"My children . . . we must give thanks to God. The day I have prophesied to you has arrived. Everything I have told you has come true. The authorities who tried to take me from you are now in the loving embrace of my family . . . save for one. But this wayward soul will be found. They will be punished and in the end they will see our glorious purpose."
That voice. She recognized that voice.
America slowly came too. When she was fully awake she found that she was sitting on the floor, with her hands tied to the legs of a bed.
"W-where am I?" She said groggily.
Wherever it was it was dark and barely lit. A metal room, furnished like a bedroom. On one of the walls the American flag was set up.
"I am your father. You are my children. And together we will march to—"
The click of a radio being turned off garnered her attention to the only other occupant in the room. An aging man, tattooed, bald and spectacled. His attire suggested that he used to be military. He switched off the old radio before the Father could finish. He turned around and saw she was awake.
"You know what that shit means? It means the roads are blocked. It means the phone lines have been cut. It means there's no signal getting in or out of this valley." He took a seat in front of her. "But mostly it means we're all fucked."
America tugged on her bindings. It was futile, but she had to try.
"Release me now." America said. "I am a deputy of the Hope County Sheriff's Department. An officer of the law!"
"Oh, are you now? You know what that also means? It also means you're one of the idiots who kicked the hornets' nest and put the Peggies into a frenzy. These fuckers have been waiting years for their "prophecy" to come true. Waiting years for a sign of the end times, their "Collapse." They've been waiting for someone to come along and kick off their goddamn holy war."
She looked down, almost ashamed to be the cause for Eden's Gate. "What's happening out there?"
"The Peggies think it's the end of the world. Or at least on the brink of it. They're doing whatever they can to "save" whatever they can. Whether people want them to or not."
. . .
The man leaned back. He looked to be thinking something over.
"You know the smartest thing for me to do . . . is to hand you over."
Her throat tightened and her eyes narrowed challengingly.
A split-moment passed between them in silence. Until the old man sighed a curse and stood up. He pulled out a pocket knife, making America nervous for a moment. Her bad feelings subsided when he cut the ties on her wrists.
"But if I did that . . . nothing'd be fixed, and I'd hate to help those freaks. Get out of those clothes we need to burn them." He pointed to a locker. "There's some spare clothes in there, take what you want. Then come see me. Let's see if we can't . . . un-fuck this situation."
When he was out of the room, America sighed in relief. She wasn't a prisoner. Good. She wasn't going to be handed to the cult. Doubly good!
She undressed, leaving her uniform in a bundled pile and walked over to the locker. Most of the clothes were men's sizes. They'd be a bit baggy on her, but they'd at least fit. She settled on a red, long-sleeved sidewinder shirt and light cargo pants.
A small mirror was present in the door of the locker. She saw green eyes staring back at her. She looked at her fair face and saw she had a gash over her olive skin. Right where she banged her forehead against the dashboard of the truck when it plummeted into the water.
'That's gonna scar when it heals.' She thought.
Taking a hairband she tied her neck-length brown hair into a bun to keep her bangs out of her eyes. She handled her badge, her pride and joy, and stuck it on the side of her belt. When she was all dressed and set she walked out into a corridor. America was now realizing that she was inside a bunker. A very impressive bunker to say the least.
"Eli! It's Dutch, come in! Can you hear me!?"
She followed the man's voice and found him in a room lit by red lights. Her eyes widened as she saw on one of the walls, a map of all of Hope County, with pictures of the Seed family stapled to certain regions of the valley.
John Seed – The Baptist
Youngest of the Seed Brothers and maybe the most sadistic.
In charge of "recruiting" for the cult—MARKING, CLEANSING, CONFESSION, ATONEMENT . . .those are the four steps he put everyone through to become a member of Eden's Gate—if they survive.
John tells everyone to accept "THE POWER OF YES" as a way to get his followers to do whatever the fuck he wants. GRADE A PSYCHOPATH.
Faith – The Siren
Don't know how she's related—just showed up one day.
She'll spin you a sob story, but Faith Seed is a LIAR and a MANIPULATOR. She'll poison your mind with BLISS if she gets the chance.
