Authors Note:
And here we are back on the main storyline.
The war between the Scavengers and the Highwaymen is reaching a stalemate, neither side is gaining any ground. With the Island Outpost destroyed the Highwaymen can't spy on New Eden anymore, which means New Eden is gaining the upper hand against them.
A team of Highwaymen led by the Twins and Kreese are on Dutch's island watching as the remains of the island outpost burnt to the ground. Destroyed boats littered the water around the ruins along with charred corpses laying in the water. This is absolute carnage.
Kreese looked at the burning remains of the Island Outpost and let out a slight smirk. "I have to admit I'm impressed with these people, not many have ever gotten the upper hand on the Highwaymen like this. These people would be great allies for us but it's clear that ain't happening." Kreese said.
"I can't believe this shit is happening," Mickey shouted. "Bad enough these troublemakers were taking out fuckin' outposts now they dare to destroy them."
"I can't believe this either. Kreese when we called you in, we thought you would stop this, but you only seem to be making it worse." Lou said.
At the corner of his eyes, a surviving highwayman is crawling their way out to the shores. Walking over to the sad sap of a victim, Kreese knelt to check on him. The grunt had several major burns on his body, blood was leaking rapidly, and there was nothing he or anyone could do to stop this man from dying.
"Oof, boy they got you good," Kreese mumbled.
The dying man did his best to raise his arm. "P-please… help me."
Kreese shook his head. "I'm afraid that's not an option, see you are gonna die in a couple of minutes, or less."
"We're… all gonna… die,"
"Tell me, son… Do they scare you?" Kreese asked, kneeling closer to the dying man, and pulling out a gun.
The dying Highwayman had terror all over his face, he just watched all of his friends get massacred in the attack now he was wounded and about to die at any moment.
"We're nothing… compared to those savages." The highwayman spat out blood in his words.
"Yeah son, you're right, we're not… We're better!" Kreese finally pulled the trigger on one of his own. "Groups of any kind whether it's survival is just another word for progress, just more at stake, and when there's more at stake, the risks are just as fatal. And that is what gives us the advantage." Kreese holstered his pistol.
"I thought you said you would help us regain control of this valley Kreese, but you've allowed them to regain a portion of the territory we've retaken, you've even allowed them to destroy the Island Outpost!" Mickey exclaimed.
"Relax Mickey, I have a plan," Kreese assured.
"What plan? These troublemakers just destroyed one of our outposts!" Lou shook beneath her angry posture, and Kreese could see it. "We should hit those fuckas with everything we got, burn that happy little village of theirs to the ground!"
"Finish what we started," Mickey added. While it might not be the smartest move considering that they failed a few weeks earlier, she agreed that Prosperity needed to be punished, and they needed to think about how to do that in a big way.
"I agree. If you wanna win a war, you need to give it everything you got, and I will win this war. For that, I will not have weakness in any of my men. Whether they're dying, healthy, or most especially with either of you!"
Mickey and Lou flinched to Kreese's last words, "Vince may have been your father, but all I see are just a couple of entitled pansies who can't finish their fights. It's a wonder how you've lasted this long against these people."
Mickey and Lou wanted nothing more than to kill Kreese for his insults against them, but doing that would ultimately be pointless.
"I'm doing things my way here and I'm gonna make sure that these people suffer," Kreese said menacingly.
At Prosperity, morale was low, ever since the survivors of the Eden's Gate war learned that the Junior Deputy is the Judge the people have been saddened. The Deputy was their friend and faithful compatriot, to see him as Joseph Seed's most devoted follower was horrific.
Nick and Kim were sitting together at the dinner table in the main building. Out of the people taken aback by the revelation about the Judge the Rye's were the most affected. Jake was a part of their family, Carmina's godfather, and like a brother to them.
"I can't believe it, Nick, I just can't believe it. We've been wondering what happened to Jake, and now we're learning that Joseph Seed tortured him and turned him into one of his fuckin' devotees."
"Yeah, I can't believe it either. I can't even look at him." Nick muttered.
"Preachin' to the choir," Jerome said out of the blue.
The Rye's looked to see Jerome walking in, bible in hand.
"Jake was a good friend and a trusted ally in our war against Eden's Gate. To see him as Joseph Seed's most devoted follower isn't easy for any of us."
Kim sighed and asked. "What are we gonna do about him?"
Jerome shrugged. "Should we do anything?"
Nick slammed the table. "Damn right we should! Jake needs our help, we need to find a way to make him realize that following Joseph is wrong and get him to join us."
"Nick I told you, we can't push him otherwise we'll just make it worse," Jerome warned. "We've known Jake for a few weeks, maybe even a month, but Joseph's had years to torture and brainwash him and we all know how manipulative that bastard is."
"You can't expect us to just let him stay like this?"
"Are you not listening to me? We can't just push him!" Jerome exclaimed.
"Enough!" Kim raised her voice, "Jerome you're right, if we push this any further, we'll lose him for good. However, Nick, you're right as well. That man has done more good than he knows. For now, we need to be patient. Besides, we know who he is now, it's just good to have him back on our side at least."
Nick nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we've had a lot of good times with Jake. I still can't believe he said all those horrible things to us. If Joseph deems us enemies then he won't hesitate to kill us, and how we're not friends anymore."
"He's still in there, Nick. Don't worry, I have faith in him." Even Jerome knows there's more to this than having his friend back, "Joseph spent all those years with Jake. I don't like it but we need to be just as patient. If it brings back the rook we knew I'm willing to wait."
"Are you kidding?! We can't just wait!" Nick exclaimed.
"Nick, we don't have any other options!" Jerome reasoned. "Who really knows what happened to him during all those years he spent away from us and with Joseph. If we force him to believe or accept anything other than what he's been taught all this time, he's not going to react the way we want. If that happens, we may not live to regret it."
It hurt Jerome to say these things about his dear friend from the past, now someone who he should tread lightly around. He sighed. "The best thing we can do now is wait to see what happens next. Maybe we'll get a chance at bringing him back to what he was. If not…we may have to move on, as he has."
Kim didn't like it, but she nodded in understanding. Nick, however, was not satisfied with that answer. "The last few months, all I did was wait. I just want my friend back. And I sure as hell ain't gonna let Joseph fuckin' Seed take him from me again!"
Nick stormed off when he completed his rant/promise, feeling the need to be alone for a while so he can cool off. Kim and Jerome shook their heads at Nick's impulsiveness. They hoped he wouldn't do anything stupid that could jeopardize them or anyone else in Prosperity, but they both knew Nick very well.
"I guess we all need a way to process this. One way or another." Jerome said.
"I hope he doesn't drive him away from us." Kim bites the tip of her thumb to quell her building anxiety.
"Don't worry, I want him back just as much as he does, and if he means what he said, he'll do the right thing."
Kim finally managed to even out her breathing. All of her tension dropped from her shoulders. "I hope so. By the way Jerome, how's Hunter doing, he's been down lately?" Kim asked
"He is struggling, but he's a strong young man, he'll be back."
"What's wrong with him anyway? Maybe I can help." Kim asked.
"No, I appreciate it, but what Hunter needs is time."
"You know…" Kim began. "I sometimes think of the day we met Hunter. We found you then we saw that starving little boy hiding behind your legs. He was so adorable, he and Carmina were so adorable together. She was so happy to finally have another kid to play with. Those two are still cute together."
"I'm not sure it's like that nowadays. They're becoming young adults now and those two are getting closer and closer." Jerome said.
Kim knew where Jerome was getting at.
"If Hunter fucks my daughter then I will castrate him," Kim said.
Jerome expelled a hearty laugh at Kim's promise. Nick may have been the man of the house for the longest time, but Kim's a lot scarier than Nick. "No, you won't. If you do that, you'll ruin your chances of any grandchildren in the future," Jerome jokes. "Anyways I'm gonna check on Hunter,"
Jerome then got up.
"I thought you said that boy needed time alone," Kim replied.
Jerome shrugged. "Maybe so, but still I'm his father and he's my responsibility."
With that Jerome walked out to the courtyard, leaving Kim alone. She then turned her thoughts back to Jake, even though he's a part of Joseph's cult he's still their family, and one day she hopes he'll remember that.
Meanwhile at the Gates of Prosperity Hunter was standing guard, he wasn't much of a guard but still needed something to do. As he stood guard Hunter took a puff from a pot cigar, then breathed out the smoke. Hunter didn't smoke much, he had to keep himself sober and his senses sharp, but at times like this, he would relax a bit with some pot.
Hunter took another puff from the cigar and breathed out the smoke. 'Christ, where does Selene get this shit?' Hunter wondered.
Smoking pot seemed to take the edge off, numbing his inner pain but only a bit. No amount of pot could ever do that.
"What the hell Hunter… are you smoking pot?!" Jerome asked, incredulously snatching the pot cigar from Hunter's hand, throwing it to the floor, and stomping it out.
Before he could scold him more, Hunter held his hand up stopping him. "Jerome, you have no right to scold me. So you can shut the hell up. You lied to me about Jess, so excuse me for wanting to dull this shit out."
Hunter had a point, he lied to him about his mother and betrayed his trust. That's the worst thing a parent can do to their child. Jerome let out a sigh. "I'm sorry… Do you have another one of those?"
Hunter cracked a laugh at that remark. "Wh-What?"
He never expected the old pastor to ever smoke anything other than enemies. Despite the disbelief, Hunter gave Jerome one of his last two cigars. Jerome brought the pot cigar up to his mouth and then asked. "Do you have a light?"
Hunter pulled out a lighter, sparked it up then lit it up. After that Hunter pulled out his last one and lit this one up for himself.
Jerome took in a big whiff and blew out a smoke ring, "Been a while, but I still got it."
Hunter remained silent, taking a whiff from his pot, and staring back out to the valley.
Jerome sighed, nodding in understanding. "You're right Hunter … I didn't tell you about Jess, I should have but I didn't. I'm sorry."
Hunter scoffed in response. "That doesn't help at all Jerome, a 'sorry' isn't going to cut it for this."
"I know, you have every right to be mad at me," Jerome murmured.
'Jeez now I feel a little bad for making Jerome feel guilty, not that he didn't deserve it,' Hunter thought. But still, Jerome is a good person.
Hunter let out a sigh. "Jerome… I'm not mad at you, at least not entirely. The person I'm actually mad at… is her." Hunter said.
Jerome tried to say something but had nothing. He agrees with Hunter about Jess. She abandoned him, left him alone, and if she truly loved him she would've stayed with him or come back when Hunter was still pretty young.
"Hunter, I'm not gonna try to justify my actions. But please, don't lose trust in me." Jerome requested with a hint of desperation in his voice.
"Jerome… you were the person I trusted the most, the one person I thought would always be honest with me, but you lied to me. I don't know if I can trust you anymore." Hunter said as calmly as he could muster.
"Hunter… There are no words I can say to help you right now, but I can give you the next best thing… I'll take you to where I saw your mother. I'm not your father, but I love you nonetheless and you deserve answers." After all this, Jerome swallowed his promise to Jess. He truly meant his words when he promised her, but this is the right thing to do.
Hunter looked back at Jerome, eyes wide open to the shock. Was he serious? Was it the pot that made him say it? Or was it both? Then from the corner of his eyes over at the training grounds, he saw the Judge doing pull-ups.
"What answers Jerome? I already know everything I need to know. She was scared of being a mother so she walked out on me like a coward leaving me with you… no offense,"
"None taken." He turned his attention to what had Hunter's attention.
"Well, at least we have one answer… We have your father with us."
"And he doesn't even know it." Hunter started laughing a little at the circumstance, "It's kinda funny, a bear almost mauled me and my father pulled me out."
"He doesn't even know and he's already done more than your mother, that's for certain." Jerome started laughing with Hunter.
"Yeah," Hunter then dropped what was left of the cigar and then crushed it with his foot. "By the way,"
"What?"
Hunter took a big puff from his pot cigar, blowing a lot of smoke out of his mouth before saying, "Ellie's my sister,"
The news hit Jerome like a train from the corner of his eye, "What? Are you saying the Judge-"
Before Jerome could finish that question Hunter raised his finger. "No, the Judge adopted her when she was young, that technically makes her my sister.".
Jerome smiled. "There are more things that make a family than just blood. Perhaps that was the Lord's work, for her to be found by Ja- uh, the Judge. She got a chance at a new family and a new future."
Hunter pondered on the subject of his Dad. Hunter was still surprised that the Judge was his father. Hunter wondered what he should do… or if he should do something.
"Jerome… I need to ask… should I tell him that I'm his son?" Hunter asked.
"Hunter that's up to you," Jerome stated, throwing aside his pot cigar too. "However the Judge has a right to know that he has a son."
Hunter nodded in agreement but there was a bit of disagreement. "Maybe, but it seems to me there would be no point in it if I did tell him. He may be my father but I don't look at him that way. He didn't raise me like you did, when I look at him all I see is a stranger."
The old pastor nodded in agreement. "He's almost impossible to recognize now, there's no denying that," Jerome said. "But deep down, I still believe he has the drive to help people in need. Because of that, he was able to save both you and Ellie from dying. He even went as far as to help those outside his new belief system, his old friends, knowing that it would create conflict within himself. That must mean something."
Hunter shook his head. "I understand that you and many others care about him but he's not what's important right now. The most important thing on the agenda is driving those masked fuckwads out of our valley. It's not the best time to lose our focus on the war we're fighting."
"Well since this is a war then let me give you some advice. An old saying I heard during my time in the military: we as soldiers don't fight for what's in front of us, we fight for those behind us. Don't forget that, Hunter."
Hunter sighed. "I won't. I need time to think over this."
Hunter then walked over to the eastern guard post.
At the eastern Guard post, Ellie looked over the cover of the walls to see if there was anything of interest or possibly a threat to Prosperity. Luckily, there was little else than leaves blowing in the wind and small animals rustling in the grass. She was grateful for there being no threats in sight. She was truly enjoying her time in Prosperity, living among those outside her faith. It was peaceful as it was enlightening. The last thing she wanted was the Highwaymen to come knocking down their doors like last time. She hadn't been around for that first attack, but she heard stories about how the gang tried to blow up the whole compound, intending to kill everyone down to the last child.
It was no secret as to why Joseph and Ethan and everyone else referred to those locusts as sinners. There were almost no redeeming qualities among any of them. Only Gina gave off the only redemption vibes out of all of the Highwaymen she met and ended up not killing.
With that being said, she still didn't understand why Ethan still referred to the people of Prosperity and others not affiliated with the Highwaymen as sinners. Few of them have anything in common with those monsters, save for the fact that they cling to the technology of the world before the Collapse. Some days, she hoped that the Lord Himself would come to her with answers like he had done for Joseph. But for now, all she could do was try to make sense of it all by herself.
"Hey, Ellie?"
Ellie looked to see Hunter approaching her. "Hey Hunter, what's up?"
Hunter shrugged. "Just thought I'd check up on you and give you an extra pair of eyes."
His answer satisfied his pseudo-sister. Ellie turned back toward the overgrown path that leads away from Prosperity. "All quiet so far, which is concerning," Ellie argued. "You would think that the Highwaymen wouldn't let us destroy their island outpost without immediate retribution."
Hunter nodded. "Yeah, that's abnormal behavior for them," Hunter agreed. "They're probably just preparing for something big. I don't like it at all. Waiting around is making me very worried."
"Well that's the only thing we can do," Ellie replied.
"I know, but still… can't believe Kim's making us stay here while the grown-ups handle recon."
Just then a bystander approached the two. "Hey,"
"What is it?" Hunter asked.
"We need someone patrolling the outer walls for any signs of Highwaymen, Kim's already tasked, Carmina but she needs somebody with her so Kim wanted me to ask you if you wanted to join her." The bystander asked.
As tempting as it was for Hunter to spend time with Carmina, he already spends too much time with her so he had to decline. "No, I'm not feeling up to it. How about you Ellie?"
"OK,"
"Thanks. By the way Ellie, you should probably put on some real clothes instead of those rags you're wearing," Hunter advised.
"What's wrong with them?" Ellie asked, looking down at her filthy clothing.
"For starters, they're filthy, shredded, and you look like you haven't cleaned them in weeks. We didn't want to tell you because we didn't want to hurt your feelings." Hunter admitted.
"Okay then, you have anything clean to spare?" Ellie asked.
"Carmina might have something," Hunter replied.
"Okay! I really like her." Ellie cheered.
With that, Ellie departed. The next few minutes for Hunter gave way for pondering thoughts creeping into his mind. The fact his bitch of a mom is out there and hasn't even dared to show herself to him. Then his Dad, the Judge, who is just a shadow of his former self. Can he even be anything to him? There's so much unknown between them they might as well be strangers.
Taking a breath Hunter leaned on the edge, Hunter pondered what to do. Reunite his real parents or do nothing at all? So far seems like doing nothing would be the easier choice, but would things be any better if he did nothing?
Maybe nothing would or maybe things will just remain the same, but there's only one way to find out. Hunter now knew what he needed to do when the time is right search for Jess and confront the Judge.
In the training area, the Judge was keeping his skills sharp, it was the only thing he could do until the next assignment. He's spent the past hour doing pullups, situps, pushups, and several other training exercises. Keeping his skills sharp was very important.
Suddenly the Judge saw two prosperity members looking at him whispering something to each other before walking off. Ever since it was revealed that he was once the Junior deputy Jake Rook, people have been looking at him sideways, even whispering about him behind his back. Everyone has started calling him Jake again, he abhorred that name. Jake Rook was a man who failed to save this valley and got lots of people killed in the end. The Judge is the Father's Shadow, the Protector of New Eden, and the devoted servant of Joseph Seed.
In addition to his fears of losing himself, the Judge also feared for the sake of his protege, Ellie. The more she interacted with the people of Prosperity and those outside of New Eden, the more she begins to act like them. He did not want to lose another one of his family members, especially to beliefs that the Father believed to have led to the Collapse. He had to do something to make sure she stayed on the righteous path.
Trying to clear his mind of all the conflict the Judge kept training to be ready for the next battle with the Locust invaders. However, his training was about to be interrupted by an annoying individual. An old and annoying friend…
"Hey, Broba Fett! It's good to have you back!"
The Judge just growled in response.
"Oh man dep, look at you. Yeah, wow so much has changed, hey wanna go take a look at something?"
The Judge just growled the same as before.
"I'll take that as a yes, c'mon Broba Fett." Hurk cheered as he brought the Judge to his secret stash, "Trust me, Jake, you're gonna love this," Hurk assured.
Hurk held up an old monkey totem in front of the Judge. "A while ago I went back to the place me, Sharky, and my sweet baby boy was staying and I found this old golden statue of the monkey god. I just wanted to show you. Remember when I used to tell you about the monkey king all the time?"
All this was doing was boring him. Whenever Hurk talked about his monkey god he would always just ignore him. He never cared about some ridiculous belief. The Judge let out a grunt of annoyance, turning to walk away only to be stopped by Hurk.
"Come on man, just look at it." Hurk insisted, shoving the statue at the Judge's face.
At this moment the Judge has had enough of Hurks antics, he angrily grabbed the monkey statue and then threw it into the closest wall shattering upon contact. The Judge then walked out of the room ignoring Hurk's emotional outburst about him destroying his precious monkey statue.
As soon as the Judge left he suddenly bumped into someone. He turned his focus to the person in front of him and saw Carmina lying on the ground.
"Hey watch yourself, Judge."
"I… Sorry." The Judge offered Carmina a hand. Which she accepted.
"Oh C'mon Jake, I was gonna give this to my boy, Blade," Hurk shouted.
The Judge turned back to Hurk and then grabbed him by the neck. "Aghhh, dep… let go." Ready to squeeze his neck dead, Carmina stepped in.
"Judge please, he's right, he has a baby boy. You may not be a deputy anymore, but you're not a monster." Carmina held his arm to ease the Judge's tension.
The judge complied, releasing Hurk from his grip.
Hurk clenched his throat trying to regain his breath while the Judge walked away. When he was gone Carmina turned back to the Judge and then gave him a light shove. "What the hell is wrong with you?! Hurk was trying to be nice and you tried to strangle him?!"
Now a part of the Judge felt guilty Hurk was trying to be nice, but he was just so damn annoying. Walking back over to Hurk, the Judge spoke. "I'm… sorry."
Hurk remained silent for a moment, but he wasn't one to hold a grudge, "It's alright, buddy. Think you can help me find another one for my boy?"
The Judge just shook his head in refusal.
"Aww," Hurk groaned, "You know what, don't worry about it. I had another one hidden away. I'll get it when I have some time.
Hurk then walked off from the two. As soon as he was gone Carmina took in a deep breath to ease her tension and resumed her point.
"Look, you may be New Eden's Judge, but I know deep down there's still something left of that deputy I've heard so much about."
The Judge growled only in response.
"You're not just helping us for New Eden's sake, you remember the people here. They were your friends and you want to help them, and I just want to say that I appreciate that." Carmina said.
The Judge only let out a grunt. What she said may be true but it was not that close to the truth. He may've been close with these people before the Collapse but not anymore. Now that people know he was the Junior Deputy everyone here are trying to get him to think Joseph has brainwashed him. The Father saved him from himself, he saved his soul and gave him this new chance at life.
"Move…aside…" The Judge pushed Carmina out of the way, walking away.
'I know you're still in there.' Carmina thought to herself.
On the other side of the camp, Jerome left the overwatch with Hunter still processing the news. Seeing how Hunter needed some time alone Jerome decided to check on Ethan.
In the back of the camp away from any distraction, Ethan was found meditating under the shade of trees. "Hello, Ethan,"
Ethan looked up, turning around to see the old pastor behind him. "What the hell do you want, old man?"
"Just wanted to see how you're adjusting to Prosperity, Ethan," Jerome explained.
"I can't believe my father would just send me to this nest of sin. These people are nothing but sinners who cling on to the remnants of the old world." Ethan bluntly said.
Jerome shook his head at Ethan's attitude and bigotry toward the people who survived outside of New Eden. "I'm sure your father must have taught you that not everyone in the world is going to believe in what you believe in, right? He asked.
Ethan was silent for a good minute. Jerome took that as an answer and continued to reason with the young Seed, or at least try to. "You can't just ostracize and abuse those who don't share your beliefs, Ethan. Maybe that's why your father sent you here, to learn to coexist with us."
Ethan scoffed. "You think I care about coexisting with you.
"What do you know about your father?"
"He claims to be God's messiah, he puts all his faith in God's guidance, and his Judge puts all of his faith in him. The Judge obeys Joseph more than he ever obeyed me. When I commanded him I ordered him never to engage in your affairs and he went out of his way to rescue that dumb kid with the bow." Ethan ranted.
"Wait, how'd you know about that?"
"These people gossip too much," Ethan explained. "I can't the Judge disobeyed me like that, he was supposed to obey me but he still adheres to Joseph's teachings."
Jerome picked up on something as Ethan ranted about the Judge, there seemed to be something more to him than this. "You know it seems like there's more to this than him helping my boy."
"He's your boy? Figures."
Ethan's insults on Hunter were really starting to get under his skin. Somebody should teach this boy to show a little respect. But… Jerome kept a level head, taking a breath, calming himself. "What is it with you and the Judge?"
"Why should I tell you anything?" Ethan questioned.
Jerome groaned, "Because confessing our pain often helps. Besides, you can consider it as paying me back after supporting your little rant last night."
Ethan reluctantly relented. "Fine… When I was a kid my mother died bringing me here and later I met my father, Joseph Seed, but he focused more on his community than on me. The Judge looked after me most of that time, but I knew he was only doing it out of his devotion to Joseph, instead of kindness,"
Jerome now had a clearer picture of Ethan, seems Ethan was close with his mother but doesn't seem like he's had any other stable parent figure since she passed.
"So I guess for a man who calls himself the Father, he wasn't really an actual father to you." Jerome supposed.
"You could say that. Doubt you'd know what it feels like."
"I have a pretty good idea actually, you see I've hidden a truth from my son Hunter, now he doesn't trust me anymore."
"I'm…" Ethan was hesitant to speak his mind, "I'm sorry to hear that."
"When Hunter was entrusted to me, I promised his mom I would raise him right, protect him and, teach him to protect others. I promised myself that I would be honest with him and I broke that promise." Jerome explained with much guilt in his voice.
Ethan looked over at Jerome, and somehow he struck a chord in him. The way his shame reverberates with him, "When you told him the truth, did it feel… Did it feel right?"
Jerome nodded. "Yes… yes, it did. It hurt him to hear that but telling him the truth was the right thing to do. I have to trust him with the truth."
"But did he accept? Did the truth make sense to him?" Ethan was puzzled.
"I don't know, but I just hope the truth doesn't make him do anything rash or crazy. Then again the kid has always been rash and crazy, just like his mom, but his father had a good heart." Jerome smiled at that, Hunter doesn't want to be like Jess but yet it seems like he already is in a few ways.
"I think I understand now why my father wanted me to come here." Ethan smiled a little. "You people may be sinners but you are still good people. I hope God grants you all mercy."
With that Ethan got up and walked off leaving Jerome alone. For a moment, Jerome felt a connection to Ethan, "I guess the same can be said for New Eden."
The shift for patrolling the outside of the walls of Prosperity came down to Carmina and Ellie. Carmina never minded guard duty, as she was helping out on an important job for her family and her people. Ellie was also excited, showing the people of Prosperity that she can pitch in as well. Not that she needed to, given that she's helped out a lot already in this war.
Right now the two were walking not far from the community, just talking.
"So how are those clothes?" Carmina asked.
Ellie looked down at her clothes; the ones she had on were extras that Carmina had in her stuff. The clothes she had on were a pair of brown boots, blue jeans, and a white tank top, covered by a purple and white plaid flannel shirt. