Javi stared in disbelief at the man who was calmly approaching him. His wide eyes followed every step, every move the man made in slow motion.
-... Dad?
Gabe asked just behind him, and the boy's shocked voice seemed to confirm what his brain was having trouble understanding.
- Holy shit...
His brother said in a low tone, almost in a whisper, and like him, couldn't believe his eyes.
They both thought their eyes were playing tricks on them.
- David...
Javi called his name in a whisper, getting up slowly, not caring about the guns pointed in his direction.
A smile broke out on David's lips as Gabe embraced him, and he looked at Javi in a warm way, although it was not the same way Javi remembered.
- I can't believe I'm actually seeing you.
David said, walking towards Javi and giving him a tight hug, although Javi didn't feel very comfortable with that embrace.
His eyes just stared at the mark on David's neck.
-Are you with them?
he asked in a whisper, looking at David still wide-eyed in disbelief.
- The new frontier? Yes, our community serves as a refuge for those lost. We help everyone we meet along the road.
David said, sporting the mark on his neck as if it were something he was proud of.
- What? Dad, they kidnapped Kate.
Gabe said beside him, making David look slightly surprised, but softening his expression soon after.
- Don't worry, Kate is with me. They brought her here because they thought she was stealing. She explained the situation.
He answered, looking at the two other men behind Javi who stood up slowly, focusing his eyes on Tripp for a moment, staring at his irritated gaze for a few seconds.
- What? David, they...
Javi tried to say, but David put his hand on his shoulder with some force, forcing Javi to shut up.
- Javi! She already explained the situation to me. We'll talk about it inside, okay?
He said with a slightly serious tone, glancing at the surrounding guards.
Javi, even though he didn't like it at all, nodded in agreement.
David's eyes ran around him, becoming a little more concerned as the seconds passed.
- Where is Mariana?
He asked a few seconds later with a worried tone, but Javi put his hand gently on his shoulder and gave him a gentle look, hidden behind his seriousness.
- She's fine... you told us to talk inside yourself, right?
He said, looking deep into his brother's eyes. David sighed slightly, bowing his head slightly.
- David, what do we do with this one? He shot one of our guys, almost killed him.
A female voice was present behind David, who turned and looked at Conrad, who was crawling on the ground towards his shotgun thrown further ahead, ignoring the excruciating pain throbbing in his chest.
- Touch him and I swear I'll kill all of you motherfuckers!
Tripp's angry voice echoed through his ears, and both men looked back. Javi controlled himself slightly not to help his friend when he saw one of the guards hit Tripp on the head with the stock.
- He is with us David, and he lost too much...
Javi said, leaving a slight unfinished business in the air. David stared at him for a few moments, puzzled. He sighed soon after, and turned to the woman who was pointing the gun in Conrad's direction.
- Let's take them with us. That doctor is in prison, right? Give her some medical supplies and let her do her work. Come on Gabe, Kate was looking forward to seeing you again. See you in a few minutes Javi.
David said, turning and walking toward the gates of the compound, ignoring the incredulous looks of both his brother and Tripp. Gabe looked at Javi for a few moments, hesitant to go, however, Javi gave him a soft look and nodded slightly.
- Hey, asshole! What have you done with Eleanor?!
Tripp shouted, trying to walk towards David, but being held by the guards behind him.
- Hey you son of a bitch! You better not have hurt her!
He shouted again, being forced to walk, feeling the cold metal of the barrel of one of the rifles the guards were holding make contact with the back of his head.
Javi sighed as he was forced to walk. He wanted to sit at a table and talk face to face with the brother he thought had died years ago, and when he shows up, he is part of a community of lunatics.
David had a lot of explaining to do, that was for sure.
They looked slightly surprised at the huge electric gate that opened in front of them, and Javi had to admit that he was impressed.
Several people were walking around the area, dozens of people. There was a park ahead where several of them were sitting, talking to each other or simply passing the time.
The community was as large as he had heard, and the people there did not all seem crazy.
His gaze then fell on one of the guards standing on a platform a few meters ahead of the gate. Javi felt his blood begin to bubble as he looked at Max, and as soon as he saw him, his eyes widened.
Javi stared at him for a while, until he was forced into a building that he hadn't even noticed they had arrived in.
- Try to behave yourselves, you will be out of here in no time, depending on the order.
The woman who was leading them said, opening the supposed prison door and pushing them inside.
- Eleanor!
Tripp exclaimed, walking briskly towards the woman, who, as soon as she saw him, ran to hug him.
- Oh my God, Tripp!
She said in a tone of relief as she encircled the man's neck with her arms, burying her face in his broad shoulder.
- I-I thought you were dead... back in Prescott, everything was in chaos. I tried to help a man who had been shot, and they picked me up and threw me into a fucking car.
The woman said in a rush, restless as she alternated her gaze between Tripp and Javi.
