Chapter 11:

Seb was worried. He hadn't heard from Tyler since they returned from Joseph's Church a few days ago. He needed to find him, without his leadership the Resistance had no strength to fight back against Eden's Gate. He woke up in the morning and still found Tyler's mattress empty. Not only that, but he had taken the truck with him. Seb suddenly thought of an idea. The car would've left in the late morning yesterday so there still might be a traceable track. Seb quickly ran back up to the cabin looking for a certain someone. Seb ran over to her bed and shook her awake. The woman groaned and pushed Seb away out of pure instincts.

"Jess," Seb said gently. "It's just me. Wake up." Jess rolled over and slightly opened her eyes.

"Fuck of Junior," she groaned. "I'm getting my beauty sleep." Seb had enough, so he grabbed the edge of the sheet covering Jess and pulled it off her quickly.

"Wake the fuck up," Seb said more firmly this time. "I need your help to find Tyler." Jess rolled her eyes and sat up.

"What's he done now?" She asked. Seb shrugged his shoulders.

"I dunno," he said. "He did take the pickup however." Jess laughed and got up, picking up her bow from her bag and a quiver of arrows.

"So that means he's left a big fucking trail to follow." They both left the cabin and headed down the hill towards where the car is usually parked. Jess was right, the tire tracks were still present and they lead in a pretty rough direction.

"You know what you doing?" Seb asked Jess.

"Dude," she snickered. "I do this shit for a living."

"Fine then, lead the way." Seb said as he followed Jess out of the trees and onto the main road heading to the east.

Tyler groaned audibly as he felt his back scream in protest as he tried unsuccessfully to sit up. The wooden floorboards of the watchtower he was in were less then pleasant on his back. The bigger concern was why he couldn't move, it made no sense. He looked at the roof before trying to get up. He now saw what was there, or more accurately who. Lying on his chest still asleep was Faith Seed. She was breathing softly into his jacket and her hands were wrapped around his waist. She had a small smile on her lips and Tyler felt like she looked too peaceful to wake up. Too perfect. This whole experience in Hope County has hardened Tyler and it was rare for him to show empathy. As he thought back to the way he was treated in the other two regions he started to realise something himself. The Whitetail Militia had treated him as if he would snap at any moment, which he eventually did. The death of Eli and the several other Whitetails would forever be on his conscience. In the Valley, he was treated like a hero. Everyone told him that he was a hero and was doing good work. But that's where it stopped. It got to the point where all the things Tyler did came across as expected. Kill Peggies and blow shit up. The only exceptions in these regions however were his allies. Nick was always so grateful for Tyler's help that he made him the godfather of his little daughter Carmina. He had helped defend Grace's Pops' grace from the cultists and she returned the favour by staying by his side all the way. Sharky and Hurk both provided him with a light hearted change. They were so stupid it made his work easier. And Adelaide… she was a feisty woman. Once Tyler found her chopper back, she gave him albeit full access to it plus her service whenever required. She was the more recent addition to the squad. Jess. Tyler still wasn't sure about her. She carried so much baggage from her experience with the Cook and after she had her revenge by sticking an arrow through his eye she just felt empty. Like nothing would make her feel better. She then accompanied him all the way the Whitetails and through the entirety of the Valley. She killed without second thought and showed no mercy to Peggies. She had a volatile fuse that exploded at the smallest things. She had hardens Tyler's soul, he now was able to kill without much of a thought. He continued that path with his defeat of John and Jacob. Taking out both of the siblings without second thought and with pleasure. It was obvious to Tyler that he enjoyed killing. That was until he came here. When he met Seb, he realised that there was still heart being shown through all the darkness and uncertainty of what was unfolding each day. Then he started to learn about the woman on top of him. She was not like her brothers. She wanted him to join them, not atone or sacrifice the weak. She wanted him to experience the love and kindness the Father had shown her when she was younger. These people here have taught Tyler what it was to think before he acted. To show that not all meme era of Eden's Gate were bad people. There's always more than what meets the eye, as Tyler's dad used to say. Faith stirred on his chest and she slowly opened her eyes. Tyler reached a hand out and stroked her soft and dead straight hair out of her face. Faith hummed in pleasure and opened her eyes entirely. She looked up at him and smiled.

"Morning Tye." She said through a small yawn. Tyler just thought that the yawn was cute as all hell. They way her eyes slowly blinked open. It was perfect.

"Hey Faith." Tyler said. They were quickly interrupted by the sound of rapid gunfire. Faith's eyes shot to the window and she started breathing faster.

"What was that?" She asked.

"Probably an early morning gunfight." Tyler suggested. Faith shrugged and got up off him. Tyler pushed himself up and off the ground and pulled out his handgun. He crept to the door and peeked around the corner. Two cultists had set up a target range and were taking shots with a revolver from 5 feet away from the tower, both writhing shooting distance. Faith put a hand on his shoulder before he could aim at the soldiers on the ground. Tyler looked over and mouth 'What?' To her. Faith put a finger up to her lips and watched the men shoot the targets.

