Chapter 396

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As the judge read the verdict Eve expected to be executed. But the judge found her not guilty. Everyone was suprised, none more than Eve. Judge Greer asked the morlock woman to turn around, she then shot her in the back of the head. After everyone else left Eve was still too weak to get up. Judge Greer brought her an energy bar and a bottle of water.

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Eve: Not to sound ungrateful, but why am I still alive?

Greer: I believe you to be innocent.

Eve: "Innocent." That's a word that hasn't been used to describe me in a long time.

Greer: More innocent than me anyway.

Eve: Are the rumors true?

Greer: You're going to have to be a lot more specific.

Eve: About the rations being poisoned?

Greer: Yes. Seemed like a good way to end suffering, thin the herd before they could attack again.

Eve: You sound like Samuel.

Greer: He wasn't crazy, just ahead of the curve.

Eve: Thanks for sparing me.

Greer: Truth is, it was because I know you. I wanted to keep you out of Hell a bit longer. All we've done, we can't make up for any of it, you know that right?

Eve: I know.

Greer: Ofcourse someone has to take your place today, I'll save you a seat.

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Before Eve could say anything Greer put her gun in her mouth and pulled the trigger. Eve took the gun from Greer's body, it might be useful today. She remembered hearing a story about the end of cannibalism. The story was a young man kidnapped a girl to feed his tribe. But he fell in love with her and refused to do it. The chief, his own father, tried to kill him for this, so the young man killed his own father and took his place, showing his people a better way. Eve had no idea if the story was true or not, she liked to think it was true. She had also now been saved from cannibalism by love, or at least friendship. She was clean of heroin, but would likely always want a fix for the rest of her life, however short that was. But she had nowhere to go. She wandered around aimlessly, trying to stay in the shadows. She feared people would know what she'd become, feared they would kill her, and she was greatly ashamed. Eve wound up the capitol. Some fool had placed a flag with a nazi swastika on the top. A final act of contempt for the country that had let them down. It seemed that, for all intents and purposes, the United States of America no longer existed. Benson was sitting on the steps in despair.

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Eve: What happenned here?

Benson: We tried to take on Mason. Walker ended up fighting him one on one. Mason won, threw Walker off the top. If he was still alive the fall must've killed Walker.

Eve: Guess he wasn't God's chosen leader after all.

Benson: I had to believe in him. Walker promised it would all be worth it, that we'd be forgiven. But he lost, Mason's still in charge, of whatever remains. Tomorrow, we all die.

Eve: At least it'll be over.

Benson: Yeah. But maybe I can do one last good thing before I meet my maker.

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Benson walked away. Eve wasn't sure what he meant, but stayed put. Soon, she heard gunshots. She didn't care enough to even take cover. Then she saw Benson on the roof of the capitol, an American flag in his hand. The crowd gave him soft applause, but someone was shooting at him. Even after he was shot Benson continued his task. He tore up the swastika and put the American flag on the capitol. Then, within seconds, he fell to the ground. Already mortally wounded Benson died when hitting the pavement. Eve gave her old friend a salute. It was all she could do to honor this fallen warrior.