Author's Note: Welcome to the next chapter of my story. I've been reading your comments and I will have Jess in my story. If any of you have any ideas on how Jess should appear in the story feel free to suggest them to me.
A week has passed since the Captain and his new friends have begun their work in taking back Hope County from the Highwaymen. Things in Prosperity have improved, Grace has started training the people of Prosperity, Selene has set up her infirmary and working on the garden and Bean has set up his Cartography and has scouts scouting for things that will help in their fight. The captain saw that the people of Hope County were strong and stubborn, he saw that no matter what they would remain strong. The Cap admired their courage and determination, it reminded him a lot of his people.
The Captain and the Teens have been spending the passing days ambushing prisoner transports freeing,the prisoners inside them and looting supply cars for their resources to help Prosperity. Despite all the facilities they've built, they won't be able to step things up without Rush.
When they had free time Carmina spent hers training, socializing, and doing other things,sometimes together and with others. Hunter spent his free-time hunting animals for Prosperity to eat, other times he spent hanging out with Carmina and Marcus and he also spent time cleaning his bow and arrows.
Bean's scouts have located a few Highwaymen outposts, the closest one is at the old town "Fall's End" now called the Chop Shop. The captain and the Teens are gonna attack the outpost and use it's resources against the highwayman.
Marcus looked around the Chop Shop seeing the dead bodies that they made, they fought a tough fight at the Chop Shop but prevailed.
Later the scavengers came and secured the place. The Chop Shop will increase morale this place used to be called,Falls End. The town was a part of Hope County and the scavengers felt happy to have it back.
As they were about to head out one of Bean's agents informed Marcus about a firefight at an old silo southeast of here.
Marcus walked up to Carmina, who was drinking from her canteen. "Hey Carmina." He called.
Carmina took one more sip from her canteen, before closing it and putting it back in her bag. She turned to face Marcus. "What is it?" Carmina asked.
"I just got a report of a firefight at an old silo not far from here. We should check it out." Marcus suggested.
"OK" Carmina nodded.
Marcus looked around for Hunter but didn't see him anywhere. He was here a few minutes ago when they finished taking the outpost,but now he was nowhere in his sight. He then looked at Carmina.
"Where's Hunter?" Marcus asked.
"He went by the old church over there." Carmina replied, pointing to it.
"Why?" Marcus asked.
"After the collapse, Hunter spent the first few months of the aftermath surviving there with Jerome, it's kind of a sentimental place to him." Carmina explained.
"Let's go get him." Marcus suggested.
Hunter stood in front of the old church where he and Jerome spent some time at, after the Collapse. He and Jerome tried to survive here in the first few months of the aftermath of the collapse, when the surface became habitable,but it didn't do so well, the church was badly damaged, it was flooded with dirt, one of the walls was missing and it was slowly collapsing around them. Despite all this Hunter still had a few good times here, he enjoyed the times he spent here with Jerome, even if that time was short. In that short time Jerome taught him a little about the old world, Hope county and many other things. He enjoyed the time they spent scavenging for supplies and offering help to others as best as they could.
Hunter stroked the entrance of the church rubbing it, this place felt like a first home to him, he may have spent the first years of his life in a Bunker, that bunker never felt like a home to him, it just felt like a prison to him despite growing up in it. It felt good to have the church back, Jerome would be happy to hear it's out of the hands of the Highwaymen. Hunter promised himself he would find Jerome.
As he was rubbing the wood he heard footsteps approaching, he turned to see the Captain and Carmina right behind him.
"What's up guys?" Hunter asked casually, as he turned to them.
"I just got a report about a firefight not far from here, we should check it out." Marcus replied.
Hunter nodded, as much as he wanted to look around the church right now, he had work to do."OK"
They all left the church and ran to the location Beans Agent gave Marcus.
When they arrived at the silo they saw several dead bodies of scavengers and a group of Highwaymen fighting some guy atop of the Silo. They sprung into action killing the highwaymen and securing the area. When they secured the area the guy came down on a Zip line and ran up to them.
"Oh my god, thank you for helping me out of that Jam." The man thanked Marcus.
"Anytime, kid. Who are you?" Marcus asked.
Hunter then walked up and his eyes widened in surprise when he saw the man, that man was Ramone, one of Jerome's people.
"Ramone is that you?" he said walking up to him pushing the captain.
Marcus looked at Hunter with a surprised look on his face, as he knew this man.
"Hunter?" Ramone asked, looking at him incredulously.
"Ramone, man it really is you." Hunter said holding his hand out to him, smiling.
"Hunter, it's good to see you again." Ramone said as he gave him a high-five.
"It's good to see you too" He said, happy to see an old friend, then asked,"What are you doing here?"
"Me and Jerome, along with some of our people tried to escape from the highwaymen, but got caught, Jerome got captured again to make sure we could escape, not that it did much good." Ramone replied, looking around at the dead scavengers.
Hunter sighed, Jerome always did put others before himself, but that's what he admired about him, he always thought about the needs of others. Fear ran down Hunter's spine as the thought of Jerome being dead really seemed to put pressure on him.
"Is Jerome alive?" Carmina asked, cutting in.
Ramone looked at Carmina and nodded. "Yeah, I heard the Highwaymen saying that he's being taken to the old Rye place. It's where they're keeping some of the people they've captured" Ramone informed them.
Marcus then cut in. "You should head to the Chop Shop, it's under our control now. You'll be safe there." Marcus informed.
Ramone nodded and ran off. Hunter then started to run to the old Rye place to rescue Jerome, but before he could go any further Carmina placed a hand on him,stopping him. He turned to face her. "Hunter what are you doing?" She asked with Marcus walking up to them.
"I'm going to rescue Jerome." Hunter said bluntly, swatting her hand off of him. He has been searching for Jerome for days but had no luck. Now he knows where he is and has to rescue him before the Highwaymen do god knows what to him. Carmina stopping him from trying to rescue him frustrated him.
"Hunter, that place could be heavily guarded, even with your skills you wouldn't stand much of a chance." Marcus stated.
Hunter walked up to Marcus with a frustrated face. "I don't care cap, I've been searching for him for days and now I know where he is. I'm not just gonna sit around on my ass, while he's in a cage, rotting in some Highwayman prison" Hunter replied frustratingly.
Marcus looked at Hunter with a concerned look, he could see his determination, he knew that Jerome meant a lot to him, given that he was the one who raised him all of his life. Marcus wasn't gonna stop him from rescuing Jerome,but there was no way he was gonna let Hunter rescue Jerome on his own, if he did Hunter would most likely get himself killed. However, if they all worked together to rescue him they would stand a better chance,but he also worried that if Hunter came along he would only put Jerome and them in jeopardy by his determination to rescue him.
Hunter's face turned to a face of fear, Hunter then gripped Marcus's arms tightly. "Cap please we gotta rescue Jerome." Hunter begged Marcus.
"Hunter, I know you care about Jerome but, I just wanna make sure that if you tag along with us, you won't do anything stupid." Marcus replied, removing Hunter's hands from his arms.
"Jerome means alot to me too Hunter, but Marcus is right we have to be smart about this." Carmina stated.
Hunter looked at the captain and Carmina for a moment then nodded. "I won't, I promise to be careful." Hunter pledged.
Marcus nodded "OK, let's head back to the Chop shop and grab a vehicle."
They then headed back to the Chop Shop, as they walked Carmina and Marcus slowed behind Hunter. "Are you sure having Hunter tag along is a good idea? I know you wanna help him, but the way he is, I'm not sure he'll be much help." Carmina asked, concerned.
"I know." Marcus admitted. "But, we need his skills if we're gonna rescue Jerome."
"Jerome's a good man, he'll be a real help." Carmina commented.
"HEY! You guys coming or what?" Hunter yelled.
When they arrived at the Chop Shop, they grabbed a truck and drove off to the old Rye and Sons aviation. Carmina showed him the way,the drive wasn't long. She explained that it used to be her parents' old house, and they tried to survive there for a while.
When they got close they got out of the truck and quietly walked up to the Hangar where the prisoners were being held. Marcus pulled out a set of Binoculars and examined the place seeing several guards patrolling the place.
"Do you see Jerome anywhere?" Hunter asked.
Marcus looked around for a few more moments and spotted Jerome arriving in a prisoner transport. He put his binoculars back in his bag and looked at Hunter and Carmina. "He's just arrived." He replied.
"OK, let's go." Hunter said, getting up, but Marcus grabs him and lays him back down.
"Hunter, are you insane? There are several guards, patrolling the perimeter." Marcus asked incredulously. "If we want to rescue Jerome and the other prisoners, we have to be smart about this."
"I'll be careful." Hunter reassured, swatting Marcus's hand off him. He looked at Marcus seeing that he didn't believe him. "Don't worry,I'm not gonna do anything stupid just to rescue Jerome." Hunter reassured.
Marcus got up and turned to face them both. "Alright, here's what we're gonna do." Marcus said then looked at Hunter.
"Hunter can you climb atop that guard tower and provide cover fire?" He asked, pointing to it.
Hunter pulled out his bow."Hell yeah, I can."
Marcus then turned to Carmina. "Carmina you'll flank them from behind."
"I can do that." Carmina said nodding.
"What are you gonna do?" Hunter asked.
"I'll attack from the front." Marcus replied then pulled out his rifle."Now let's get to work."
They quietly moved to their positions, Hunter climbed atop the tower, when he made it to the top, he saw a single guard with his back turned looking at the Hangar, Hunter pulled out his knife, slowly sneaking up to him then grabbed his face and slit his throat. Hunter carefully sat the corpse down, then pulled out his bow he looked to see that Marcus had started his attack.
"The rabbit, get him!" One of the Highwaymen shouted then raised his gun, opening fire as the others did. The captain took cover beside a truck and returned fire.
Hunter then began firing arrows at the Highwaymen, his arrows hit two men clean through the head.
Marcus returned fire killing two more Highwaymen. Another Highwaymen ran up."You'll pay for tho..." The man said but was shot through the head by one of Hunter's arrows. Carmina began flanking the Highwaymen killing a Highwayman right in front of her. She opened fire on another highwayman, emptying several rounds into him. She took cover behind a wall.
Hunter killed another two more Highwaymen, emptying two arrows into their skulls, as Hunter was sniping he suddenly felt a pair of arms wrap around his throat. Hunter's bow fell out of his hands and placed his hands on the arms of the person strangling him.
"Got you kid, you're gonna pay for killing my friends." The man hissed, tightening his grip.
Hunter tried to break free,but the grip remained strong. His sight slowly started to fade and his strength started to fade, Hunter struggled to find a way out of this, then he just realized his knife. Hunter reached for his knife that was strapped to his leg, when he grabbed it, plunged it into the guy's leg, the man screamed in pain,he released his grip on Hunter and applied pressure on the stab wound. Hunter leaned on the railing of the watchtower,taking a few breaths of air then turned to the man.
The man looked up at Hunter, smiling."Clever boy." He complimented but Hunter just ignored it. He pulled out his pistol and emptied a single round into the guy's head. The body thudded to the ground, Hunter holstered his pistol, walked up to the corpse and pulled out the knife from it's leg. He cleaned it with the fabric of his jeans and put it back into its sheath. He looked at the ground and saw that the area was now clear. Hunter climbed down from the tower as Marcus and Carmina were freeing the prisoners.
Marcus walked up to Hunter seeing the bruises on his neck."Are you OK ?"
Hunter rubbed the bruises on his neck and nodded. "Yeah some guy tried to strangle me, but I took care of it." Hunter assured.
"Carmina's freeing the prisoners,help her." Marcus ordered.
Marcus walked to the cages to free the other prisoners. Hunter walked up to the transport where Carmina was freeing Jerome, as soon as he got out of the truck Hunter ran up to him hugging him."Jerome." Hunter said relieved as he buried his face in his chest.
Jerome wrapped his arms around Hunter, he missed him just as much as he did. "Hunter,it's good to see you again." Jerome said happily.
After a few more moments Hunter broke the hug. "I missed you, you old nugget."Hunter said, lightly punching him in the shoulder.
Jerome chuckled at Hunters Joke."And so did I."
Carmina watched as Hunter and Jerome reunited, she wanted to feel happy right now, but seeing him reunite with his father when hers was still missing upset her a little. Hunter looked at Carmina and saw her saddened face, he decided to introduce the captain. "Jerome this is the Captain." Hunter introduced.
Marcus walked up to Jerome and shook his hand."Hey there, my name is Jerome Jeffries, most people call me pastor Jerome."
"I know Hunter and Kim told me about you," Marcus replied.
"I would imagine so." Jerome said glancing at Hunter then faced Marcus again. "I heard what happened, I'm sorry about your people."
Marcus nodded."Me too, but let's focus on the task at hand."
"I appreciate what you've done here. You have an instinct for helping others. If you're looking for an ally you've found one." Jerome said.
"Good to know, we should get these prisoners back to Prosperity." Marcus suggested.
As Marcus and Jerome were talking Hunter looked at Carmina who was staring at her old house. Hunter walked up to her seeing a frown on her face. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Carmina, are you OK?" he asked, concerned.
Carmina glanced at Hunter then looked back at her old house."I'm fine, It's just been awhile since I've been at my old house."
"At least we got this place back from the Highwaymen." Hunter said, trying to lighten her mood.
"I know, but it doesn't really matter to me." She looked at Hunter, then continued."Though we both have had good times here haven't we?"
"Yeah, but that was a long time ago." Hunter replied, looking at the house.
"I know... a lot has changed." Carmina nodded.
"Yeah, a lot has changed." Hunter admitted. "But we can still do something about it. We just have to keep doing what we're already doing" Hunter reassured Carmina.
Carmina stayed silent for a moment, tears started running down her face. "You know,I both love and hate being here right now, it's just not the same without everyone here." Carmina said, somberly, with her voice breaking.
Hunter then realized Carmina was thinking about her Dad "Nick" Seeing him and Jerome reunite must have hurt her more than he thought. He grabbed her hand and turned her to face him. "Carmina, we'll find Nick and bring him home, I promise." Hunter promised to Carmina as he grabbed her other hand and brought them together.
Carmina smiled at Hunter, he always had this way of comforting people, she felt reassured by his words. Carmina then slowly moved her hands up to Hunter's face,gently stroking his cheeks, then she pulled his face to hers and kissed him on the lips. His eyes widened in surprise as Carmina kissed him, it felt weird to him, he never kissed her on the lips before, nor did she ever kiss him on the lips.
Hunter didn't try to stop her, he just closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her. They kissed for a few more seconds, then Carmina broke the kiss and wrapped her arms around him.
"Thank you." Carmina said softly, as she rested her cheek on his shoulder.
Hunter didn't know what to feel right now, he didn't know what to say, nor did he know what to do, but before he could think about it Marcus spoke up. "Hey guys, come on!" The Captain yelled.
"OK! We'll be right there!" Carmina yelled at the captain then turned back to Hunter."Let's go." Carmina said to him, she grabbed his hand and they went to the cars, where the people were piling into, and heading for Prosperity. Hunter still felt weird about Carmina kissing him, but chose not to focus on that right now, Marcus radioed Kim about the Prisoners they rescued and were on their way back.
The Captain, Hunter, Carmina along with Jerome and the people the rescued arrived at the Front Gates of Prosperity. Everyone made their way inside, when the cap and his friends made it inside, they found Kim waiting for them. Jerome walked up to Kim, happy to see a friend again. "It's nice to see you again Kim." Jerome said, wrapping an arm around her. Kim wrapped one arm around him too. "And you too Jerome." Kim said, then broke the hug.
Kim turned to face Marcus and the teens. "Thanks for rescuing these people." She thanked Marcus then glanced at Hunter then looked back at Marcus. "I hope Hunter didn't cause too much trouble." Kim said.
Marcus nodded. "A little, but he still played his part."
"OK" Kim nodded, then looked at Jerome. "Come on Jerome, you must be hungry."
Hunter sighed in annoyance and walked off.
The rest of the day was spent with everyone talking among themselves.
Jerome talked to Hunter in the Living room. Hunter was getting Jerome up to speed about the things that have been happening in the valley.
"And finally, we rescued you." Hunter finished getting Jerome up to speed.
Jerome processed the information Hunter gave him, it seems like he and the Captain have been busy, he looked at Hunter and saw he had something on his mind."Are you OK?" Jerome asked.
Hunter looked up and nodded."Yeah, I was just thinking about something... weird that happened to me, today."
"What happened?" Jerome asked.
Hunter wasn't sure if he wanted to tell Jerome about 'the kiss' it felt awkward to him, but there wasn't anyone else he could talk to: It would be weird to talk to Kim about it given that she's Carmina's Mom, Grace definitely isn't the person he should talk to about this, Bean wouldn't understand, and Selene may be one of Carmina's friends but she didn't know anything about this. Jerome felt like the right person that he should talk to about this, but it still felt weird. Hunter thought about it a little more and decided to just spill it.
"C... Carmina... kissed me." Hunter confessed,hesitantly.
Jerome looked at Hunter surprised, but not as surprised as he should have been, honestly he thought that Hunter and Carmina were already a couple, so hearing that they weren't surprised him more.
"And that bugs you?" Jerome asked curiously.
"I... I don't know." Hunter admitted.
"What happened?" Jerome asked.
"When Carmina saw us reunite, it upset her because seeing me get the closest thing I had to a Dad in my life back, which is you, it reminded her of her dad Nick. I walked over to comfort her, then I made a promise to her that I would bring her Dad back and she kissed me." Hunter explained to Jerome, then asked. "Why did she do that?"
"The answer is right in front of you Hunter." Jerome explained. "You're a good person, and saying that to her made her happy, she deeply appreciated it."
"I know, I knew saying that to her would comfort her, but Jerome, I never expected her to kiss me. When she kissed me I felt something that I never felt before."
"That's normal Hunter, you've just had your First Kiss, it's normal that you're feeling what you're feeling right now." Jerome stated.
Jerome made a good point, but it wasn't just the kiss, Hunter's always had feelings for Carmina, but he didn't know if she had the same feelings for him, but when she kissed him it made him think that, maybe she did have feelings for him.
Hunter nodded. "Maybe, but it's not just that. I've always had feelings for her, but I never told her about them because... I didn't know if she felt the same way." Hunter confessed to him.
Jerome understood Hunter's reasons for not pairing with Carmina. He was afraid that if he confessed his feelings to her, she'd reject him. Jerome placed a hand on Hunter's shoulder. "I understand you're afraid of her rejecting you Hunter, but I don't think you have anything to be afraid of."
"Why?" Hunter asked Jerome.
"Because...You love her and I know that she loves you too." Jerome stated.
"I -" Hunter tried to protest against Jerome's statement,but it was the truth. He did love Carmina, so he just sighed and asked. "How do you know?"
"You both have a strong bond, you both have always been there for each other, you both get along great, and you both know almost everything about each other." Jerome explained to Hunter.
Hunter thought about what Jerome said, and realized that he made some good points; He did love Carmina, they did have a near unbreakable bond, and they do know almost everything about each other. He knows her dream is to fly, he knows her favorite food, she loves watching the night-time sky and she loves nice guys but Hunter never saw himself as a nice guy, looking back at it now he saw that he was a nice guy at heart.
After thinking about it a little more he realized that maybe He and Carmina could go somewhere,but he was gonna wait a little before talking to her about it.
Hunter looked at Jerome and nodded."You're right Jerome,maybe Carmina and I could go somewhere if we were in a relationship, but i'm gonna wait for the right moment."
Jerome nodded. "I understand."
In the north there is a group of warriors waging their own war against the Highwaymen. The group is called "New Eden" every night they emerge from their compound in the North and attack the Highwaymen, using stealth and ferocity. They fight with Bows and Spears wearing clothes made from fur and animal skin.
Tonight, a convoy full of prisoners from New Eden was attacked by the New Edener's, they used the cover of night to ambush the convoy in order to rescue their people. The group that ambushed the convoy was led by a hooded individual dressed in brown leather covering his entire body, fur around his neck and a wooden white mask covering his face. "The Judge", the silent protector of New Eden. The Judge and his chosen fought like devils, the Highwaymen never knew what hit them.
The Judge looked at the Captured Highwaymen with his arms crossed. The Chosen stood right beside The Judge as he decided their prisoners fate, he looked at them seeing the fear in their eyes, then one of them spoke up.
"Please, let us go." A woman begged. A chosen hit her on the head with a stick in response."Quiet Locust!" The Chosen ordered, sternly.
Another Highwayman spoke up."You'll never get away with this you goddamn psychos!" The man shouted.
The Judge walked up to the man, he looked at him then grabbed the guy by the throat, picking him up off the ground with only one arm. The guy struggled to gasp for air, but the Judge just gripped the guys neck tighter and tighter until he finally broke the man's neck.
The Judge then threw the corpse aside then looked at the remaining prisoners, but before he could do anything a prisoner broke free from his bindings and charged at the Judge with a shiv in his hand, stabbing him in the chest. After he stabbed him the Judge just glanced down at the shiv plunged into his chest. The Judge pulled the shiv out of his chest and looked up at the man who just stabbed him, the man looked at the Judge in horror, he wasn't affected at all by getting stabbed in the chest. The Judge grabbed the man and plunged the shiv deep into his heart, the man placed his hands on the knife, coughing up blood, he coughed some onto the Judge's mask, he then pushed the body to the ground and a moment later the man was dead.
The Judge crossed his arms,then turned to the remaining prisoners to decide their fate. The Judge looked at the group of Locust, seeing the fear in their eyes A Chosen walked up to the Judge. "Have you decided he looked at one of the chosen, he grunted at the Chosen and gestured "Death"
The Chosen nodded,then turned to the other Chosen and yelled. "The Judge has decreed that these Locust must pay for their actions against "The Father" with their blood." They complied, they plunged their spears into the Locust's, and stabbed them repeatedly until they were all dead.
After they were done the Judge and his chosen along with their rescued people returned to the Compound where the people of New Eden were waiting for them. When they entered through the front gates the people of New Eden cheered at them for their success in rescuing their people and bringing them home. The Judge turned to his chosen,gesturing them to leave him. When they left the Judge walked to Main Tent to inform their leader about his success in freeing their people from the Plague of Locust.
The Judge entered the Main tent where he found the current leader of New Eden, Ethan Seed, son of Joseph Seed "The Father." waiting for him. The Judge stood in front of Ethan, staring straight at him with his hands wrapped behind his back.
Ethan turned around and walked up to the Judge. "Is it done?"
The Judge nodded at Ethan, giving a grunt. Ethan smiled at the Judge and placed his hand on the Judge's shoulder. "You've done well my faithful servant, the father would be proud of your work, if he was here." The Judge grunted and nodded in response.
Ethan was pleased at the Judge's recent successes in fighting against the Locust, but they were only minor. Since the Flame of Eden was taken, New Eden has been greatly demoralized and with Joseph not here to lead New Eden the people are scared.
Ethan turned away from the Judge, and walked up to an Altar, where a picture of Joseph Seed hung above it. "It's been months since Joseph has disappeared into the north, the people of New Eden refuse to believe that he "Their Father, my Father, is dead." Ethan chuckled, and turned back to the Judge. "You know what's funny, you've been more of a Father, than Joseph ever was to me. I mean, he left me to rule over New Eden as best as I could, with no instructions whatsoever. The only reason I haven't gone crazy is because you've been here to help me." Ethan stated to the Judge.
The Judge thought about Ethan's statement and realized he wasn't wrong. When Ethan first arrived in New Eden, he gave Joseph a letter from Megan who was Joseph's Wife, she told Joseph that she was dying and she wanted him to take care of their son, Ethan. Megan died on their journey to Hope County but Ethan continued on to find his Father. Joseph promised Megan that he would raise their son Ethan as best as he could. But, Joseph couldn't always care for Ethan given that he was New Eden's leader and he's been having more visions.
Whenever Joseph couldn't care for Ethan, the Judge took care of Ethan as best as he could, because he felt it as an obligation to Joseph that he look after his son whenever he couldn't.
Ethan walked back over to the Altar, putting his hands on the podium in front of it. "I've been hearing reports that the sinners, south of here have started fighting back against the Locusts." Ethan said.
The Judge nodded giving a low grunt. Ethan looked at the Judge as he stood in front of him. "If the Sinners are fighting back against the Locusts, then somebody must be leading them. I want you to keep an eye on the Sinners and report back to me with anything you find. Don't let them see you, don't intervene unless it's absolutely necessary and be careful." Ethan instructed. The Judge nodded at Ethan, giving another low grunt.
Ethan smiled then turned away from the Judge and waved a hand."Now, leave me. I need to think." Ethan ordered. The Judge nodded and left the main tent.
The Judge walked to his hut in the compound, as he went inside he looked around, seeing that it was just the way he left it. His Hut was small compared to the other's in the compound, but that was how he liked it, it was quiet and peaceful. His Hut had only a few things in it, A bed, Fireplace,small Weapons Rack for his bow and quiver, a clothes line, a table with two chairs and he had a small garden outside where he grew his own food.
The Judge removed his bow and quiver, putting them on the rack. He looked down at his jacket and saw a blood stain on it, from where the Locust stabbed him. The Judge grabbed a chair and sat down in it, he undid the ties on his Jacket opening it, then raised up the shirt he wore underneath his jacket, revealing the spot where the Locust stabbed him. The Judge looked at the stab wound in his chest and saw that it was already healing and closing itself up, but still leaving a small pool of blood. The Judge grabbed a small cloth and put it into a bucket filled with water, he ringed out the cloth then used it to clean the blood off his chest. He took off his jacket and shirt to clean off the blood stains and stitch the holes in them, he kept his mask on though.
After he was done cleaning and stitching up his shirt and jacket, he hung them up on the clothes line, then sat on his bed, as he sat he thought of Joseph, his only son Ethan believed he was dead, but he and the New Edener's refused to believe that Joseph Seed "The Father" was dead, because after everything he's done he couldn't be.
When the collapse began, what remained of The Flock tried their best to survive and endure the Collapse, they took refuge in what remained of John Seed's bunker. But due to the damage the bunker had sustained in the war between the Cult and the Resistance, it made it a difficult place to survive in. Starvation, disease, and a constant threat of flooding threatened the survivors of Eden's Gate.
When the world was reborn, Joseph Seed and him appeared at the bunker to rally the flock, Joseph told them of the new world God has built for them to live in. The survivors didn't hesitate to follow them, out of the bunker and travel with them up to the North, in order to build their community, they renamed themselves "New Eden."
As Joseph and his flock were building their New Eden, they took on a primeval lifestyle, wearing animal skins and utilizing primitive tools and weapons such as bows and arrows. As time passed, New Eden grew to abhor technology and intentionally destroy it every chance they got as they saw technology as the cause of the Collapse.
The first years weren't easy, the post-apocalyptic winters, famine, and pestilence made it very difficult for Joseph and his people to survive the post-apocalyptic America, until Joseph discovered their salvation, which was in the form of an apple tree far into the north of Hope County. The apples from the mystical tree granted Joseph and his followers superhuman strength and durability. This empowerment allowed them to survive the post-apocalyptic winters, famine, and pestilence. Because of the fruit, the New Edeners thrived and finally built their own community where they rejected everything from the old world and strived to live off the land and take only what is needed.
It was all because of Joseph, that their New Eden flourished and their people thrived. The peace did not last long however, when the Highwaymen came New Eden came into conflict with the Highwaymen soon after. Joseph began to despair that the world had not become the paradise he had envisioned, so he left his people and disappeared into the north. Leaving Ethan to lead New Eden as best as he could.
The Judge prayed that Joseph and return to his people, and he would make things better. The Judge decided to get some sleep, he would have much work to do tomorrow. He'll be spying on the Sinners in the South, and reporting back to Ethan whenever he could.
As he slept he dreamed of the past, every night he had the same dream, the day the Collapse began. That day haunted him every night of his life, but he knew the path forward was clear. Serve the Father till the end.
The Part about New Eden was something I wanted to do. I may make some improvements to this chapter.
Leave your comments and let me know what you think.