"Are we just watching, Faith?" Tyler asked.

"Well, we don't know if they're faithful or not do we" she asked. Tyler rolled his eyes and put his gun away. The two cultists eventually ran out of bullets and sat down underneath the shade of the watchtower. There conversation was loud enough for Tyler to hear it.

"You going to the sermon today?" One man asked.

"Yes," the other responded. "I need to hear the guidance and word of the Father once more before I return to Jessop's." he said.

"Wouldn't it be good if the Sinner would just confess now?" The first guy asked.

"Absolutely," the next guy said. "I've seen his work, he's a fine assassin. Able to kill 100 of our men and women without getting shot once." Tyler smiled to himself and looked over at Faith. She was so focussed on the conversation below.

"You know something, Abby?" The male cultist asked.

"No, what is it?" Abby, assumedly, asked.

"The only reason why I'm still here today is because of Faith. I used to know her back in high school and o had a major crush on her." The female cultist laughed.

"Why don't you tell her then?" She said.

"It's not within the rules of the Project," h raise firmly but then his voice dropped slightly. "And I don't know if she even knows who I am." Faith now had her mouth open and she looked genuinely upset. Tyler saw this and reached out and squeezed her hand in comfort. All of a sudden, the sound of a small vehicle came in their direction. An pickup truck popped out of the trees and headed towards them. Loud claps of gunfire came from the passenger seat as a man with hi AR-C leant out of the window. The shots travelled to the male cultist and hit him in the jaw. He dropped to the ground instantly and his life ended before the other cultist could process what had just happened. The car got closer and more shots were fired. The female cultist dropped to the ground instantly and Tyler saw blood spewing out of her head. She was dead. Tyler watched as the truck stopped and two figures walked out.

"Oh shit," Tyler said to Faith. "Get out of here now. It's not safe." Faith looked both worried and confused.

"What do you mean Tyler?" She asked.

"What the fuck!" Came an angry female voice. Tyler recognised it and slowly turned around to be met by a bow and arrow.

"Jess, I can explain." He said weakly.

"Well you better start talking," she said with her bow still aimed. "This looks pretty fucking suspicious." Tyler walked slowly to Faith and put a hand on her shoulder and nodded in reassurance to her. Her worried expression relaxed soon after.

"This is Faith Seed in the flesh. I know you may think she's in my head but I know what's real and what's not." Tyler said.

"Still doesn't explain why you've been gone for a whole day and I find the two of you in the same fucking watchtower!" Jess was angry now. Seb shifted awkwardly next to her and gave Tyler and Faith the 'I'm sorry' look.

"Well, it's because we are friends." Tyler explained. Jess' anger only turned even more wrathful.

"Friends with a chief manipulator!" She laughed. "Never once have I heard a more scrambled thing in my short fucking life."

"Well, you better believe it Jess!" Tyler was now angry as he shouted at Jess. "I care about her and I know she cares about me, I don't care if you don't see that, I see it."

"Well, how do I know if you are still the same?" Jess asked. "You know what the Bliss does Tyler!"

"Ask Seb, he knows I'm clear." Tyler said. Jess slowly turned around to face Seb and she was now fuming.

"You fucking knew about this?" She asked.

"Well…" Seb droned. "I might have know just a little bit." Jess swore and then pushed past Seb back down the stairs. All three watched as she walked up to the ATV, flipped them the bird and then sped away.

"Fuck!" Tyler cursed after what seemed like an hour of silence.

"Damn I had no idea Tye." Seb said.

"That's fine," Tyler reassured Seb. "Just didn't expect such a reaction." Faith now made a small noise, it wasn't a happy one. A sigh of despair.

"I'm so sorry Tyler, Seb. I truly am." She had a look of genuine hurt on her face so Tyler knew that she did care. "I should probably leave you both alone." Before she could walk off, Tyler grabbed her by the wrist and turned her around.

"Hey, look at me." He said softly. "I said this to Seb and I'm gonna do the same with you. I ain't letting you go. It means too much to me."

Faith smiled sadly but lowered her head.

"But I would only cause you trouble. We are after all on different sides." Tyler shrugged.

"It doesn't matter what side I'm on. I side with the people I want to, not the idea I view." Faith now smiled and looked up at both of the two.

"If you are both ok with this risk, then I am." She said. Tyler walked up to Faith and hugged her tightly. Faith melted into the embrace and planted a small and soft kiss on Tyler's shoulder.

"I know what I am doing, this is something that can work." He whispered.

"Thank you," Faith whispered back. "To both of you. It means more than you could imagine." Tyler let go of Faith and watched as she walked to Seb and hugged him as well.

"C'mon Seb," Tyler said. "Looks like we gotta deal with an angry fucking mob." Seb nodded and followed Tyler down the stairs and to the pickup.

Note:

Hey all, sorry this chapter didn't come out sooner. I was really indecisive and it took some time before I felt it was alright. Hope you enjoyed. Expect updates to be between 2-3 days apart for a while.