroom.

Beth and Brandon stay sitting at the dining room table and Beth says to Brandon, “Finish your breakfast.”

Jacob looks into his master bathroom oversized mirror and shakes his head out of frustration.

Beth walks into the master bedroom and sees Jacob standing in the master bathroom.

“Was my breakfast that bad?” jokes Beth to Jacob.

“No, it was fine,” answers Jacob with a serious tone, while he sees Beth sitting on their bed through the reflection in his master bathroom oversized mirror.

“What’s really going on babe? I only want to help you,” says Beth to Jacob.

Jacob turns around and looks at Beth.

“Why won’t you let me help you?” asks Beth as she starts to get upset.

Jacob walks over to Beth and sits next to her on the edge of their bed.

“I feel the group is seeing me as weak and not as strong as Joseph and that pisses me off… My whole life I was always the brother of Joseph…The small brother of the larger than life Joseph,” says Jacob.

Beth looks at Jacob as Jacob stares at the wall.

“I’m sick of being second best and people not respecting me,” says Jacob with an assertive tone.

“Make them respect you,” says Beth.

Jacob stands up and replies, “That’s what I have been trying to do but it’s not working.”

Beth looks at Jacob.

“I’m not my brother and I’m glad that I’m not. He was arrogant and thought he was untouchable,” says Jacob.

“But people loved him,” says Beth.

Jacob glares at Beth after hearing her remark.

“I meant it as people miss him and what he brought to our group,” replies Beth.

“That is true, but he was taken down… And I have to show our people that I am going after the people who killed their beloved Joseph,” says Jacob.

“What are you going to do?” asks Beth.

“I’m getting even with Ryan and everyone that he is close with,” answers Jacob.

I open my eyes after meditating in my man cave and feel an overwhelming sense of danger.

“Come in Ryan are you there Ryan?” asks Phil over the radio.

I grab the radio that is on the chair near me and answer, “This is Ryan.”

“Meet us in Shaun’s garage, we have some news,” answers Phil over the radio.

“I’ll be right there,” I say into my radio.

I exit my man cave and then exit my house.

I see Phil and several people standing in Shaun’s garage.

“What’s going on?” I ask as I walk up Shaun’s driveway and I see Phil, Jon, Matt, and Jaws Junior standing in Shaun’s garage.

“Just have a couple things going on and wanted to share them with our fearless leader,” answers Phil.

I look at the guys and Phil says, “I got in touch with the Ghosts and Bruce. Bakari looks to be on some mission and he won’t be available to meet for several days but Bruce said we can come by any time.”

“Anyone get a hold of Shaun?” I ask.

“I haven’t, but I’m sure we’ll see him the next time we go to the Haven,” answers Phil.

“Are you going over there today?” I ask Matt.

“I wanted to make sure there wasn’t anything else going on first before I went there,” answers Matt.

“Who is going with you?” I ask Matt.

Matt looks at Phil, Jon, and then Jaws Junior.

“I’ll go with you, but I want to stop by my old house and get my motorcycle,” says Jaws Junior.

“Why?” asks Matt.

“Because I want to bring her back here. I love my bike and I miss working on her,” answers Jaws Junior.

“Well I doubt bringing a pregnant woman on a trip like that is a good idea,” I say.

“I’ll go with JJ and you and whoever can go to the Haven,” I say.

“I’ll go with Matt and Kylie to the Haven,” says Phil.

“What about you?” I ask Jon.

“I was thinking about going out on a run. Kelly and I could use a couple things,” answers Jon.

“You aren’t going alone,” I say.

Jon thinks about who can go with him and then he says, “I’ll ask Jordan.”

“Let us know if you are going out,” I say to Jon.

“I will,” replies Jon.

I look at the guys and ask, “Anything else?”

“I have one more thing,” answers Phil.

We all look at Phil.

Phil says, “I think we should hide guns and weapons around the neighborhood. Just in case we are attacked, and we aren’t ready for it.”

“I like that idea, but what do you have in mind?” I ask.

“I’m not sure, but I was thinking about it the other day and thought to bring it up,” answers Phil.

“Let us know what you come up with and if you need our help,” I reply to Phil.

“Anything else?” I ask the guys.

The guys shake their heads no and I say, “Okay, good meeting.”

Jon, Phil, and Matt exit Shaun’s garage and I look at Jaws Junior and ask him,               “How are we bringing your bike back here?”

“I’ll ride her back here. We’ll just need a car to get us there and then I can drive her back here,” answers Jaws Junior.

“Are you sure it will make it back here?” I ask Jaws Junior.             

“Yeah, just need some gas in her and she should run fine,” answers Jaws Junior.

“Okay, get a car and I’ll meet you back here in twenty minutes,” I say.

“You got it; I’ll bring a gas can with us. I know a group of guards filled up a bunch of gas cans yesterday,” replies Jaws Junior.

I go into my house and enter my master bedroom. I put on some black pants, a grey long sleeved shirt, my partially indestructible sneakers, and then Lauren enters the master bedroom.

“Where are you going?” asks Lauren.

“To Jaws Junior’s old house to get his motorcycle,” I answer Lauren.

“Are you serious?” asks Lauren.

“Yeah, do you want to come?” I answer.

I put on my bulletproof vest and I see the bullet slug from when Dereck shot me is still in the vest.

“Sure, I don’t have any other plans today,” answers Lauren.

“Gear up, we are leaving in ten minutes,” I say to Lauren.

I exit my master bedroom and enter my man cave. I grab my Ghost mask, my katana, my thigh holster, and my handgun.

I put the thigh holster on my right thigh and then insert my handgun into my thigh holster.

“I’ll be outside!” I shout to Lauren as I close my man cave door.

“Where are you going?” asks Fran as she exits from her bedroom.

“Out on a run with Jaws Junior,” I answer Fran.

“Who? Who is that?” asks Fran.

“JJ, he lives with his wife Darlene and they have the pit bull Indy,” I answer Fran.

“Oh yeah, that dog kind of scares me,” says Fran.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t mess with him,” I say.

“What are you doing today?” I ask Fran.

“I was going to meet up with Ann, she’s a very nice lady,” answers Fran.

“Good, I thought you too would hit it off,” I reply to Fran.

Lauren walks into the kitchen and Fran sees that Lauren has her gear on and her bow in her right hand.

“You know I don’t like you leaving this place,” says Fran to Lauren.

“I know, I know ma, but it will be fine,” replies Lauren.

“Don’t worry ma, I’ll take care of her,” I say to Fran.

“You better or I’m coming for you,” replies Fran.

Lauren and I say goodbye to Fran and then we exit our house.

I walk with Lauren over to Shaun’s garage and Lauren asks, “What’s the plan?”

“We’ll take a car over to JJ’s old house; he’ll get his bike and we will come back in the car we took,” I answer Lauren.

“Sounds easy enough,” says Lauren.

“Should be, but keep your eyes peeled,” I reply to Lauren.

Jaws Junior arrives at Shaun’s house in a blue sedan.

Lauren and I get into the blue sedan and Jaws Junior drives towards the exit of Citrus Oaks.

“I got the gas in the trunk,” says Jaws Junior as he exits Citrus Oaks.

“How far away is your house?” asks Lauren from the backseat of the blue sedan.

“Not far it should be a quick trip,” answers Jaws Junior as he drives away from Citrus Oaks.

CHAPTER 4

I’M IN CONTROL HERE

“You live by the prison?” asks Lauren as Jaws Junior drives by a sign for the Tampa Bay Prison.

“Yeah, it’s about five miles from here,” answers Jaws Junior as he drives down the street.

I place my Ghost mask on my face, and I insert the earpiece into my right ear.

I turn on my Ghost mask by saying on and the high definition display turns on.

Jaws Junior pulls into his neighborhood and I see the abandoned homes, cars, vehicles, and a few zombies staggering around the neighborhood.

“There are three, no four zombies I see. This neighborhood isn’t clear,” I say.

Jaws Junior pulls into his empty driveway and I ask, “Where is your bike?”

“In the garage,” answers Jaws Junior.

I look at the front of the houses next to Jaws Junior’s old house and I see a zombie at the closed front door of the house next to Jaws Junior’s.

I exit from our car, remove my katana, and quickly stab the zombie through the back of his skull as he bangs on the closed front door of the house that is right next to Jaws Junior’s.

I look through my mask display and scan the nearby homes.

The front of JJ’s house is clear of zombies and so are the nearby homes across the street from Jaws Junior’s house.

“It’s clear!” I shout as I walk back over to our car.

Lauren and Jaws Junior exit from our car.

“I’ll go inside and open the garage,” says Jaws Junior and then he walks towards his front door.

I look at a house that is four houses down from Jaws Junior’s and I see a lone female zombie staggering on the front lawn.

“Can you get that zombie from here?” I ask Lauren.

Lauren sees the female zombie in the front lawn and answers, “I don’t know, it’s pretty far for me.”

“Try, I think you can get her,” I say.

Lauren removes an arrow from her quiver, and she takes aim at the lone female zombie.

The lone female zombie is about 250 feet away from Lauren and me.

Lauren fires an arrow at the female zombie.

SCHHWAFF!

THUNK!
Lauren’s arrow hits the tree next to the female zombie.

“Almost, just a little to the right and you got her,” I say to Lauren.

Lauren takes aim with another arrow and she exhales slowly as she adjusts her aim and then she releases her arrow.

SCHHWAFF!

THUNK! CRUNCH!

Lauren’s arrow hits the female zombie’s right eye socket and pierces the female zombie’s brain.

“Nice shot,” I say as I watch the female zombie collapse onto the overgrown front lawn.

Lauren smiles and is proud of herself.

The sound of Jaws Junior’s garage door opening is heard. As Jaws Junior’s garage door opens, the loud garage door motor is hard to listen to especially in my mask as the microphone and speaker in my mask amplifies the sound.

Lauren and I look at Jaws Junior and I joke, “Could your garage door be any louder?”

Two female zombies, who were attracted by Jaws Junior’s loud garage door opening, come towards Lauren and me as we stand in Jaws Junior’s driveway.

I notice that the two female zombies that are coming towards us are both only wearing t shirts. The t shirts on both women are torn, and I find that odd.

Lauren fires an arrow and kills one of the female zombies and I kill the other female zombie with a slice to the top of her head with my katana.

I walk over to both of the female zombies that Lauren and I just killed, and both of the female zombies look to have died recently as they don’t look to be in as rough shape as some of the zombies that we’ve seen.

The display on my mask shows me signs that both of the women were choked as they both have red marks around both of their necks.

“Why are they half naked?” asks Lauren.

I examine both of the female zombies fingernails and I find dirt and what looks like skin cells and blood on some of their nails.

“They were most likely raped and then killed,” I answer Lauren.

I look around the neighborhood and try to scan different homes in the neighborhood.             

“Who would do this to these women?” asks Lauren.

“I don’t know, but those people who hurt these women could still be around here,” I answer Lauren.

I walk back over to Jaws Junior’s garage with Lauren and ask Jaws Junior, “How much longer until you get the bike going?”

“It’s going to take some time, I forgot that I was working on the carburetor before we left here. It’s almost done, but it will take some time,” answers Jaws Junior.

“There could be some problems around here, I think we need to leave,” I say as I’m facing Jaws Junior who is sitting next to his motorcycle that is in the center of his garage.

Lauren, who is standing behind me in Jaws Junior’s driveway, is grabbed by an unknown man.

“Don’t move!” shouts a man that is standing behind me.

Lauren struggles as an overweight pale white man puts his right arm around Lauren’s neck as he stands behind her.

“Let me go!” shouts Lauren.

“Shut up bitch!” shouts the man that is standing behind Lauren and is restraining her.

“Toss over the sword!” shouts a different man that is standing behind Lauren and her captor.

I slowly turn around and see the two men. I see the man behind Lauren and he’s a tall overweight pale white man. I see the man that demanded my sword and he’s a pale white man as well, but he’s much shorter and skinnier than the man that is behind Lauren. The skinny pale white man has a small handgun pointed at me, and I notice that he has scratches on his neck.

“Give me your fuckin sword!” shouts the skinny pale white man as he looks at my katana that is in my right hand.

“Okay, let my wife go, and I’ll give you my sword,” I say to the skinny pale white man.

The skinny pale white man keeps his black revolver pointed at me and doesn’t reply.

Jaws Junior sees a large wrench on a chair next to him and he slowly reaches for it.

“Did you two kill those two women?” I ask as I look at the skinny pale white man.

I notice the overweight pale white man shows some remorse on his face after I asked about the two women.

“Come on Tyler, let’s just go,” says the large overweight pale white man.

“We ain’t going anywhere Tiny. We got out of jail and I ain’t going back,” says the skinny pale white man.

I see that Lauren is scared and I feel the immediate need to save her.

“I’ll give you my sword for the girl, deal?” I say to the two pale white men.

“Put the sword down!” shouts Tyler.

I feel Jaws Junior doing something behind me, but my main focus is on getting Lauren away from these two men.

“Okay, I’m putting my sword down,” I say to Tyler.

I lightly toss my katana into the overgrown front lawn that is on my left.

“Put your hands up!” shouts Tyler at me.

I raise my hands above my head and reply, “Okay, okay.”

“Good, now give me your mask and we’ll be on our way,” says Tyler to me.

I look at Tyler and then Lauren and then Tiny.

“Not until you let my wife go,” I say.

Tyler steps closer to me, with his black revolver pointed at me, and shouts, “You ain’t making demands! I’m in control here!”

As Tyler shouts at me he aims his revolver off of me and towards Jaws Junior’s driveway.

I notice the revolver aimed at the ground and I swiftly reach towards Tyler and Tyler fires a shot.

BANG!

The shot from Tyler’s revolver hits Jaws Junior’s driveway. I grab Tyler’s right hand and Tyler drops the revolver.

Jaws Junior runs from behind me and smacks Tyler’s forehead just above his left eye socket with his large wrench as I am holding Tyler’s arms below his waist.

I feel Tyler go limp and Tyler falls to the ground.

Tiny sees Tyler’s lifeless body on the ground and he loosens his grip on Lauren.

Lauren stomps on Tiny’s right foot and Tiny screams in pain. Lauren is free from Tiny’s grip and she runs away from Tiny.

Jaws Junior and I look at Tiny and Tiny pleads, “I’m sorry. It was all Tyler. I didn’t want to hurt your wife or those two women.”

“Who else is in here?” asks Jaws Junior to Tiny.

“No one, it was only Tyler and me. The rest are still back at the prison,” answers Tiny.

“You got out?” I ask Tiny.

“Yeah, Tyler couldn’t take it in there anymore and I went with him,” answers Tiny.

“Who is running the prison?” I ask Tiny.

“I’m not sure now, but before we left it was Dennison and his crew,” answers Tiny.

I see Lauren and I ask, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, but can we go now?” answers Lauren.

“Yeah, let’s get back home,” I say.

“What about these two?” asks Jaws Junior.

I think about what to do with Tiny and Tyler and I remember the two guys that Phil and I tied to the street sign.

I hear movement behind me, turn around, and I see Tyler coming towards me with my katana.

I push Jaws Junior out of the way of Tyler and dodge Tyler’s downward swinging motion of my katana.

Tyler misses me with my katana, but he connects with Tiny. I look at Tiny and see my katana is stuck in the top of his forehead and hairline.

I remove my handgun from my right thigh holster and fire a shot at Tyler.

BANG!

My shot hits Tyler in his right temple and he falls onto Jaws Junior’s driveway.

I quickly stand up and see that Tyler is dead but Tiny is still alive as he looks at me.

I’m amazed to see Tiny standing there and looking right at me.

“I’m….” says Tiny and then Tiny collapses to his knees and then onto his right side.

I look down at Tiny and I remove my katana from his head.

Tiny has stopped breathing and blood is pouring out of his head and onto Jaws Junior’s driveway.

“Time to go,” I say.

Jaws Junior runs into his garage and hits the garage door button.

Lauren and I get into the backseat of our car and Jaws Junior gets into the driver seat as his garage door closes.

I look at Lauren and ask, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, that was scary as shit though,” answers Lauren.

Jaws Junior reverses out of his driveway and speeds towards the exit of his neighborhood.

“So much for an easy quick trip today?” jokes Jaws Junior as he drives down the street.

“Yeah, I think getting your bike back home is out,” I reply to Jaws Junior.

“We’ll have to clear out the neighborhood next time,” says Jaws Junior.

I think about Jaws Junior’s statement about going back to his old neighborhood and I wonder if it’s smart to go back as I could have lost Lauren forever today.

“I’ll pass on coming back here,” I say and Lauren joins in, “Me too.”

“What did you make of what that fat guy Tiny said about the prison?” asks Jaws Junior.

I think about Jaws Junior’s question as Jaws Junior speeds down the road.

“I guess it makes sense that people are living in the prison. It has to be safe from the zombies and if you control the prison, then it’s like a fortress,” says Jaws Junior.

“Yeah, well that’s the last thing we need to deal with around here. Escaped convicts hitting the streets,” I say.

Jaws Junior drives down the street and heads back to Citrus Oaks.

Phil, Nicole, Mason, Mia, Kylie, and Matt walk down an interior hallway of the Haven and approach the Medical room.

Dr. Vargas is talking with Hector in the Haven Medical room when Phil and his group enter the room.

“Okay, be safe,” says Dr. Vargas to Hector and then Dr. Vargas kisses Hector on the lips.

“Hey everyone,” says Hector to Phil and his group.

Dr. Vargas walks over to Mason and Mia and Nicole.

“What’s up Hector?” asks Phil as Hector walks towards the exit of the Medical room.

“Just about to head out, you want to join us?” answers Hector.

Phil exits the Medical room with Hector.

“Where are you going?” asks Phil to Hector.

“I’m heading out with a group to check out a couple buildings. We are looking for Conquerors,” answers Hector.

“Who is going with you?” asks Phil.

“My usual group, plus a couple people Bruce wants with me,” answers Hector.

Shaun sees Phil and Hector talking in the interior Haven hallway and he walks over to them.

“What’s up ladies?” jokes Shaun to Phil and Hector.

“About to head out, you want to join?” asks Hector to Shaun.

“Where you going?” asks Shaun to Hector.

“Just around to a couple spots that we think are being occupied by Conquerors now,” answers Hector.

“You going Phil?” asks Shaun.

“No, we are here to meet with Dani and possibly talk with Bruce and William,” answers Phil.

“So you in Shaun or what?” asks Hector.

Shaun looks at Phil and then Hector and Shaun answers Hector, “I’m going to sit this one out, but let me know about the next one.”
“Will do, see you guys later,” replies Hector and then Hector walks down the interior hallway away from Shaun and Phil.

“What’s up Phil? I feel like I haven’t seen you and the guys in forever,” says Shaun.

“Yeah, it does feel like a while,” replies Phil.

“Ry here?” asks Shaun to Phil.

“No, he went out on a run with JJ,” answers Phil.

“Where were they going?” asks Shaun.

“Trying to bring back JJ’s motorcycle from his old house,” answers Phil.

“Who is all with you?” asks Shaun.

“Matt, Kylie, Nicole, and the kids,” answers Phil.

“Family affair,” jokes Shaun.

Shaun and Phil overhear Matt talking with Dr. Vargas and Dr. Vargas replies to Matt, “Kylie looks to be doing well, but I’ll check her out.”

Phil peeks into the Haven Medical room and says, “Come on Matt, let the ladies be in here.”

“I’ll be fine, go with Phil,” says Kylie to Matt.

Matt, with a worried expression on his face, asks Kylie, “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’ll come find you in a little bit,” answers Kylie.

“You okay Nicole?” asks Phil as he stands in the doorway of the Medical room.

“Yeah, I’ll stay with Kylie and we’ll come find you guys,” answers Nicole.

Matt, after a couple more seconds with Kylie, walks towards the exit of the Medical room and meets up with Phil and Shaun.

Shaun takes Phil and Matt into the Haven cafeteria and they sit and enjoy some lunch together.

“Is it me or is the food different now?” asks Matt as he looks down at the food that is on his plate.

“The food has changed, I think the rations are running low,” answers Shaun.

“You keeping tabs on the food supply?” jokes Phil to Shaun.

“Actually I am,” replies Shaun with a smile on his face.

“What’s been going on around here?” asks Phil to Shaun.

“I’m not exactly sure, but I’ve heard that the Conquerors have been more and more of a problem recently,” answers Shaun.

“Jacob and DK?” asks Phil to Shaun.

“Not sure, but I think they attacked the Big Club and a couple groups of Haven Warriors that were out on patrol,” answers Shaun.

“Wonder why Bruce or William hasn’t let us know about the attacks?” asks Phil.

“Maybe it’s not a big deal,” answers Matt.

Phil looks around the Haven cafeteria and he notices that the Haven cafeteria is pretty crowded.

“I wonder how many people are living here now?” asks Phil.

“It’s felt pretty crowded around here recently,” says Shaun.

Shaun, Phil, and Matt exit the Haven cafeteria and they enter the open Haven central courtyard.

“Is anyone there?” is heard over Phil’s radio.

Phil picks up his radio and answers, “This is Phil.”

“Where are you Phil?” I ask into my radio as I stand inside Shaun’s garage inside Citrus Oaks.

“I’m at the Haven with Shaun and Matt. Where are you?” answers Phil into his radio.

“I’m back home. We were attacked by some prisoners,” I answer into my radio.

“Are you okay?” asks Phil into his radio.

“Yeah, luckily we weren’t hurt, but the prisoners could be a problem around here now,” I answer into my radio.

Matt looks at Phil as Phil asks into his radio, “What do you mean?”
“I’ll explain when you guys get back here,” I answer into my radio.

“Prisoners?” asks Shaun as he looks at Matt.

“Well, we’ll be home in a couple hours, we just got to the Haven,” says Phil over the radio.

“See what William and Bruce know about the prisoners or anything going around here if you can,” I say into my radio.

“Will do, I’ll let you know what we find out when we get back home,” replies Phil over the radio.

“What the fuck, now we have an escaped prisoner problem around here?” asks Matt.

As Matt finishes his question, the guys see Jeremy and several Haven Warriors walk through the open Haven central courtyard, dressed in full zombie fighting gear, and make their way towards the Haven parking lot.

Shaun, Phil, and Matt hear shouting coming from inside a Haven classroom and they decide to check it out.

Phil and Shaun hear William shouting at someone inside a classroom and Phil sees William shouting at Bruce.

“Do you want me to go after them?” asks Bruce to William.

William sees Phil standing outside of the classroom doorway and he answers Bruce, “No, just let them go. I can’t keep holding Jeremy back.”

“Everything okay William?” asks Phil as he makes eye contact with William.

“Just some parenting problems,” jokes William.

Phil steps into the classroom and Shaun and then Matt follow behind Phil.

“Have you or your men seen any escaped prisoners around here?” asks Phil to William.

“What do you mean? How would we know if they are from the prison?” asks Bruce.

“I don’t know, but Ryan just told me that he was attacked by escaped prisoners,” answers Phil.

“It was only a matter of time, they must be running out of food in the prison,” says William.

“Do you know anything about the prison?” asks Phil.

“No, but I would think people would be surviving there,” answers William.

“What about the Conquerors?” asks Shaun.

“That, unfortunately, I do know about… We have been attacked recently by a group of Conquerors,” answers William.

“Where?” asks Phil.

“Several locations, but we had to give up the Big Club as they killed most of the people that I had there,” answers William.

“Is that why Jeremy was pissed off?” asks Shaun.

“One of the many reasons, but yes. He was good friends with Jakobe and Wesley and they both died when the Conquerors attacked the Big Club,” answers William.

“Where was Jeremy going?” asks Matt to William.

“I’m not 100 percent sure, but I know he is still hell bent on getting his revenge against the Conquerors,” answers William.

“Aren’t you going to stop him?” asks Matt.

William looks directly at Matt and answers, “I can’t keep stopping him. Jeremy has wanted to go after the Conquerors for some time now. He’s been wanting to fight them for a while and now is his chance.”

CHAPTER 5

NOW WE’RE TALKING

“I wouldn’t let my son go off and fight like that,” says Matt as he gets into Phil’s new SUV, that is parked in the Haven parking lot, and sits next to Kylie in the backseat.

“What happened?” asks Kylie.

“Jeremy stormed out with a group of Haven Warriors and he’s going after the Conquerors,” answers Matt.

Phil gets in the driver seat of his new SUV and asks, “We got everything?”

“Yeah, we’re all set,” answers Nicole from the passenger seat of Phil’s SUV.

“I’m really glad someone got this big SUV, we all fit in here so well,” says Kylie from the backseat.

Phil reverses out of the parking spot and exits the Haven.

“Are you sure everything is okay? You have been throwing up in the mornings though,” says Matt to Kylie.

“That’s normal Matt. Dani said it’s a little on the early side to have morning sickness, but everything looks fine,” replies Kylie to Matt.

“You can’t worry so much, you’re starting to go bald,” says Nicole to Matt.

“Shut it, you know I’m self-conscious about my hair,” says Matt to Nicole.

“Your hair looks great babe,” says Kylie to Matt.

Phil makes it back to Citrus Oaks and stops his new SUV in front of Matt’s house.

“We’ll see you guys later, thanks for the fun day,” says Nicole to Kylie and Matt as they exit from Phil’s new SUV.

“You going to meet with Ryan?” asks Matt to Phil as he stands by the open rear passenger side door of Phil’s SUV.

“Yeah, after we get all situated I will,” answers Phil.

“Keep me in the loop,” says Matt and then Matt closes the rear passenger side door of Phil’s new SUV.

Phil and Nicole take Mason and Mia into their house and Nicole asks Phil, “What’s going on with Ryan?”

“I’m not sure, but something happened with him today,” answers Phil.

“Well, that’s a pretty vague answer,” jokes Nicole.

“Ryan said he was attacked by two escaped prisoners, but he is okay,” says Phil.

“Really, where did that happen?” asks Nicole.

“I’m guessing around JJ’s old house, but I don’t know specifics,” answers Phil.

“Well, get going and get the deets. I want to know what happened,” jokes Nicole to Phil.

“Okay, man, you and Matt are so a like sometimes,” jokes Phil.

Nicole smiles at Phil and then Nicole jokes, “That’s kind of disturbing.”
“I’ll get the details and let you and your brother, and everyone else around here know what happened,” replies Phil with a joking tone.

Phil exits his house and walks down the sidewalk.

Phil sees a car coming towards him and it’s Jon and Jordan in Jon’s electric car.

Jon stops driving and Phil asks Jon, “Where are you coming from?”

“We got a shit ton of good stuff. We’ll divide it up and bring it around later,” answers Jon.

“Sounds good, I’ll see you later,” replies Phil.

“Where are you going?” asks Jon.

“I have to talk with Ryan,” answers Phil.

“Okay, see you later,” replies Jon and then Jon drives down the street towards the back cul-de-sac of Citrus Oaks.

Jon and Jordan arrive at Jon’s house and they start to unload the boxes and bags of goods that they got on their run today.

“Are we really going to divide this stuff up?” asks Jordan to Jon.

Jon looks at Jordan with a questioning expression.

“I just think we did the work and we should keep this stuff for ourselves,” says Jordan to Jon as he grabs a box of items from the trunk of Jon’s electric car.

“We divide up the goods for everyone here,” says Jon to Jordan.

Jordan places the box he had in his hands on the driveway next to Jon’s electric car.

Jon grabs a duffel bag that is filled with bottles of medication and other useful items and places it on the ground next to him.

Jordan and Jon take the last boxes out of Jon’s electric car and Jordan doesn’t know what to do with the items now.

Jon looks at Jordan and says, “I know it’s tempting to keep everything for yourself, but we share what we get with everyone here.”

Jordan doesn’t say anything to Jon and just looks at him.

Jon can feel the tension and awkwardness with Jordan and doesn’t like it.

“But they don’t know what we got, and we can keep a lot of the good stuff for us,” says Jon to Jordan with a smile.

Jordan smiles and replies, “Now we’re talking.”

Jon and Jordan go through the bottles, items, and other goods that they got on their run today and take what they want.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

Phil knocks on my front door.

Lauren answers our front door and Phil asks, “Is Ryan here?”

“He is next door in his dad’s old house,” answers Lauren.

“Okay, thank you,” replies Phil and then Phil is about to walk away, but he stops and looks at Lauren and asks, “What happened today?”

“We are fine, we made it out alive,” quickly answers Lauren.

Phil notices that Lauren is shook from what happened and replies, “I’m glad, but are you okay?”

Lauren puts on a brave face and answers Phil, “Yeah, I’ll be okay.”

“If you need someone to talk to, Nicole and I are always here. Please remember that,” says Phil to Lauren.

“Thank you, Phil,” replies Lauren.

Phil walks away and Lauren asks, “Remember when that woman had her knife to my throat?”

Phil stops walking, turns around, and replies to Lauren, “Yeah it was right here in your driveway.”

“It basically happened again. These two criminals attacked us, and one named Tiny was holding me and I really wasn’t sure if I was going to get away this time,” says Lauren and then Lauren starts to get emotional.

Phil sees Lauren getting upset and steps towards Lauren.

Lauren says, “But, I did the foot stomp on that fat guy Tiny and then the other guy went after Ryan with Ryan’s sword, but he missed Ryan and sliced the sword into Tiny’s head.”

“It sounds terrible,” says Phil.

“It was pretty gross,” replies Lauren as Lauren wipes a tear away from her cheek.

“Was that Tiny guy huge?” jokes Phil.

Lauren notices Phil is joking, chuckles, and answers, “He was definitely not tiny that’s for sure.”

Phil smiles and notices that Lauren is smiling.

“Ryan is next door,” says Lauren.

Phil nods his head and then walks across my driveway and opens Bobby G’s front door.

“You in here Ry?” asks Phil as he steps into Bobby G’s house through the front door.

“Yeah, in the kitchen,” I answer Phil.

Phil enters Bobby G’s kitchen and Phil asks me, “You okay?”

“Yeah, luckily, but it was too close for comfort,” I answer.

Phil looks at me and I ask him, “You remember those two guys we duct taped to the sign?”

“Yeah, Billy and Kevin,” answers Phil.

“How do you remember their names?” I ask.

Phil chuckles to himself and answers, “Cursed to remember stuff like that I guess.”

“Jaws Junior wants us to go back to his old house and get his bike, but I don’t think it’s worth the risk,” I say.

“What do the others say?” asks Phil.

“I haven’t talked with anyone yet. I’ve been in here and trying to get my mind right as I’m still all over the place after what happened today,” I answer Phil.

Phil opens up Bobby G’s refrigerator and grabs two beer bottles.

Phil hands me a beer and asks, “How many criminals did you see in the neighborhood?”

“Only the two, but there could have been more in the homes there. JJ’s old neighborhood is pretty big,” I answer.