Anyone who goes wandering into the Henbane River winds up dead or "WALKING THE PATH" to become one of her brain-dead ANGELS doing all the cult's hard labor.
JACOB SEED – The Soldier
Oldest of the Seeds. In charge of TRAINING their militia up in the Whitetail Mountains.
Only thing he believs in is "SACRIFICE THE WEAK." Seems to be running a few psychological experiments up north—all sort of nightmare stories about people turning on one another at the drop of a hat . . .
Has been linked to the creation of the monster wolves up north the cult calls JUDGES.
Joseph Seed – The Father
Leader of the project at Eden's Gate. He believes a great "COLLAPSE" is coming and thinks of himself as a modern day Noah.
Thinks God speaks to him—told him to SAVE AS MANY SOULS AS HE CAN. Now that he's started THE REAPING, his followers are willing to die for him.
He's had his people build three massive BUNKERS to protect themselves when his "PROPHECY" comes true . . . the guy is an absolute NUTJOB.
"I'm glad you found something that fits." Dutch interrupted her reading. She turned to face him. "I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Dutch. I've been trying to piece together what's happening up top. It ain't pretty. What I have been able to gather is that your partners are alive."
"The Sheriff and Marshal? Deputies Hudson and Pratt?" She asked hopeful.
"Yeah, but don't get too excited. They've been split up, handed off to a different member of Joseph's family."
"Then I'll get them back. Whatever it takes. It's my job to uphold law and order and if that means I have to kill each and every one of the Seed Family to do it, then so be it."
"I like your attitude." Dutch smiled. "But that's easier said then done. There's no help coming, Deputy. As I said all lines in and out of the valley have been cut. No one outside is going to know what's happening here until it's too late."
He sighed like the tired old man he looked. "You want to save your friends. I get it—I got friends who're taken too. But if we're going to save them, then we need to find people willing to fight. We need to build up a resistance."
America smiled, before chuckling. "This is Montana, Dutch. There's always people out here ready for a fight, no matter what, where, or who it is."
Dutch gave her an equal chuckle. "Damn right. But before we can start taking the fight to the cult, we need to establish a base of operations. We need to take control of this island. Once we got some breathing room . . . we can figure out what comes next."
"Agreed." She put her hand on her holster confidently, only to realize her gun was no longer in it. "My gun. Where's my gun?" She asked almost desperately.
"Oh, sorry." Dutch apologized. "I kept it locked up for safe keeping." He grabbed a small remote and clicked a button. It opened up a safe nearby. "There's a map of the island in there too that you can use as well as a key to my armory if you need some supplies. Help yourself. You're gonna need it."
America hurried over to the safe. Inside was the map and key, but what she really wanted was her gun back.
"That's a nice piece." Dutch complimented.
It was a silver and white .44 magnum pistol. With a chamber for six rounds, stainless steel body, and inlaid with ivory.
It was her most prized possession. "A gift from my Ma when I finally became a Deputy. She said to use it wisely, to only fire it when it was truly necessary. My dad, a God believing man, said to only use it when true judgment was needed." She fondled the barrel caringly.
"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this . . . the Judgement."
"Hebrews 9:27. I'm surprised your quoting the bible in these times." Dutch said.
"Now more then ever I need my faith. If I truly believe God is watching over men like Joseph Seed and his ilk . . . I don't even wanna imagine . . ."
"I get it. I get it. If you need more rounds, check my armory."
"Thanks Dutch."
America used the key to get into Dutch's armory. She had to admit, it was an impressive collection. The man had everything from handguns, to rifles, to even rocket launchers. As tempted as she was to take the latter, you didn't win wars with just rocket launchers. So, she settled with taking ammo, a ballistic vest, and a unique AR-C rifle, outfitted with a red-dot sight and extended magazine.
After raiding the armory, she walked through the corridor to leave the bunker. She found the door to the bunker and pressed the button to release the locks.
The doors opened, darkness was destroyed by light and blinded her. After waiting for her eyes to adjust, America found she was in a forest. She looked at her map, now that she could see, and realized she was on one of the two islands in the middle of Hope County.
"Now listen up." Dutch said over the radio. "If we're going to build a resistance, then we need to take this island to start with. We'll shake up the cult then kick them when their down."