- They didn't hurt you, right? I swear to God, if they touched you...
He asked, closing his fist tightly as he imagined Eleanor being hurt, but apparently she was fine.
- No, they didn't do anything after I said I was a doctor. They were taking me somewhere far away, until a truck stopped them, and that guy, David, I think, told them to bring me here.
She explained, taking a few steps away from Tripp and looking him up and down, feeling relieved not to see him hurt, not even Javi.
- So they weren't bringing you here?
Javi asked with a raised eyebrow, crossing his arms in a confused look.
- Not at first. I don't know where I would be right now if it wasn't for David. But I just can't feel grateful after what I saw happen in Prescott.
She said with a sigh, placing her hand on her forehead as she closed her eyes, pained by the thought.
- Were they taking her to that "arena"?
Javi asked, looking at Tripp's now distressed expression, and Eleanor's somewhat worried one.
- What?!
Tripp asked, almost screaming as he ran his hands over his head, trying to control his anger and distress.
- I-I-I... I don't know... maybe, but it doesn't make sense. David didn't bring me here after he knew I was a doctor, in fact, he didn't even ask who I was, he just looked at the prisoners for a while. He didn't seem to know anything about this arena.
Eleanor said, moving a few steps closer to Javi while alternating her gaze between him and Tripp.
- Probably because he didn't know.
A rough, deep voice caught their turned and looked at the man in the corner of the prison, sitting comfortably in an armchair.
Tripp positioned himself in front of Eleanor by reflex, and both Javi and Jesus were slightly distressed by the man, a little intimidated by his appearance.
- Don't worry, even though he looks like this, he's a really nice guy.
Eleanor said, walking a few steps to the side as she approached the man, showing the group that he wasn't going to do anything.
- What do you mean by that?
Javi asked, taking a few steps closer to the man as he stared at him, still feeling slightly intimidated, but if Eleanor seemed so comfortable around him and was still okay, then for now, he didn't have to fear him.
- I mean that, although David has a somewhat great status around here, there are many things he doesn't know. Not only him, but some other people of status as high as his don't know either.
The man said, sighing slightly as he stood up slowly, walking towards Javi with calm steps.
- How do you know that?
Tripp asked, still looking at him suspiciously as he put his hands on his waist.
- I heard. I've been involved with these guys for some time. Before I was locked up in this shithole, I overheard a very interesting conversation between some of the guards.
The man said, alternating his gaze between the three men, calmly. He seemed quite calm despite the situation he was in.
- Most people don't know half of the things that happen here. These guys attack and loot communities all over the place, in different states. Not to mention the "arena" that you heard about. A place where they throw random unarmed people to fight for their lives while an audience watches.
The man explained, turning quietly and walking back to his armchair, sitting down as slouched as before, as if none of that situation seemed important to him, or as if it was nothing.
Or as if he was already used to similar situations.
- And why is that? From what we heard, this place doesn't need to steal supplies, they grow their own food.
Jesus asked, approaching the man and sitting down on the couch opposite him, as if they were two close friends who had decided to meet up, have a beer and talk about the old days.
Javi looked at Jesus, slightly surprised by his calmness.
- I can't tell you exactly, I would need to understand the mind of a crazy person. And although I am crazy in my own way, I don't go around killing and taking people's supplies.
The man said, looking at Jesus with a somewhat friendly expression, as if he was enjoying this little conversation.
- Do you know where this arena is?
Tripp asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest and still looking at the man suspiciously.
- Yes ... I attacked it some time ago.
He answered simply, looking down at his hand, ignoring the surprised looks from the people around him.
- What?
Javi asked incredulously, approaching the man and sitting down next to Jesus. He didn't feel very comfortable with this guy, but he hadn't attacked him yet, so that was a good thing.
- This arena is home to all kinds of worthless people. Murderers, rapists... Rape and murder are practically normal there. They messed with people they shouldn't have, and they paid for it. Unfortunately, they got a lot of guns and a lot of people, managed to take the place back from the zombies I put in there, and rebuilt.
He explained, with a slight tone of anger and sadness in his voice. He sighed slightly and shook his head, probably trying to dispel some unwanted memories.
- And how did you end up here? You said that many people don't know about this arena.
Tripp asked, leaning back on the sofa as he stared at the man.
- Because I let someone live when they came after me, and now, I'm working with that someone to rid Richmond of the new frontier. As I said, many don't know about the horrible things that happen here, they think that the community helps anyone, and they are happy to be here.
The man said, watching the prison door, which was slowly opening.
David stepped through the door and looked softly at Javi, closing it soon after and walking towards him.
- So this is your brother, David? I have to say, you don't look much alike, I could only recognize him by his eyes. David has told me a lot about you. Javier Garcia, the baseball brother.
The man said, smiling slightly at David, who gave a nasal laugh as he looked at Javi.
- Are you two brothers?
Eleanor asked in surprise, alternating her gaze between the two.
- I'm as surprised as you are. To me, he was dead.
Javi said, standing up and looking at David with mixed feelings that fought furiously in his eyes.
- I can say the same, but when Kate showed up, all I wanted to do was go after you.
He said with a sigh, looking back slightly and sitting down on the couch next to the man they were talking to earlier.
- I don't have much time, and Kate wants to see you. I suppose we have a lot to talk about.
David said, running his hand gently over the back of his neck as he leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees.
- As I said. I let someone live, and now that someone and I are working together.
The man said again, pointing quickly to David beside him, and Javi sighed slightly, relieved that his brother had not allied himself with the wrong people.
- I heard about this arena, I heard terrible things. I went to investigate and the place was under attack. Can you believe it? A single man attacked a huge camp all by himself, using the dead to his advantage.
David said in an impressed tone, looking at the man next to him as if he still couldn't believe what he had seen.
- No shit...
Javi said, almost in a whisper. If this was true, it made sense that he felt so intimidated by the man, despite the circumstances.
- I didn't believe it either. Anyway, I was distracted by some zombies, and he appeared and knocked me to the ground, pressing a bloody machete to my throat. In short, he asked me to be arrested here of his own free will, because he had to get it over with. I decided to help him.
He explained quickly, in a hurry due to the little time they had.
- If you decided to help him, why was that place built again?
Jesus asked, crossing his legs as he leaned his arms on the arm of the sofa.
- Many guards here liked it there. Not the murders, or rapes, but they liked to watch others fight for their lives. Besides, one of the people in charge authorized the retaking of the place, and provided resources to repair the damage caused.
He said with a heavy sigh, looking thoughtfully at the ground.
- So, you mean that one of the people in power is also a complete maniac?
Tripp asked in mockery, taking a few steps away from the sofa and walking to the side while sighing in irritation.
- Unfortunately, yes. We're trying to get her out of power, without having to kill more than necessary. I would have preferred a more direct approach, but he convinced me to spare as many lives as possible.
David said, pointing to the man next to him, who smiled, apparently in pride at hearing this.
Jesus arched an eyebrow, he had liked what he heard.
- Ah, someone who doesn't kill needlessly... I have to say that is getting rarer and rarer these days.
Jesus said in a form of flattery, nodding slightly to the man, who despite his intimidating appearance, seemed to be a pretty decent guy...
At least, from what little Javi had seen.
- Not all of these people deserve to suffer for the actions of others. Besides I still believe in second chances. I have already given a second chance to several people here, and they spit in my face, unfortunately, I have no choice but to kill them.
The man explained, leaning back in his armchair.
The door was opened, and through it two people passed, who looked at David, and then at Eleanor.
- They have come for you, a friend of yours is injured. Lingard is busy.
David said, looking at Eleanor, who looked at Tripp suggestively.
- Conrad has been shot. I won't say it was his fault, but running towards the enemy without even knowing how many of them were around was a stupid action.
Tripp said, watching Eleanor leave the room with hurried steps.
The two people looked at David with confused expressions, but ignored him and walked out the door again.
- Look, for now, there's only the two of us willing to go against the power, and honestly, both he and I want to put a bullet in Joan's head and just get it over with. But, we need a plan to make that happen.
David said somewhat quickly, alternating his gaze between them.
- David will take me out of here for execution, take me to a remote room where he will set me free. I will leave the room and wait for the right moment to kill Joan, which is when she is alone in her office. David will look for the people who know about the arena and we will kill them together. A simple plan, and all you need is patience.
The man said, looking at David, who nodded at him.
- After this, we will leave for the arena with a few more people, save the people they kidnapped, and destroy the place. That's the plan so far, if something doesn't change. We are still discussing some loose ends.
David said, getting up.
- What about the people? To them, there is nothing wrong with this place, and you will have killed "innocent people", what will they say?
Javi asked, also standing up and looking at David.
- That's the least important thing, Javi. Killing her is the priority. We will show people evidence and witnesses about the atrocities Joan did. If they accept, great, but if not, then they will be expelled. Simple.
The man said simply, as if it meant nothing. And in a way, Javi understood. But it was a little strange for him to hear someone say something like that so calmly.
- He is right, Javi. We are doing the right thing here, and that is what matters. And if some people can't see that or have something against it, unfortunately they will have to leave.
David said, walking toward the door.
- Come on, Kate wants to see you, and we have some more personal matters to discuss.
He said, opening the door and turning to Javi, waiting for him.
Javi nodded to him, and turned to the others before leaving.
- I'll be right back, guys. And... what's your name, man?
he asked, walking toward the man and extending his hand in his direction.
The man smiled gently at him and shook his hand firmly.
- Lee.