“Did you meet with William or Bruce?” I ask Phil.

Phil sits down on a bar stool at Bobby G’s kitchen counter and answers, “We did, and he brought up a good point that the people at the prison are probably running low on food and they are going around looking for food and whatever else they need.”

“Makes sense,” I reply and then I take a sip of my beer.

“He also said that the Big Club is gone and his people from the Haven died fighting the Conquerors over it,” says Phil.

“No shit?” I ask.

“Yeah, Jakobe and Wesley and several other people from the Haven died and Jeremy took a group out to go after the Conquerors,” answers Phil.

“William is okay with Jeremy doing that?” I ask.

Phil puts his beer bottle down on the kitchen counter after taking a sip and answers, “I guess so, William seemed tired of trying to hold Jeremy back.”
“But I doubt William will be okay with Jeremy dying,” I say.

“Did you see Shaun?” I ask Phil.

“Yeah, he looks good, but I felt like he misses living here,” answers Phil.

“How long do you give it until they move back here?” I ask Phil.

Phil finishes his beer and answers with a half joking tone, “I don’t know, but probably if the Haven runs out of food.”

“Is the Haven running low on food?” I ask.

“I think so as their food was drastically smaller portions than it’s been in the past,” answers Phil.

I look into Bobby G’s backyard, think about our community, and ask myself, “Will we run out of food? Do we have enough supplies for everyone here?”

There is a knock on Bobby G’s front door and then two people enter Bobby G’s house.

Phil and I look at the two people that enter Bobby G’s kitchen and it’s Jon and Matt.

“I heard you had a crazy trip today,” says Matt.

Matt sees Phil and I each with a beer bottle in our hands, so he opens Bobby G’s refrigerator and grabs one.

“You and Shaun did the same thing back in my Dad’s house in Carolina. But you were taking sodas instead of beers back then,” I say with a joking tone to Matt.

“You still want me to put a quarter in a jar like you used to make us do?,” jokes Matt as he hands a beer bottle to Jon as well.

I smile at Matt’s joke and remember some fun times in high school with Matt, Jon, Phil, and Shaun.

“Let’s go in the living room,” I say.

The guys and I sit down in Bobby G’s living room and Jon says, “Jordan and I got a bunch of good stuff today.”
“What did you get?” asks Phil.

“We got some meds, supplements, protein bars, and other good stuff from a small pharmacy that was basically untouched,” answers Jon.

“Run into any trouble?” asks Phil to Jon.

“No, it was a pretty easy trip,” answers Jon.

“What happened on your trip with JJ today?” asks Matt to me.

“These two criminals grabbed Lauren and tried to take my stuff,” I answer Matt.

“Was anyone hurt?” asks Jon.

“Yeah, Tiny and Tyler got hurt,” I answer.

“Any chance they come around here?” asks Matt.

“I doubt it, since Tiny’s giant forehead was sliced open and I shot Tyler in the side of his head,” I answer Matt.

“Are you okay Ry?” asks Jon.

I finish my beer, stand up from the sofa, walk towards the kitchen to get another beer, and answer Jon, “Yeah, I’m okay. It was self-defense.”

“Anyone else need a beer?” I ask as I stand in front of Bobby G’s refrigerator.

“I’ll take another one,” answers Phil.

“Jon? Matt? How about you?” I ask.

“I’m good,” answers Jon and Matt answers, “No thanks.”

I grab two beers from the refrigerator and walk back into the living room.

I hand Phil a beer and I say, “It was self-defense killing that guy Tyler, but either way he and Tiny deserved to die.”
“Why?” asks Matt.

“Well, besides them being criminals who escaped prison. They probably raped and killed these two women in JJ’s neighborhood,” I answer.

“How do you know that?” asks Matt.

I look at Matt and answer, “Well, Phil’s detective skills are rubbing off on me I guess.”

Phil looks at me and says, “Explain that further Ry.”

“Well, I noticed that Tyler had scratches on his neck, like from someone who was fighting back against him. And the two chick zombies we killed in front of JJ’s house didn’t have any pants or underwear on,” I answer.

“They were naked?” asks Matt.

“No, they both had t shirts on. But it doesn’t matter either way. Those two attacked us, almost took Lauren, and now they are gone. And good fucking riddance. The world is a better place without them,” I say and then I drink some of my beer.

“I have always thought an eye for an eye is the best form of punishment,” says Jon.

“What do you mean?” asks Matt.

“Simple. You get what you give. If you do something to someone that same thing should happen to you,” answers Jon.

“Amen,” I say.

“But what if you were wrongly convicted?” asks Matt.

Jon looks at Matt and answers, “With DNA evidence and the improved ways to find people guilty or innocent it would be easy. Sure there would be exceptions, but it would also drastically cut down the crime rates.”

“I saw so many repeat offenders so many times around Raleigh. One guy I arrested two times in one week for similar crimes,” says Phil.

“People weren’t afraid to do the time for the crime, but if you lost a finger, or a hand, or your life because of the crime you committed, I’m sure that would make people think twice before doing something,” I say.

“What if you are protecting yourself? Like the guy who killed two intruders who broke into his house, what would have happened to him?” asks Matt.

“That’s different, he and every person has a right to stand their ground and defend themselves,” says Phil.

“Seems like a blurred line though, what makes something okay and something not okay?” asks Matt.

“Well, all that shit doesn’t matter now. This new world is chaos and people can kill other people and get away with it,” I say.

The guys look at me and wonder if I’m okay.

“But the universe, or god, or whatever you want to call it, knows what we do. Karma will level the playing field, and I just hope karma sees all the terrible things I’ve done as self-defense and me protecting the ones I love,” I say as I look up at Bobby G’s living room ceiling.

The guys don’t know what to say after my statement.

I look at the guys and ask, “What do you guys think? Am I going to hell for what I’ve done?”

“No Ry, you had to do those things,” answers Jon.

“Why? Why did I though?” I ask.

“To protect the people you care about,” answers Phil.

I look at Phil and Phil says, “It’s normal to feel bad for killing a human being. Normal people aren’t okay with killing others.”

I look at Matt and ask, “What about you? What do you think about what I’ve done?”

Matt looks at me and isn’t sure how to answer.

“It’s okay, I’m just curious how you guys see it,” I say.

“You had to do it, Lauren and JJ could have been hurt if you didn’t,” says Matt.

“But luckily, we didn’t run into Lisa at the Haven, that could have been awkward,” jokes Phil to try to lighten the mood in the room.

“I’m glad we didn’t, I was kind of dreading it actually,” says Matt.

“I hope she is doing okay though,” says Jon.

“I’m sure she is, but she got what she wanted. She got away from us here,” I say.

“It doesn’t make sense why she would leave her big house here in CO for a small room at the Haven,” says Matt.

“What about William letting Jeremy go out with a group of Warriors?” asks Phil.

“What’s that all about?” asks Jon.

“I couldn’t believe William just let Jeremy storm out like that,” says Matt.

“Jeremy is a teenager who thinks he knows it all and probably sees William as the person that is holding him back from doing what he’s wanted to do for a while now,” I say.

“But he’s reckless, and he’ll probably end up dying,” says Matt.

“Some people have to learn the hard way. I know I did when I was a teenager. Bobby G and I argued a ton,” I say.

“You going to let Matt junior do anything reckless?” asks Phil to Matt.

“No way, my child is living in a protective bubble until he’s thirty,” jokes Matt.

“I can’t believe you’re having a kid,” I say to Matt.

“I’ll be that bad of a dad huh?” jokes Matt.

“Doesn’t matter, you have Kylie and she’ll be a great mom,” jokes Phil.

“You will all be great parents,” I say.

“What about you?” asks Phil to me.

I look at Phil and think about me being a parent.

“I’m not sure about that. Lauren and I talked about kids. It was tough with my job and I never wanted to be that parent that was never home,” I say.

“Well those days are over now,” says Jon.

“Very true,” says Matt.

“Ryan are you there?” is heard over my walkie-talkie that is in Bobby G’s kitchen.

The guys and I stop talking after we hear the person ask for me over the walkie-talkie.

I run into Bobby G’s kitchen, grab my walkie-talkie, and say into my walkie-talkie, “This is Ryan.”

“I’ve done some digging around and I found out who attacked the Haven,” says DK over the walkie-talkie.

Matt, Phil, and Jon enter Bobby G’s kitchen.

“Who was it?” I ask into my walkie-talkie.

The guys look at me and try to be quiet.

“It was the brother of the guy that is kidnapped at the Haven. He went on his own and I had nothing to do with it,” says DK over the walkie-talkie.

“What about Jacob?” I ask into my walkie-talkie.

I look at the guys as I wait for DK’s answer.

“He could have, but he’s worried about other things right now,” answers DK over the walkie-talkie.

“Find out where he is,” says Matt to me.

I motion for Matt and the guys to be quiet and then I ask into my walkie-talkie, “Where are you? Are you in Tampa?”

Several seconds go by and DK doesn’t answer, but I’ve become accustomed to waiting for DK’s replies.

“That’s none of your concern for now, but some of our people are around Tampa so be on alert for them,” says DK over the walkie-talkie.

“Some of your group or Jacob’s?” I ask into my walkie-talkie.

DK quickly answers, “My group is with me and we aren’t worried about you right now.”

“He sounds pissed off,” says Matt to Phil and Jon.

“What is Jacob up to?” I ask into my walkie-talkie.

“I’ve been trying to have him steer clear of you, but I’m not sure how much longer he’ll do that,” answers DK over the walkie-talkie.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

I hear the sound of someone knock on something over the walkie-talkie as DK is talking to me.

DK looks at his closed front door and says to me over the walkie-talkie, “I have to go.”
DK turns off his walkie-talkie.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

Someone knocks on DK’s locked front door and shouts from outside, “Open up!”

DK hides the walkie-talkie in an end table drawer and then walks to his closed front door.

DK looks through the peep hole of his front door and he sees Jacob standing on his front porch.

DK opens his front door and asks Jacob, “What’s up? Everything okay?”

“Come with me,” answers Jacob.

DK notices that Jacob is alone, and he asks Jacob, “Where are we going?”

“Don’t worry about it, just get your keys and come with me,” answers Jacob.

DK isn’t sure what Jacob wants and he finds it odd that he just showed up at his house unannounced as Jacob has never done that before.

Jacob notices the hesitation in DK, and he says, “Come on. I want to take you somewhere.”

“Where are we going? Do I need my gear?” asks DK.

“You don’t need anything. It’s safe where we are going,” answers Jacob.

Jacob notices that DK is dressed, and he already has shoes on and says, “I’m not going to say it again. You’re already dressed and ready to go. Just get your keys.”

DK isn’t sure why Jacob is being so persistent about him going with him somewhere.

“You are starting to make me wonder about you,” says Jacob to DK.

DK just looks at Jacob.

“Let’s go,” says Jacob to DK.

DK senses the frustration in Jacob and says, “Okay.”

DK grabs his house keys from a bowl near his front door, closes and locks his front door, and gets into Jacob’s sedan.

DK checks the backseat of Jacob’s sedan and Jacob laughs and says, “You’re always so paranoid.”

Jacob reverses out of DK’s driveway.

“Where are we going?” asks DK.

“It’s a surprise,” answers Jacob as Jacob speeds down the street.

CHAPTER 6

THAT’S MY GUY

Jacob’s sedan stops at the side of a tall building and DK asks, “What, are we out of gas?”

“The car is electric and no, we’re here,” answers Jacob as he puts his electric car in park.

Jacob looks at DK and says, “Look, I know we haven’t been in the best of places at times, but I want that to change. Your sister and I talked, and we think it’s a good idea if you and I work together.”

“We already work together,” replies DK as he looks out his passenger side car door window.

“Yeah, I know, but you and your team go on missions and then I get a report from you on how it all went. It kind of feels like a boss employee relationship,” says Jacob.

DK doesn’t reply to Jacob.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

An African American male Conqueror knocks on Jacob’s driver side car door window.

Jacob looks at the African American male Conqueror and the African American male Conqueror says, “They are inside.”

“Okay, we’ll be right in,” replies Jacob.

“Who is inside?” asks DK as he looks at Jacob.

“You’ll see,” answers Jacob and then Jacob exits his electric car.

DK doesn’t like the secrecy of this trip with Jacob, so he hesitates to exit from Jacob’s electric car.

“Come on!” shouts Jacob to DK as he stands a couple feet away from the front of his electric car.

DK exits from Jacob’s electric car, closes his passenger side car door, and asks, “Who is inside?”

“Let’s go in and find out,” answers Jacob and then Jacob walks towards the front of the building that he parked his car next to.

DK looks up at the building and he sees that Jacob brought him to a large old stone church.

“Isn’t this where you got married?” asks DK to Jacob.

“Yeah, good memory,” answers Jacob and then Jacob opens one of the large wooden church entrance doors.

Jacob and DK enter the church and there are several people waiting for them at the front of the church.

“Glad you could finally join us!” shouts Sal as he looks at DK and Jacob.             

DK notices that Sal is joined by Brad and four other men that he hasn’t met before.

“Sorry we’re late,” replies Jacob.

DK sizes up the four other men and he notices that two men are in all-black suits. The two men are dressed in similar all-black suits and each of the men have an American flag pin on their chest suit jacket pocket. Both of the men in suits are well-built, but one is Caucasian, and the other is African American. DK notices that the two men in the all-black suits are each armed with high-powered automatic weapons and they look like they could be members of a government security team.

Jacob walks over to Sal and shakes his right hand and says hello to Brad who is standing next to Sal. DK notices that Sal is wearing a black suit that has vertical pin stripes on both his suit jacket and pants. DK thinks to himself, “All Sal needs is a fedora and a Tommy Gun, and he’d be the stereotypical old school gangster.

“I started to wonder if you were going to make it,” says Sal to Jacob.

DK looks at the other group of two men, and they are dressed in street clothes and they have visible tattoos on their arms and neck. One of the men is Caucasian and the other is Hispanic. The Caucasian man is muscular and wearing a white tank top and black jeans, and the Hispanic man is on the chubby side as he is wearing a button down short sleeved shirt and jeans.

Sal introduces Jacob to the two men in the black suits. The Caucasian man in the black suit is Davis and the African American man in the black suit is Winston.

“I thought we would be meeting Wayne today,” says Jacob to Davis and Winston.”

“He sent us today to see if it’s something that he should get involved with,” replies Davis to Jacob.

“Fair enough, still hoping to meet him,” replies Jacob.

Sal introduces Jacob to the two men in the street clothes. The muscular Caucasian man in the tank top is Dennison and the Hispanic man is Alberto.

“Nice to meet you Dennison, I hear that you are the one controlling Tampa Bay Prison now,” says Jacob.

“We took it over and it’s ours now,” replies Dennison.

Davis whispers something to Winston and Dennison takes it as a sign of disrespect and shouts to Winston and Davis, “What did you say?”

Davis turns towards Dennison and answers, “I said this is exactly why our leader wouldn’t come here.”

Dennison reaches behind his back, grabs a handgun that was tucked into his jeans, and points his handgun at Davis. Alberto sees Dennison grab his handgun and Alberto does the same and he points his handgun at Winston.

DK looks at the craziness that is happening with the people at the meeting and he thinks to himself, “What the fuck am I doing here?”

“Now gentlemen, we aren’t enemies. We set this meeting to make a partnership between our groups,” says Sal.

“I hope that dirty tank top is bulletproof,” says Davis to Dennison.

“I know your face isn’t bulletproof!” shouts Alberto as he points his handgun at Winston’s face.

“Enough with the bullshit, we are here to work together!” shouts Jacob.

DK looks at Brad and he sees that Brad is terrified and he wonders why Sal brought Brad to the meeting.

“Lower your guns and let’s talk like civilized people,” says Sal.

“I think we’ve seen enough to tell Wayne how this went,” says Davis to Sal as he stares at Dennison.

“Lower your fucking guns, or I’ll have my guys blow your fucking heads off!” shouts Sal to Dennison.

Dennison looks at Sal and sees that he’s not kidding.

“Without my friends on the inside, you wouldn’t have control of the prison right now,” says Sal to Dennison.

Dennison lowers his handgun, but Alberto keeps his handgun aimed at Winston’s head.

“Lower your gun,” says Dennison to Alberto.

“Not until they do first,” replies Alberto.

“Just do it!” shouts Dennison.

Alberto looks at Dennison and he notices the glare that Dennison is giving him, and Alberto lowers his handgun.

Davis and Winston lower their guns as well and Sal says, “Okay now we can finally start.”

“Dennison, what do you need?” asks Sal.

Dennison looks at everyone in the church and then answers Sal, “We need food. We are running low on food and the guys are starting to get edgy.”

Sal looks at Jacob and asks, “Do you have food and supplies to give Dennison?”

“We have a couple places that we could let them take from,” answers Jacob.

“What about you Davis? Could you contribute anything to Dennison?” asks Sal.

“What would we get in return?” answers Davis.

“What do you want?” asks Dennison.

Davis looks at Dennison and then at Sal and Davis asks, “What are you offering?”

“What can you offer Denni?” asks Sal to Dennison.

“We can provide people, we have a good number of guys that don’t mind getting their hands dirty,” answers Dennison.

“Anything else?” asks Davis.

Sal and Jacob look at Dennison and Alberto.

“My guys do have some skills that can be helpful,” answers Dennison.             

“What? Like making license plates?” jokes Winston.

DK chuckles to himself and Dennison looks at DK and shouts, “You think that’s funny cue ball?”

DK just stares at Dennison with an intense expression.

Sal and Jacob look at DK and Sal says, “Thank you for coming Denni and Alberto, we’ll be in touch.”

“That’s it? What about our food and supplies?” shouts Dennison.

“We’ll be in touch, and we’ll let you know what we decide,” answers Sal.

Dennison shakes his head in disgust and anger, and he looks at Sal.

“Escort them out!” shouts Sal.

Three of Sal’s goons come out of the shadows and walk over to Dennison and Alberto.

Dennison looks at Sal and says, “I ain’t gonna forget this.”

“I’ll be in touch,” replies Sal and then Sal motions to his goons to get Dennison and Alberto out of the church.

Two of Sal’s goons grab Dennison and Dennison shouts, “Don’t touch me! We’re going!”

Dennison and Alberto walk towards Davis and Winston and Dennison says with a cocky tone, “Hope to see you soon.”

Davis gives Dennison a half smile and Dennison, Alberto, and three of Sal’s goons walk towards the exit of the church.

“Thanks for nothing Sal!” shouts Dennison as he exits the church with Alberto and Sal’s goons.

“He seems like a nice guy,” jokes Jacob.

Brad looks at DK and then Brad looks at the church tile floor after DK makes eye contact with Brad.

“He could be dangerous,” says Jacob to Sal.

“He could also be an asset if managed well,” replies Sal.

“How so?” asks Davis to Sal.

“There are about 100 prisoners in the jail still. They could be used against our enemies,” answers Sal.

“Like pawns,” whispers Jacob to himself.

“But we can’t have criminals walking freely around Tampa Bay,” says Brad.

Sal looks at Brad and replies, “We probably already do. Who do you think is built for an apocalypse?”

Sal looks at DK and asks, “Anything to add?”

DK looks at Sal and answers, “What’s the point of keeping a bunch of prisoners around? They seem like more mouths to feed and are more trouble than they are worth.”              Jacob looks at DK.

“What do you propose we do with them?” asks Sal.

DK feels everyone looking at him and he answers, “I don’t know, but I do know that if they get in my way they’ll be put down without hesitation.”

Jacob smiles at DK and says, “That’s my guy.”

“But the prisoners do look like a threat and we were ordered to neutralize all threats,” says Davis.

“Is that a government order?” asks Jacob to Davis.

Davis and Winston look at Jacob and Davis answers, “It’s the order of our superiors, and yes it comes from the government.”

“I haven’t heard from them in a while, that’s why I was hoping to meet with Wayne today,” replies Jacob.

“We will report back to him and the others about how this meeting went today,” says Winston.

“Are they still in Florida?” asks Jacob.

“Some are, but most are in other states now,” answers Davis.

“What about the rig and the carrier?” asks Jacob.

“You seem to know a lot about things. Who is your contact?” asks Davis to Jacob.

“That’s above you two,” answers Jacob.

The smartwatch on Winston’s right wrist beeps and Winston says to Davis, “We need to get back now.”

“Thank you for the meeting gentlemen, someone from our outfit will be in touch with you, we have to leave now,” says Davis to Jacob and Sal.             

“Should we contact you or wait?” asks Jacob.

Davis, while walking towards the exit of the church with Winston, shouts to Jacob, “They’ll contact you on the sat phone.”

DK watches as Davis and Winston exit the church and the large wooden church door closes.

“What the fuck?! Your guy Dennison probably fucked up our chances of getting onto the campus now,” says Jacob to Sal.

“Don’t worry about it. We’ll handle Denni and his crew, and we’ll show those government pricks that we can be trusted,” replies Sal.

“How?” asks Jacob to Sal.

“Trust me, I’ll come up with something,” answers Sal.

DK asks, “What have you come up with so far?”

Sal looks at DK and then Sal looks at Brad.

Brad feels Sal, DK, and Jacob looking at him.

“What’s the plan Brad?” asks Sal.

Brad feels somewhat intimidated by Sal and isn’t sure what to say.

Jacob looks at Brad and asks, “How come you didn’t meet with Ryan yet?”

“I did, we went to the stadium,” answers Brad.

“You were supposed to meet with him again after that,” says Jacob.

Brad doesn’t reply.

“I had to incentivize Brad to get the job done with Ryan,” says Sal.

“What does that mean?” asks DK.

Sal looks at Brad and answers, “Brad takes out Ryan and he gets his wife Ola back.”

DK is kind of shocked to hear what Sal did, but he also knows what Sal is capable of.

“When’s your next meeting?” asks DK to Brad.

“I tried to have it the other day, but he couldn’t make it,” answers Brad.

“Well, get it done. I want it done soon,” says Jacob.

“Okay,” replies Brad.

“Anything else we need to discuss?” asks Sal to Jacob.

“How is the cleanup of the Pinellas beaches and Tampa water ways coming?” asks Jacob.

“Slow, but steady, we had to take down a small coast guard boat and we lost some guys in the process,” answers Sal.

“Were you able to take down the Colombian guy?” asks Jacob to Sal.

“They wounded him, but he’s still alive,” answers Sal.

“Why not have Dennison’s crew do it?” asks Jacob.

“Why not have DK do it?” asks Sal.

Jacob looks at DK and Jacob answers Sal, “We have other important matters to worry about.”

“Like what?” asks Sal.

“Matters that don’t concern you,” answers Jacob.

“Well, it would be a big debt I would owe you if you did this for me,” replies Sal.

“Why is he important?” asks DK.

Sal looks at DK, smiles, and answers, “The Colombians and the Italians have been at war in Tampa Bay since the 1930’s and it still carries on today.”

“But what does that have to do with Javier?” asks DK.

“Nothing, and everything. It has to do with control. Javier and his people still control a lot of things around Tampa Bay,” answers Sal.

“What do they have that you want?” asks Jacob to Sal.

“Everything,” answers Sal.

“Well, I’m not going to risk my life and my people’s lives just for you to have control of some stupid abandoned buildings,” says DK to Sal.

Sal looks at Jacob and Jacob feels that Sal is expecting him to step up and take out Javier for him.

“We’ll come up with something that works for both of us,” says Jacob.

“I would appreciate it. But anything else? Brad and I need to get back home,” replies Sal.

“I think that’s it for now,” answers Jacob.

“Okay, we’ll be in touch,” says Sal and then Sal shakes Jacob’s right hand.

“Come on boys! Let’s go home!” shouts Sal.

Sal walks towards DK and Sal gives him an intimidating look, and DK looks right back at him.

Brad says goodbye to DK and Jacob and then he exits the church with Sal and Sal’s goons.

Jacob looks up at the tall church ceiling, stain glass windows, church pews, and then at DK.

“You know how this church is still standing?” asks Jacob to DK.

“It’s a church, why wouldn’t it be?” answers DK.

“A lot of churches in Tampa and around here have been destroyed or ruined in some way, but not this one,” says Jacob.

DK feels that Jacob is being rhetorical with his questions and waits for him to get to the point.

“This church is standing because we protected it and saved it. This church means a lot to me and your sister and I made it a priority to protect it,” says Jacob.

DK watches Jacob as he looks at a piece of stain glass and Jacob shouts, “We have the power to do big things around here!”

Jacob walks back over to DK and says, “I decide what happens and then we get it done.”

DK looks at Jacob and Jacob asks, “Is that clear?”

DK doesn’t answer Jacob.

“Is that clear?” asks Jacob with a louder tone as he stares at DK.

“Yes,” answers DK.

DK feels that Jacob is threatening him, and he wonders if Jacob will attack him.

“What do you want to happen though?” asks DK.

“I want Ryan gone. I want his whole group gone. Everyone that he knows and is working with needs to be gone from existence,” answers Jacob.

“But how? How are we going to do that?” asks DK.

“I don’t know yet, but Ryan’s day of reckoning is coming, and I want everyone to know that we did it. Everyone needs to know that if you mess with Jacob and DK you get taken out,” answers Jacob.

DK sees that Jacob is very angry, and he wonders what Jacob is planning.

“But isn’t Brad supposed to take Ryan out?” asks DK to Jacob.

Jacob smiles, chuckles, and answers, “Brad doesn’t have the stones for it. He’s only doing it because Sal has him by the balls. I’ll let him try, but I doubt he’ll get it done.”

DK thinks about Brad and what he is capable of.

“Let’s get back home. Your sister is making a big dinner for us,” says Jacob.

Jacob and DK and the fellow Conquerors exit the church and several Conquerors lock and secure the front entrance of the church.

“You know your sister is a great woman and I love her very much,” says Jacob to DK as they walk towards Jacob’s electric car.

DK and Jacob get into Jacob’s electric car and Jacob drives away from the church.

“What about the Ghosts?” asks DK to Jacob as Jacob speeds down an empty street.

“What about them?” asks Jacob.

“They are a pretty big threat and they have taken out several of our patrols around Tampa,” answers DK.

“Let’s worry about Ryan first and then we’ll go after them,” replies Jacob.

DK looks out his passenger side car window and thinks to himself, “Should I help Jacob take out Ryan? What is there to gain by keeping Ryan alive? What is the best option for me and my sister?”

Jacob makes a right hand turn and says to DK, “You know DK, your sister has really helped me with things and made me see things in a whole new way.”

“Is that so?” asks DK.

“Yeah, with her help and of course you, we can do it all,” answers Jacob.

DK thinks about Jacob and how complicated of a person he is in his life. Jacob has done some horrible things to DK’s sister Beth, and DK remembers wanting to kill Jacob after he saw the terrible bruises that Jacob did to Beth’s arms, body, and face, but Beth told him not to hurt Jacob.

DK is torn on who Jacob really is and has been ever since Jacob married Beth many years ago. On one hand, Jacob can be a very abusive person to Beth and Brandon, and on the other hand, he can be an amazing caring and loving husband and father.

As Jacob drives back to their neighborhood in Sarasota, DK remembers the good and bad memories he has with Jacob, Beth, and Brandon and DK wonders what he should do about Jacob, Brad, and Sal moving forward.

CHAPTER 7

IT WASN’T YOUR FAULT

I awake the next morning, exit my master bedroom, and enter my man cave. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about what happened with Lauren and those two criminals.

I sit down on my black yoga mat and I try to relax, but I can’t stop thinking about what could have happened to Lauren and what my life would be like if I lost her.

After a couple deep breaths, I try to relax and meditate. My body and mind are still racing, and I can’t relax. I decide to give up on my meditation this morning and go for a run instead.

I exit my house after putting on my running pants, long sleeved shirt, and running shoes.

A breeze of cold air hits my face as I exit my house. The cold air feels good as I walk onto my driveway and then I start jogging down the sidewalk and pass Buck’s house.

As I run down the sidewalk, I start to relax and my anxiety calms down as I focus on my run and I pass the Armory house and then the Medical house.

I wave to the guards that are at the West entrance platform and then turn the corner and head towards the cul-de-sac where Jon, Kelly, Deb, Jordan, Jaws Junior, and Darlene live.

Someone exits from JJ’s house through the front door as I enter the cul-de-sac.

It’s Jaws Junior and he shouts to me, “Ryan!”

I run over to Jaws Junior and ask, “What’s up JJ?”

“Do you have a second?” asks Jaws Junior.

I stop running and look at Jaws Junior.

“I just wanted to apologize for what happened at my house,” says Jaws Junior to me.

I see the sad expression Jaws Junior has on his face and I feel like he really feels bad for what happened.

“It wasn’t your fault,” I say to Jaws Junior.

“I know, but I feel bad that it happened because of me wanting to get my motorcycle,” replies Jaws Junior.

I look at Jaws Junior and I’m not sure what to say. I feel like it kind of was his fault just because he wanted to go to his house, even though he had nothing to do with the two guys attacking us.

“I understand if we can’t go back for my bike,” says Jaws Junior.

“I just wish your house wasn’t in such a bad area. You had crazy cult people around there and now you have criminals causing problems,” I reply in a joking tone.

“I’m just glad Lauren and you are okay. Lauren is okay right?” says Jaws Junior.

“Yeah, she’s a little shaken up still, but she’ll be okay,” I answer.

“I’ll let you get back to your run, I just wanted to apologize,” says Jaws Junior.

“You hit that Tyler guy pretty hard with that wrench. I was surprised he was able to get up,” I say to Jaws Junior to try to ease the awkwardness between us.

“Guess I didn’t hit him hard enough though. It was pretty terrible and awesome at the same time when he chopped your sword into that fat guys dome,” replies Jaws Junior.

“I’m just glad my sword blade didn’t chip after getting stuck in his big ass head,” I joke.

Jaws Junior and I smile and laugh.

“Maybe things will calm down around my old house,” says Jaws Junior.

“I wonder if you could find a motorcycle around here or at one of the car lots,” I say to Jaws Junior.

Jaws Junior looks at me and replies, “I’m sure there are. I just wanted to bring my bike back here... It was the last thing I wanted to bring from our old house.”

I feel Jaws Junior get sentimental about his bike and I understand how it must be to be living in a new house after being forced to leave the home you bought, fixed up, and made your own. I haven’t had to leave the first and only house I bought, and I don’t know how I would feel if I had to leave it.

“When it settles down around here, we’ll get a group together to clear out your neighborhood and bring back your bike,” I say to Jaws Junior.

Jaws Junior smiles and replies, “That would be awesome, but I know it’s not a risk worth taking right now.”

I exchange a pound with Jaws Junior with our right knuckles and say, “I’ll see you later.”
I start jogging down the sidewalk and exit the cul-de-sac. I approach Phil’s house and I look at our cemetery. I decide to run by Phil’s house and keep running down the sidewalk.

I pass Matt’s house and then Shaun’s and I approach Sam and Kiersten’s house.

Our main entrance is secure and being guarded by two guards on each of the platforms that are on each side of our main entrance as I approach our main entrance.

I wave to the guards and they wave back. I pass Brody’s house and the other homes in the cul-de-sac where Chris’ old house is in.

I remember being attacked by Chris and his girlfriend when things started getting crazy around here and then I immediately remember the interaction with Chris when I killed him.

I stop running and start to feel what feels like a panic attack. A strong feeling of remorse and regret comes over me and then I remember killing Chris and why I had to kill Joseph and why I had to kill Tyler.

I think to myself, “Kill or be killed. Only the strong survive, and I’m still here. If I didn’t kill those people, then I’d be dead, Lauren would be dead, and so many other people I care about would be dead.”

My breathing normalizes and I feel a sense of relief and some of the weight I was feeling lessens.

I start running again and exit the cul-de-sac that is near our main entrance. I run back to our cemetery and clean off the leaves that are covering our graves.

More and more leaves fall on the graves as every day passes and we get closer to winter.

The graves in our cemetery look good, after I remove all the leaves, weeds, and debris that was on them.

I look at Bobby G’s grave and say, “Hey dad, hope you are doing well. It’s been crazier and crazier around here, but what else is new. I guess living in a zombie apocalypse isn’t easy.”

I look up into the oak tree that is in the back of our cemetery and I look for the white bird that has previously been there.

I’m kind of disappointed as the bird isn’t there this time. Part of me wanted to believe that my father was reincarnated as that white bird and that he’s still looking out for me.

“I’m afraid that I’m becoming a monster as I’ve killed several people since this all started. I know it had to be done, but I can’t help but feeling bad about it,” I say as I look up into the sky.

“I just wanted to stop by and say hello. Wish I was able to see you more before the zombies came. We had our fun trips and good times, but it would have been nice to see you more than once a year around the holidays,” I say as I look at Bobby G’s grave.

“If you could provide any guidance or help along the way, it would be appreciated... But I hope you know I am thankful for everything you did for me,” I say as I look at the flamingo statue at the top of Bobby G’s grave.

I start to get emotional and as a tear is about to fall from my left eye I hear a bird chirp, squawk, and then tweet as it flies over me and then lands on a branch of the oak tree at the back of our cemetery.

My tears go away, and a big smile comes on my face. Maybe it was a coincidence that the bird came at the exact time I was at my dad’s grave, but I like to think it was my father saying hello.

I say goodbye to my father, Keith, Kat, Jerri-Lynn, and Buck and then I run to Bobby G’s house.

I blend up a protein drink in Bobby G’s kitchen and I sit down on one of the barstools that are next to Bobby G’s kitchen counter.

“Come in Ryan are you there Ryan?” asks someone over the radio.

I look at the radio that is sitting on its charging station and I recognize the voice over the radio.

I hesitate to answer the call over the radio because I feel that the person calling for me is Brad.

“Ryan?” asks the person over the radio.

I’m worried about the radio call waking someone up, so I quickly grab the radio and answer, “This is Ryan. Why are you calling so early Brad?”

“I’m sorry, I’ll make it quick. I want to meet with you,” replies Brad over the radio.

I’m not sure what to do as I feel like Brad was being shady the last time I talked with him over the radio and when we recently went to the stadium.

“Why do you want to meet?” I ask into my radio.

“It’s important, but I can’t say why over the radio,” answers Brad over the radio.

I think about what to do with Brad.

“I’ll come to your place to meet, but it’s important that we meet soon,” says Brad over the radio.

“Who are you coming with?” I ask into my radio.

There is silence over the radio from Brad.

The seconds of silence make me start to feel anxious and then Brad replies, “I’ll see if I can get Faith away from the stadium and I’ll come with her.”

I think about Brad coming here with Faith and I feel that’s fine and a safe thing for us.

“That’ll work, when are you coming here?” I ask into my radio.

I take a sip of my vanilla flavored protein drink and think that the protein shake is quite bland, and it needs fruit or something else in it.

“I don’t know, but hopefully in a day or two,” answers Brad over the radio.

“Okay, just let us know before you come,” I reply into my radio.

“I will, bye,” replies Brad over the radio.

I put my radio back onto its charging station on Bobby G’s kitchen counter.

I think about the conversation I just had with Brad and compare how different it was to the conversation I had with him a couple days ago.

“What’s up with Brad? He sounded normal this time, but before he was really pushing for me to meet with him,” I say to myself.

I finish my protein drink and decide to journal and write more in my notebooks that are in Bobby G’s house.

Several hours go by and Lauren comes into Bobby G’s house and finds me in Bobby G’s living room.

“Here you are, I was wondering where you were,” says Lauren as she walks over to me as I’m sitting on Bobby G’s sofa.

“I went for a run, had a protein drink, and then started writing and lost track of time I guess,” I say to Lauren.

Lauren sits next to me on the sofa, looks at me, and says, “We never really talked about what happened with those two guys.”

I look at Lauren and reply, “We talked a little bit about it.”

“Yeah, but we didn’t have a meaningful conversation about it though,” responds Lauren.

I look at Lauren and I’m not sure what to say.

Lauren waits for me to talk and just looks at me.

I feel that Lauren wants me to start the conversation, so I gather my thoughts and say, “Well, I’m just glad you are okay, and they didn’t hurt you.”

“Me too, it was pretty scary,” replies Lauren.

I rub my mustache and beard with my left hand and look up at Bobby G’s living room ceiling.

I feel Lauren looking at me and I start to break down a little bit.

I put my left hand over my eyes and rub my eyes.

Lauren rubs my back and I say, “I shouldn’t have let that happen. I should have seen them coming.”

“There was no way to have spotted them, but you did protect me,” says Lauren.

“But what if they took you, what if they hurt you, or what if…,” I say as I look at Lauren.

“But they didn’t, you stopped them,” interrupts Lauren.

“All for a stupid trip to get a motorcycle,” I say.

Lauren looks at me and I look at Lauren.

“It’s not safe outside of here and I’m not sure how to make it safe,” I say.

“Come in Ryan, where you at Ry?” asks Phil over the radio.

I grab the radio that is on Bobby G’s living room coffee table and answer into my radio, “I’m in my dad’s house with Lauren.”

“Okay, we’ll be right there,” says Phil over the radio.

I wipe away a small tear on my left cheek and I say to Lauren, “I need you to be safe, even if you don’t think it’s a dangerous situation or trip. You saw how quickly a short trip can turn bad.”

“I know, but I felt like I could have escaped his grip,” says Lauren.

“Why didn’t you try?” I ask Lauren.

“I was afraid what he might do,” answers Lauren.

“We’ll work on the techniques that will get you out of the situation like you were in, but I saw the foot stomp you did,” I say to Lauren.

“I was going to pull his leg and then kick him, but he was pretty fat,” says Lauren.

“Yeah, tiny my ass,” I joke.

Lauren and I both smile and laugh.

Bobby G’s front door opens, and four people enter the house.

Lauren and I see Phil, Jon, Jaws Junior, and Jordan enter Bobby G’s house.

“I’ll leave you guys to talk,” says Lauren.

“You don’t have to leave,” says Phil.

“It’s okay, I have a couple of things to do,” replies Lauren.

Lauren kisses me goodbye and she exits Bobby G’s house.

“Everything okay?” asks Jon.

“Yeah, just having a heart to heart after the craziness with the criminals,” I answer.

Phil, Jon, Jordan, and Jaws Junior join me in Bobby G’s living room, and I ask, “What’s up?”

“Just wanted to give you an update of things,” answers Phil.

“Where’s Matt?” I ask.

“He should be here soon,” answers Jon.

“Okay, did any of you hear me talk with Brad this morning?” I ask.

“What did he say?” asks Phil.

“He wants to meet with me, and he plans to come here with Faith,” I answer.             

“When?” asks Jon.

“He didn’t know, but something still seems off about him, so let’s be prepared for when he comes,” I answer.

“What do you think he’ll do?” asks Phil.

“I don’t know, but you know he seemed off when we went to the stadium,” I say to Phil.

“Who is Brad?” asks Jordan.

“He is our contact with the Channelside community,” answers Jon.

“Like the place where the bars and restaurants, and cruise ships are at?” asks Jordan.

“Yeah, you been there?” I answer Jordan.

“Not since this zombie stuff started, but I’ve been there before,” answers Jordan.

“Well, I wouldn’t go there now,” says Jon.

Bobby G’s front door opens, and Matt enters the house.

“There he is. His usual time of late,” jokes Phil.

Matt joins us in the living room and asks, “Did you talk about going back to the O2U store again?”

“Nope,” answers Jon with a joking tone.

“Well, I have to find another thing for Mike, and I hope they have the right one,” says Matt.

“Again with this? What, are you his personal shopper or something?” asks Phil with a sarcastic tone.

“No, but I just thought I could get the item he wanted and also see if he found anything out around here,” replies Matt.

“I want to meet this Mike guy and see what he can do for us,” I say.

“I’m not sure going there with a ton of people is a good idea,” says Matt.

“Then you and I’ll go and whoever else can wait outside,” I say.

Matt looks at me with a worried expression.

“I’m not Brody, it will be fine,” I say to Matt.

“Do we need to be concerned about the criminals from the prison?” asks Phil as he looks at me and then Jaws Junior.

“I think we need to be aware of them, but not overly concerned,” I answer Phil and then I ask Jaws Junior, “What do you think?”

“I think we should be ready for them to come around here. The prisoners most likely will be coming out more and more if their food and rations are starting to get low,” answers Jaws Junior.

“You don’t know what’s going on in the prison?” asks Jordan to Phil.

“Why would I?” answers Phil.

“Because you’re a cop. Don’t you know what’s going on around here?” answers Jordan.

“I was a cop in North Carolina, I didn’t work around here,” answers Phil.

“Oh, I just thought you would know other cops being that you’re a cop,” says Jordan.

“We should check in with TJ and see if he knows anything about the prison,” I say as I look at Phil.

“I’ll try to reach him today,” replies Phil.

“What about the church?” asks Matt.

“What about it?” asks Phil.

“Are we going to give them the pastor’s body?” asks Matt.

“You want to go deliver it to them?” jokes Jon.

“No, but I think something should be done with his body. It’s kind of weird having a dead guys body in a freezer,” answers Matt.

“I’m not going there,” says Jaws Junior.

“How are we going to just drop the body off there?” I ask.

The guys think about my question.

“What if we sneak in again and just dump the body somewhere in the church?” asks Phil.

“Like put the red clothes back on and put his body somewhere?” I ask.

“Something like that,” answers Phil.

“But who is going to do that?” asks Jon.

The guys and I look at each other and no one volunteers to do it.

“Okay, so I guess that’s out,” I joke.

“Anything else to discuss?” I ask.

The guys look at me and no one answers.

“Okay then, Phil you’ll get in touch with TJ and see what he says. Matt and I and whoever will go to the O2U store and then we’ll head over to Whitney’s,” I say.

Jaws Junior says, “I think it would be a good idea to check the homes outside of our neighborhood and then expand out further and further from here.”

“You comfortable taking the lead on that?” I ask Jaws Junior.

“Yeah, as long as I have a group with me,” answers Jaws Junior.

“Take a couple guards with you and check out a couple homes and then come straight back,” I say to Jaws Junior.

“You should mark the homes with paint or something, so you know which houses you checked,” says Phil.

“Good idea, I got a couple cans of black spray paint we could use,” replies Jaws Junior.

“I’ll go try and reach TJ, Bakari, and William,” says Phil and then Phil exits Bobby G’s house.

“Who is coming with us to the O2U store?” I ask the guys.

“You know I’m coming,” answers Matt.

“I’m going to get a group together and start clearing out the homes just outside of here. I don’t want the same thing to happen here that happened around my old house,” answers Jaws Junior.

“I’m not going back into one of those O2U stores,” says Jordan.

I look at Jon and Jon answers, “I think I’ll hang back here if that’s cool.”

“That’s fine. Matt and I will go,” I say.

The guys and I exit Bobby G’s house and I say to Matt, “I’ll meet you at Shaun’s in twenty.”

“What vehicle are we taking?” asks Matt.

“I don’t know, you decide,” I answer Matt and then I go into my house.

Matt enters his house and Jon and Jordan start walking back towards their cul-de-sac.

Jon asks Jordan, “Can you teach me a couple of those boxing moves you did against Ryan?”
“Sure,” answers Jordan as he walks with Jon down the sidewalk.

“Thanks, I’ve never seen Ryan get punched before,” says Jon as Jon and Jordan turn the corner and continue walking home.

CHAPTER 8

WHAT’S THE RUSH?

“Are you sure it’s the right thing that Mike wants?” I ask Matt as Matt parks his electric car in front of Whitney and Mike’s orange house.

“Yes, for the third time, yes,” answers Matt.

“Okay, just making sure,” I reply to Matt.

Matt and I exit from Matt’s electric car and I say, “I’m glad Brett and Corinne secured the store.”

Matt looks at me and says, “Let me do the talking in here.”

I look at Matt and see that he is serious, and it is nice to see him starting to step up more and more with things around here.

“You got it,” I reply to Matt.

Matt walks towards Whitney and Mike’s orange house and I scan the neighborhood with the different functions and filters on my Ghost mask display.

Matt knocks on Whitney and Mike’s white front door and I say, “The neighborhood looks clear.”

As I finish my statement, I think to myself, “Yeah, but so did JJ’s neighborhood.”

Mike opens his front door and Matt shows him the piece of equipment that Mike asked for.

“You got the right one this time?” asks Mike.

Matt shakes his head and answers, “Yeah, I got the one you wrote down for me.”

I turn towards Mike and Mike sees my mask.

“Who’s the cyborg?” jokes Mike as he looks at me.

Matt turns and sees that Mike is asking about me and answers, “That’s Ryan.”

Mike looks at Matt and says, “Thanks for the part.”

“Aren’t you going to let us in?” asks Matt.

“I’m kind of busy,” answers Mike.

I hear Mike being short with Matt and it seems like we are bothering him. I walk over to Matt and Mike and see that Mike looks like he hasn’t slept in days and smells like he hasn’t showered either.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

“Your mask is pretty awesome, looks like the one the main cyborg hunter wears in Space Wars,” says Mike as he looks at my white Ghost mask.

“Isn’t his red and black though?” I ask.

“You know Space Wars?” asks Mike.

“Yeah, I love those movies,” I answer Mike.

“Who is at the door?” shouts Whitney from inside the orange house.

“It’s Matt and Ryan!” shouts Mike.

“Well either let them in or shut the door, the smell is starting to get in the house!” shouts Whitney.

“That might be coming from Mike!” I shout.

We hear Whitney chuckle and Mike says, “Come in, but just for a second.”

“What’s the rush?” asks Matt to Mike.

Matt and I enter Whitney and Mike’s house and Mike closes and locks their white front door.

“I was in the middle of working on something for my robot,” answers Mike.

“Then you don’t want this?” asks Matt as he holds up a medium sized box in his right hand.

Whitney walks over to us and asks me, “What’s up with the mask? You hideous or something?”

Mike grabs the medium sized box from Matt’s right hand and Matt shouts, “What the hell!”

Mike looks at Matt and doesn’t say anything.

I look at Whitney and see that she is dressed in hunting clothes and boots that have pink shoelaces, and I ask Whitney, “You going out for a hunt or just get back?”

“Take that dumb mask off,” answers Whitney.

Mike starts to open the box that he took from Matt.

“That better not be that Bryson guy that you brought over here before,” says Whitney to Matt.

“His name is Brody, and no it’s not him,” replies Matt.

“Prove it,” says Whitney.

I look at Matt and Matt nods his head for me to take off my Ghost mask.

I slowly remove my Ghost mask and Whitney looks at me and says, “Just had to be sure.”

I get a sense of cautiousness from Whitney and I kind of like that she isn’t just trusting us blindly. I say to Whitney, “Brody won’t be coming back here again. I’m Ryan.”

“Nice to meet you,” says Whitney.

Matt walks over to Mike and they work on connecting the piece of equipment that Matt just brought Mike.

“I met you before actually Whitney,” I say.

“Oh yeah, when?” asks Whitney.

“I don’t remember the day, but you had a dead deer, and we were taking care of something at a house in your neighborhood,” I answer Whitney.

“I kind of remember,” replies Whitney.

“You said something about the bow that my wife uses and that you have a bunch of them,” I say to Whitney.

“Yeah, I remember that,” replies Whitney.

“I’ve seen a couple people go back into that house where you killed that guy. Who was he?” says Whitney.

“He killed my father, but who did you see go into that house?” I reply to Whitney.             

“A couple different people, but mostly it was an older woman and a younger woman,” answers Whitney.

“When was the last time you saw them?” I ask Whitney.

“I don’t remember the exact day, but it was about a week or two ago,” answers Whitney.

Mike and Matt finish connecting the new piece of equipment and Mike says to Matt, “Now I have to install the drives and we should be good to go.”

“What’s up with the mask? Trying to cover up that beard of yours?” asks Whitney.

I chuckle at Whitney’s questions and answer, “No, the mask helps me see things better.”

Mike and Matt, who are by Mike’s computer setup, are looking at Mike’s oversized computer monitor, and Mike’s computer monitor turns on after Mike restarted his computer.

“What will this actually do?” asks Matt.

“It should drastically improve my range of access into things,” answers Mike.

“Like how far?” asks Matt.

“We shall see,” answers Mike and then Mike enters a couple keystrokes on his keyboard and a screen changes on his monitor.

“Well, nice talking with you Ryan,” says Whitney.

“It was nice talking with you as well, but how are you and Mike holding up?” I ask Whitney.

Whitney looks at Mike and jokes, “Well, besides him taking minimal showers, we are hanging in there.”

“Any health problems or anything?” I ask Whitney.

Whitney looks at me and with a sarcastic tone she asks, “You a doctor or something?”

I smile at Whitney’s sarcastic tone and I answer, “Actually I am.”

Whitney gives me a surprised look and says, “You don’t look like a doctor.”

I ask Whitney, “What does a doctor look like?”

Whitney looks at my katana, my beard, and my gear and jokes, “Well I doubt they carry a sword and have a straggly beard.”

I laugh and reply, “Not normally, but these are crazy times.”

“I’m about to head out, I have to finish getting ready,” says Whitney.

I say goodbye to Whitney and then Whitney goes into a bedroom.

I walk over to Mike and Matt as they are still over by Mike’s computer.

“The piece you brought me is definitely working,” says Mike as he clicks on his mouse.

“What new things can you do now?” asks Matt to Mike.

“Let’s find out,” answers Mike and then Mike clicks on his mouse and types a couple things on his keyboard.

I look over Mike’s equipment and notice that he has some high-tech stuff that I’ve never seen before.

As Mike clicks, types, and looks over at his computer, I can’t help but to get distracted by the smell coming from Mike and Mike’s clothes. It smells like old dirty socks mixed with ranch dressing and body odor.

Mike brings up a screen on his monitor and I see a   feed of people on Mike’s monitor. “Is that happening now?” I ask Mike.

“It should be,” answers Mike.

I see two young people talking inside a living room and they seem to be doing okay. They are a man and a woman, and they are talking in a living room of a house.

The couple looks to have been distracted by something. We can’t hear anything that is happening around the couple as there is only video and no sound.

“Why can’t we hear them?” asks Matt.

“It’s only a video feed, they either don’t have a mic or a speaker on their camera,” answers Mike.

Suddenly, two people enter the video feed and shoot the man in the chest. We see the woman scream and another man enters the video feed.

“Where is this?” I ask.

“I’m not sure exactly, but it’s a neighborhood around here,” answers Mike.

We continue to watch the video feed and we see a man slap the woman in the face and then another man drags her lifeless body out of view from the video feed that we are seeing.

“Is that guy wearing a prison jumpsuit?” asks Matt.

I look at the only guy left on the video feed and I see that the Caucasian man looks to be wearing similar pants to what Tiny and Tyler were wearing when we dealt with them.

“You need to tell me where this is,” I say to Mike.

Mike clicks on a couple different tabs on his computer monitor and says, “The location isn’t exact, but it looks to be on 52nd street.”

Matt looks at me and asks, “What’s up Ry?”

“That street is around JJ’s old neighborhood and where the prison is,” I answer.

“Do we have escaped prisoners now?” asks Mike.

Whitney walks towards her closed front door and I turn towards Whitney.

“Where are you going Whitney?” I ask.

Whitney gives me an annoyed look and answers, “Out hunting.”

“I know, but where exactly?” I ask.

“What does it matter?” asks Whitney.

Mike and Matt look at Whitney and Whitney isn’t sure why we are all looking at her.

“What’s going on?” asks Whitney.

Mike answers Whitney, “Prisoners look to have broken out of jail.”

Whitney doesn’t reply to Mike.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to be going out hunting now,” I say to Whitney.

Whitney sees the look on my face and then she looks at Mike and wonders why I don’t want her to leave the house.

“It could be dangerous,” says Mike to Whitney.

Whitney doesn’t take our concern for her safety very well and says, “We need to eat, and I’ll be fine. It’s always dangerous when I go out hunting.”

Whitney unlocks her front door and Mike, Matt, and I watch Whitney exit her house and shut her front door.

“She always been so stubborn?” I ask Mike.

“Yeah, she’s always done things her way,” answers Mike.

Matt looks at me and I see that Matt has a look of concern on his face.

“She’s on her own, nothing we can do,” I say to Matt.

Matt nods his head, but I can tell that Matt doesn’t agree with my statement.

I ask Mike, “Have you heard the name Jacob, or DK, or the Conquerors?”

“I’m not sure, but I could have, sometimes it’s quiet and other times there are so many different transmissions over the radios,” answers Mike.

“What about Chelsea and Chase?” asks Matt with some attitude in his voice.

Mike gives Matt a scared look.

I see that Mike is scared and say, “We know you have been in contact with Chelsea.”

“I swear I don’t know anything. Whitney talked to Chelsea, but she stopped talking with her because she didn’t want to get involved with whatever happened with her and her brother,” says Mike with a scared tone of voice.

“Don’t worry Mike, we aren’t here for that. We aren’t going to hurt you,” I say to Mike with a comforting tone.

Mike lets out a deep exhale and replies, “Good, because I don’t know anything or have anything to tell you.”
“We are more concerned with the Conquerors, DK, and Jacob,” I say.

Matt looks at Mike’s equipment and asks, “Will you be able to reach further out now?”

“Yeah, I don’t know how far, but my range should be boosted now,” answers Mike.

“Come in Mike? You alive Mike?” asks Whitney over the radio.

I look at the radio that is on Mike’s charging station and I see that Mike is hesitant to answer Whitney.

“If you don’t answer in two seconds, I’m coming back,” says Whitney over the radio.

Mike looks at me and I say, “Don’t answer it. We want her to come back.”

“Can you bring up any cameras where Whitney is going to hunt?” I ask Mike.

Mike answers, “Yeah, she usually goes to a nearby park and neighborhood.”

“What if she comes back here and shoots us?” asks Matt to me.

“Will she shoot us Mike?” I ask.

“She might,” answers Mike.

I feel Matt get nervous and I think about what to do.              Mike sees a camera feed on his computer monitor and says, “It looks okay on the cameras around the park.”

“Check the house cameras like you saw before. I doubt the prisoners are gonna be in a park,” says Matt.

I see Whitney hop over her backyard fence that separates her house and the house behind hers.

“She’s here,” I say.

Matt takes cover behind the living room sofa.

I step to the right of Mike and look for Whitney.

I hear Whitney open the sliding glass door to the bedroom that is at the back of the house.

“You want to say something to her Mike?” I ask.

“I’m fine Whitney!” shouts Mike.

“What the fuck!” shouts Whitney from the kitchen.

Whitney walks towards Mike and she sees me standing next to Mike and Matt hiding behind the sofa.

“What are you doing?” asks Whitney to Matt.

Matt stands up and answers, “I was taking cover because the last time you snuck back in here you put a gun to my head.”

“Why didn’t you answer me over the radio?” asks Whitney to Mike with a pissed off tone.

“This is why?” answers Mike and Mike shows Whitney what is on his computer screen.

Whitney looks at Mike’s computer screen and she sees three live video feeds and three different groups of prisoners on the video feeds.

“What am I looking at?” asks Whitney.

“It’s the neighborhood you’ve been cutting through to get to the park. There are criminals in there now,” answers Mike.

Matt looks at me and I say, “We need to get back home and let everyone know that the prisoners are getting closer to our community.”

Whitney continues to look at the screens on Mike’s monitor and she feels a couple of different things. She asks Mike, “That’s the neighborhood by Lake Tampa?”

“Yeah, the big neighborhood,” answers Mike.

“We have to get back, but you are more than welcome to stay in our community,” I say to Mike and Whitney.

Mike looks at Whitney for the answer and Whitney replies, “Thank you, but we’ll be fine here.”

“Are you sure?” asks Matt.

I see that Mike doesn’t feel safe, but he wants Whitney to make the decision for them.

“We are staying here, but thanks though,” says Whitney.

“If you change your mind, we are in Citrus Oaks and it’s pretty close to here,” I say to Whitney.

I can see that Whitney doesn’t want our help, and I recognize that she may not feel comfortable with accepting help from other people.

“The offer still stands, and accepting help from others is not a sign of weakness,” I say to Whitney.

Whitney looks at me, but doesn’t reply.

Matt and I say goodbye to Mike and Whitney and Matt says to Mike, “If you hear anything about people named DK or Jacob, or the Conquerors, or the prisoners please let us know.”

“I will,” replies Mike.

“You know how to reach us?” I ask Mike.

Mike smiles and answers, “I know how to reach you.”

Matt and I exit from Whitney and Mike’s orange house and we walk towards Matt’s electric car.

“You think they will end up coming to our neighborhood?” asks Matt to me as I open Matt’s electric car passenger door.

“I don’t know, but all we can do is offer. I just hope they are safe,” I answer Matt and then Matt and I get into Matt’s electric car and Matt starts up his electric car.

As Matt drives away from Whitney and Mike’s orange house, I see the house where I killed Chris. I remember that day and the whole interaction that I had with Chris.

I remember finding Chris in bed, talking with him, and feeling so angry for what he did to my father. Just the thought of Chris makes me feel that same anger again. I wish I could have made him feel the pain that he caused me.

Matt notices that something is bothering me, and he asks, “You okay Ry?”

I take a couple deep breaths in and out through my nose, I calm down slightly, and I answer Matt, “Yeah, just seeing the house where we found Chris got me mad.”

“I bet, it has to be tough to see things that remind you of bad times,” says Matt.

An overwhelming feeling of the need to let the anger go comes over me, and I’m not sure if the feeling came from me or someone or something outside of me.

“Yeah, it’s tough at times,” I reply.

Matt drives by the house, where I killed Chris, and I think about who Whitney might have seen going in the house and what happened to Chris’ body. I think to myself, “Chris’ mom and girlfriend had to be the ones checking on him. Did they bury his body, or is his body still on that bed decomposing?”

“You think those prisoners will come around CO?” asks Matt as he exits Whitney and Mike’s neighborhood and turns left.

“We have to plan like they will and be ready for them,” I answer Matt.

“Wasn’t JJ taking a group to check out the homes outside of CO?” asks Matt.

I start to get concerned for the safety of Jaws Junior and the group that went out with him.

“Yeah, let’s get back and tell everyone what we found out and what we need to do,” I answer Matt as Matt speeds down the street and drives towards Citrus Oaks.

CHAPTER 9

 WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

“Where is Jaws Junior?” I ask Brody as Matt enters Citrus Oaks and parks his electric car at our main entrance.

“I don’t know, but he’s been gone with a group for some time now,” answers Brody.             

“Who went with him?” I ask Brody.

“A couple guards, but I’m not sure,” answers Brody.

“What do you know?” asks Matt with a joking tone.

Brody looks at Matt, but doesn’t answer.

“Are Phil and Jon here?” I ask Brody.

“I…,” answers Brody.

“Yeah, we know, you don’t know,” I interrupt.

“What’s going on? Is there a problem?” asks Brody.

“Escaped prisoners could be around our neighborhood,” I answer Brody.

Brody asks, “What should we do?”

“Just secure this place with extra guards at both entrances and be on the lookout for anything unusual or anyone that we don’t know,” answers Matt.

“Okay, I will get right on it,” replies Brody and then Brody calls for his guards who are around Citrus Oaks and guarding our West entrance.

Matt and I get back into his electric car and Matt asks, “What should we do now?”

“Let’s get a hold of Phil and Jon,” I answer Matt.

Matt drives away from our main entrance and drives down our main straight and I say, “Go to Phil’s.”

Matt and I arrive at Phil’s house and I knock on Phil’s front door.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

Nicole answers the door and I ask if Phil is there.

“Yeah, he’s in the shower, what’s up?” asks Nicole.

“We might have a possible situation here and we need his help,” I answer Nicole.

“He should be almost done in there, what’s going on?” replies Nicole.

“There could be escaped prisoners around our community,” I answer Nicole.

“Tell him to meet us at Shaun’s with his gear on,” I say to Nicole.

“Okay, I will,” replies Nicole.

“Go to Jon’s and recruit him and Jordan and whoever else you can. I’m going home and I’ll meet you at Shaun’s,” I say to Matt.

Matt gets into his electric car and I start jogging towards my house.

I grab my radio and say, “JJ, are you there?”

I cross the street and approach my house. “Jaws Junior and anyone from Citrus Oaks that is outside of our community please respond,” I say into my radio as I walk up my driveway.

I enter my house, place my Ghost mask on a table near my front door, and I walk into my man cave.

I grab my rifle, an ammo pack, and a couple more magazines for my handgun.

I exit my man cave and Lauren asks me, “What’s going on?”

“The prisoners could be around our neighborhood,” I answer Lauren.

“What? How do you know?” asks Lauren.

“We saw them on Mike’s computer around a nearby neighborhood,” I answer Lauren.

“But you didn’t see them in ours, right?” asks Lauren.

“No, but we are going out to find JJ who went out with a small group to clear some homes around here,” I answer Lauren.

“What do you want me to do?” asks Lauren.

I think about Lauren’s question and immediately think for her to stay here and lock our doors, but I know that she isn’t that type of woman.

“I think you stay here and look after the community,” I answer Lauren.

“You sure you don’t need me to come with you?” asks Lauren.

“I need you here as we could be low on people here if Phil, Jon, Matt, and I go out,” I answer Lauren.

“Okay, I’ll stay here and see if Kiersten and Sam can help me,” says Lauren.