"What'cha got in mind, Dutch?"
"The cult's still looking all over the place for you. They've taken the workers on this island hostage. These are good men, deputy, some of them might fight along side you if you help them."
"Even if they didn't I'd still save them, Dutch."
"Good girl. While you're at it, why not destroy some of Eden's Gate property that's all over the place now. Hell, the cults erected a couple of goddamned shrines on this island alone."
America's weapons clicked as she checked them. "They build'em up, I'll tear them down."
"Well if you're that eager, then I suggest taking on an enemy outpost. Eden's Gate has a lot of them spread across the county. Liberating those places will give the resistance a solid foothold to push Eden's Gate back."
"Anything else?"
"Just one last thing . . . help whoever you can, Deputy. There's a lot of people waging their own war out there against the cult . . . and they could use someone like you watching their backs."
"They can count on me."
"I got cameras all over this island. If I see anything noteworthy I'll let you know. For now, head south and take out any cult shit you see . . . good luck. Dutch Out."
America followed the trail leading away from the bunker. It didn't take long for her to find the cultists. They had apparently just raided a lookout tower and were beating up a ranger for any information on her.
There were two peggies. A man and a woman, wearing the signature white wool shirts and armed with guns. The woman stood sentinel while the man was interrogating the ranger.
The Deputy crouched and slowly made her way to the woman. She pulled out Judgement and leveled it by the woman's head.
"Let him go!" Everyone, but the woman looked at her.
"Deputy. We've been looking for ya."
"Let him go now, Peggie!"
"The Father wishes to see you, Deputy Jones." The woman said. There was no trace of fear or worry in her voice, despite the fact she was a hostage.
"I will not ask again!"
Why were these two so unconcerned?!
"The Father wishes to see you." The man repeated. "We want you, not him." He motioned to the hostage.
"If you want him released, come with us to the Father." The woman said.
"Are you both deaf? I have your comrade here at gun point! You're in no position to make demands."
"Tabitha."
The two locked eyes as if only communicating through their souls. America looked between them. She had no idea what the hell was happening.
"For the Father, I shall walk by our Lord's side and watch from on high as the world is reborn anew."
It all happened in a blink. There was a click. Then a BANG! And Tabitha fell to the dirt with a self-inflicted bullet hole under her chin. Her pistol was clenched tightly in her hand.
America didn't even have time to process what just happened. She had to roll behind a tree before she was fired at by the male Peggie.
She yelled out as a bullet deeply grazed her arm.
"Give yourself up Deputy. And embrace the light of The Father. For he will save us all from the Collapse."
"Fuck you, you psycho!"
His rifle went off again, causing the tree she hid behind to splinter.
"Stop making this tough! The Father only wants to save you and make you a part of our family."
America shot blindly from behind the tree. "The father can kiss my ass!"
The cultists sidestepped awkwardly avoiding her shots. He tried going around to get a better angle.
"You blasphemous bitch! I'll take you to Joseph half dead if I have to." He fired his rifle again. The tree splinted more, and America moved around the tree while also trying to press further against it.
Then she heard a clicking sound. Multiple clicking sounds. The cultist was out of ammo. Without hesitation she twirled around and fired. The Peggie leaned forward clutching his gut in pain. America pressed forward and put a bullet in his skull.
She breathed in and out heavily. Her eyes drifted toward the cooling corpse of the woman. From her position she could see the exit hole from the suicide bullet. Then she looked over at the guy who didn't even bat an eye at his friend's death. A hole in his gut and his head. She grit her teeth angrily.
"What the fuck is wrong with these people? Their so quick to die for—how can they just—such a waste."
Her memory recalled last night. A Peggie willingly threw themselves into the spinning blades of a helicopter just to stop them from taking Joseph Seed. America felt like smacking herself for forgetting that. This zealotry was lethal in so many ways.
"Excuse me?" A voice drew her attention. "Could you untie me?" The ranger asked nicely.
"Sorry." She walked over to him and cut him loose.
"Thanks. You must be the deputy that the cult is looking for."
"Yep."
"I'm lucky you came along when you did. Did Dutch send you out?"
"That's right. We're building a resistance. Starting with this island."
"You know, there's a prepper stash near the boat house over yonder. Maybe there's something you can use against the peggies."
"Thanks . . . uh . . ."
"Henry. I run this tower here."
"Deputy Jones. Thanks, Henry. Stay safe."
America made her way to the boat house and found the stash the ranger was talking about. Unfortunately, it was under water due to a pipe burst and so she had to go treasure hunting for a key in a locked boat house.
Thankfully, boathouses aren't safe from people who swim underneath them. She grabbed the key used it to activate a pump to drain the water. Most of what was inside was wet and unsalvageable. But she did find some dynamite perfectly preserved in a metal container, as well as some cash.
"Hey Deputy, its Henry. I've set up shop in the ranger tower. From here I can see the cult's set up a shrine on the northern part of the island. Figured something like that would interest ya."
"Thanks Henry. I appreciate it."
"No problem. We got to stick together. Whatever you need to stick it to the cult, I'll do everything in my power to help."
So, she traveled north and found the Eden's Gate Shrine out in the open. The structure was small and church-like. White, pointed roofs, and stood fifteen feet tall. And from what she saw through her binoculars, there was some kind of red tank inside it. Said tank was leaking a foggy, green gas.
'The peggies must operate in twos.' She thought because once again there were two peggies in front of the shrine. They were surrounded by boxes and tools and seemed to be packing up.
She put her binoculars down. "They must have just finished building that thing." Even if she wanted to, she couldn't hold back her sinister smile.
The two peggies seemed to be doing different jobs. While one was packing up, the other was giving a final examination of the structure. This left them alone and vulnerable.
She snuck through the brush, careful not to make too much noise. America got behind the lone cultist, out of sight from the second one and smoothly grabbed their head and twisted, with a sickening crack. They fell dead.
The second was none the wiser and so America snuck up on them too and performed the same neck-twist as the last. Now that the coast was clear she approached the shrine to get a better look at it.
When she got closer, she inhaled some of the fumes. Her vision started to become somewhat blurry and starry. She groaned, her body felt lighter and her mind, her thoughts, became freer. The light around her was brighter and hurt her eyes. When she heard the faint sound of a girlish laugh, and no one was around, she knew something was wrong.
Realizing this she quickly stepped back. When she was cleared of the fumes, she rubbed the stars from her eyes and everything went back to normal in seconds.
"Is this that bliss stuff that people are talking about?"
In her youth she had done a bit of drugs. She recalled her stupid teenage years and the first time she was high or drunk, but she had never taken anything that made her feel the way bliss made her feel.
It was only for a moment, her mind felt clear, so clear. Like it was being emptied of all thoughts, both negative or happy. She'd be lying if she said it didn't feel good. Hell, she'd say it felt great! But she felt so vulnerable too . . .
Shaking her head, there was no time to dwell on it. If this stuff was bliss then it was dangerous and the cult was spreading it around via these shrines. They had to go. Any chance she found these things, she'd destroy them.
Lighting a stick of dynamite, she stuck it in one of the holes of the shrine and got clear. The explosion was bigger then she anticipated it would be. Dirt, rocks and wood were flung all over the place. The earth beneath her rocked from the boom alone. When she peered from behind the rock she used as cover, all that was left of the shrine was a small crater.
Apparently, bliss was highly explosive.
"Shit—kid, I just saw the cult grab a guy down by the docks. If you help him out, maybe he'll be willing to fight the cult with you."
"The docks? That's not too far off from where I was. Thanks, Dutch."
America doubled back. She arrived back at the docks, but this time on the other side of the pond. Once again, two cultists. One interrogating the hostage, the other in overwatch.
Learning from her mistake, Deputy Jones decided stealth was the best option. These cultists won't listen to authority. She cracked her knuckles. But they'll listen to force.
She picked up a rock and chucked it a distance. The noise the rock made drew the attention of the highly alert guard. It made it all the easier to grab their mouth and twist their neck.
Now for the lone interrogator. America crouched and slowly walked across the dock. Her feet made low creaky noises and soon the Peggie would turn and see her. So, she went for broke and sprinted, the Peggie didn't have time to lift his gun, until her fist was in his chest and then in his face. The cultist fell into the water. He was still alive, no doubt, but if he was unconscious then he wouldn't be for long.
"God's will, motherfucker." She spat and then untied the hostage.
"You saved my bacon, thank you." The hostage picked up the peggie's shotgun.
America saw the man's nametag on his jacket. "Jesse Reed." He worked at the Ranger Station of the island.
"You're welcome. You know how to use that thing?"
"Wouldn't be holding it if I didn't."
"Confident good. I'm liberating this island, you wanna help out?"
"Gettin' some payback from the peggies? Count me in. In fact, I know where we can hit them where it hurts. The Forest Research Station. They're using it as some kind of depot for their goddamned Bliss."
"Then let's go take it."
It was a short walk to the station. The peggies were unloading green boxes and barrels off a boat and setting them down all over. Scoping through her binoculars, America could see one hostage inside the cabin.
"That's Phil." Jesse said. "We got to help him." He started to stand up, but she grabbed his arm.
She pulled him back down to cover and told him in a hushed tone, "We can't go in guns blazing. We got to be smart. Can't risk the cultists killing Phil or calling for more help." She pointed at a specific Peggie. "See that guy down by the docks? I'll take him. You get that guy carrying the boxes."
Jesse nodded, and both jumped down from the small cliff they were perched on and entered the outpost.
Jesse pulled out a pocket knife. When he was in reaching distance, he covered the cultists mouth and stabbed him repeatedly in the chest. Then slowly brought the man's corpse down to the ground.
Amercica snuck up on her target. She tapped his shoulder. When he mindlessly turned around she socked him in the throat. Grabbing his caved in neck, the Peggie choked to death.
She saw Jesse had finished his target and gave him a thumbs up, but then she motioned for him to freeze. A Peggie was coming right up to him, but couldn't see the man because he was behind some crates. Jesse then pointed above her. She looked up and saw a Peggie scanning the distance above her.
Jesse grabbed a rock and tossed it away. It made the grass rustle, but it distracted the cultist long enough for him to grab them and slit their throat. America actually popped out from her hiding area and grabbed the peggie's legs. They fell, the back of their head slammed against the rock and their neck made a loud crack sound.
Only four more left.
Jesse flipped his knife in the air, grabbing it by the blade and threw it at a cultist. She fell dead with the blade in her head. Suddenly, a cultist walked around the corner and nearly shouted out, but America got to him in time to snap his neck.
Confused, Jesse went around the corner to see the third one had been knocked out. No, he was dead. America punched him so hard that their neck twisted.
Only one left in the cabin. She was watching over the hostage.
The two didn't even bother being quiet about it. Jesse entered through the door the Peggie was facing, while America entered the one behind her. Before the cultist could raise her weapon, America shot her from behind. He blood splattered on the desk.
"Jesse!" Phil yelled out. "You're alive, thank God!"
"You're okay now, Phil." Jesse cut off his bindings.
Phil stood up and rubbed his wrists in pain. "Yeah, I'm fine, but not the others. They took the fucking ranger station, Jesse."
"Kelly? Dave? Winston?" Jesse said worriedly.
"Kelly died trying to fight them off. I . . . I saw them shoot her in the head. No hesitation. J-just one second she was shouting then the next . . . gone."
Jesse slammed his fist on the table. Both men looked to be on the brink of tears. "The others?"
"Alive. But I don't know for how long."
"We'll save them." America said walking up to the two. "I promise you we will."
"Don't go making promises you can't keep." Phil said bitterly.
"You coming, Jesse?"
"Fuck yeah." He pumped his shotgun. "For Kelly."
"W-wait! What should I do?"
"Tie up any of the cultists that are still alive around here."
"T-that's it?"
Phil didn't look like much of a fighter, so she really couldn't ask him to fight. America looked at the desk and saw a piece of paper from the cult. Apparently, they set up another shrine not too far away.
She handed the man a stick of dynamite she got from the prepper stash. Phil looked alarmed holding an actual explosive.
"There's a shrine to the southwest of here. If you want, go destroy it. Hurt the peggies in any way you can."
Phil gripped the dynamite tightly before nodding wordlessly.
America nodded back and then motioned for Jesse to follow.
They arrived at the Ranger Station. Four peggies had the two rangers hostage.
"What's the plan, Deputy?"
"We got to get them away from the hostages." She scratched her chin in thoughts. "Okay, here's what we'll do."
"You won't get away with this!"
"Shut it! Or we'll kill you like your friend. Be thankful that you'll be part of the new world."
"I don't want anything to do with—ARGH!"
The Peggie hit him with the butt of their gun. "Quiet, non-believer!
A shotgun fired, drawing everyone's attention.
"Hey, you cultist shits! You didn't get everyone!" Jesse yelled out. He fired his shotgun again before running into the woods.
"Get that bastard!"
"Gloria, stay and watch the hostages!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
The three cultists ran after Jesse, leaving Gloria to watch Dave and Winston.
"You won't get away with this." Winston said.
"The Father's path is a righteous one. You would be wise to join us."
"Fuck you! You killed Kelly, you bitch!"
Gloria was about to strike Dave, but America crept up behind her and struck the back of her head.
"W-who are you?"
"Deputy Jones. I'm here to help. You guys know how to use a gun?"
The three cultists followed Jesse a ways. They hid behind trees when he suppressed them with gunfire. But they had the number advantage, so two could return fire, while the other got closer.
"Come on, you cultist fucks! That the best you got!" Jesse roared over his shotgun blasts.
He emptied his gun and reloaded. After pumping his shotgun he fired again and tried hitting either three that was hiding behind the trees. But the click of a gun made him freeze in place.
"Hello, sinner." A cultist smiled evilly. "put down your gun."
"Shit." Jesse cursed as he reluctantly put down his gun.
"Roger, Denise! I got him!"
. . .
There was silence. "Roger? Denise?"
Still no answer.
The cultist pressed his weapon against Jesse's head. "What happened?! Who the fucks with you?"
Then there was a click behind his head. Judgement was placed firmly behind his skull.
"Put it down." America said seriously.
"Bitch, I got a gun to your boy's head."
"And I have guns pointed at your friend's heads, as well as your own." A few feet a ways Dave and Winston had guns pointed at a restrained Roger and Denise.
"We are not afraid to die. Our path is a righteous one. The Father will save us all, the willing and the unwilling. If we must die to ensure the future then we will do so happily and without—GRAH!"
Fluidly, Jesse grabbed the man's gun, then struck him in the face with it.
Jesse panted. "Sorry, I just really wanted to shut him up."
America smirked as she holstered her revolver.
They dragged the three back to the station and put them next to Gloria. The four, America, Jesse, and the other two rangers started cleaning up the mess that the cultists made. When everything was back in its place, the group tried deciding what was to happen with the prisoners they had.
"We should just kill them."
"No Dave, we aren't just going to flat out execute them." Jesse said.
"They killed Kelly! Our friend!"
"I know! Damnit, I know!" Jesse screamed back. "But we aren't like them. Killing people because it suits our needs."
"Then what do you suggest we do, huh? We can't take them to the police, those fucks are on the cult's side."
"Hey, you guys know—" Winston tried to voice, but got sidelined by more shouting.
"I don't know, alright Dave. Maybe . . . maybe we can put them in the shed in the back." Jesse suggested.
"Guys?"
"The shed?! And what?! Waste our limited food and water on them? And for how long? When this blows over? IF this blows over?!"
"Guys?"
"I don't have all the fucking answers, Dave! I just don't think we should execute people like a lynch mob."
"Guys?"
"They'd do the same to us!"
"GUYS!"
"WHAT?!"
"Are you forgetting that we have a deputy in our midst." Winston said.
The three men turned to the sole Deputy who was keeping an eye on the four prisoners. She heard every word the three said.
"What do you think, Deputy Jones?" Jesse asked.
Her eyes never left the prisoners as she thought about what to say. "Dave's right, the Sheriff's Department is compromised. Has been for who knows how long. I don't know what its like outside this island, but if its even half as bad as Dutch says it is, then we're in trouble."
"This is a small island." She continued. "And yet look at what we've done here. Imagine all of this on a much bigger scope. Who really knows how much control the cult's taken."
Suddenly, there was a hoarse chuckle. The one laughing was the man that Jesse knocked out, whose name they learned was Ralph Fredricks. Apparently, he was the one in charge of the operations on the island.
"The Father has taken all of Hope County. Because of what you and your heathen friends did, the Collapse is nearly upon us. You . . . have heralded the coming end and Eden's Gate will take everyone and everything we need to survive. And kill anyone that tries to stop us."
"Like Kelly?" Jesse growled.
"She shouldn't have been so defiant."
"We tried to help her, but she spat on our good will."
"The Father's good will."
"You bastards!" Both Jesse and Winston held back Dave.
"The Heralds, as we speak, are spreading the Father's word and influencing the remaining lost souls of this valley. You should all be grateful for his kindness and generosity. A lesser man would have left you all to die. But the Lord chose a wonderful man like Joseph Seed to lead us past the Collapse."
"You really think he's saving people?" America asked calmly.
"We do. He is the man chosen by God."
"Enough of this! Let's just kill them!" Dave pulled out a handgun, but Jesse wrestled it away from him before he could use it.
"Stop, Dave!"
"Come on, Dave! I know you're pissed off, but not like this . . ." Winston tried to reason.
"I'm sick and tired of hearing these fuckers blather on like they're some great blessing from God. They aren't. They're monsters! Murderers! If we let them live, they'll try to kill us. I refuse to keep these guys alive for even another second."
"That's not your decision!"
"Then whose is it? God's?! You heard what they said. God's on their side, and I'm willing to believe it, because why would God allow this shit to happen to us? Why would he allow a good woman like Kelly to die?!"
"Dave—"
*BANG*
*BANG*
The three jumped and turned around. They thought they were under attack again, but what they saw surprised them. Two of the prisoners, Roger and Denise, were lying on the ground, blood leaking from a single fresh hole in their foreheads.
America turned her revolver onto Gloria, who was just as shocked as everyone else.
*BANG*
The gun went off, ending her life instantly.
"You killed them!" Ralph wailed angrily. "You murdered them in cold blood, you heathenistic whore!"
*BANG*
Ralph's body slumped forward, his blood joined the collecting pool in the dirt.
Jesse, Winston, and Dave, looked at the four dead bodies. There eyes were still wide and their jaws slacked. They did not expect a law-serving citizen, a Sherrif's Deputy, to kill someone outright like that. When Jesse lifted his eyes to look at America's face, her look was devoid of emotion. Calm, indifferent, as if what she just did was normal.
"Y—you killed them." Dave gulped.
"Wh-why did you . . ." Winston tried to find the words, but his voice hitched in his throat.
"Because there's no other choice." She said. "Without anywhere real secure, we can't afford to take prisoners. These Peggie fucks aren't afraid of dying. They aren't afraid to sacrifice themselves for their bloody crusade. For their beloved 'Father.'" She spat that word out like poison.
"Still . . . was there no other way?" Winston asked.
Her next sentence had a tone of remorse in it. "What I did to these four is unethical. They should have been tried and imprisoned, but we don't have that option anymore." She took a deep breath to collect her thoughts. "We're all going to have to make some hard decisions in the future. Right now, we need our heads cool and these assholes wouldn't help. We have to secure this island. Can you guys do that?"
The three looked at the bodies. A little longer then they should've.
"Can you guys do that?" She asked more intensely.
"Yes, ma'am." Jesse said.
"Sure thing, mis." Winston responded.
"Yeah, Deputy." Dave answered.
The three walked off to get the area more secure. They talked about a supply truck not to far from them in the woods that could help get them started.
"Dutch, you there?" America spoke to her radio.
"I am, and I heard what ya said. Sorry you had to do that, Deputy. Executing four unarmed men, even if deserved, is not easy. But it says a lot about how far you're willin' to go to save this county. There's more of a fight in you then I thought."
". . . thanks, Dutch."
"You got a real shot at setting up this resistance. Next is to clear up the radio signal. My CB's on the fritz. I can't get a hold of anyone off this island. The tower's located on the south side of the island, it must be busted or something. Think you can take care of that for me?"
"I'm on it."
She was about to leave but stopped when she stared at the bodies. They were horrible people that deserved what they got. If she did not kill them, they would not have been merciful to others.
. . .
Still, she felt sick to her stomach to have to execute them like that. Deserving or not. These were once civilians. Just normal folk living their lives. Yet, twisted by Joseph Seed's words. Was she going to have to do that everywhere? Be judge, jury, and executioner? She hoped not . . . but she didn't kid herself.
She left the bodies, putting them the furthest from her mind. Whatever fate was left to them, she'd leave it to the rangers. Still though, why couldn't she get their faces out of her head?
America arrived at the radio tower. After flipping a switch at the very top, she got a better signal on her radio and phone. Unfortunately, they were still restricted to inside the valley.
"Nice job, kid. I'm getting a strong signal now! Open up your map and I'll run you through what I know."
America ziplined her way down off the tower and walked into the garage next to it. She unfurled her map and looked at the three different regions.
"Alright, listen up, Deputy. Hope County is divided into three regions. Jacob Seed, the older brother of the fuckin' family, runs the Whitetail Mountains. He trains the cult up there. Eli and his Whitetail Militia are putting up a fight, but Jacob's about ready to step on their necks."
"South-east of there you got the Henbane river, run by Faith Seed. The little "sister." I've heard all sorts of stories about people losing their minds in a place called "The Bliss." You be careful walking around that place. From what I hear illusions and madmen walk all over the place."
"Then finally to the west is Holland Valley. John Seed's just rolled in there and started taking everything. Food, supplies, and worst of all . . . people. I'm picking up a bunch of calls all over the damn place. I'll keep you posted on anything that might be useful."
"Thanks Dutch. Fog looks to be clearing, I'll roll out now. I should start with Holland Valley, sounds like John's just getting started with his work. Better make sure he doesn't do a good job."
"Oh shit!"
"Dutch?"
"Kid, ya near a tv?"
"Yeah?" She walked over to turn it on.
"You better turn it on. Something you should see."
The box tv came to life and on it was John Seed in all his smug glory.
"We are all sinners. Everyone of us." He said calmly. "You. Me. Even the Father, knows greatly of sin. It's a poison that clouds our minds."
He walked forward toward two members of Eden's Gate. "What if I told you, you could be free from sin? What if I told you, that everything you ever dreamed of, could come true? What if I told you that everything could be overcome if you embraced an idea: That freedom from sin, could come from the power of just one word . . ."
The members walked off to the side as John kept getting closer and closer to the camera. John smiled pleasantly and raised his arms magnanimously.
"YES!"
The crowd clapped and applauded, eating up every turd that John was spewing from his mouth. Then from the side, they brought out Hudson. Gagged and bound, led by a single armed guard. Her makeup messily ran down her face from all the tears she cried. She stared out into the unseen crowd with a pleading look in her eyes, but none of the cult would ever aid her. Physically she looked fine, psychologically though . . .
John got behind Hudson and continued his spiel. "YES, I am a sinner. YES, I wish to be unburdened. YES . . . I must be . . ." His slimy hands reached for her throat, causing the deputy to shudder in terror, "redeemed. If you're watching this, know that you have been selected."
John left Hudson's side and walked up to be the only seen on screen. "You will be cleansed. You will confess your sins and you will be offered atonement. Don't worry! You won't have to do anything."
His smile broadened. "We'll come to you."
"Welcome to Eden's Gate."
The crowd chanted "John" as he walked off screen. If there was anymore, America didn't see it, because she tossed the tv onto the ground in rage. Her friend was a captive of that psychopath. Hudson had been like a mentor to her when she first arrived in Hope County. She was more then happy to show America the ropes and even show some key places around the valley.
And that smarmy bastard, John Seed had her in his sadistic grasps. It was obvious the poor woman was tortured and terrified, any normal person could see that. Yet the cult just ate up everything he did and said like the mindless sheep they were!
"John Seed's got your partner, Deputy. You gotta get goin' and help her." Dutch said.
Wordlessly, America grabbed a pair of keys to the ATV that was in the garage. She hopped on and revved up the machine.
"No shit, Dutch. I'm about to teach that motherfucker what his parents should have . . . how to say 'no.'"