“Good thinking,” I say to Lauren and then I kiss Lauren goodbye and exit my house with my Ghost mask, katana, handgun, rifle, and ammo for my guns.

I walk over to Shaun’s house and stand in his empty garage and wait for Matt and the guys.

I think to myself this would be a great time to have Shaun and TJ here, so I pick up my radio and call for TJ.

TJ doesn’t answer my radio call.

I find the car keys, in Shaun’s garage, to the electric car that is parked in front of Shaun’s house.

About ten minutes go by and a car arrives at Shaun’s house and Phil, Jon, Jordan, and Matt exit from the car.

“What’s the plan?” asks Phil as he walks over to me.

“I think we need to split up and find JJ and his group. Any idea which houses he wanted to check out first?” I answer Phil.

“No idea, he left with two guards and I have no idea which area he went to check out,” answers Phil.

“Did anyone try to reach him on the radio?” asks Jon.

“I called him a couple times, but no answer,” I answer Jon.

“Let’s split up and one group checks the homes behind our neighborhood and the other group checks the opposite direction,” I say to the guys.

“Okay, what are the groups?” asks Jordan.

“How about Matt, Phil, and Jon and you come with me Jordan?” I answer.

“Sounds good,” answers Jordan.

“We’ll check the homes right behind our neighborhood,” I say and then I put on my Ghost mask.

Jordan and I get into the electric car that is parked in front of Shaun’s house and I drive towards our main exit.

“You really need another exit to this place. The same gate is used for entering and exiting here,” says Jordan.

“Yeah, it’s more secure this way,” I reply.

Brody comes over to my driver side open window and I say, “We are going out to find JJ. Keep your radio on and let us know if they come back while we are out.”

“I will,” replies Brody and then I exit Citrus Oaks.

I make a right hand turn as I exit Citrus Oaks and make another right hand turn at the flashing traffic light.

I drive down the street and pass our West entrance that is still blocked and isn’t allowing any vehicles in or out.

Jordan looks out the passenger side electric car door window and sees the four guards on the two platforms at our West entrance.

“Your community is pretty secure, but it still has a couple weak points,” says Jordan as I drive down the street.

“Like what?” I ask Jordan.

“It’s better if I show you,” answers Jordan.

I turn down a street that has homes on each side of the street.

I park my electric car and say to Jordan, “Yeah, show me and the guys the weak points when we get back and help us secure them.”

I connect my earpiece and say into my radio that is connected through my Ghost mask, “Jordan and I are on Pineview and we’ll check these homes first and then move on from here.”

“Roger that, we are coming up on a neighborhood right now,” replies Jon over the radio.

I scan through the neighborhood and see a couple of black spray painted lines on the front doors of some of the homes.

“JJ and his group were definitely here,” I say.

“How can you tell?” asks Jordan.

I point at the home across the street from our parked electric car and answer, “They have a black line on the front door and I’m guessing that was JJ’s mark on the homes that they checked.”

I drive down the street and come to a perpendicular street. I look left and then I look right, and I think about which way to go.

“I wish there was a way to see the trail that the shark guy took,” says Jordan.

I think about Jordan’s statement and say detective mode.

My screen on my display changes, and I see a different view then before. It shows a trail of water or something on the street.

“What did you say? Detective mode?” asks Jordan as he looks at me.

I make a left hand turn and follow the trail of the water in the street that may have come from the vehicle that Jaws Junior was driving.

“It’s a setting on my mask,” I answer Jordan.

“Oh,” replies Jordan.

I see the faint water trail on the street, that is most likely from the AC condensation dripping from a vehicle, and it enters a bigger neighborhood.

I turn into the neighborhood and the trail goes away.

“Why did you stop?” asks Jordan as I stop my electric car at an intersection inside the neighborhood.

“The water trail ends here,” I answer as I look down the street in front of me and the streets to the left and right of me.

I say into my Ghost mask radio, “I think we found a possible trail in the Cordavo neighborhood.”

“Where is that?” asks Phil over the radio.

“Easiest way to get here is to take the street that our West entrance is on, make the first right onto Pineview, take that street all the way down, and then make a left and your first right into the Cordavo neighborhood,” I reply into my Ghost mask radio.

“Okay, we’ll head that way now,” replies Phil over the radio.

Jordan and I look around the neighborhood and we see abandoned cars and vehicles all over the place, fallen tree limbs, and tons of debris around the neighborhood.

“This place looks to be pretty large, not sure how we are going to find them in here,” says Jordan as he looks through my electric car front windshield.

“Any word from JJ, Brody?” I ask into my Ghost mask radio.

“No word and no sign of them either sir,” answers Brody over the radio.

CRASH!

A loud sound of glass breaking down the street to our right is heard.

Jordan and I look to our right, but we don’t see anything.

“That could be them,” says Jordan.

I make my mask display its normal high definition view and I look down the street.

I zoom in my view and try to enhance my display.

“Do you really have to say what you’re doing every time? Normal? Zoom in? Enhance?” asks Jordan.

My view is blocked by a large truck and I can’t see who is making the noise at a house about ten houses down from where we are parked.

“Yeah, the mask goes by my voice commands,” I answer Jordan.

CRASH!

Another loud crash is heard in the same direction as the previous noise we heard.

“Are we going to check it out or what?” asks Jordan.

“Let’s wait for Phil,” I answer.

I sense that Jordan doesn’t want to wait, and I ask him, “You okay with that?”

Jordan looks down the street and answers, “What if your shark guy is in danger?”

I think about Jordan’s question and start to worry about Jaws Junior and the group with him.

I start up my electric car and I’m glad that our electric vehicles don’t make much noise.

I decide to slowly drive down the street where the noise came from.

“Why are you going so slow?” asks Jordan.

I keep driving slowly down the street and I see someone walk back into a house, but I can’t tell who the person is.

I quickly park my electric car and try to get a better view of the house where I saw the person enter.

“Where are you Ry?” asks Jon over the radio.

“We went down the street as we heard a noise,” I answer Jon into my Ghost mask radio.

“Which street? We went straight as we entered the neighborhood,” replies Jon over the radio.

“Right, we went right at the first intersection in the neighborhood,” I answer into my Ghost mask radio.

I see a person exit from the house and now I have a better view of him. He’s a large Caucasian man that is wearing shorts and a sleeveless shirt.

“That guy is tatted up,” says Jordan as he sees the Caucasian man place something into the back of a truck that is parked in the driveway.

“We see a group in a house here Ry,” says Jon over the radio.

“Is it JJ?” I ask into my Ghost mask radio.

Jordan sees another man walk towards the truck, but this man is a skinny African American male and he is escorting a woman.

“They have a woman,” says Jordan.

I look towards the two male prisoners and I see a Caucasian woman that looks to have been beaten and her arms are tied together with rope in front of her and tape is over her mouth.

The large Caucasian man licks the woman’s forehead and says something to her that I can’t hear.

“It’s not JJ, it’s a group of four dead ones and they look like they just died recently and turned,” says Jon over the radio.

“We have a situation over here, two prisoners have a woman,” I say into my Ghost mask radio.

Jordan exits from my electric car and I am not sure what Jordan is doing. “Jordan just left the car,” I say into my Ghost mask radio.

I see Jordan hide behind a car that is in the driveway next to the house where the two men and the woman are.

I slowly exit from my electric car, after grabbing my rifle from the backseat, and duck down along the outside of my electric car. I slowly step, while ducking down, towards the back of my electric car.

Jordan stays hidden while he looks at the truck where the two men and woman are.

I notice an unknown man come around the car, where Jordan is, and Jordan doesn’t notice him.

I see the man has a knife and he’s coming towards Jordan.

BANG!
I shoot the man and my bullet hits him in his upper chest and he falls backwards.

Jordan sees the man and then he looks back at me.

BANG!

One of the men at the truck fires a shot at me.

I duck down and shout, “You okay Jordan?”

BANG!

Another shot is fired at me from one of the men at the truck.

“Ryan, come in Ryan,” says someone over the radio.

“What? I got a situation here,” I say into my Ghost mask radio.

“Jaws Junior and his group just arrived back here,” answers Brody over the radio.

I peak over the trunk of my electric car and I don’t see Jordan.

“Well, great, but we are dealing with something over here,” I say into my Ghost mask radio.

“Shit!” I hear someone shout near the truck where the two men and woman previously were.

I stand up and run to the car where Jordan previously was.

WHAPP! THUD!

I hear the thud of someone hitting the driveway pretty hard and I shout, “Jordan!”

“Over here!” shouts Jordan from the front lawn of the house where the two men and woman were.

I walk over to the house with my rifle and I aim the rifle in front of me as I step towards the truck that is parked in the driveway.

I come around the truck and I see Jordan standing in the front lawn of the house and there is a pool of blood around the woman that is lying face down on the driveway.

“The black guy slit her throat,” says Jordan.

I see the Caucasian man lying face down on the grass and there is no sign of the African American man.

“Where did he go?” I ask Jordan.

“He’s in the house, he cowardly slit her throat and ran back into the house,” answers Jordan.

“You got him?” I ask Jordan.

“Yeah,” answers Jordan as he looks down at the large Caucasian man that is lying in the grass.

A car comes driving towards us and it’s the car that Phil is driving with Jon and Matt.

Phil and Jon exit from the electric car and the guys see the woman’s body in the driveway as they exit from the electric car.

“What happened? You guys okay?” asks Phil.

“I took this guy out, but the other guy killed this woman and ran back into the house,” answers Jordan.

“How many are there?” asks Phil to me.

“I think just the one guy in the house now, but I’m not sure,” I answer Phil.

“Should we just leave him?” asks Jon.

“No way, I want answers,” I answer.

Phil steps towards the house and says, “Follow me.”

“You need our help?” asks Jon.

“You watch the front and be ready for him to come out,” answers Phil.

“Do I shoot him?” asks Jon.

“Maybe, but try to keep him alive,” I answer Jon.

Phil says to me, “Keep your gun ready, we don’t know where he is. Take cover behind something solid and remember if you see him then he can see you.”

“Okay,” I reply.

Phil aims his rifle as he enters the house.

I slowly enter the house behind Phil and change my mask display to see better in the low dim light.

“Can you see through walls with your mask?” asks Phil.

“I wish, but no,” I answer Phil and then I check the living room and it’s clear. I turn towards a hallway and a closed bedroom door and say, “He’s gotta be in there.”

Phil and I slowly walk down the hallway and there is a slightly open bedroom door and two closed doors next to the slightly open bedroom door.

“Come on man! We only want to talk!” shouts Phil.

“Yeah right! No one only wants to talk!” shouts the African American man from inside one of the rooms.

Phil stops walking, aims his rifle into the open bedroom and he finds it empty.

“We only want answers about why you are around here!” shouts Phil.

Phil and I wait for the response of the African American man so we can know which of the rooms he is in.

“Why do you want to know that?” shouts the African American man.

Phil locates the voice of the African American man and he thinks the African American man is in the bedroom to his right.

Phil says to me with a quiet tone, “Check the room over there just to be sure, but I think he’s in this room.”

I nod my head, grab the doorknob of the closed bedroom door, slowly open the door, and I don’t find the African American man in the bedroom.

Phil opens the door of the closed bedroom and then he quickly moves away from the door he just opened.

The African American man runs out of the bedroom with a knife in his right hand.

BANG!

Phil fires a shot from his rifle and hits the African American man in his throat.

The African American man falls to the bedroom floor and he drops his knife.

I look at the African American man as he is holding his throat, and I see blood gushing out of his neck.

“Sorry, we aren’t getting any answers from this guy,” says Phil as we watch the African American man bleed out and stop breathing.

“It’s better that he’s dead anyway,” I reply to Phil as I exit the room and then exit the house.

Phil looks into the bedroom that I checked, and he sees two dead teenage boys lying on the floor.

“You guys okay?” asks Jon as I exit the house.

I walk over to the large Caucasian man that is still lying face down and Jon asks, “Where is Phil?”

Phil exits from the house and Jon sees that Phil is okay.

I check the pulse of the large Caucasian man and I don’t feel a pulse. “He’s dead,” I say.

“I think he hit his head on the driveway after I kicked him in his head,” says Jordan.

I look down at the blood around the dead woman, change my display on my Ghost mask and say, “I would have liked to have gotten answers from them, but it’s better that they are gone.”

“What did you guys find?” I ask as I look at Jon, Phil, and Matt.

“Just a couple dead ones, they could have been with them,” answers Matt.

“Did they look like prisoners?” I ask.

“I don’t know, but they were in rough shape,” answers Phil.

I worry about Citrus Oaks and say, “Let’s get back home. Brody told me that JJ is back at CO.”

“Why didn’t he answer his radio?” asks Phil.

“I don’t know, but we’re going to find out,” I answer.

CHAPTER 10

WHO ARE THOSE GUARDS?

The guys and I return to Citrus Oaks and I see Jaws Junior and the two guards that he took out with him talking with Brody and a couple other guards near our main entrance.

I park my electric car, remove my Ghost mask, get out of the electric car, and shout, “What the fuck! Why didn’t you answer your radio?”

Jaws Junior looks at me and answers, “It broke.”

“Are any of you hurt?” I ask as I look at the guards.

“We got a couple scrapes, but we are good,” answers Jaws Junior.

Matt, Jon, Phil, and Jordan come over to me.

“Did you run into anyone out there?” asks Phil to Jaws Junior.

A guard smiles and jokes, “More like ran over them.”

The guards smile and chuckle.

“What does that mean? What happened?” asks Phil.

Jaws Junior looks at us and isn’t sure why Phil and I are asking him questions in an aggressive tone, but he answers Phil, “We checked out some homes, and didn’t find much, but yes, we did run into a group of four people that were most likely prisoners.”

“In the Cordavo neighborhood?” I ask.

“I’m not sure what it was called, but yeah I think so, the large neighborhood pretty close to here,” answers Jaws Junior.

“Did you find anything good out there?” asks Jon.

The two guards that went out with Jaws Junior look at each other and they laugh.

I look around and I see two trucks parked in the cul-de-sac near our main entrance near Chris’ old house. Both of the trucks have tarps covering the objects that are sitting in the back truck bed of each truck.

Phil sees that the two guards that went out with Jaws Junior have radios on their belts.

While looking at the two trucks, that Jaws Junior and his group loaded up from their trip around today, I say, “Well, I’m glad you guys are okay.”

“Yeah, we are good,” replies Jaws Junior.

I see a decent sized cut on one of the guards hands and ask him, “Do you need me to look over that cut?”

The guard looks down at his left hand and answers, “No, I’m good.”

“Battle scars,” says another guard with a cheering tone.

I look at Brody and Brody notices my concerned look.

“Well, make sure you clean it out and bandage it,” I say to the guard and then I say to Brody, “Can I talk with you a second?”

Brody walks from behind the guards and Jaws Junior and I walk with him away from the group.

As I’m walking with Brody away from the group of guards, I hear one of the guards say, “Fuck that, rub some dirt on your cut.”

“Who are those guards? Are they new here or something?” I ask Brody.

“The two who went out with JJ are new, they came here yesterday,” answers Brody.

I look at the guards and Jaws Junior and I see Phil, Matt, Jon, and Jordan walk away from Jaws Junior and the guards.

“You need anything Ry?” shouts Phil.

“No thanks, I’m good. See you guys later,” I shout.

Phil, Jon, Matt, and Jordan get into Phil’s electric car and Phil drives towards Matt’s house.

I sense Brody feeling uneasy about the new guards and how they are acting.

“We got potentially a serious problem around here with these escaped prisoners,” I say to Brody.

“Did you see them?” asks Brody.

“Yeah, we ran into three of them and it sounds like Jaws Junior ran into another group of them,” I answer.

“What should we do?” asks Brody.

I think about Brody’s question and I’m not sure what we should do just yet.

“Should we try to get more people from the Haven?” asks Brody.

I look over at the two new guards that are dressed in Haven Warrior gear, and I see them horsing around in the grass, and I answer, “I want to talk with William and Bruce first about that, but just keep your eyes peeled for anything unusual around here.”

“Yes sir,” replies Brody.

I walk with Brody and we approach the guards and Jaws Junior.

The two new guards, who look like they are in their early twenties, are two Caucasian males that are both wearing long sleeved shirts, pants, and boots along with Haven Warrior gear.

“You need anything from me?” I ask Jaws Junior.

“No, I’m good. Are you okay?” answers Jaws Junior.

I look at Jaws Junior and the two new guards and I see the two new guards have this somewhat patronizing look on their face.

As I look at the two new guards, I ask myself, “Should I see what these two new guards are all about? Do the new guards have a problem with me and what we do here? Should I press them and make them look dumb or let it go?”

I decide to let it go as they are new here and answer Jaws Junior, “I’m good, I’ll talk to you later. If you guys need anything, let us know.”

“Will do boss,” replies one of the new guards.

I walk over to my electric car and I hear one of the new guards say to the other new guard, in a quiet tone, “I thought he’d never leave.”

I close my electric car door and see the new guards run towards their two trucks and I see Jaws Junior walk over to the truck and new guards.

I see the guards start to remove the tarps from the back truck bed of the trucks and I notice that they have a bunch of different things.

I watch as one of the new guards hands a big metal object from the back of one of the trucks to Jaws Junior and I think to myself, “I wonder what’s going to happen with all that stuff?”

I decide to let it go and drive home. I park my electric car in Shaun’s driveway, exit my electric car, and enter my house.

I’m greeted by Milo and I pet him on his head.

I hear some noise in my garage and it sounds like someone is punching the punching bag that is hanging in our garage.

I put my Ghost mask down on the table near my front door and enter my garage.

Lauren is punching the punching bag with a one two combination and then she throws a right side kick to the lower section of the punching bag.

“Nice kick, but try to get it a little higher,” I say to Lauren.

“Yeah, yeah. I have short legs,” replies Lauren.

“How did your trip go? I saw Jaws Junior and his group come back and then I heard you over the radio,” says Lauren.

I answer Lauren, “It went okay, I guess, well okay for how our trips out of the neighborhood can go.”

Lauren asks, “What happened?”

I answer Lauren, “We ran into three prisoners and they were going to take this woman. Jordan and I stopped two of the prisoners, but one of them killed the woman and ran into a house.”

“Did he get away?” asks Lauren.

“No, Phil took him out,” I answer.

“Well, that’s good. I mean it’s not good, but I’m glad you are okay,” replies Lauren.

I nod my head in agreement to Lauren as I agree that it’s good that we all made it out alive today.

“I’m going to jump in the shower. It’s hot as balls wearing that mask,” I say.

“I’ll come join ya after I finish my workout,” says Lauren.

“Sounds good,” I reply to Lauren and I kiss Lauren on the lips.

Lauren and I enjoy a nice warm shower together and then we relax in our bed.

“I think we might have a problem with a couple new guards around here,” I say to Lauren as Lauren lays in my arms.

“Was it the two guys with JJ?” asks Lauren.

“Yeah, you met them?” I ask Lauren.

Lauren, while looking up at our bedroom ceiling answers, “Only briefly, but they are obnoxious, and they said something about Kylie.”

“What did they say?” I ask.

Lauren answers, “I think something about her stomach, because her belly is starting to slightly show.”

“Do those idiots know she’s pregnant?” I ask.

Lauren smiles and chuckles.

“I think I have to talk with William and Bruce about who they are sending here from the Haven. They might be giving us their rejects,” I say.

“The Haven’s Rejects,” jokes Lauren.

I chuckle and jokingly reply, “Sounds like a bad horror movie.”

I get out of bed and put on some clean clothes.

“Should we be worried about these new guards?” asks Lauren as she sits up in our bed.

“Keep an eye on them, but I’m not sure how big of a problem they’ll be,” I answer Lauren.

I kiss Lauren on the lips and exit my master bedroom.

I reach Phil on the radio, and I meet with Phil inside Shaun’s garage.

“What did you make of those two guards and JJ?” I ask Phil.

Phil looks down the street and while looking at our closed main entrance he answers, “Something is off with them.”

I wait for Phil to further elaborate and Phil turns towards me, but he doesn’t say anything else.

“That’s it?” I ask Phil.

Phil chuckles and answers, “Well, yeah. They seemed like they are in their own world and they are going to do whatever they want.”

“I’m sure, but what should we do about them?” I ask Phil.

Phil jokingly answers, “We should kill them.”

I know Phil is joking but part of me wonders if it will come to that. People can be dangerous and if those two guards go against what we are doing here then we could lose everything we’ve worked so hard for.

“I want to see William tomorrow,” I say to Phil.

“You want me to call him and see if they are available to meet tomorrow?” asks Phil.

“Yeah,” I answer Phil and then Phil grabs his radio and calls over to the Haven.

“You want anything from the fridge?” I ask Phil.

“Anything cold to drink,” answers Phil.

I walk into Shaun’s house and go into the kitchen.

As I stand in the kitchen I remember Stephanie, Ray, and when Ray was choking Phil. I ask myself, “What if Ray was still around? What if he killed Phil? How different this place would be if those things happened?”

I open the refrigerator and take out two beer cans.

I walk back into Shaun’s garage and I hear Phil say into his radio, “Well, we want to talk with you tomorrow about a couple people you sent over here.”

I close the door that leads into the garage and I hear Phil say into his radio, “That’s fine. We’ll go with you.”

The conversation Phil is having on his radio has me intrigued and wondering where we are going tomorrow.

“We’ll be there bright and early tomorrow morning. We’ll see you at eight,” says Phil into his radio.

I hand Phil a can of beer and Phil ends his radio call.

“Where are we going tomorrow?” I ask Phil.

“On a mission with William,” answers Phil.

“Why so early tomorrow morning?” I ask Phil and then I take a sip from my beer can.

“He has something big going on tomorrow morning and that’s when he could meet with us, so I figured you would be okay with it,” answers Phil and then Phil looks at me with a questioning expression on his face.

“I am, did he say anything else?” I ask.

“He told me to have you bring your medical supplies with you if you are coming tomorrow,” answers Phil.

“Does he want us all to come?” I ask Phil.

“Not sure. You want me to ask Matt and Jon about coming tomorrow?” answers Phil.

“Let’s meet with them and tell them what’s going on. Keeping everyone in the loop is important,” I answer Phil.

Phil gets a hold of Matt and Jon over the radio and they meet us in Shaun’s garage.

“Let’s go inside for this,” I say.

“Why? What’s up?” asks Matt.

Phil, Jon, Matt, and I walk into Shaun’s house and we sit in Shaun’s living room.

“What’s going on?” asks Matt with a nervous tone.

“Calm down, everything is okay,” answers Phil.

Jon, Phil, and Matt look at me and I say, “We could have a problem with the guards that went out with JJ.”

“What happened?” asks Jon.

“Nothing yet, but they seem like they could cause some problems around here,” I answer.

“Why? What did they do?” asks Matt.

“They went out with JJ, got some stuff, and just seemed off when I was talking with them,” I answer Matt.

Matt looks at Jon and then Matt asks, “That’s it?”

I look at Phil and then Jon and I answer Matt, “They seem like guys that will rock the boat around here and stir shit up.”

I look at Jon and Phil and ask, “Didn’t you get that vibe from them?”

Phil nods his head and answers, “Yeah.”

Jon doesn’t answer, and I wonder why Jon didn’t answer.

“Do you agree Jon? You were there, didn’t they seem like they were going against everything I was saying?” I ask Jon.

Jon seems hesitant to answer. I feel the sense that Jon feels the pressure to agree with me and to not go against the group, but Jon answers, “Yeah, they did.”

“But what do you want to do about them?” asks Matt.

“Nothing yet, but I just see a potential problem here and I’m making you guys aware of it,” I answer Matt.

Matt seems like he doesn’t agree with me and Jon is showing me that as well.

I start to get mad and say to Matt, “Well, they seem like punks and they were saying stuff about Kylie.”

“What did they say?” asks Matt with an angry tone.

I see that Matt is interested now that I brought his wife Kylie into the conversation.

“Does it matter?” I ask Matt.

“Yeah, it does,” answers Matt as he looks at me with an intense look in his eyes.

I see the look in Matt’s eyes, and I see the fierceness that he has now as he wants to protect his wife.

“They commented about her weight and they called her fat,” I answer Matt.

“Do those morons know she is pregnant?” asks Matt.

“It doesn’t matter, what matters is that they could be a problem and we don’t need any more fucking problems around here,” says Phil.

“But, what’s your plan?” asks Jon.

“Nothing, just yet. Phil and I are going with William and his Warriors on a mission tomorrow,” I answer Jon.

“Are we coming with you?” asks Jon.

“That’s what we’re meeting about,” answers Phil.

I see that Matt is still mad about the comments about Kylie, and I’m not sure if it was a good thing or not to tell him about what they said.

“I think we should have you two stay here and watch over things when Phil and I meet with William,” I say to Jon and Matt.

“Okay, sounds good,” replies Jon.

“You okay with that Matt?” asks Phil.

Matt looks at Phil and answers, “Yeah, I’ll stay here and look over things while you are gone.”

“Where are you going with William?” asks Jon.

I look at Phil and Phil answers, “He said something about going after Jeremy and Jeremy’s group.”

“Did he say where though?” asks Jon.

“He didn’t want to give specifics over the radio,” answers Phil.

“Smart,” replies Jon.

I look at Matt and see that Matt is still upset from what I told him about the guards and Kylie.

“You okay man?” I ask Matt.

“Which one of the guards said it?” asks Matt.

“I don’t know, I don’t even know their names,” I answer Matt.

“Do you think JJ is up to something?” asks Jon.

I think about Jon’s question and I answer, “I don’t know, but this world makes good people do bad things.”

“Just keep an eye on the new guards and JJ and let us know if you see anything,” says Phil.

“You okay with doing that Matt?” I ask Matt.

Matt nods his head in agreement and answers, “Yeah, I’m definitely going to be watching those fuckers now.”

I look at Phil and Phil gives me a concerned look.

“Anything else for us?” asks Jon.

I look at Phil and Phil answers Jon, “No, I think that’s it.”

“Good I have to get back home,” says Jon.

Matt stands up from the sofa and walks towards the door that leads into Shaun’s garage.

I see Matt exit Shaun’s house and I look at Phil and Phil says, “I’ll go talk with him.”

Phil exits Shaun’s house and meets up with Matt.

“Hold up Matt,” says Phil as Phil chases down Matt at the bottom of Shaun’s driveway.

Matt stops walking and looks at Phil.

“You okay man?” asks Phil to Matt.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” answers Matt.

Phil looks at Matt and jokes, “You don’t look fine.”

Matt sees an entrance guard, in the distance walking down the sidewalk of our main street, and asks, “Was it him?”

Phil looks at the guard and jokes, “Could be.”

Matt stares at the guard and Phil realizes that Matt didn’t get his joke and says, “I was only kidding. We don’t know who said it.”

Matt looks at Phil and Phil says to Matt, “Look, it doesn’t matter what they said, what matters is that we keep our cool and wait until they do something and then we’ll decide what to do with them.”

“So we are doing the wait and see approach with them?” asks Matt with an angry tone.

Phil senses Matt’s angry tone and asks, “Do you have a problem with that?”

Matt thinks about Phil’s question and doesn’t answer Phil.

I exit Shaun’s house with Jon.

Jon walks down Shaun’s driveway and asks Phil and Matt, “Everything okay here?”

Phil looks at Matt.

Matt looks at Phil and answers Jon, “Yeah, we are good.”

“Good, I’ll see you guys later,” replies Jon and then Jon walks home.

I walk over to Phil and Matt and see that Matt still seems mad about things.

“Look, those two idiots aren’t worth getting mad over. You have a beautiful wife and you have to be grateful for that,” I say to Matt.

Matt quickly replies, “I am, and I know it’s stupid to get mad about, but I’m just stressed out I guess. I’ve had a quick temper lately.”

“Anything you want to talk about?” asks Phil to Matt.

“It’s just the world, the chaos, and the craziness. It’s just been a lot to handle lately,” answers Matt.

“It’s normal to feel that way right now. If you didn’t, then you’re probably one of the dead roaming around out there,” I reply to Matt.

“Everything okay Matt?” shouts Kylie to Matt from the front porch of Matt’s house.

“Yeah sweetie, I’ll be right in!” shouts Matt as we stand with Matt at the bottom of Shaun’s driveway.

“Let’s just keep an eye on those two idiots and then we’ll kick them out if they cause any problems,” I say to Matt.

Matt nods his head in agreement.

“Okay, go home to your wife and relax a little will ya?” I say to Matt.

Matt says goodbye to Phil and I and then he enters his house.

“He can be a tough stubborn prick sometimes,” says Phil to me.

“Look who’s talking?” I joke to Phil.

“Yeah right, look who’s talking?” jokes Phil to me.

“When I’m right I’m right, and that’s it,” I joke.

Phil chuckles at my joke and I ask Phil, “Full gear tomorrow?”

“Yeah, William told me to be ready for anything tomorrow,” answers Phil.

“Conquerors?” I ask Phil.

“Most likely Conquerors and the dead,” answers Phil.

CHAPTER 11

DID YOU EXPECT THEM?

It is early the next morning and I’m getting ready to meet with Phil before we head over to the Haven.

“So Phil doesn’t know anything about the trip today?” asks Lauren as I tie my left shoelace.

“He said that we are going with William and his group to go after Jeremy and that we could be facing Conquerors and zombies,” I answer Lauren as I finish tying my left shoelace.

I see the concerned look on Lauren’s face, and I say, “I’ll be fine. I doubt William would put his group in danger.”

“I just hate that you are leaving. I’m going to be nervous all day until you come back,” says Lauren.

Lauren’s love and concern for my safety is nice, but it also makes me worry about if something happens to me what will happen to her. I don’t want Lauren to worry about me and I say to her, “I got my full gear on and I’m protected from head to toe.”

Lauren gives me a half smile and replies, “I know but I still worry about you.”

HONK! HONK!

I hear Phil honk his truck horn outside of my house.

I walk with Lauren towards our front door and I grab my katana that is on the vertical stand near our front door and my backpack and rifle that are next to my katana.

I kiss Lauren goodbye and Lauren closes and locks our front door.

“She okay?” asks Phil as I get into his electric truck.

“Yeah, she’s just worried,” I answer Phil.

Phil drives down our main street and we see Brody at the main entrance of Citrus Oaks.              

I look over at the guards and see that they are our regular guards and not the two guards that were with Jaws Junior yesterday.

“What are the names of the two new guards that went with JJ yesterday?” I ask Brody.

“Which ones?” asks Brody.

“You know the two short white guys with the buzzcuts,” I answer Brody.

“Oh, Dalton and Dean,” answers Brody.

“You serious? Dalton and Dean?” I ask Brody.

Phil chuckles and jokes, “D and D. Double douches.”

“Keep an eye on them and let us know if they cause any problems around here,” I say to Brody.

“Will do sir,” replies Brody and then the guards open the main entrance to Citrus Oaks and Phil exits Citrus Oaks.

Phil speeds down the open road that leads to the Haven.

“You think Shaun is coming today?” I ask Phil.

Phil smiles and jokes, “Only if Lisa allows him to.”

“I hope Shaun is doing okay at the Haven though,” I say.

“We should see him today, maybe we’ll get to see his tiny room,” replies Phil.

Phil drives for fifteen minutes and we arrive at the Haven. As Phil arrives at the Haven entrance, I see that the Haven looks to have been attacked recently as I see more bullet holes in the brick walls, blood stains on the concrete, and black marks on a wall near the front entrance.

“What happened here?” I ask the Haven front entrance guard.

“We were attacked again,” answers the female Haven front entrance guard.

“Conquerors?” asks Phil.

“We think so, but it was hard to tell who they were,” answers the female Haven front entrance guard.

Phil enters the Haven parking lot and I see a parked car in the Haven parking lot, and it looks to have been blown up.

Phil and I exit from his electric truck and Phil says, “William said to meet him and Bruce in auditorium one.”

I enter the interior hallway of the Haven with Phil and we see two Haven Warriors enter an auditorium.

Phil and I enter the same auditorium that the two Haven Warriors entered, and we see a large group of Haven residents and Warriors.

“Town hall meeting?” jokes Phil to me as we find two seats inside the auditorium.

I look around at the auditorium and see everyone is there. I see Dr. Vargas, Tran, Bruce, Li, and then I see Shaun and Lisa.

William enters the auditorium and two Haven residents close the auditorium doors.

The auditorium is silent as everyone looks at William who is standing in the center of the stage at the front of the auditorium.

“Thank you all for joining me this morning. I wish it was for a better reason… We all know about the Conqueror problem that hasn’t gone away, but today we take a major step towards getting rid of them,” says William.

The seated Haven residents and Warriors give a little cheer at the news that William has decided to go after the Conquerors.

“I have waited too long to retaliate and for that I apologize. I apologize to the families of the people that we have lost and the good people that we could not save,” says William.

“We have a plan and everyone in this auditorium has a part in our plan. Bruce, Li, and Tran know the details and they will discuss with you the specifics and what parts you’ll each play in our plan,” says William.

“What part do we play in this?” I ask Phil.

“I have no idea, we’ll have to meet with one of them, I guess, and see what William wants us to do,” answers Phil.

William finishes his speech with, “We may lose some of you today, but it’s better to go down fighting our enemies then to be attacked like we have been lately. We have a solid plan and if we all do our part then we can win.”

Haven Warriors and parts of the crowd erupt in cheer, but other parts of the crowd aren’t cheering and seem to be afraid for their safety.

Bruce, Li, and Tran gather their people for their parts of the plan, and Phil and I don’t know what to do.

I see William near the stage still and Phil and I walk over to William.

“Should we talk with you?” I ask William.

“Hello Ryan, you and Phillip are with me today,” answers William.

“Look who’s here,” says someone that is standing behind Phil and me.

I turn around and I see Shaun and Lisa.

“Couldn’t miss out on all the fun,” jokes Phil to Shaun.

“I’m going to go lay down,” says Lisa to Shaun and then Lisa exits the auditorium without saying anything to Phil and me.

“She doing okay?” asks Phil to Shaun.

“Yeah, she’s been a little tired is all,” answers Shaun.

Shaun looks at William and asks, “Is it okay if I join you today?”

“But you are with Bruce today Shaun,” answers William.

“Yeah, I know, but I was wondering if I could switch and join you and my boys today,” replies Shaun.

I look at William and William replies to Shaun, “Let me talk with Bruce and we’ll see what we can do.”

William walks over to Bruce and talks with him.

“You losing weight?” I ask Shaun.

Shaun smiles and answers, “Yeah, I’m eating better and working out twice a day now.”

“You mean you’re eating less?” jokes Phil.

“Nice backpack, you going to class?” jokes Shaun to me as he looks at my backpack that’s on my back.

“Funny, no it’s a bag I thought would be better for my medical supplies and it also has a spot for my rifle,” I answer Shaun.

Shaun sees that my rifle is attached to the side of the backpack and he likes my new backpack.

William comes back over to us and says, “Good news. Shaun will be joining us today.”

“Is it okay though?” asks Shaun.

“Yeah, we switched over two people to be with Bruce now,” answers William.

“Where are we going today?” I ask William.

“It will all be explained, but we are glad to have you and Phillip joining us today,” answers William.

Shaun, Phil, and I exit the auditorium and I see Dr. Vargas go into the Medical room at the Haven.

“I’ll meet you guys at the truck, I’m going to talk with Dani before we go,” I say to Phil and Shaun.

Shaun and Phil walk with the others towards the Haven parking lot and I enter the Medical room. Dr. Vargas looks at me and jokes, “I have a hard time recognizing you with that longer hair and messy beard.”

“Sorry, I was going to shave and get a haircut, but things have been so busy,” I reply.

“Life in a ZA is pretty crazy,” jokes Dr. Vargas.

“Just wanted to see how you were doing Dani,” I say to Dr. Vargas.

Dr. Vargas looks down at the tile floor and then at me and replies, “Things are okay around here, but just be careful today. I heard it could get messy out there.”             

“What did you hear?” I ask Dr. Vargas.

Dr. Vargas is about to answer, and William and Bruce enter the Medical room. Bruce is in full gear and he has his whip, a large sword on his back, and a handgun in each of his thigh holsters. William is also in full gear, with his long black hair tied back, and he has a long sword on his back as well as a handgun in each of his hip holsters.

William asks Dr. Vargas, “Do you have those medical supplies doc?”

“Yeah, right here,” answers Dr. Vargas and she shows William and Bruce two large black duffel bags.

Bruce grabs the two duffel bags and William looks at me and says, “Come on Ryan, we are leaving now.”

I look at Dr. Vargas and I say goodbye. Dr. Vargas looks like she wants to cry, and I wonder why she is so upset as I exit the Medical room with William and Bruce.

“Where are we going today? Are we in danger?” I ask William and Bruce as we walkdown the empty Haven interior hallway.

“We are going after the Conquerors today,” answers William.

I feel that William’s answer is short and not providing nearly enough information for me to feel comfortable with the mission today.

I stop walking and ask, “That’s all you can say?”

William and Bruce stop walking, and William says to Bruce, “Go ahead and go as planned. Have the groups move out and we’ll meet at the shopping center.”

I see Bruce walk away with a black duffel bag in each hand and I look at William.

“Ryan, Jeremy and his group are pinned down. We are going to rescue him and also attack the Conquerors,” says William to me.

“Where is he? Is he hurt?” I ask.

“As far as I know he is okay, but we need to hurry to get to him,” answers William.

I walk with William towards the Haven parking lot and I hear several vehicle tires screech as they quickly exit the Haven parking lot.

I hear over William’s radio that is clipped onto his belt, “We are on the move to location one.”

William walks over to Shaun and Phil and I follow behind William.

“Now gentlemen, we are going after the Conquerors today, but we are also trying to save my son,” says William.

“What are we waiting for?” asks Phil.

William smiles at Phil and answers, “We have several groups going out and they each have their parts to play.”

“What’s our part?” asks Shaun.

“Find Jeremy and bring him home,” answers William.

“Where is he?” I ask William.

“He’s in a shopping center,” answers William.

BOOM!
We hear a loud explosion in the distance from the Haven.

William picks up his radio and asks, “Was that you Tran?”

Phil, Shaun, and I look at each other.

“Yes sir, we took out the building with the Conquerors in it,” answers Tran over the radio.

William looks at me and says, “Glad we knew which buildings to blow up as they marked them for us.”

BOOM!

BOOM!

Two more explosions go off in the distance.

“Two more buildings down and one to go,” says Tran over the radio.

“I think we can go now,” says William and then William enters an electric truck and starts the electric truck.

I get into the passenger seat, of the electric truck William just got into, after giving Phil my backpack and Phil and Shaun get into the backseat of the electric truck.

William says into his radio, “I’m on the move. I’ll meet you at the shopping center.”

William reverses out of the parking spot and exits the Haven parking lot.

“How do you know Jeremy is okay?” I ask William as he speeds down an empty road.

I see smoke trails in the sky which are most likely from the buildings that Tran and the Haven Warriors blew up.

“Hector let me know that he got to Jeremy and that he is wounded, but he’s okay,” answers William.

I am kind of shocked to see that William is so calm, at least on the outside, about Jeremy being wounded and in danger.

“Any sign of Jacob and DK?” asks Shaun, from the backseat of the electric truck, to William.

Phil sees some weapons, explosives, and a large gun that is partially covered by a tarp in the back of the electric truck bed that William is driving.

“Li and her group are checking out a couple buildings and homes for them, but I don’t think they are around here,” answers William.

BANG! BOOM! DAKKA!

Gunfire and explosions go off in the distance at a nearby shopping center and William stops his electric truck in the center of the road about 200 feet from the shopping center entrance.

“I think we need to wait for the….” says William and just as William finishes his statement a large explosion goes off.

BOOM!

I see a large fireball and smoke in the shopping center parking lot.

William asks into his radio, “Was that you Bruce?”

The smoke clears, but the sounds of a large fire burning is heard, seen, and smelled.

“Yes sir, all clear. The shopping center entrance is all clear now,” answers Bruce over the radio.

William drives forward and he enters a small shopping center. I see a small supermarket and it has the red Conqueror symbol circle with the cross in the middle on the exterior wall near the front entrance.

“Now I want Shaun and Phillip to go onto the roof and provide a lookout for us. I’m sure we’ll have company here,” says William as he parks near the front entrance of the small supermarket.

“Clear, the supermarket entrance is clear,” says Bruce over the radio.

“We have done our part and we are heading back home,” says Tran over the radio.

William, Shaun, Phil, and I exit from William’s electric truck.

William runs into the supermarket entrance and Phil, Shaun, and I look at each other.

“How do we get to the roof?” asks Shaun.

Phil answers, “Probably around back.”

“Be careful,” I say to Shaun and Phil.

Phil and Shaun run to the back of the supermarket and I see Phil and Shaun each kill a zombie that is near the back alley behind the supermarket.

I grab my backpack and enter the supermarket.

I see Bruce, several Haven Warriors next to Bruce, and then I see several wounded Haven Warriors, Hector, William, and Jeremy.

Jeremy looks to be okay, but he does have a cut on his left shoulder.

“It’s not a bite, I got cut by a Conqueror,” says Jeremy to me.

I look over Jeremy’s cut and see that he has a large cut on his right thigh as well.

“Man, you got cut up,” I say with a joking tone.

“Yeah, that one fucker got me good, but I was able to take him out,” replies Jeremy.

Shaun and Phil enter the supermarket through the main entrance, and they say, “You can’t get to the roof from behind the store.”

“Try the back storage room,” says Bruce to Shaun and Phil.

I clean out Jeremy’s wounds, patch him up, and I tell Jeremy, “You have to take it easy. Especially on that right thigh. You have to let the stitches heal.”

“For how long?” asks Jeremy.

“Give it at least a week, I put the healing accelerant on the stitches and in the wound, so it will heal faster, but you still need to give it time to heal,” I answer Jeremy.

“Thanks doc,” replies Jeremy.

“Two, no three vehicles full of Conquerors are coming your way,” says a Haven Warrior over the radio.

“Get up to the roof now,” says William.

Bruce tells two Haven Warriors to get up to the roof and help Shaun and Phil.

William tells Bruce to get the stuff from the back of his electric truck.

Bruce and two Haven Warriors run out the front entrance of the supermarket.

BANG! BANG!
Two gunshots are heard from the roof of the supermarket.

“Talk to me, what do you see up there?” asks William into his radio.

“Three trucks filled with Conquerors,” answers a Haven Warrior over the radio.

Bruce and two Haven Warriors enter the supermarket with a large weapon and a stand for the weapon.

“Where should we put this?” asks a Haven Warrior to William.

William looks around the supermarket and answers, “Set it up right here and aim it at the entrance.”
I see Bruce and two Haven Warriors setup a large all-black weapon that has several barrels and a large chamber for large rounds of ammunition onto a stand.

“Is that a gun turret?” I ask

“Wait to you see this thing in action,” answers Hector to me.

“Let’s move away from it,” says William and I help Jeremy move away from the front entrance of the supermarket.

“Force them towards the front entrance,” says William into his radio.

BANG! BOOM!

A gunshot and a large explosion is heard outside of the supermarket.

“They are coming towards you now,” answers a Haven Warrior over the radio.

I see five Conquerors make their way towards the entrance of the supermarket.

“Now!” shouts William.

Bruce clicks a remote that is in his right hand and the all-black weapon that is on the stand starts to rapidly fire rounds of ammunition towards the Conquerors.

DAKKA! DAKKA! DAKKA!

I hide behind a shelf inside the supermarket as the rounds of ammunition are fired out of the weapon.

The sounds of flesh, bone, and tissue being ripped off the Conquerors bodies is heard.

The barrels of the weapon stops spinning, and I peek out from behind the shelf.

“We got them,” says Bruce.

“They’re gone,” says a Haven Warrior over the radio.

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

The sounds of people walking on broken glass pieces is heard as Bruce and several Haven Warriors look over what remains of the Conquerors that entered the supermarket.

I see that only limbs and shoes remain of the Conquerors that entered the supermarket.

“How we looking Li?” asks William into his radio.

Bruce looks at William and nervously waits for Li to answer.

Phil, Shaun, and two Haven Warriors come over to me and Hector as we stand inside the supermarket.

“Where did you get this weapon?” I ask Hector.

“Javi,” answers Hector.

Bruce looks at his radio and starts to worry as Li hasn’t answered William yet.

I see the worried expression on Bruce’s face and then I hear a female voice over the radio, “The buildings were empty and no sign of them.”

“Very good, we’ll meet you back home,” answers William to Li into his radio.

I see a smile on Bruce’s face and then Bruce sees me looking at him and Bruce quickly stops smiling.

“Any food left in this store?” asks Shaun.

I smile after hearing Shaun’s question and I’m glad he’s doing well and still worrying about food.

“Let’s get back home, we were successful today,” says William.

I get a call over my radio, “Ryan, come in Ryan.”

“This is Ryan,” I say into my radio.

“Brad and Faith are here,” says Brody over the radio.

“We aren’t home, and I’m not sure when we’ll be back,” I say into my radio.

Phil looks at me after hearing that Brad and Faith are at Citrus Oaks.

“Okay, what should I tell them?” asks Brody over the radio.

“Did you expect them?” asks Phil to me.

I answer into my radio to Brody, “Have them wait near the front entrance like you had TJ do.”

I answer Phil, “Brad said he would try to come around, but he didn’t know when.”

“Okay, he said they’ll wait for you,” replies Brody over the radio.

“Everything okay Ryan?” asks William.

“Yeah, we just have two guests back home waiting for us,” I answer William.

“We’ll get you back to the Haven and to your vehicle,” says William.

“Thank you William,” I reply.

I say into my radio to Brody, “We’ll be home in a little bit, but remember don’t let them go around the neighborhood.”

“Yes sir,” replies Brody over the radio.

“What does Brad want?” asks Phil.

“I’m not sure, but I’m going to play it safe and see if he’s still acting weird,” I answer Phil as I walk with Phil and Shaun towards William’s electric truck.

CHAPTER 12

I THINK I WILL

“What’s up Brad?” I ask Brad as Phil and I stand near our electric truck and Brad and Faith stand next to their car inside Citrus Oaks near our main entrance.

“Faith has some new information about her daughter,” answers Brad.

I look at Faith and Faith says, “I believe there is a church that is connected with taking people and my daughter could have been taken there.”

Phil looks at Faith and asks, “What makes you say that?”

“I heard people talking about a church and how people went there, and they never came back,” answers Faith.

“But you said your daughter was taken from the stadium,” I reply.

“Yeah, but she could have been taken from the stadium and given to the church,” responds Faith.

I think about Faith’s statement and think that it is plausible but I’m still not seeing the connection.

“But why would they take people from one location to another?” asks Phil.

“I don’t know, but it’s just something I thought could help,” answers Faith.

“What do you think Brad?” I ask.

Brad looks at me and answers, “It could be a connection.”

“Have you heard anything about that happening? Has Sal or anyone at Channelside dealt with the church?” I ask Brad.

“Wasn’t the church pastor, that you guys took, from the church that was taking people?” asks Brody as he stands on the lookout platform at our main entrance.

I feel Faith and Brad looking at me for further explanation.

“Yes, but we don’t know of any connections with the stadium and the church,” I answer.

“You know about the church? Have you been there?” asks Faith.

“We know some basic information about the church, and we heard about an island that they were taking women to,” answers Phil.

“Maybe they took Rachel there?” asks Faith.

“Can we talk with the pastor?” asks Brad.

“He’s gone,” I answer Brad.

“Where is he? Is he back at the church?” asks Faith.

“He’s in our freezer,” I answer Faith.

Faith gives me a confused look.

“He’s dead, one of our people shot him before she died,” I say.

“Well, that’s fucking great,” says Faith with an angry tone.

I look at Phil and say to Faith, “You are more than welcome to go talk with the people at the church.”

“I think I will,” replies Faith with an aggressive tone.

Part of me understands that Faith is mad and frustrated about her daughter, but I also feel that she is taking her frustrations out on me.

I look at Faith and say, “Look, I understand what you are feeling, but we didn’t take your daughter and we don’t deserve the attitude.”

Faith is about to respond, when I say to Brad, “And you, what the fuck are you up to?”

“What?” asks Brad with a nervous tone.

“We know you are up to something; you and Eric were fucking weird when we went to the stadium, and you were really pressing meeting me the other day. You trying to pull something?” I say to Brad with an agitated tone.

Brad looks at me, but doesn’t say anything.

“What, you don’t have anything to say about it?” I ask Brad.

“Let’s get out of here,” says Faith.

Faith and Brad step towards their car and Faith gets into the passenger seat of Brad’s car.

Brad is about to get into the driver seat of his car, and he stops. Brad looks at me and I make eye contact with Brad.

I feel that Brad wants to say something, but he is hesitant.

I start to feel bad for yelling at Faith and Brad, but I’m stressed out and I got enough on my plate right now.

“Come on Brad!” shouts Faith from inside Brad’s car.

Brad gets into his car without saying anything to me and he exits Citrus Oaks.

“Something is definitely bothering Brad,” I say.

“Yeah, it’s most likely something to do with Sal and Channelside, but until he tells us what’s going on we should stay away from him,” replies Phil.

“Did I ruin your meeting with what I said about the pastor?” asks Brody to Phil and me.

“Yeah, you did,” jokes Phil.

“Sorry,” quickly replies Brody.

“He’s only kidding, Faith is looking for her daughter and she’s just frustrated,” I say.

Phil drives his electric car towards my house, and he stops in front of my driveway.

“Did you get a chance to talk with William about the guards that were sent from the Haven?” asks Phil.

“Briefly, but he said that good people have been hard to find lately and he’s sorry that we’re having problems with our guards,” I answer Phil.

“I wonder where Li and her group went?” asks Phil.

“Me too, but she and Tran had a much larger group than William and Bruce had. I wonder if they had many casualties?” I answer Phil.

“Good work today, glad we made it out alive,” I say to Phil.

“Me too, we might have to get one of those multi barrel badass guns for here,” I say.

“Where did they get that gun from?” asks Phil.

“Hector told me Javier and I’m not sure we should get anything from them as we’d owe him something for it,” I answer.

“You should have a huge line of credit since you saved him,” replies Phil.

I say goodbye to Phil, and I enter Bobby G’s house. I put my backpack and Ghost mask down and remove some of my gear and then I walk into Bobby G’s kitchen.

I wash my hands in the kitchen sink and my walkie-talkie goes off.

“Ryan are you there Ryan?” asks DK over the walkie.

I dry off my hands and answer into my walkie-talkie, “You seem to have impeccable timing with your calls on here.”

There is an awkward silence over the walkie, but the awkwardness is something that I’m starting to expect when talking with DK over the walkie.

“I hope you weren’t a part of the fighting today,” says DK over the walkie.

“Is it a problem if I was?” I ask into my walkie-talkie.

DK quickly answers over the walkie, “Just make sure you’re careful with who you trust and who you fight for.”

“What does that mean?” I ask into my walkie-talkie.

“Just a heads up that the brother of the guy that is still a prisoner at the Haven won’t stop until he gets his brother back,” says DK over the walkie.

“You sure he wasn’t killed today?” I ask into my walkie-talkie.

Another awkward silence is felt over the walkie.

“Where are you and Jacob?” I ask into my walkie-talkie.

DK still doesn’t answer, and I put down my walkie-talkie and grab a cold drink out of Bobby G’s refrigerator.

“We are nearby, but far enough away that you don’t need to worry about us just yet,” answers DK over the walkie.

“Why are you being so cryptic? Why can’t you just answer my damn questions?” I ask into my walkie-talkie.

“Watch your tone Ryan, remember what I can do to you and your group,” quickly answers DK over the walkie.

I feel a sense of anxiety, but I’m more pissed off and frustrated with DK’s threats.

I’m about to reply to DK, but I take a second and think about what I should do next.

I think to myself, “We don’t need any more problems around here, just appease this guy as we don’t need DK attacking us.”

“I apologize, it’s just been a tough day and then Brad and some other things have been a problem around here,” I say into my walkie-talkie.

“Brad? Did you meet with Brad?” asks DK over the walkie.

I’m kind of taken back that DK asked about Brad and the tone that he asked it with.

“Yeah, it was a brief meeting, but I met with him,” I answer into my walkie-talkie.

“Do you know him?” I ask into my walkie-talkie.

“Just be careful who you are fighting for and against, I’ll be in touch and I may be in your area very soon,” answers DK over the walkie.

CLICK!

I hear DK turn off his walkie-talkie and I place my walkie-talkie on Bobby G’s kitchen counter.

I ask myself, “How does DK know when to call for me over the walkie? Does he just call at random times and get lucky or does he have eyes on me in Bobby G’s house?”

I pick up my radio and call for Phil.

Phil jokingly asks over the radio, “Miss me already?”

“Try and get a hold of the Ghosts. I don’t have to meet with Isiah or Bakari, but I want to meet with Saba or someone that can help me out with some tech stuff,” I answer Phil into my radio.

“What’s going on?” asks Phil over the radio.

“I’m not sure, but I think someone could be watching us,” I answer into my radio.

“I’ll call them shortly and see if we can meet with them. Do you want them to come here or for us to go there?” asks Phil over the radio.

“Whatever they can do,” I answer into my radio.

“I’ll let you know what they say,” replies Phil over the radio.

I say goodbye to Phil over the radio, grab a pen, and start writing in one of my notebooks that are on Bobby G’s kitchen counter.

After writing for about thirty minutes, I feel better about things. Writing in my notebooks and on my laptop actually feels therapeutic for me as it’s a good way to let out everything that I’m feeling and take it out of my mind and body and put it on paper.

I exit Bobby G’s house and enter my house. Lauren meets me as I close our front door and she says, “I was worried about you honey.”

“I’m okay, everything is okay. The trip went fine today,” I reply to Lauren as I place my backpack and katana near our front door.

Milo comes over and smells my backpack.

“Don’t smell that, I have to clean the outside of the bag,” I say to Milo.

Lauren sees blood on the side of my backpack and asks, “Who’s blood is that?”

I look at the blood and answer Lauren, “Probably a couple of Conquerors.”

“What happened on the trip today?” asks Lauren.

I walk into our living room and sit down on the sofa with Lauren.

I look at Lauren and answer, “We went with William and we found Jeremy and a couple wounded Haven Warriors.”

“What happened to them?” asks Lauren.

“I’m not sure, but I guess they fought some Conquerors and zombies,” I answer Lauren.

“Did anyone get hurt or die today?” asks Lauren.

“A couple Haven Warriors were injured, and William probably lost some people, but the Conquerors had the bigger casualty number,” I answer Lauren.

“Did you see Shaun and Lisa?” asks Lauren.

“Yeah, Shaun was with Phil, William, and me and Lisa we saw for like two seconds before she went to her room,” I answer Lauren.

“I hope she is doing well,” says Lauren.

“She looked good, but she wasn’t really happy to see Phil and I and she probably didn’t like Shaun going out to fight the Conquerors,” I reply.

“But what happened around here while we were gone?” I ask Lauren.

“Not much, but I’m sure you saw that Brad and this woman were here,” answers Lauren.

“Yeah, the woman is Faith,” I reply.

“Who is Faith?” asks Lauren.

“She’s the woman from the stadium that lost her daughter,” I answer Lauren.

Lauren looks down and replies, “That’s gotta be tough to lose a daughter.”

I think about Faith and what she has to be going through and I think about our meeting today and how short I was with her.

“Yeah, it’s gotta be tough,” I say.

“Well, I’m glad you and Phil are safe,” says Lauren.

“Me too, anything go on with the two new guards?” I ask Lauren.

“Nothing really, it was pretty quiet, but I think they might have met with JJ or someone in the back cul-de-sac,” answers Lauren.

“How do you know?” I ask Lauren.

I was walking around the neighborhood and decided to talk with Kim, and I saw the two guards walking into the cul-de-sac as I was leaving.

“Did you see where they went?” I ask Lauren.

“I’m not sure as I wanted to get away from them, but they walked straight in the cul-de-sac and I think they either went to Deb and Jordan’s or JJ and Darlene’s,” answers Lauren.

“Good detective work sweetie,” I say to Lauren.

Lauren smiles and jokes, “I have some detective skills.”

I jump in the shower and try to relax.

Phil calls me over the radio, “Ryan, you there?”

“Yeah, I’m here,” I answer Phil into my radio as I lie in bed.

“Saba said that we can come by the same building that Bakari brought us to before,” says Phil over the radio.

“Great, thank you. Did he give a time?” I ask into my radio.

“He said anytime as he’ll be in his lab all day tomorrow,” answers Phil.

“Very good, thank you. Let’s plan on leaving around noon tomorrow,” I reply into my radio.

“You sleeping in or something?” jokes Phil over the radio.

“Let everyone know and we can meet at Shaun’s house tomorrow,” I reply into my radio.

“You got it, see you tomorrow,” says Phil over the radio.

It’s the next morning and I’m with Lauren and Fran at our dining room table and we are enjoying a nice breakfast.

“You ever going to cut that hair of yours?” asks Fran to me.

I chuckle and answer, “Yeah, I planned on having someone cut it today.”

“Good, because you are starting to look like a hobo,” replies Fran.

“A hobo?” jokingly asks Lauren.

“Yeah, a hobo, you know a bum, a derelict, a vagrant, a wanderer,” answers Fran.

“We know what you meant and thanks for the kind description,” I say to Fran with a joking tone.

I place my plate in the kitchen sink and ask Lauren, “You think you could cut my hair today?”

“When? I thought you were going to see Saba today?” answers Lauren.              

“Not until noon, we have three hours before I have to leave,” I answer Lauren.

“Let me finish my breakfast and I’ll meet you in our bathroom,” says Lauren.

I go into our master bathroom and I get my hair cutting kit and electric razor.

I turn on the electric razor and notice that my beard needs to be trimmed with scissors first before I can use the electric razor on my face.

This is the longest my hair on my face and head have ever been and I almost don’t recognize myself as I look in my mirror.

Lauren comes into our master bathroom and cuts my hair.

Lauren finishes cutting my hair and I look at myself in the mirror. My face is clean shaven, and my hair is much shorter and looks much better.

“I cut it shorter than usual, but I think it looks good,” says Lauren.

“Thank you sweetie, it looks great,” I say to Lauren and then I kiss Lauren on the lips.

I take a shower, put on clean clothes, and put on my gear.

“What do you have planned today?” I ask Lauren as I put on my bulletproof vest over my long sleeved red shirt.

“Probably meet up with Kim and Kylie today,” answers Lauren.

“Just keep an eye out for Dalton and Dean,” I say to Lauren.

“Who?” asks Lauren.

“The two guards, I think their names are Dean and Dalton,” I answer Lauren.

Lauren chuckles and says, “That sounds about right.”

I walk into my garage and grab my Ghost mask and notice that it has some black and grey dirt on it.

I try to wipe off the black and grey dirt but only the black dirt comes off and the grey dirt won’t come off.

I spray some cleaning solution on the grey dirt, but it still won’t come off.

“Great,” I say as I look at my Ghost mask that is now white and grey, and still has that black dot on it.

“I hope Saba can paint over the grey,” I say as I look at my Ghost mask.

I say goodbye to Lauren and exit my house.

I enter Bobby G’s house and grab the walkie-talkie that DK gave me.

I wonder if the walkie-talkie has some sort of tracking device, or camera, or something in it, and I want Saba to check it out.

I wonder if taking the walkie-talkie with me is the right thing as it may be tracked, and DK could find out where the Ghost building is because of me and the walkie-talkie.

I think about what to do and I grab some aluminum foil from a base kitchen cabinet and wrap the walkie-talkie in aluminum foil.

After making sure the walkie-talkie is covered in aluminum foil I place the walkie-talkie in my bag and exit Bobby G’s house.

I make my way over to Shaun’s garage and I see Phil and Jon standing inside Shaun’s garage.

“Who is that man?” shouts Phil as I walk up Shaun’s driveway.

I smile at Phil’s question.

“About time you got a haircut,” says Phil.

“Yeah, yeah I know,” I reply.

Phil says, “You have to keep your hair short, can’t risk those zombies grabbing your hair.”

Jon grabs some of his hair and thinks that his hair is pretty long and that he should get it cut.

“Just us three today?” I ask.

“Yeah, no one else wanted to come,” answers Jon.

As I’m standing with Phil and Jon inside Shaun’s garage, I hear a car come speeding around the corner and it’s coming towards Shaun’s house.

I see the car and I notice the windows are down, there is loud music blasting, and the car has several people in it.

Jon and Phil see the car as it drives by Shaun’s house and approaches our closed main entrance gate.

“Isn’t that JJ’s car?” asks Phil.

“Yeah,” answers Jon.

Our main entrance gate opens, and Jaws Junior’s car exits Citrus Oaks.

I pick up my radio and ask, “Where is that car going?”

Brody answers over the radio, “They didn’t say, but it was Jaws Junior, Dalton, and Dean.”

“Should we go after them sir?” asks Brody over the radio.

I look at Phil and Jon and answer into my radio to Brody, “No, they are on their own.”

“Are you sure sir?” asks Brody over the radio.

“Yeah, we have other things to worry about,” I answer into my radio to Brody.

“Where do you think they were going?” asks Jon.

I look at our main gate and answer Jon, “I don’t know, and I really don’t care.”

CHAPTER 13

WE ARE STAYING BUSY

“Why did you wrap it in tin foil?” asks Saba as I hand him my walkie-talkie as Jon, Phil, and I are in his large laboratory and workshop.

“I think it could have a camera or tracker in it,” I answer Saba.

“Oh, that’s kind of smart then,” says Saba.

“Where did you learn that from?” asks Phil to me.

I smile, but don’t reply to Phil.

Saba unwraps my walkie-talkie and starts to examine the outside of my walkie-talkie. Saba grabs a screwdriver and unscrews the back of my walkie-talkie.

Jon looks around Saba’s lab and he is amazed at all the gadgets, tools, weapons, and equipment that Saba has in his large open laboratory and workshop.

“So where is Bakari and the rest of the gang?” asks Phil as he looks around Saba’s lab and notice that Phil’s somewhat loud tone causes a small echo in Saba’s lab.

“They should be back either today or tomorrow,” answers Saba.

“Where did they go?” I ask Saba as I watch Saba take off the back plate of my walkie-talkie.

“I’m not sure exactly but I think they were going to check out a couple new places and meet with some contacts from the prison,” answers Saba.

Saba removes the front plate of my walkie-talkie and I ask Saba, “The prison? What’s Bakari doing at the prison?”

Saba looks at me and answers, “They aren’t going to the prison but they’re checking in with their contacts from the prison.”

Saba finds something on my walkie-talkie and says, “You definitely have a device on this walkie and I’m pretty sure it’s a tracker with a motion detector.”

I look at the device on my walkie-talkie and say, “That son of a bitch, that’s how he knows when I’m around the walkie.”

Phil and Jon are looking at a couple different objects on a large table away from Saba and me.

“Do you want me to disable it?” asks Saba.

“Ryan, what are you doing to the gift I gave you?” asks DK over the walkie as the walkie sits on Saba’s table.

Saba looks at me with a shocked expression and says, “Guess the device is more than just a GPS tracker.”

I pick up my walkie-talkie and say into it, “Says the guy who has a tracker on it.”

“I wouldn’t remove the device on the walkie as it may explode,” says DK over the walkie.

Phil and Jon, who were walking towards Saba and me, stop walking after hearing about the explosive in the walkie-talkie.

“Is he lying?” I ask Saba.

Saba checks my walkie-talkie and sees a small wire connected to a small piece of plastic explosive.

Saba points to the small piece of plastic explosive and answers, “I think he has it rigged to blow up if I remove it.”

“By now you hopefully realized that I’m not lying. I never lie Ryan, you’ll always know where you stand with me,” says DK over the walkie.

“What do we do?” I ask Saba.

Saba shrugs his shoulders and answers, “Nothing I guess. I can’t remove it.”

“The walkie won’t explode unless you remove the connection wires, so you are safe to keep using it,” says DK over the walkie.

“Is that true?” I ask Saba.

Saba looks over my walkie-talkie one last time and answers, “I think so as I don’t see anything else dangerous about the walkie.”

“I think having a piece of plastic explosive is pretty fucking dangerous,” says Phil as he stands with Jon about ten feet away from Saba and me.

“You and your black friend there are safe, don’t worry. I don’t plan on killing you, you are still pretty important for now,” says DK over the walkie.

I look down at my walkie and don’t know what to do. Should I get rid of the walkie and how do I do it without DK knowing I purposely got rid of it?

“Now, you are probably thinking of the best way to get rid of your walkie and that would be pretty smart… But I still need to be in contact with you and your walkie is the best way to do that,” says DK over the walkie.

“Then why booby trap it?” I ask into my walkie-talkie.

“Insurance, everyone needs insurance in life and that’s mine with you,” answers DK over the walkie.

“You think I can trust you now? You plant a bomb on something you give me, and I’m supposed to thank you for it?” I ask into my walkie-talkie with an angry tone.

“Just be thankful that I haven’t killed you and your people yet. I’ll show you that you can trust me,” says DK over the walkie.

CLICK!

I hear DK turn off his walkie and I look at my walkie-talkie that I’m holding in my right hand.

“You can’t keep that thing Ryan,” says Jon as he is still standing with Phil about ten feet away from me and Saba.              

I look back at Jon and Phil and see that they are standing still like they are afraid to move. I laugh and say to Phil and Jon, “You don’t have to stand like mannequins, I think the explosive would have went off already if it was going to.”

“What do you want to do with your walkie?” asks Saba to me.

I think about Saba’s question and answer, “I guess nothing. I can’t risk disconnecting the device and having it explode.”

Phil walks over to me and says, “Well now you know it’s there and just be careful with it.”

“Will the tin foil do anything for the device?” I ask Saba.

“It should block the GPS tracker signal,” answers Saba.

“Can you put the cover plates back on?” I ask Saba.

“Yeah,” answers Saba and Saba carefully takes the walkie-talkie from me.

As Saba is putting the cover plates back onto my walkie-talkie, Ayo and Cyrus come into Saba’s lab.

“Hey Ryan, what’s going on?” asks Ayo as he and Cyrus come over to Saba, Phil, Jon, and me.

“Just having Saba check something out for me,” I answer Ayo.

“How was your trip?” asks Phil to Ayo.

Cyrus gives Phil a questioning look and asks, “How do you know about our trip?”

“Because I told them,” answers Saba as he screws the back cover plate of my walkie-talkie on.

“You love telling people our business,” says Cyrus.

“Ryan and his group are good people, you know what I and B have said about them,” replies Saba.

“Is Bakari or Isiah here now?” I ask Cyrus.

Cyrus gives me a death stare and Ayo answers, “Yeah, they should be in their condos.”

Saba covers my walkie-talkie with tin foil and looks around his workstation for something.

Saba doesn’t see what he’s looking for and asks Ayo, “Can you get me one of the medium sized black zip bags?”

Ayo walks over to a nearby table and moves a couple things and asks Saba, “One of the sandwich sized bags?”

“Yeah, that should work,” answers Saba.

Ayo finds a bag that Saba wants.

Saba puts my walkie-talkie in the medium sized thick black bag that Ayo just gave him, and Saba says to me, “The walkie won’t be able to be tracked in the bag.”

I’m handed the medium sized black bag and Phil jokes, “Nice lunch bag.”

“Thank you Saba, I’m sorry for what we found though,” I say to Saba.

“Me too, but I hope that guy doesn’t cause you anymore trouble. Who was that guy?” replies Saba.

“His name is DK and he’s part of the Conquerors,” I answer Saba.

Phil sees Cyrus look at Ayo after hearing me say DK’s name.

“You think we could meet with Bakari?” I ask Cyrus.

“He’s tired from the trip today and plus he’s with his lady,” answers Cyrus.

“I doubt I and B would like to hear that Ryan was here and they didn’t get a chance to talk with him,” says Saba as he looks at Cyrus.

Cyrus picks up his radio off his belt and calls for Bakari.

“What’s the stuff you got on the tables and walls over there?” asks Jon to Saba.

Saba stands up from his workstation and asks Jon, “What stuff?”

Jon and Saba walk over to another workstation and Saba shows Jon what he was asking about.

“Tell them to come to my condo,” I hear Bakari say over the radio to Cyrus.

“Are you sure? I know you are with Aisha,” replies Cyrus into his radio.

“It’s fine, send them up,” replies Bakari over the radio to Cyrus.

Cyrus walks over to Phil and me and says, “Bakari would like to see you.”

“Sounds good,” I reply to Cyrus.

“You coming Jon?” asks Phil.

“I’m going to stay here with Saba,” answers Jon.

“Okay, we’ll come back for you,” replies Phil and then Phil, Cyrus and I exit Saba’s lab.

As Phil, Cyrus, and I walk towards the elevators Phil asks Cyrus, “Were you on the o-line or d-line?”

Cyrus hits the up button for the elevator and asks Phil, “Does it matter?”

The elevator doors open, and we get into the empty elevator.

“Well, no but I was just curious is all,” answers Phil.

“I was a punter,” says Cyrus with a serious tone.

Phil looks at me and I see Cyrus crack a smile.

“He was a defensive tackle,” I say.

Cyrus looks at me and asks, “How’d you know that?”

“I operated on a couple lineman that you injured,” I answer Cyrus.

“Football is a brutal sport, every play was a battle out there,” replies Cyrus.

The elevator doors open, and I ask Cyrus, “Do you miss it?”

I walk with Cyrus and Phil down a small hallway and Cyrus answers, “I wasn’t going to play this year anyway, but yeah I miss the guys and the competition.”

Cyrus knocks on a closed condo front door and someone shouts from inside the condo to come in.

Cyrus opens the closed condo front door and Phil and I enter the condo.

Phil and I see Bakari as we enter the large open living room of the condo.

“Hey doc and Phil, good to see you. What brings you to building five?” asks Bakari.

“We came to have Saba check out a walkie of mine,” I answer Bakari.

“Everything okay?” asks Bakari.

I look at Phil and then answer Bakari, “Yeah, we got it under control now.”

“Good, would you like something to drink or anything?” asks Bakari to me and Phil.

“Just a water would be good,” I answer Bakari.

Phil answers, “I’ll take a water as well.”

Bakari walks into his kitchen and Cyrus asks, “You need anything from me boss?”

“No thanks C go get some rest, you did great on our trip today,” answers Bakari.

“Thanks boss,” replies Cyrus and then Cyrus exits Bakari’s condo.

Bakari walks back into his living room and hands Phil and I each an expensive bottle of water.

I look at the bottle of water and think about how crazy it is to be drinking a ten dollar bottle of water.

“So where was your trip?” asks Phil to Bakari.

“We checked out a couple spots in North Tampa and met with a couple contacts,” answers Bakari.

“What’s going on with the prison?” I ask Bakari.

Bakari smiles and answers me, “Always so direct, I like that about you doc.”

I look at Bakari and wait for him to answer my question.

“I have a couple contacts inside the prison, and they told me that the prison is being run by an inmate now,” answers Bakari.

“Dennison?” I ask.

“Very good, how did you know that?” asks Bakari.

I put my expensive bottle of water down on a coaster on Bakari’s oversized glass coffee table and answer, “We had a run in with a couple prisoners and they said that Dennison is running things at the prison and that they weren’t going back.”

“Who are your contacts at the prison?” asks Phil to Bakari.

“My contacts are friends of mine and brothers of a couple people of our group,” answers Bakari.

“Did they get out of prison?” I ask Bakari.

“Yeah, some did, but a couple are still inside, and they aren’t able to leave,” answers Bakari.

“Why not?” I ask.

“Dennison and his crew won’t let them leave, they are only allowing certain people to leave,” answers Bakari.

“How many people does Dennison have?” asks Phil.

Aisha walks out of the bedroom and Phil and I see Aisha.

I say hello to Aisha and Aisha stops walking and says hello.

“I’m sorry if I interrupted. I’m just craving some pickles, well I guess the baby is,” says Aisha.

“You weren’t interrupting,” I say to Aisha.

Aisha smiles and Bakari asks Aisha, “You feeling okay?”

“Yeah, the meds helped. Thanks babe,” answers Aisha.

Aisha walks into the kitchen and Bakari says to Phil and me, “She was having some bad heartburn and nausea.”

“What did you give her?” I ask Bakari.

“I don’t know, we got a bunch of meds on our trip and she took whatever she wanted to take,” answers Bakari.

“Are you going to go into the prison?” asks Phil to Bakari.

Bakari looks at Phil with a questioning expression and Phil wonders if it was a dumb question.

A couple seconds go by and Bakari smiles and jokes, “A black man trying to break into prison, man the times have changed.”

I don’t know whether to laugh or not, but I see Bakari’s big smile and I know he’s joking.

“We are coming up with a plan to get our people out of the prison, but it looks to be tough as Dennison has it locked down pretty tight,” says Bakari.

“How’s your brother?” I ask Bakari.

“He’s good, he’s really good actually,” answers Bakari.

A bird lands on Bakari’s outdoor balcony and I hear the bird squawk as I’m sitting with Phil and Bakari in Bakari’s living room.

The bird keeps squawking and Bakari gets up from his sofa and goes out onto his balcony.

I look at the bird and I see a small camera on the back of the bird.

Bakari gets the bird to fly away and he comes back inside.

“Did that bird have a camera on his back?” I ask Bakari.

“Yeah, it’s one of Mr. Charlie’s new camera setups,” answers Bakari.

“Where is this Mr. Charlie?” asks Phil.

Bakari sits down on his sofa and answers, “He’s on his island.”

“His island?” asks Phil.

Aisha walks back towards the living room and she goes back into the bedroom.

“It’s a small island in the Gulf,” answers Bakari.

“Aren’t you worried he’ll be attacked there?” I ask.

Bakari smiles and answers, “The people that go there should be worried. He has traps, mines, and other security measures.”

Hearing about Mr. Charlie’s island makes me think about the island that people may have been taken to.

“Do you know anything about an island? Like an island that people were taken to?” I ask Bakari.

Bakari nods his head and answers, “I’ve heard the rumblings about an island, well several islands actually.”

“Where are they?” asks Phil.

“I don’t know specifics as I haven’t been there, but I heard there are a group of islands off the coast of Florida and they are being controlled by an unknown group,” answers Bakari.

“In the Caribbean? Like the Bahamas, or where?” I ask Bakari.              

“I wish I knew, but unfortunately I don’t know,” answers Bakari.

“Do you know about a group that was taking women around Tampa Bay?” I ask Bakari.

“Only taking women?” asks Bakari.

“I guess men and women, but we’re looking into a group that was kidnapping women and supposedly taking them to an island,” I answer Bakari.

“I’ll have to look more into that, but were your people taken?” asks Bakari.

“Luckily no, but we’re working with a woman that lost her daughter at the stadium and we’re trying to connect the dots what happened to her,” I answer Bakari.

“Do you know anything about the church that had people dressing up in either all red or all white?” asks Phil to Bakari.

Bakari nods his head and answers, “Yeah, a couple people told me about that church. I don’t go to church personally, but I definitely wouldn’t go to a church like that.”

“They took one of our people and we saved her from the church,, and we took their pastor,” I say to Bakari.

“No shit? What did the pastor say? Did he provide any answers?” asks Bakari.

“He was shot before we could get some quality info from him,” answers Phil.

“Do you know anything about Eugenics or a Eugenics program?” I ask Bakari.

“Man, you guys have tons of questions today,” jokes Bakari.

“We found a book on the pastor and it had names in the book but on the front page it said Eugenics,” I say.

“I’ll have to look into that as well,” replies Bakari.

“I’m sorry to give you more things to look into but we appreciate the help,” I say to Bakari.

Bakari smiles and says, “We are staying busy.”

Phil and I say goodbye to Bakari and Bakari says, “I’ll be in touch and I’m sure my brother will want to see you soon.”

“I look forward to it, stay safe,” I reply to Bakari and then Phil and I exit Bakari’s condo.

Phil and I get onto the elevator and we take the elevator down to get Jon.

“What are you going to do about DK?” asks Phil as we stand in the elevator as it goes down.

“I don’t know, but I’m keeping this walkie-talkie in this bag and away from everyone,” I answer Phil.

The elevator stops and Phil and I exit the elevator.

“He said that he’ll show you that you can trust him, what do you think he meant by that?” asks Phil.

I think about Phil’s question as we walk down the long interior hallway towards Saba’s lab and I answer Phil, “I don’t know, but I’m kind of nervous to find out.”

CHAPTER 14

IS HE ALIVE?

“Ummm Ryan sir, we have a potential problem,” I hear Brody say over the radio as I’m in Bobby G’s house early the next morning.

I pick up my radio and ask, “What’s the problem?”

“There is something across the street and it has your name on it,” says Brody over the radio.

“What is it?” I ask into my radio.

“I don’t know, but it’s something pretty big in the back of a truck,” answers Brody over the radio.

“Where are you?” I ask Brody.

“At our front gate, a couple guards found a truck and something in the back of the truck this morning,” answers Brody over the radio.

“I’ll be right there,” I say into my radio.

I exit Bobby G’s house and walk down the sidewalk towards our main entrance.

“Where is it?” I shout to Brody as I see him standing on a lookout platform at our main entrance.

Brody hands me his binoculars as I walk up the lookout platform steps.

“Across the street,” says Brody and then I look through his binoculars across the street where Jerri-Lynn’s old house is.

I see the back of an old blue pick-up truck and something covered in a white sheet. There is a sign on the white sheet, and it says, “FOR RYAN”

I think I see something move under the white sheet and I shout, “Something might be alive under the sheet!”

I put my binoculars down and say, “A couple of you go check it out, but be careful.”

Three entrance guards exit Citrus Oaks and walk over to the old blue pick-up truck.

I look through Brody’s binoculars and see a guard remove the white sheet. “It’s a person… It’s Brad,” I say.

I hand the binoculars back to Brody, run down the lookout platform steps, and exit Citrus Oaks.

The guards aren’t sure what to do as I arrive at the blue truck and stop and check out the truck and Brad.

I see that Brad is tied up, he has duct tape over his mouth, and he looks to have been beaten up.

“Get him down and get him inside,” I say to the guards.

Two zombies come walking towards me as I stand next to the blue pick-up truck.

I don’t have any weapons on me, but I kick one of the approaching zombies in the chest and the zombie falls to the ground.

“Give me your spear!” I shout to one of the guards.

The guard tosses me his spear, I catch the spear with my right hand, and fire it at the approaching zombie.

The spear pierces the zombie’s forehead and flies through the zombie’s skull and brain.

The guards get Brad down from the truck and I ask, “Is he alive?”

One of the guards answers, “I think so, but I’m not sure.”

The guards and I enter Brody’s house and they place Brad on Brody’s living room sofa.

I check Brad’s pulse and he has a weak pulse. I see that Brad is breathing but his face, mouth, and nose are bloody, and he’s passed out.

“Is he alive?” asks Brody as he enters his house.

“Yeah, just barely, but he’s alive,” I answer Brody.

“Who put that truck there?” I ask.

Brody looks at the guards and then answers me, “We don’t know, it wasn’t there last night.”

“Well check with all the guards, and see if they saw anything,” I say to Brody.

“Someone stay with him. I’m going to get some medical supplies and I’ll be right back,” I say to Brody and the guards.

I exit Brody’s house and start to jog down the sidewalk. I pass Bobby G’s house, I pass my house, and I make it to the Medical house.

I enter the Medical house and start gathering up some medical supplies to treat Brad’s face.

As I’m gathering up the medical supplies in the Medical house, the front door opens and Phil walks in.

“Oh it’s only you, just wanted to make sure,” says Phil.

“Brad is here, and he’s all beat up,” I say to Phil.

“What do you mean? He drove here?” asks Phil.

I put a couple more medical supplies in a bag and answer Phil, “No, he was in the back of a truck with a sheet over him.”

I exit the Medical house with Phil and we quickly walk down the sidewalk towards the Armory house.

“What do you mean a sheet over him?” asks Phil as we walk down the sidewalk.

“A white bed sheet, he was under the sheet in the back of a truck,” I answer Phil as we pass Buck’s house.

“Was he alone?” asks Phil as we pass my house.

“Yeah, we found him alone in the back of a truck across the street,” I answer Phil as we pass Bobby G’s house.

“Do you think it was DK?” asks Phil as we walk down our main street and approach the cul-de-sac and Brody’s house.

“It could be, but hopefully Brad can give us answers when he wakes up,” I answer Phil.

Phil and I enter Brody’s house and I see that Brad is still knocked out and sitting up on Brody’s sofa.

“Who was guarding the entrance last night and this morning?” asks Phil to Brody and the other entrance guard Drew that is with Brody.

Brody answers Phil, “I’ll have to check the log, but I think Dalton and Dean were on lookout duty late last night.”

“I’m sure they were, go get them,” says Phil to Brody.

Brody and Drew exit Brody’s house.

I clean up Brad’s face and I see what looks like punch marks on his left temple and around his left eye.

“He looks to have been punched and his nose might be broken,” I say.

Phil looks at Brad’s face and says, “Yeah, I see the red marks on his left eye and his nose definitely looks broken.”

“When did they find him?” asks Phil.

“A couple of minutes ago, Brody called me over the radio,” I answer Phil.

“It’s 8:30 now, so I doubt someone put him there this morning, but more likely last night or early morning before the sun came up,” says Phil.

“But that street is a dead end, unless someone took him in behind the homes and put him in the truck and pushed the truck down the street silently,” I say.

I check to make sure Brad is still breathing and he has a pulse and he does.

“It had to be DK; it only make sense that it was him, but why would he do that to Brad?” asks Phil.

I answer Phil while looking at Brad, “I hope Brad wakes up and he can tell us what happened.”

About thirty minutes go by and Brody and Drew come back into Brody’s house.

“We can’t find them sir,” says Brody to Phil.

“What do you mean you can’t find them?” asks Phil.

“They aren’t in their house or any of the other guard homes,” answers Brody.

“Did you check every home in here?” asks Phil.

“No sir, only the guard homes,” answers Brody.

“Well check every house in here and don’t come back here until you find them,” replies Phil with an angry tone.

Brody and Drew exit from Brody’s house again.

“You think they were a part of this?” I ask Phil.

“Could be, maybe they were put here by DK,” answers Phil.

I think about Phil’s statement, wonder if that’s true, and ask myself, “Do we have a spy or spies in Citrus Oaks? Do we have outsiders giving out information about what we do here?”

About an hour goes by and Brad still hasn’t woken up yet.

“Should we try smelling salts or something?” asks Phil.

“He’ll wake up when his mind and body are ready,” I answer Phil.

“Where the fuck is Brody?” asks Phil.

I think about everything that happened this morning and recently with Jaws Junior, Dalton and Dean, and DK.

“What do you think DK stands for?” I ask Phil.

“What? I don’t know, Dumb Kid?” answers Phil.

I chuckle and reply, “Remember that kid Dale Kingsbury?”

Phil smiles and answers, “Yeah, he wanted people to kneel to him. Kneel to the king.”

“Yeah, that kneel thing lasted like two seconds and then he was punched in the face,” I say.

“I saw that happen. It was pretty funny,” replies Phil.

“Wonder if he’s still alive?” I say.

“I doubt it, I bet most of the people from high school are gone now,” replies Phil.

I think about my time in high school and the good times I had with Phil, Jon, Matt, Shaun, and the rest of my high school friends.

“What made you think of that?” asks Phil.

“I guess the initials DK,” I answer Phil.

Another hour goes by and Brody and Drew still haven’t returned to Brody’s house.

“Something isn’t right, they should have been back by now,” says Phil.

“I’ll stay with Brad, you go see if you can find them,” I say to Phil.

Phil looks at me and says, “I’m not going to aimlessly search around the neighborhood.”

Phil picks up his radio and says into his radio, “Brody, Jon, Matt, and everyone in Citrus Oaks we are looking for Dalton and Dean. If you see them or know where they are please let us know.”

“I think they are at Jaws Junior’s,” says Jon over the radio.

“Are you sure?” asks Phil into his radio.

“You want me to go check?” asks Jon over the radio.

“Yeah, but play it cool. Don’t act like we are looking for them,” answers Phil over the radio.

“Okay, I’ll let you know if they are there,” replies Jon over the radio.

I impatiently wait for Jon to reply over the radio and I look at Brad.

I wonder why Brad was beaten up, covered with a sheet, and then given to us. I remember the last time I saw Brad and think about the look he gave me before he left with Faith. Was he trying to tell me something? Was he afraid to tell me something?

“What’s taking Jon so long?” asks Phil as he looks down at the radio that is in his left hand.

“They are definitely in there and they look to be leaving soon,” says Jon over the radio.

“Where are they going?” asks Phil over the radio.

“I don’t know, but they had their gear on and they just got into JJ’s car,” answers Jon.

“Thank you Jon,” says Phil into his radio.

Phil exits from Brody’s house and walks over to our front entrance guards. “You don’t let JJ’s car leave here,” says Phil to our entrance guards.

Phil stands in the grass near one of the front entrance lookout platforms and waits for Jaws Junior’s car to come around the corner and come towards him.

Brody, who is leaving Sam and Kiersten’s house, sees Jaws Junior’s car driving down the street and make the right hand turn towards our main entrance.

“Here they come, don’t open this gate no matter what,” says Phil to our entrance guards.

Jaws Junior’s car drives down the street and stops a couple feet away from our closed main entrance gate.

Phil walks over to the driver side window of Jaws Junior’s car and Jaws Junior, from the driver seat of his car, asks Phil, “Everything okay Phil?”

“Where you going?” asks Phil.

“Was going back to my old house to get my bike, I finished fixing her up and planned on bringing her back today,” answers Jaws Junior.

Phil sees Dalton in the front passenger seat of Jaws Junior’s car and Dean in the backseat of Jaws Junior’s car.

“Come on and open the gate!” shouts Dalton.

“Where were you two last night?” asks Phil to Dalton.

“What?” answers Dalton with a sarcastic tone.

“Phil, we’ll be right back. I’m just getting my bike and we are coming right back here,” says Jaws Junior to Phil.

“You aren’t going anywhere,” replies Phil.

“Come on, just open the fucking gate already!” shouts Dean from the backseat of Jaws Junior’s car.

“Turn your engine off,” says Phil to Jaws Junior.

Brody and Drew come over to Jaws Junior’s car.

“Are you serious Phil?” asks Jaws Junior.

“What’s up boy scout?” asks Dean to Brody as he looks at Brody through the rear driver side car window that is rolled down.

Jaws Junior sees that the guards have their guns aimed at his car and Jaws Junior is shocked to see the guns aimed at him.

“What’s the big deal?” asks Jaws Junior.

Phil sees the annoyed expression on Dalton and Dean’s faces and shouts, “Were you two on entrance watch duty last night?”

“Yeah, so?” answers Dean with an annoyed tone.

“So, a friend of ours was found beaten and placed across the street in a truck this morning,” answers Phil with an angry tone.

“Turn your car off!” shouts Phil to Jaws Junior.

Jaws Junior turns his car off.

Dean and Dalton look at Phil but don’t say anything.

“I want answers and I want them now!” shouts Phil.

Dalton and Dean don’t answer Phil and that makes Phil angrier.

“Get out of the car,” says Phil to Dean.

“No, your fucking crazy,” replies Dean.

Phil grabs the exterior car door handle and pulls open the car door.

“What are you doing?” shouts Dalton.

Phil grabs Dean and pulls him out of Jaws Junior’s car.

“You’re hurting my arm!” shouts Dean.

Dalton gets out of Jaws Junior’s car and Brody points his gun at Dalton.

“You gonna shoot me boy scout?” asks Dalton to Brody with some attitude.

“Either you didn’t do your job last night, or you are in on what happened to Brad,” says Phil to Dean as Phil holds Dean’s right arm behind his back.

“You’re going to break his arm!” shouts Dalton.

“Come on Phil don’t hurt him,” says Jaws Junior to Phil as Jaws Junior exits from his car.

I exit Brody’s house and shout, “Brad just woke up!”

Phil releases Dean’s arm.

Dean brings his right arm from behind his back to his side and Dean rubs his right shoulder.

I run back into Brody’s house and see that Brad is awake and sitting up on Brody’s sofa.

“You okay?” I ask Brad.

“My head and nose are killing me,” answers Brad.

“Where am I?” asks Brad.

“Citrus Oaks, what’s the last thing you remember?” I ask Brad.

Phil and Brody enter Brody’s house and come over to Brad and me.

Brad thinks about what he remembers and tells us, “I was walking down a sidewalk and I was going home… A person called me over, and I looked to my right and then I was punched in the face by someone to my left.”

“Where were you?” asks Phil.

“Back home in Channelside,” answers Brad.

“Who punched you?” asks Brody.

Brad thinks about what happened to him and he tries to remember who punched him.

“I was knocked down and dragged behind a building. I heard them say that the boss wants this done tonight,” answers Brad.

“Did you get a good look at the guys?” I ask Brad.

“No, but they were pretty big and there were two of them,” answers Brad.

I give Brad some medication that will help with his pain and headache.

“Do you remember when you were attacked?” asks Phil.

“It was late last night,” answers Brad and then Brad rubs his forehead with his left hand.

“Do you have any idea who would do this to you?” I ask Brad.

Brad looks at me, thinks about my question, and then starts to break down.

I look at Phil and wonder why Brad just got upset.

Phil, Brody, and I hear some commotion around our main gate and Brody says, “I’ll take care of it.”

Phil looks at me and says, “I’ll help him.”

“Good idea,” I reply to Phil and then Phil and Brody exit Brody’s house.

Brad looks at me and says, “I’m sorry Ryan.”

I’m confused at what Brad is sorry about and ask Brad, “For what?”

Brad looks at me and he’s hesitant to answer.

I see that Brad wants to tell me something and yet again he’s hesitant for some reason.

Brad gathers his thoughts, lets out a breath of air, and says to me, “For how I’ve been acting lately… Sal, Jacob, and DK want me to…”

I think I know where this is going and say, “I figured something was up. You were acting so weird lately.”

“They have my wife and they threatened to kill her if I didn’t do what they say,” says Brad.

“Who has your wife?” I ask Brad.

“Sal, he took her and has her in one of his condos,” answers Brad.

I think about what Brad just told me and I kind of feel bad for Brad.

“Is she still alive?” I ask Brad.

“I don’t know,” answers Brad.

I hear the commotion getting louder and louder outside near our front gate.

I look at Brad and say, “Try and get some rest, you are safe here.”

“Thank you Ryan, but I really need to be getting back home. I have to know if my wife is still alive,” replies Brad.

BANG!

I hear a loud gunshot come from around our main gate.

I run out of Brody’s house and I see everyone is quiet now.

Phil lowers his handgun and shouts, “Now that’s better!”

“What the fuck happened?” I shout.

“I fired a warning shot into the air to quiet everyone down!” shouts Phil.

I walk over to Phil, Brody, and our entrance guards and look at Dalton, Dean, and Jaws Junior who are standing together next to Jaws Junior’s car.

“I told you, we aren’t connected with the guy being beaten up and dropped here,” says Dean.

“So it’s just a coincidence that you two were on guard duty last night and this morning we find Brad across the street?” shouts Phil.

“Yeah!” shouts Dalton.

“Why are you so buddy-buddy with these two now?” I ask Jaws Junior.

“What? What do you mean?” answers Jaws Junior.

“You seem to be hanging out with these two a lot lately,” I answer Jaws Junior.

Jaws Junior doesn’t respond.

“What’s your deal? Where did you two come from?” I ask Dalton and Dean.

“Our deal?” asks Dalton with a sarcastic tone.

“Yeah, like where were you before you came here,” I answer.

“The Have, we came from the Have,” answers Dean with some nervousness in his voice.

“You mean the Haven?” asks Brody to Dean.

“Yeah, there, we came from the Haven,” quickly answers Dean.

“Before that?” I ask Dean.

Dean looks at Dalton and neither of them answer.

“Well, you gonna answer?” I ask with an aggressive tone.

Dean looks at Dalton with a sad look on his face and Dalton answers, “We were on the street. We were homeless okay?”

“What happened to your families?” asks Brody.

“They were killed by the dead,” answers Dean.

I start to feel bad for Dean and Dalton and I think everyone else does too.

“Well, go home and you are both off guard duty until we figure this out,” I say.

“Okay,” replies Dean with a sad tone.

Dean and Dalton look at Jaws Junior and Jaws Junior asks, “So we can’t go to my house and get my bike today?”

“They aren’t going with you,” I answer.

Dean and Dalton walk away from us and towards their house that is in the same cul-de-sac where Brody’s house is in and Dean says to Dalton, “That was a pretty good line about us being homeless and about our families. I think they bought it.”

CHAPTER 15

ANYONE ELSE?

“How is he just going to walk back into Channelside after he was attacked there?” asks Phil to me, Jon, and Matt as we sit in Bobby G’s living room a couple hours after all the craziness that occurred with Brad, Jaws Junior, Dean, and Dalton around our front entrance.

“I don’t know, but I doubt we can keep him here. They have his wife,” I answer.

“That’s a tough situation, but I think we have to let Brad do what he wants,” says Jon.

“But he was supposed to kill Ryan,” says Matt.

“So if he kills Ryan, they’ll let his wife go?” asks Jon.

“Doubtful, Brad probably won’t see his wife again,” answers Phil.

“What do you mean? Why not?” asks Matt.

“They took Brad’s wife to make Brad kill Ryan, but even if Brad kills Ryan why would they return Brad’s wife. They have no reason to return her,” answers Phil.

“So what do we do?” I ask.

The guys look at me and they don’t have an answer.

“What can we do? We don’t have anyone inside Channelside that can help,” answers Phil.

I think about Bakari and how he knows a lot of people and ask, “What about Bakari?”

“What about him?” answers Phil.

“He could have some people on the inside at Channelside,” I answer.

“Maybe, but what could they do about Brad’s wife?” asks Matt.              

“They could at least tell us if she’s still alive or not,” I answer.

“I’ll give them a call,” says Phil.

“What happened to your walkie-talkie you got from DK?” asks Matt.

“I put it in the Armory,” I answer Matt.

“Why?” asks Matt.

“Because it has a bomb in it,” I answer Matt.

“Are you serious?” asks Matt.

“Yeah, Saba found it the other day when Phil, Jon, and I met with him,” I answer.

Phil walks back into Bobby G’s living room and says, “They’ll be here tomorrow.”

“Who?” asks Matt.

“Bakari and the Ghosts,” answers Phil.

“Are they bringing my mask and my wrist gauntlet with them?” I ask Phil.

“I didn’t ask about those things, but I’m sure they will,” answers Phil.

“I know Saba was working on your mask when we left his lab the other day,” says Jon.

“I hope he was able to fix a couple things with the mask display and also paint a design on the face,” I say.

“I wish I had one of those masks,” says Matt.

“Me too,” says Phil.

Matt looks at me and says, “You know, Jon has a shield, you have a mask, and what do Phil and I have?”

“What do you want a hammer that shoots lightning out of it?” I joke.

“He’d probably electrocute himself,” jokes Phil.

“A plasma saber sword would be pretty useful,” says Matt.

“This isn’t Space Wars,” jokes Jon.

“You know Mike has one of those robots from Space Wars?” says Matt.

“Does it work?” asks Jon.

“I don’t think so, I think it’s just a prototype right now,” answers Matt.

“Now that would be pretty cool to have in a ZA. A freaking robot that could decapitate zombies with ease,” says Matt.

“Shame this isn’t a science fiction movie,” says Phil with a sarcastic tone.

“What time did they say they would be coming by tomorrow?” I ask Phil.

“He didn’t say,” answers Phil.

“You should call TJ also, I think he wants to talk with Bakari,” I say to Phil.

“Anyone else?” jokes Phil.

Phil gets back up off the sofa and tries to reach TJ over his radio.

“I wonder how Shaun is doing?” asks Jon.

“Pretty good, he actually slimmed down a little bit,” I answer Jon.

“How was your trip with William? What happened?” asks Jon.

“It was okay, Shaun, Phil, and I were with William and we found Jeremy and some wounded Haven Warriors,” I answer Jon.

“What happened to Jeremy?” asks Matt.

“He had a couple cuts, but I patched him up and he’ll be okay,” I answer Matt.

“Now, before I sit down again, is there anyone else you want me to call?” asks Phil.

“No, I think we are good,” I answer Phil.

“What about Shaun? Is he ever going to come back here?” asks Matt.

“You mean when Lisa says it’s okay for him to come back,” jokes Phil.

“I doubt that’s going to happen, she didn’t even acknowledge us at the Haven,” I say.

“Any word on TJ?” asks Jon.

“He’ll be here tomorrow and he’s glad I called him. He said he has some news about a reset or something,” answers Phil.

“Man, we have a full boat tomorrow,” I say.

“What boat? We are going on a boat?” jokes Matt.              

“You know what I mean,” I say with a smile on my face.

“But what are we going to do with Dalton and Dean? I don’t trust them two,” says Jon.

“Me either,” says Matt.

“What can we do with them?” I ask.

Phil answers, “Let’s just keep an eye on them and see what they are all about, but I don’t trust them either.”

My meeting with Jon, Matt, and Phil ends and we all exit from Bobby G’s house.

“You think you can have another training session soon?” asks Matt.

“Yeah, we’ll have another class pretty soon,” I answer Matt.

“TJ should be here around noon tomorrow, so I’ll come by around then,” says Phil.

“Okay, I’ll either be at my house or my dad’s,” I reply to Phil.

I say goodbye to the guys and go into my house for the night.

“I understand that Brad, and if you want to leave and go back to Channelside I can’t stop you,” I say to Brad as I talk with him inside Bobby G’s house the next morning.

Brad looks at me and I think he was thinking I would try to stop him from leaving.

“I just don’t know how you think it’s a good idea to go back to the same place where you were attacked though,” I say to Brad as I stand with him in Bobby G’s living room.

Brad sits down on Bobby G’s sofa and thinks about what I just said.

I feel bad for Brad as he sits on Bobby G’s sofa for he looks defeated.

“But what am I supposed to do? They have my wife and who knows if they hurt Eric and his wife,” says Brad.

“What can you tell me about Sal and Jacob?” I ask Brad as I sit on the recliner chair that is next to the sofa that Brad is sitting on.

“What do you want to know?” asks Brad.

“Whatever you know?” I answer Brad.

“I don’t know much as I only met with Jacob twice and Sal has been keeping to his goons and Carmine,” answers Brad.

“How many people does Sal have?” I ask Brad.

Brad thinks about my question and asks, “Like at Channelside?”

“Sure, and in his group,” I answer.

Brad thinks about Channelside and says, “I think we only have about fifty people left in Channelside now and I’m not sure how many people Sal has.”

“Does he have five people? Ten people? Just a rough estimate is fine,” I reply to Brad.

“I guess he has about fifteen people around him,” answers Brad.

“Does Jacob or DK live in Channelside?” I ask Brad.

“I’ve only seen them walking around Channelside and at meetings, but I don’t think they live there,” answers Brad.

I hear Brad say that he was at a meeting with DK and Jacob and I find that very interesting.

Brad sees the expression on my face, and he says, “But again Ryan, I’m sorry about before and I couldn’t do what they wanted me to do.”

“What was that they wanted from you again?” I ask.

Brad looks at me and doesn’t answer.

I think about Brad being ordered to kill me and if he could be capable of doing it.

Brad thinks about his kidnapped wife and he starts to get worried and stressed.

I see Brad get upset and ask, “Would killing me get your wife back?”

Brad looks at me with a confused expression.

I look at Brad and Brad asks, “You would do that for me?”

“No, sorry Brad, I’m just asking if that’s how you get your wife back,” I answer Brad.

Brad thinks about my question and says, “I really don’t know, but I just figured that was the deal.”

“So you could kill me, go back home, and still not get your wife back?” I ask Brad.

“Yeah, I guess,” answers Brad.

“Sounds like you need to come up with another plan,” I say.

Brad looks down at the living room tile floor.

I walk into Bobby G’s kitchen and look at where I previously kept DK’s walkie-talkie. It’s not there now as I put it away in a safe in our Armory house.

I think about DK telling me over the walkie-talkie, “I’ll show you that you can trust me.”

DK’s statement about trust was the last thing he said to me and then the next morning Brad shows up here at Citrus Oaks.

I decide to go get my walkie-talkie out of the Armory house and I walk towards Bobby G’s front door.

“You gonna be okay if I leave you?” I ask Brad as I stand at Bobby G’s closed front door.

“Yeah,” answers Brad.

I look at Brad and wonder if he will try to leave at the first chance he gets. I decide to leave Brad alone in Bobby G’s house, exit Bobby G’s house, and walk down the sidewalk towards our Armory house.

I enter the Armory house and unlock the safe that I put my walkie-talkie in. I remove the black bag that Saba put the walkie-talkie in and them remove the aluminum foil from the walkie-talkie and turn the walkie-talkie on.

I’m about to call for DK, but I stop myself and ask, “Is this the right thing to do by calling DK?”

Before I can talk on the walkie-talkie, DK’s voice is heard on the walkie-talkie, “How did you like my gift Ryan?”

I look down at the walkie-talkie as I hold it in my right hand.

“So it was you that beat up Brad and dropped him outside of our neighborhood?” I ask into my walkie-talkie.

DK laughs and answers over the walkie, “It wasn’t me exactly, but it was my people.”

“Why did you do it?” I ask into my walkie-talkie.

“Oh, but you know why. Brad was supposed to kill you,” answers DK over the walkie.

I think about Brad being ordered to kill me, DK having Brad beaten up and delivered to me, and wonder why DK did that.

“But why did you interfere with Brad’s order?” I ask into my walkie-talkie.

There is no answer from DK over the walkie-talkie.

I hear a call over the radio, “Ryan? Are you allowing Brad to leave?”

I put down my walkie-talkie and grab the radio that is on a charging station inside the Armory house and answer, “Stop him, and don’t let him leave yet.”

“Will do sir,” replies Brody over the radio.

I place the radio back on its charging station.

“Won’t you get in trouble with Sal or Jacob or whoever for interfering with Brad’s order?” I ask into my walkie-talkie to DK.

“No one knows that I did that except you, me, and my people,” answers DK over the walkie.

“So what’s the next step here? What did you hope to accomplish by delivering Brad to me?” I ask into my walkie-talkie.

There is no answer from DK over the walkie-talkie.

Every time there is no answer from DK over the walkie-talkie I feel a bunch of different emotions, but I mostly get pissed that he doesn’t respond to me. Lack of communication is a big pet peeve of mine, especially when someone doesn’t communicate during an important time.

“Well, thanks for the gift, but I didn’t really need any more stress around here,” I say into my walkie-talkie.

I’m about to turn off my walkie-talkie and DK replies over the walkie, “We have some things to talk about and I want to meet.”

Before I can reply, DK says over the walkie, “Meet me at World of Trade, the same place as before in three days at noon.”

“And what if I don’t?” I ask into my walkie-talkie.

“I wouldn’t recommend that,” answers DK over the walkie with a threatening tone.

“How do I know it’s not a setup?” I ask DK into my walkie-talkie.

DK quickly answers over the walkie, “You don’t. See you in three days.”

CLICK.

I hear DK turn off his walkie and I turn off my walkie-talkie. I put my walkie-talkie back into the black bag that Saba put it in, put the black bag in the safe, and close and lock the safe.

I ask myself, “Did I just fuck up? Did I make things worse by calling DK?”

I put my head down and put my right fingers on my forehead and eyes and rub my forehead as I start to feel the early symptoms of a migraine headache.

I exit the Armory house and enter the Medical house.

Deb is in the Medical house as I enter through its front door.

Deb is somewhat startled as I enter the Medical house and she drops a bottle of pills.

“I’m sorry, did I scare you?” I ask Deb.

Deb picks up the bottle that she dropped and answers me, “Yeah, but I’ve been more skittish lately.”

“Everything okay?” I ask Deb as I step closer to her.

Deb puts the bottle that she dropped on a cabinet shelf and answers, “Yeah, well no, but I’ll be okay.”

I grab a bottle of migraine headache medication and pour two pills out into my left hand.

Deb sees the two pills in my left hand and jokes, “I see you need some meds also.”

I walk over to the refrigerator and grab a bottle of water and swallow the two pills and some water.

“Yeah, it’s been one of those days,” I jokingly reply to Deb.

Deb smiles.

“Everything okay though? You have enough supplies? Food? Water? Do you need anything?” I ask Deb.

“We have more than enough stuff. But it’s just tough not having Kat around or my old friends and family,” answers Deb.

I think about Deb being alone and I feel bad for her.

“Have you met my mother in law Fran and Matt’s mom Ann?” I ask Deb.

“Yeah, only a couple times though,” answers Deb.

“I think you should hang out with them,” I say to Deb.

“Hang out with them?” jokes Deb with a smile.

“I don’t know, have a wine night or something,” I reply to Deb with a smile on my face.

“I do have a couple good bottles of wine,” replies Deb.

“Great, I’ll tell Fran about getting together and I’ll tell Matt to tell Ann about it as well,” I say to Deb.

Deb gets a smile on her face and I see that she is excited about the idea of having plans.

“Thank you Ryan, that would be great,” says Deb.

I say goodbye to Deb and exit the Medical house.

I see Phil exit his house and he shouts to me as I stand in the Medical house driveway, “TJ will be here in about an hour and Saba and Bakari will be here in two hours.”

“They call you and tell you that?” I ask Phil.

“No a raven came by with a note on his ass,” answers Phil with a sarcastic joking tone.

I laugh at Phil’s joke and reply, “Now that would be something.”

“Yeah, maybe Mr. Charlie’s birds will have notes on their asses now,” jokes Phil.

“What’s going on at the front gate?” asks Phil.

“Brad was trying to leave, and Brody stopped him,” I answer Phil as we stand on the sidewalk near Phil’s house.

“You going to let him leave?” asks Phil.

“Should I?” I ask.

Phil thinks about what to do with Brad and answers, “I don’t know what to do with him, but we can’t stop him from doing what he wants.”

“He was ordered to kill me,” I reply.

“Well, that’s not happening, but you know what I mean. We can’t keep him from leaving here and trying to get back home to Channelside,” replies Phil.

“Should we just let him go back to Channelside now?” I ask Phil.

“Let’s bring it up to TJ and Bakari and see what they say about it,” answers Phil.

“That’s a good idea, but I have some other news as well,” I say to Phil.

“What happened now?” asks Phil.

“DK wants to meet in three days at World of Trade,” I answer Phil.

“Are you fucking serious?” asks Phil.

“Yeah, I called him over the walkie, and he said that he wants to meet and that he wouldn’t recommend for me not to meet with him,” I answer Phil.

Phil shakes his head and says, “We are definitely bringing that up to Bakari and TJ.”

Two hours go by and I’m in Shaun’s living room with TJ, Bakari, Saba, Cyrus, Ayo, Phil, Jon, Matt, Brad, and Brody.

Saba hands me my Ghost mask and I see that it has some light stenciling of a design on the top of my mask and the grey markings are still on the front of my mask.

“I wasn’t able to complete the full paint job on the mask, but I blended the grey the best that I could, started the stenciling in the center, and added some black around the nose, eyes, mouth holes, and sides,” says Saba.

“Can you still do the design we talked about?” I ask Saba as I look at the new black, grey, and silver paint on the front of my mask.

“Yeah, you still want it to match your tsuba?” asks Saba.

“Yeah, if it’s possible,” I answer Saba.

“Shouldn’t be a problem. I just have to get the right paint, but I was able to update the software and upgrade the optics and batteries in the mask,” answers Saba.

“How long will it hold a charge now?” I ask Saba.

“About twelve hours with minimal sunlight on the panels,” answers Saba.

TJ walks over to Bakari and Cyrus steps towards TJ.

“I just wanted to apologize for how I acted the last time I saw you,” says TJ to Bakari.

“It’s okay C,” says Bakari to Cyrus.

Cyrus steps back behind Bakari and TJ continues talking, “I was out of line and I had the wrong impression of you and your group.”

“Who did you think we were?” asks Bakari to TJ.

TJ looks at Bakari and he doesn’t answer.

“It’s okay, I just want to know who you thought we were, I won’t get mad,” says Bakari.

“I thought you were with the movement and part of the group that started the riots, looting, and shootings around Tampa,” answers TJ.

Bakari looks TJ in his eyes and says, “I’m not going to lie to you TJ or anyone in this room… I have supported the equality movements, but I never supported the rioting, looting, shooting, and harming of people and businesses in Tampa Bay.”

Bakari looks at me and says, “But I know people that were connected with all the craziness around Tampa and in other states, and I lost friends and good people when things spiraled out of control during the movement.”

“I know that you and your group have helped many people around Tampa Bay, and I saw firsthand how you have helped the Native Americans on their reservation,” says TJ.

“You’ve met with the chief’s son and brother?” asks Bakari to TJ.

“Yes I have, and I’m sad to say that I was there when the military attacked the Native Americans at the casino,” answers TJ.

“I’ve heard people talking about getting the casino up and running again,” says Bakari.

“Part of the military that is still around here has taken it over,” responds TJ.

“We’ll see about that,” says Bakari.

CHAPTER 16

WHAT’S YBOR?

“Anything else you would like to address?” asks Bakari as we all sit and stand in Shaun’s living room.

I answer, “A couple more things actually.”

“What can we help you with?” asks Bakari.

“We have an issue with Channelside, Sal, DK, and Jacob,” I answer.

“What’s the specific issue?” asks Bakari.

“Well, as you can see Brad here was beaten up,” I answer as I point to Brad.

“Who did this to you?” asks Bakari to Brad.

“I don’t know, but they have my wife and I was ordered to kill Ryan for any chance to see my wife again,” answers Brad.

Bakari looks at me.

“Yeah, I can’t believe it either,” I say.

“I couldn’t do it and now I don’t know what to do,” says Brad.

“You live in Channelside?” asks Bakari to Brad.

“Yeah, I live in the West Tower,” answers Brad.

“I have several friends and former teammates that live there,” says Bakari.

“Can you help Brad get his wife back?” asks Phil to Bakari.

“I’ll have to look into it, but possibly,” answers Bakari.

“Would your people in Channelside be able to get to Brad’s wife?” I ask Bakari.

“What’s your wife’s name Brad?” asks Bakari.

“Ola, and she’s most likely in the East Tower in one of Sal’s condos,” answers Brad.

“I’ll check with my people and see what they can find out,” says Bakari.

“Thank you,” I say to Bakari.

“When though?” asks Brad with an impatient tone.

“I’ll see if we can get in touch with them when we get home, and I’ll let you know as soon as possible,” answers Bakari.

I sense that Brad doesn’t like that he’ll have to wait, but I also understand that he is eager to get his wife back and is tired of waiting already.

“Thank you Bakari, but I have one more topic to discuss and it’s about a meeting with DK at World of Trade,” I say.

“What meeting?” asks Jon.

“DK wants to meet with me at World of Trade in three days,” I answer Jon.

“What do you need from us?” asks Bakari.

“Backup, I need you to watch over us and possibly put another tracker on his vehicle,” I answer Bakari.

“Are we doing anything in three days?” asks Bakari to Ayo.

“I think we are going to Tampa Farms tomorrow and we’re meeting with Mr. Charlie in two days, but nothing three days from today,” answers Ayo as he looks at a device on his wrist.

“I think we’ll be able to help with your meeting,” says Bakari to me.

“I would appreciate it as I don’t trust DK, and I’m not sure what he may do at that meeting,” I reply to Bakari.

“You should be okay. We’ll be there, and World of Trade is very safe. Abdul and Amir run a tight ship at World of Trade and security is very important to them,” says Bakari.

Bakari gets a call over his satellite phone and Cyrus answers the phone call.

“I’m thinking about stopping over to the Haven before we head home, William is their leader?” asks Bakari to me.

“Yeah, tell the guards that Ryan sent you,” I answer Bakari.

“They were able to get the full shipment from the supplier,” says Cyrus to Bakari.

Bakari smiles at the news from Cyrus and says, “We must be going now, but Ryan please come to our vehicle.”

Bakari walks over to TJ, who is standing near Shaun’s front door, and says, “I’m glad you found out who we really are, and more importantly who we aren’t.”

“Me too and again I apologize for how I behaved before,” replies TJ to Bakari.

“Apology accepted and I’m glad to have you on our side. But where is your dog?” says Bakari to TJ.

“Odin is back home on the Reservation and he’s looking after my sister and Janet,” answers TJ.

Bakari and the Ghosts exit Shaun’s house and I walk over to their all-black SUV.

Saba opens the back hatch of their SUV and grabs something.

“I was able to finish it last night and I hope it fits,” says Saba to me as Saba hands me an all-black wrist sleeve that has a black sheath in the middle of it.

I look down at what Saba gave me and see that it’s my wrist gauntlet and it’s pretty awesome.

I slide the all-black wrist gauntlet onto my right wrist, forearm, and hand.

“Yet another cool toy for Ryan,” jokes Matt to Phil and Jon as they look out Shaun’s living room window.

“If you extend your wrist…” says Saba and just as he finishes his statement I move my right wrist down towards the street and a hidden knife comes out from its sheath.

I look down at the knife and Saba says, “The knife needs sharpening, but the mechanics are working good on the gauntlet.”

I bring my right wrist back to neutral and the knife goes back into its sheath.

I thank Saba for the awesome wrist gauntlet and Saba says, “I put a safety switch on the gauntlet, so you don’t accidently bring the knife out when you don’t want to.”

Saba shows me the safety switch and clicks it on.

“I’ll be in touch with you or Phil tonight about Ola, but it sounds like Sal has Channelside locked down and she could be tough to get to,” says Bakari to me.

“I know, and I’m not expecting it to be easy, but any information and help with Ola would be appreciated,” I reply to Bakari.

“I’ll be in touch,” says Bakari and then Bakari gets into his all-black SUV and Cyrus exits Citrus Oaks.

TJ, Phil, Jon, and Matt exit Shaun’s house and Jon sees the wrist gauntlet on my right wrist and says, “Oh man, you got it.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty sweet,” I reply to Jon.

“I forgot to tell you guys about the military doing a reset in a couple cities,” says TJ.

“A reset?” I ask.

“It’s, from what I understand, an order carried out by the military to bomb a city and kill everything that is dead or alive,” answers TJ.

“Where did the military reset?” asks Phil.

“The latest locations were several cities in Georgia, Illinois, and the Pacific Northwest,” answers TJ.

“Do you know if North Carolina and mainly Raleigh was bombed?” asks Phil.

“I don’t know, I haven’t heard anything about North or South Carolina,” answers TJ.

“Have any cities in Florida been reset?” I ask TJ.

“I’m not sure about that either, but let’s hope they leave Tampa alone,” answers TJ.

“What makes the military reset a city?” asks Matt.              

TJ looks at Matt and answers, “I guess when they feel that the city has nothing left to offer or has been overrun by the dead.”

“Do you think they will reset Tampa?” asks Jon.

“Would we get a warning, before it’s bombed?” asks Matt.

TJ answers, “I don’t know the answers to those questions, but I’m thinking about going to MacDill and seeing if I can get some.”

“You sure that’s a good idea?” I ask TJ.

“Probably not, but the Reservation is safe, and Janet and Alice are well protected there, plus I need to know if my father is still alive,” answers TJ.

I see Brad standing inside Shaun’s house and looking at us through the living room window.

“It’s good to see you again TJ, and I’m glad you were able to calm everything down with Bakari,” says Phil to TJ.

“Me too, Bakari and his group are pretty special around here. They are connected with a lot of different people and they really are helping things around Tampa Bay,” replies TJ.

“You need me to come with you to meet DK at World of Trade?” asks TJ to me.

“We only have four level 2 passes though,” I answer TJ.

“Are you all going to the meeting?” asks TJ to me and the guys.

“I know I’m going,” answers Phil.

“I have to meet with him, so I’m going,” I answer.

Jon and Matt don’t answer.

“What about you two?” asks TJ to Matt and Jon.

“I’ll sit this one out,” answers Matt.

“I wouldn’t mind going back to World of Trade,” answers Jon.

“Can I use your pass Matt?” asks TJ.

“Yeah, you can use mine for the meeting,” answers Matt.

“Well, that settles it. Everyone, but Matt, will go to the meeting,” I say.

“What about him?” asks Phil as he sees Brad looking at us through the window from inside Shaun’s living room.

“What are we going to do about Brad and Channelside?” asks Phil.

“I thought we are going to wait on what Bakari finds out?” asks Matt.

“We are, but what’s the play here? How do we get Brad to Ola in a safe way?” I ask.

“What if you get this Sal guy and his people out of Channelside and then you have Bakari’s people inside Channelside go get Ola?” asks TJ.

“That could work,” answers Phil.

“How do we get Sal out of Channelside though?” asks Jon.

I think about how we can get Sal out of Channelside and it occurs to me that we should consult with Brad.

“Brad! Come out here!” I shout to Brad who is still inside Shaun’s house near Shaun’s living room window.

Brad exits Shaun’s house and comes over to us.

“What can you tell us about Sal and his goons?” I ask Brad.

“What do you want to know?” asks Brad.

“Everything,” answers Phil.

We go into Shaun’s garage and Brad tells us about Sal and what’s going on at Channelside.

“Sal’s goons are really all over Channelside now, they patrol the streets, buildings, and pretty much have Channelside locked down,” says Brad.

“Is the only way into Channelside by boat still?” asks Phil.

“No, they opened up a way to drive in and out, but you can still come by the marina and docks,” answers Brad.

“Does Sal and his goons ever leave Channelside?” asks TJ.

“Yeah, they leave a lot actually,” answers Brad.

“Where do they go?” I ask.

“I’m not really sure, but I know I overheard them talking about going to Ybor more and more lately,” answers Brad.

“What’s Ybor?” asks Jon.

“It’s a part of downtown Tampa, and it’s where a lot of restaurants, bars, clubs, and shops are,” answers Brad.

I look at Matt and say, “It’s where I took you and Shaun that one time for spring break and the security guards, or someone, pepper sprayed everyone.”

Matt smiles and replies, “That was a crazy trip. We did a lot that trip. Orlando Studios, bars, clubs, and Ybor, man that was a good time,” replies Matt.

“So is Sal going there for a drink or what?” asks Phil.

“I don’t know, but I heard him bitching about the zombies taking it over and how the Colombians took over Ybor before the zombies did,” answers Brad.

“I think that’s our chance,” says TJ.

“When? What do you mean?” asks Brad.

“When he leaves, maybe we can set up something for him in Ybor and trap him there,” answers TJ.

“Buy the people in Channelside some time to get to Ola or even have the zombies get Sal,” says Phil.

I’m intrigued by what TJ and Phil are saying about Ybor and having Sal and his goons get trapped there.

“But how do we do it? And how do we know he’ll even go back there?” I ask.

“What if we use Brad for that?” asks Phil.

Brad and everyone look at Phil with an interested expression.

“Just hear me out. Brad goes back to Channelside and says that he went to Ybor and he saw something there and that Sal needs to check it out,” says Phil.

“What would I say?” asks Brad.

“Come up with something, say you saw the Colombians and they were making progress on taking over Ybor, or something like that,” answers Phil.

“Does Brad have to go back to Channelside to do it though?” I ask.

Everyone looks at me and I ask, “Can Brad just radio them to come to Ybor without having him go back into Channelside?”

“I guess he could, but we want to make sure Sal and his goons leave Channelside,” answers Phil.

“I think either could work,” says TJ.

“But won’t the people that beat Brad up wonder why he came back to Channelside?” asks Jon.

“I’m willing to take that risk,” answers Brad.

I look at Phil and TJ and wait for them to weigh in on the idea of Brad going back to Channelside.

“It would be better to have someone inside Channelside that we can communicate with though,” says Phil.

“What about Bakari’s people?” asks Jon.

“We don’t have access to them, and I’m sure Brad is eager to get this moving,” answers Phil.

“What do you think TJ?” I ask.

TJ looks at Brad and asks, “Are you up for it?”

Brad nods his head and answers, “Yes, I’m actually eager to get this going. Waiting and wondering about what might be going on is driving me nuts.”

“But how do we know we can trust you? How do we know this isn’t part of your plan?” asks Matt to Brad.

Brad looks at Matt and answers, “Are you serious? My plan was to get beaten up and dropped off here?”

“What do you think about it Ryan?” asks Matt.

I think about Matt’s question and answer, “What would any of you do, if you were Brad? Would you not do everything in your power to get your wife back?”

“But Ryan, he was ordered to kill you,” answers Jon.

“You going to kill me Brad?” I ask as I look directly at Brad.

“No, I can’t do that,” answers Brad.

“But desperate men, do desperate things,” says Phil to Brad.

“I already talked with Brad and Brad knows that he may not get his wife back, even if he killed me,” I say.

“Is that true?” asks Phil to Brad.

“Yeah, my hands were tied and that’s what Sal ordered me to do. I told him that I wouldn’t even attempt to kill Ryan and then he took my wife and said that I had to do it to get Ola back,” answers Brad.

“But won’t they wonder why you are back at Channelside?” asks Matt.

“I don’t even know who attacked me,” answers Brad.

“Have you had any interactions with DK?” I ask Brad.

“Not really, he was at one meeting and I saw him with Sal and Jacob around Channelside like twice,” answers Brad.

“Do you know where Jacob is?” asks Phil to Brad.

“He hasn’t been around Channelside for a while,” answers Brad.

“So what did we decide about Brad? Is he going back to Channelside or not?” asks Matt.

I look around the room and answer, “I think we decided that Brad would go back to Channelside and tell Sal about going to Ybor.”

“And we are going to World of Trade to meet with DK in three days?” asks TJ.

“Yeah that’s right,” I answer.

“What vehicle can I have?” asks Brad.

“We’ll give you one of our beat up cars,” answers Phil and then Phil and Brad exit Shaun’s house.

“You okay with this Ryan? You okay with finding out that Brad was ordered to kill you?” asks Matt to me as I sit with Jon, Matt, and TJ in Shaun’s living room.

“As good as anyone can be, I guess,” I answer.

“Them wanting you dead means that you are a threat to them and that you’re doing big things around here,” says Jon.

“I have to get back to the Reservation,” says TJ.

“I’m going to check on Kylie,” says Matt as he stands up from the sofa.

“Wait up, I’m leaving as well,” says Jon to Matt and Matt and Jon exit Shaun’s house.

I exit Shaun’s house with TJ and TJ says, “You guys should come to the Reservation. It’s nice there, I’m sure they have an empty house or two for you guys.”

“Maybe down the road, but I can’t leave this place yet,” I reply to TJ.

“I’ll be in touch with you guys, and I’ll see you in three days,” says TJ.

I shake TJ’s right hand and then TJ gets into his jeep and exits Citrus Oaks.

I see Phil and Brad looking at a car that is parked down the street.

I walk over to Phil and Brad and Brad gets into the driver seat of the car that Phil gave him.

Brad looks at me and says, “I’m sorry for all the trouble Ryan.”

“It’s not your fault,” I reply.

“I know, but I just wish it didn’t come to this. Everything with Sal and Ola and all the craziness,” says Brad.

“I wonder how things would have been if The Captain was still around?” asks Phil.

“Maybe worse, maybe better, but we have Sal and his goons now,” answers Brad.

“Just be careful and whoever beat you up and dropped you here is most likely still in Channelside,” I say to Brad.

“I’m going to keep to myself and stay hidden until we decide to put the Ybor plan in motion,” replies Brad.

“Let us know what you find out and stay in contact with us,” says Phil to Brad.

“I will, and thanks again guys,” replies Brad.

Brad starts up his car and drives towards the exit of Citrus Oaks.

“Do you think he survives?” asks Phil to me as we watch Brad exit Citrus Oaks.

“I hope so, but I don’t think we had any other option but to let him go back to Channelside,” I answer.

“I know I would do whatever it took for Nicole and you guys,” says Phil.

“Me too, but I hope it never comes to that,” I reply to Phil.

CHAPTER 17

DROP IT!

It’s the next afternoon and Shaun’s jeep drives down our main street of Citrus Oaks and parks in his driveway.

I see Shaun’s jeep in his driveway and Shaun exits from his jeep as I exit from Bobby G’s house.

“Everything okay?” I shout across the street to Shaun as I stand in Bobby G’s driveway.

“Yeah, just wanted to come by and tell you guys what happened at the Haven!” shouts Shaun.

“Should I get the guys together?” I shout to Shaun.

“Yeah, get the guys together and meet me in my house!” shouts Shaun and then Shaun goes into his house.

I call for Phil, Jon, and Matt over the radio. Phil and Jon answer my call, but Matt doesn’t answer me over the radio.

I walk over to Matt’s house and knock on his front door.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

Ann answers the door and I ask if Matt’s home.

Ann invites me into her house, and I ask her if she has met Deb.

Ann answers, “I think I met her a couple times.”

“She’s very nice, and I was wondering if you would be willing to spend some time with her? She’s just been lonely since her friend Kat died,” I say to Ann.

“Yeah no problem, I’ll talk with Fran, and we’ll have a nice evening together,” replies Ann.

“That would be great, thank you Ann,” I say.

Matt exits his bedroom and asks me, “Everything okay Ry?”

“Yeah, Shaun is here, and he wants us all together to tell us some recent news about the Haven,” I answer Matt.

“What happened? Is everything okay?” asks Matt.

“I don’t know, but Shaun seemed in good spirits,” I answer Matt.

“When does he want to meet?” asks Matt.

“I guess now, but come over to Shaun’s whenever you can,” I answer Matt.

“Okay, I will, but Kylie hasn’t been feeling well this morning,” replies Matt.

“I’m fine Matt, go over to Shaun’s!” shouts Kylie from inside Matt’s bedroom.

I smile and shout, “Hey Kylie!”

“Hey Ryan, please get him out of this house!” shouts Kylie.

“I’m trying!” I shout with a nice tone.

“I’ll see you over there,” I say to Matt and then I exit Matt’s house.

I enter my house and see Lauren and Fran in the living room.

“Hey honey,” says Lauren to me as I walk into my living room.

“Shaun just showed up and he wants to tell me and the guys something about the Haven,” I reply to Lauren.

“What about?” asks Lauren.

“I don’t know, but I’ll let you know when I find out,” I answer Lauren.

I see Fran and tell her about Deb and the idea of her, Ann, and Deb hanging out.

“What did Ann say about it?” asks Fran.

“She said that she’ll talk with you about it and plan a nice evening,” I answer Fran.

“I like that. Deb is very nice,” says Lauren to Fran.

“Who is Deb again?” asks Fran.

“She was friends with Kat, and she lives in the cul-de-sac where Jon lives,” answers Lauren.

“I don’t think I know her,” replies Fran.

“You’ll know her when you see her,” says Lauren.

I say goodbye to Fran and Lauren and walk over to Shaun’s garage.

I walk into Shaun’s empty garage and then enter Shaun’s house.

I hear Shaun in the kitchen and find Shaun drinking a soda.

“Have people been in here?” asks Shaun.

“Yeah, a lot of people have been in here actually,” I answer Shaun.

“What the fuck?” says Shaun.

“What? You left here, and it’s a big house for meetings,” I reply to Shaun.

“Who did you meet with in here?” asks Shaun.

I look at Shaun and answer, “TJ, Bakari, Saba, Ayo, Cyrus, Phil, Matt, Jon, Jaws Junior, Jordan, and Brett.”

“Brett? Who is Brett?” asks Shaun.

“He’s a kid we met at the O2U store, we kidnapped him and interrogated him in your living room,” I answer Shaun.

Phil and Jon enter Shaun’s house and Jon asks, “What’s going on Shaun? You just couldn’t stay away from us huh?”
“Probably missed all the space. How are you dealing with the cramp living quarters at the Haven?” asks Phil.

“It’s different, that’s for sure, but we are making it,” answers Shaun.

“You plan on coming back here?” asks Jon to Shaun.

Shaun nods his head and answers, “I think so, but it’s pretty good to be so close to Dr. Vargas in case we need her.”

“Dude, Lisa is like a month or two pregnant tops right now,” I say to Shaun.

“Yeah, but it’s just good to be around a good doctor for once,” jokes Shaun.

Matt enters Shaun’s house and we all give Matt a hard time for being late.

“So what’s going on at the Haven?” asks Phil.

Shaun tells us what happened recently at the Haven.

Shaun exits his Haven room and he sees two large men walking on each side of a skinny Hispanic woman.

As the four large men and the woman walk down the hallway, Shaun recognizes the woman and it is Ileana from the Factory.

“Where is the Medical room?” asks one of the large men to Shaun.

“Three doors down on the right,” answers Shaun.

The men and woman walk by Shaun and they go into the Medical room.

Shaun decides to check out the people that went into the Medical room as they close the Medical room door.

Shaun can hear Ileana and Dr. Vargas talking, but it’s muffled through the walls and closed door.

The Medical door opens and one of the large men that were with Ileana says, “We’ll be right outside the door if you need us.”

“Okay, but close the door,” replies Ileana.

Shaun tries to act like he was just walking down the hallway and not trying to listen in on the Medical room.

The four large men are wearing military grade gear and are carrying heavy duty weapons on them.

Shaun thinks about walking away from the Medical room, but his curiosity takes over and he walks back over towards the four large men.

“How’s it going fellas?” asks Shaun as he approaches two of the four large men.

The men don’t answer Shaun and that makes Shaun want to talk with them more.

“How is Ileana doing? How is Javier doing?” asks Shaun.

“Fine, they are both fine,” answers the large man that is standing next to the closed Medical room door.

“Where did you get those bad ass barrel guns from?” asks Shaun.

The large men don’t answer Shaun and again that makes Shaun want to talk with them more.

Shaun sees the weapons and gear that the men have on them and Shaun says, “Nice gear gentlemen, looks like legit military grade stuff.”

“I suggest you keep walking and get out of here,” says the large man to Shaun that is standing next to the closed Medical room door.

“Okay, okay, I will. I just wanted to see what was going on here. My wife is pregnant also and Dr. Vargas will take great care of Ileana,” says Shaun.

The large man next to the other large man, that is standing next to the closed Medical room door, looks at Shaun and says in a threatening tone, “If you want to see your wife again, I suggest you get out of here now.”

Shaun smiles and says, “I mean no harm fellas, we are on the same side here.”

Shaun says goodbye to the large men and walks down the hallway.

Hector is sitting alone at a table in the Haven cafeteria and Shaun walks over to him and asks, “You know Ileana is here and she’s with Dr. Vargas?”

Hector looks at Shaun with a concerned look and asks, “When did they get here?”

“About ten minutes ago,” answers Shaun.

Hector takes his last bite of food and asks, “Is she still here?”

“Yeah, I think so,” answers Shaun.

Hector and Shaun walk down the interior hallway and Shaun sees the Medical room door is open and the four large men aren’t standing outside of the Medical room door.

“Guess the visit is over,” says Shaun as he quickly walks with Hector down the interior hallway towards the Medical room.

Ileana exits from the Medical room and Hector shouts, “Ileana!”

The four large men and Ileana look at Hector.

“Is everything okay?” asks Hector as he and Shaun walk over to Ileana and the four large men.

Two of the large men step in front of Ileana and one of the large men says to Hector, “Stop right there, that’s close enough.”

“It’s okay fellas, he’s fine,” says Ileana and then Ileana steps between the two large men.

“How are you Hector?” asks Ileana.

“Good, is everything okay?” answers Hector.

“Yes, everything is fine. It’s great actually. Dr. Dani said everything is looking very good for me and the baby,” answers Ileana.

“How is Javier?” asks Shaun.

“Who are you?” asks Ileana to Shaun.

“I’m Shaun, I’m friends with Ryan,” answers Shaun.

“Javi is doing much better, thank you for asking,” replies Ileana.

“I’m glad I was able to see you Hector, Javi wants you to come by the Factory,” says Ileana.

“I planned on coming by tomorrow,” replies Hector.

“I’ll let him know, it was nice talking with both of you,” says Ileana to Shaun and Hector and then Ileana and her four large men walk down the hallway and leave the Haven.

Hector and Shaun walk into the Medical room and they see that Dr. Vargas is cleaning off a table.

“Everything okay Dani?” asks Hector to Dr. Vargas.

“Yeah, everything is okay,” answers Dr. Vargas.

Shaun sees that Dr. Vargas seems to be stressed out and looks to be a little upset.

“Is everything okay with Ileana’s baby?” asks Hector.

“You know I can’t tell you that,” answers Dr. Vargas.

“Is she planning on coming back here to see you again?” asks Shaun to Dr. Vargas.

“She said she’ll be in touch, but I think she should be seen a couple more times before she has the baby,” answers Dr. Vargas.

“Why are you going back to the Factory?” asks Shaun to Hector.

“I have to see Javi and see what they want for the guns and weapons they gave the Haven,” answers Hector.

“You want me to go with you?” asks Shaun to Hector.

“It’s better if I go alone, but thank you,” answers Hector.

“And I came here today, and Hector went to the Factory today,” says Shaun to me and the guys as we sit in his living room.

“How much did Javier give to the Haven?” I ask Shaun.

“I don’t know specifics, but you saw the big ass barrel gun,” answers Shaun.

“Yeah, it was pretty crazy. It destroyed those Conquerors,” I reply.

“Has there been any more attacks on the Haven?” asks Jon to Shaun.

“Not since William and everyone went after the Conquerors,” answers Shaun.

“Is Dr. Morris still there?” asks Phil.

“Yeah and the guy they found her with. He keeps laughing and saying that his brother isn’t going to stop attacking the Haven unless they release him,” answers Shaun.

“Why not just give him back then?” asks Matt.

“Not sure, and I’m not sure what William has planned for Dr. Morris and that guy,” answers Shaun.

“Where is Chewie?” asks Shaun.

“You want me to go get him?” asks Matt.

“Yeah, I would like to see him,” answers Shaun.

“I’ll go get him,” says Matt and then Matt exits Shaun’s house and goes over to his house to get Chewie.

“But how are things going here?” asks Shaun.

“Pretty good,” I answer.

“Besides having Brad dropped off at our front gate and a couple problems with some new guards around here, we are doing pretty well,” says Phil.

“What happened to Brad?” asks Shaun.

“DK, well DK’s people beat Brad up and dropped him off across the street in a truck,” I answer.

“Why?” asks Shaun.

“He was a gift to me,” I answer.

“That’s a terrible gift,” says Shaun.

“Yeah, DK said it was to show me that I can trust him because Brad was supposed to kill me and DK didn’t let that happen,” I reply.

“Well, Brad did have a couple chances to kill you, but he didn’t,” says Phil.

Shaun asks, “Why would Brad want to kill you?”

“They have his wife and they said the only way to get her back is to kill me,” I answer.

Matt comes back into Shaun’s house with Chewie.

Chewie runs over to me and then Shaun, and then he smells everyone in the living room.

Shaun looks at Chewie and sees that he has gained weight and jokes, “Man, Chewie is a fat boy now.”

“It’s my mom and Kylie, they are constantly giving him treats and food,” replies Matt.

“Are there any animals at the Haven?” asks Jon.

“There a couple big fatties walking around,” jokes Shaun.

“You’ve lost weight though,” says Phil to Shaun.

“Thank you for noticing. Yeah, I started to shred up and slim down a little bit. I think it will help me be more agile,” replies Shaun.

The loud roar of a motorcycle is heard driving down our main street.

I stand up and look out Shaun’s living room big picture window.

“I guess JJ got his bike,” I say as I see Jaws Junior drive towards Shaun’s house.

The guys look out the window and they see Jaws Junior drive his motorcycle by Shaun’s house and someone driving JJ’s car behind him.

“Who is driving his car?” asks Shaun.

“Looks like Dalton and Dean,” answers Jon.

Shaun asks, “Dalton and Dean?”

I step away from Shaun’s living room window and answer, “They are the two new problem guards that we have around here.”

“Where did they come from?” asks Shaun.

“The Haven I believe,” answers Phil.

“I’m not sure William has sent over any new guards here though, you sure they are from there?” asks Shaun.

“What do you mean?” I ask Shaun as the guys step away from Shaun’s living room window.

“I mean the Haven has had all their people on deck to go after the Conquerors and they haven’t sent anyone here,” answers Shaun.

“But didn’t William talk about them when you asked him?” asks Phil to me.

“Not really, he gave generic answers and he didn’t really know who I was talking about,” I answer Phil.

I grab my radio and call for Brody to come to Shaun’s house.

Brody comes to Shaun’s house and I ask Brody, “Are you sure Dalton and Dean are from the Haven?”

“I think so, they were wearing Haven Warrior gear when they showed up here,” answers Brody.

“Did they come alone or with anyone else?” asks Phil to Brody.

“They came alone,” answers Brody.

Phil looks at me with a concerned look and says, “We need to talk with them right now.”

“What’s going on sir?” asks Brody.

“Dalton and Dean might not be from the Haven,” I answer Brody.

I exit Shaun’s house with Phil. Shaun, Brody, and Jon exit Shaun’s house behind us and Brody shouts to me as I’m walking with Phil, “Should I get a couple guards?”

“Sure!” I shout as I walk with Phil towards our Armory house.

I enter our Armory house with Phil and Shaun, and I grab a shotgun. Phil does the same, and Shaun asks, “Should I get a rifle?”

Phil sees that Shaun has a handgun on him and answers, “Just use your handgun.”

Phil, Shaun, and I exit the Armory house and Jon says, “I’m going home to check on Kelly.”

Phil locks the Armory house and Shaun, Phil, and I walk down the sidewalk towards the Medical house and the back of our neighborhood.

“Are these two guys dangerous?” asks Shaun as we pass the Medical house.

“They seem like two idiots, but let’s not underestimate them,” answers Phil.

“What do we do about JJ?” I ask.

We turn the corner and enter the cul-de-sac where Jaws Junior, Darlene, Jordan and Deb, and Kelly and Jon live.

I see Jaws Junior’s motorcycle in his open garage and his car that Dalton and Dean were driving parked in the street in front of Jaws Junior’s house.

“How are we doing this?” asks Shaun.

“Let’s play it cool until shit breaks down,” answers Phil.

I look at Jaws Junior’s house and think about the fact that we are holding guns and we are approaching Jaws Junior’s house.

“But we are holding guns and I’m sure they’ll be threatened at the sight of us coming,” I say.

I think about what to do and say, “Let’s have Shaun go to JJ’s front door and we’ll stay hidden but ready if something happens.”

“What the fuck? I’m not being a guinea pig here,” replies Shaun.

“Holster your gun and go knock on the door and play it off as you are just checking out JJ’s motorcycle,” I say to Shaun.

“That’s probably the best way of doing it,” says Phil as he looks at Jaws Junior’s house.

“I’m not wearing a vest though,” says Shaun.

“We’ll be right outside if shit happens,” I reply.

“You got this,” says Phil and then Phil runs towards Jon’s house.

I follow Phil and Shaun is left standing at the entrance of the cul-de-sac.

Shaun holsters his handgun and says to himself, “I knew I should have stayed at the Haven today.”

Shaun gathers himself and walks towards Jaws Junior’s house.

Phil and I walk around towards Deb and Jordan’s house as Shaun comes to the front door of Jaws Junior and Darlene’s house.

Shaun stands in front of Jaws Junior’s closed front door and Phil and I stand at the side of Jaws Junior’s house near his open garage.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

Shaun knocks on Jaws Junior’s front door.

Jaws Junior opens his front door and says, “Hey Shaun, how are you man?”

“Good, I saw your bike and was wondering how you were doing,” answers Shaun.

“You want to see her, she’s pretty awesome,” replies Jaws Junior as Jaws Junior steps out onto his front porch.

Jaws Junior shouts into his house, “D and D come out here with me!”

I look at Phil after hearing Jaws Junior call Dalton and Dean, D and D.

Dalton and Dean come out of Jaws Junior’s house and Shaun looks over Dalton and Dean.

“Who are you?” asks Dean to Shaun.

“I’m Shaun, who the fuck are you two?” answers Shaun.

“They are okay Shaun, they helped me get my bike back here,” says Jaws Junior and then Jaws Junior walks towards his open garage.

Phil and I move away from Jaws Junior’s open garage and remain hidden at the side of Jaws Junior’s house.

Shaun, Dalton, and Dean walk into Jaws Junior’s garage and Jaws Junior asks, “You like bikes Shaun?”

“Yeah, I do, but the wife would never let me get one,” answers Shaun.

“I hear ya,” replies Jaws Junior.

“Where is your wife now?” asks Dalton to Shaun with a creepy tone.

Shaun turns towards Dean and Dalton who are standing behind Shaun near Jaws Junior’s tool chest.

“She’s back home. Where are you two from?” replies Shaun as he looks at Dean and Dalton.

Dean looks at Dalton and Dalton answers, “Not too far from here.”

Dean rolls up his sleeves and Shaun sees that Dean has tattoos on his forearms.

Shaun starts to get a little nervous and wonders where Phil and I are.

“I had to change out the carburetor and a couple other things, before I could get her running again,” says Jaws Junior to Shaun.

Shaun looks at Jaws Junior’s motorcycle.

Dean slowly opens a drawer on Jaws Junior’s tool chest and grabs a large hammer.

Dalton and Dean are watching Shaun talk with Jaws Junior and they step closer to Shaun.

Phil and I hear Jaws Junior and Shaun talking and I start to wonder where Dalton and Dean are.

My adrenaline kicks in and I feel the need to check on Shaun inside Jaws Junior’s garage.

I rush around the side of Jaws Junior’s open garage and see Dean about to strike Shaun in the back of the head with a large hammer.

I point my shotgun at the back of Dalton and Dean and shout, “Drop it!”

Shaun turns around and sees the large hammer in Dean’s right hand.

Phil runs over to Dean and grabs the large hammer out of his right hand.

“What’s going on?” shouts Jaws Junior as he looks at me and Phil.

“I don’t know, but we’re going to find out,” I answer with an aggressive tone as I make eye contact with Dean.

CHAPTER 18

LET THEM IN

“You are making a mistake!” shouts Dalton, who is tied to a chair next to Dean who is also tied to a chair, as he sits in the living room of the abandoned house that is next to Jaws Junior’s house.

“Shut the fuck up!” shouts Phil.

“What’s going on Ryan? Why did you tie them up?” asks Jaws Junior to me as I’m talking with him outside of the abandoned house.

“Dalton and Dean might not be from the Haven and we are just getting answers,” I answer Jaws Junior.

“Where are they from then? What did they do?” asks Jaws Junior.             

“I don’t know, that’s what we’re going to find out,” I answer Jaws Junior.

“Should I be worried about them? They were alone in my house with Darlene,” says Jaws Junior.

“Like I said we don’t know, but I’ll let you know what we find out. Go home and talk with Darlene,” I reply to Jaws Junior.

Jaws Junior gives me a worried look and I say, “We got this under control now. Go talk with your wife.”

I go into the abandoned house and I find Shaun and Phil standing in the living room near Dalton and Dean who are tied with their arms behind their backs as they sit in wooden dining room chairs.

“I don’t know who you think we are, but you got us all wrong,” pleads Dalton.

“Okay, then why were you going to hit me with the hammer?” asks Shaun.

Dalton doesn’t answer and Dean just stares at Shaun.

“Exactly, if you had nothing to hide then why attack me?” asks Shaun.

“Are you from the Haven?” asks Phil to Dalton and Dean.

Neither of them answer.

Brody calls for me over the radio and I ask Brody, “What did you find out?”

“They definitely are not from the Haven, and three Haven guards who were out on patrol were attacked and had their gear taken from them recently,” answers Brody over the radio.

Dean smiles after hearing what Brody said over the radio.             

“You think this is funny?” asks Shaun to Dean with some attitude.

“Yeah, I do. You two aren’t going to kill us, so just let us go on our way and quit with the theatrics,” answers Dean.

“Maybe you are right, maybe we won’t kill you, or maybe we’ll just make you suffer until we get some answers,” replies Phil.

I end my conversation with Brody over the radio and ask Dean and Dalton, “Well we know you aren’t from the Haven, so where are you from? You with the Conquerors, Channelside, or where?”

“Channelside? Conquerors? What are you talking about?” asks Dean.

“How about the prison?” asks Shaun.

Dean and Dalton don’t answer as they look at Shaun.

“Yeah, that’s it. The tats on your arms look like shitty prison tats,” says Phil.

“I got them before prison,” says Dean.

“When did you get out?” asks Phil.

“We got out about a week ago,” answers Dalton.

“Dennison let you out?” I ask Dean and Dalton and they both give me a shocked expression like how do I know about Dennison.

“I met two of your people from the inside. Tyler and Tiny I believe they were, before they died,” I say to Dean.

“You kill them?” asks Dean.

“Yeah, well Tyler killed Tiny, and I shot Tyler,” I answer Dean.

I see the expression on Dean and Dalton’s face change from cocky to concerned.

“How old are you two?” asks Shaun.

“What does it matter?” answers Dean.

“You just look young is all,” answers Shaun.

“It doesn’t matter how old we are,” responds Dalton.

“You are right, it only matters what you do in this world and if you hurt or help people,” says Shaun.

“How many prisoners left the prison?” asks Phil to Dean and Dalton.

“I didn’t get a head count,” answers Dean with a sarcastic tone.

“Just a rough estimate fucker,” replies Phil.

“We’re answering your questions and getting nothing out of this,” says Dalton.

“Oh yeah? What do you want?” asks Phil.

Dean and Dalton think about Phil’s question and Dean answers, “First we want to be untied.”

“And we want a house in here,” says Dalton.             

“Anything else?” asks Phil.

“That would be a good start,” answers Dean.

“I got a good start for you,” replies Phil.

WHAP!

Phil punches Dean straight in his nose and Dean falls backwards in his chair onto the living room tile.

Blood starts coming out from Dean’s nose and I see that Phil broke Dean’s nose.

“What the fuck!” shouts Dalton as he looks down at Dean who is still tied to the chair that is now on the tile floor.

“You don’t make demands; we decide what happens to you. We have people and families in here and you fucks aren’t going to mess up what we have,” says Phil to Dalton.

“You broke my fucking nose!” shouts Dean as he spits out blood onto his shirt.

“I’ll break more than that if you keep up with your bullshit demands!” shouts Phil.

Seeing Dean and Dalton tied up in their chairs reminds me of the two guys that Phil and I tied to the street signpost and the two guys that we executed on the front lawn of the Medical house.

“Is there any reason to keep you around?” I shout to Dean and Dalton.

“Just let us go, and you’ll never see us again,” answers Dalton.

Shaun sees Dean starting to choke on his own blood and picks him up from the floor.

Dean spits out some more blood onto his shirt.

“Why should we keep you alive?” I ask as I look at Dalton.

“We could have killed Jaws Junior and his wife,” answers Dalton.

“Did you touch Darlene or anyone in here?” I ask Dalton.

Before Dean or Dalton can answer, the front door of the abandoned house we are in opens and Jaws Junior enters the house and aims his handgun at Dean and Dalton.

BANG! BANG!

BANG! BANG!

Jaws Junior fires four shots at Dean and Dalton and all four shots hit Dean and Dalton and kill them.

“What the fuck!” shouts Shaun as he gets up from the living room tile floor.

“Did I get you?” asks Jaws Junior to Shaun.

Shaun checks himself for bullet wounds and answers, “No, but next time give me more than a second to get away from the people you are shooting at.”

“Sorry,” replies Jaws Junior as he holsters his handgun.

“Why did you shoot them?” asks Phil to Jaws Junior.

“Dar told me that they both made advances on her, but she and Indy stopped them,” answers Jaws Junior.

“Is Darlene okay?” I ask Jaws Junior.

“Yeah, she is okay, and nothing happened to her,” answers Jaws Junior.

“Well, that ends that. Guess we don’t have to decide on if they should live or not,” says Shaun.

“I hope no one else was threatened by these two,” I say.

“We aren’t taking any new people in. No one from the Haven or anywhere else unless we personally know them,” says Phil.

“I agree,” I say.

“What are we going to do with these bodies?” asks Jaws Junior.

“You mean what are you going to do?” asks Phil to Jaws Junior.

“Yeah, I’ll take care of it, but I was wondering if I should bury or burn them,” answers Jaws Junior.

“Sir, we have a problem here at the front gate,” says Brody over the radio.

“What’s wrong?” I ask into my radio.

“There are a bunch of people here and this one guy says he wants to talk with you,” answers Brody over the radio.

“Who is he? What does he want?” I ask into my radio.

I hear Brody ask the person his name, as Brody has his finger on the radio talk button, and then I also hear a woman’s voice say something to Brody.

“He said his name is Bishop,” answers Brody over the radio.

“Who the fuck is Bishop?” asks Shaun.

“I don’t know, but I guess we’re going to find out,” I answer Shaun.

“I’ll be right there, but don’t let them in,” I reply into my radio to Brody.

“I’m coming with you,” says Phil and I exit the abandoned house with Phil and Shaun.

“You going to help JJ?” I ask Shaun.

“And miss finding out who this Bishop guy is?” answers Shaun as we walk down the sidewalk.

Shaun continues, “And JJ said he’ll take care of the bodies.”

“Bishop has to be from the church,” says Phil.

“Yeah, I doubt his real name is Bishop,” I reply as we pass the Armory house.

“Should I get a rifle?” asks Shaun.

We approach my house and Phil answers Shaun, “I doubt one rifle is going to help here.”

Phil, Shaun, and I pass Bobby G’s house and we see that Brody did not let anyone into Citrus Oaks.

I run up the lookout platform steps that Brody is on and Shaun and Phil walk up the other lookout platform steps on the other side of our main gate.

“There’s a bunch of them sir,” says Brody to me as I step up on to the lookout platform.

I look over our wall and I see a ton of vehicles and people standing outside of Citrus Oaks.

I see a tall African American man with a shaved head standing next to a woman. I recognize the woman and it’s Faith.

“You going to let us in Ryan?” shouts Faith.

“Not all of you!” I shout.

“We only want to talk, and we mean no harm!” shouts the tall African American man that is standing next to Faith.

“We can talk, but only you and Faith are coming in!” I shout.

“Fair enough!” shouts the tall African American bald man.

“Let them in,” I say to Brody and then I walk down the lookout platform steps.

The guards open our main entrance and Faith and the tall African American bald man enter Citrus Oaks.

Our guards pat down Faith and the tall African American bald man and they find a handgun on Faith but nothing on the tall African American bald man.

“She can keep her gun,” I say to the guards as I walk towards Faith.

Shaun and Phil walk over towards the tall African American bald man.

I notice that the tall African American bald man is wearing an expensive tailored all-black suit and the suit looks to be too nice for the state of the world right now. I look over his suit and notice an American flag pin on his chest suit jacket pocket.

“How can I help you two?” I ask as I look at Faith.

“I believe you have the body of our pastor,” answers the tall African American bald man.

“I’m Ryan, you Bishop?” I ask the tall African American bald man.

“Yes sir, I’m Bishop and I’ve taken over leadership of the church,” answers the tall African American bald man.

“Why do you have so many people with you?” asks Phil.

“They mean you no harm,” answers Bishop.

“They mean us no harm, if we give you back the Pastor’s body, right?” asks Phil.

Bishop smiles, but he doesn’t answer Phil.

“You said you were going to the church; did you get any answers?” I ask Faith.

“That’s why we are here,” answers Faith.

“You need the Pastor’s body for answers?” I ask.

“Something like that,” answers Bishop.

“I think I have a lead on Rachel, and Bishop said that he could help me, if I help him,” says Faith.             

“I’m not understanding how the body of a dead pastor will give you answers,” says Phil as he looks at Bishop.

“Let’s go somewhere private and talk, and I’ll help you understand,” replies Bishop.

“You are putting a lot of trust in us. How do you know we won’t hurt you?” I ask Bishop.

Bishop whistles.

The sound of two drones flying towards us is heard and I see two drones that have guns on them fly over Bishop and the guns on the two drones are aimed at Phil, Shaun, and me.

“You said you meant no harm?” shouts Phil.

“I do, but I’m no fool either,” replies Bishop with a smile on his face.

“We’ll go inside and talk, but put the drones away,” I say to Bishop.

Bishop looks at me, smiles, and whistles twice.

The two drones above Bishop fly away from Citrus Oaks.

“Follow us,” I say to Bishop and Faith.

I walk with Shaun and Phil and Shaun asks, “How does everyone have drones with guns on them?”

“I don’t know, but hopefully we can get a couple of them,” answers Phil.

Phil and Shaun enter Shaun’s house, and I look at Bishop and Faith who are walking up Shaun’s driveway.

“Faith assured me that I can trust you,” says Bishop to me.

“What else did she say?” I ask Bishop as I look at Faith.

“We have a lot to talk about,” answers Faith and then Faith, Bishop, and I enter Shaun’s house and join Phil and Shaun in Shaun’s living room.

TO BE CONTINUED…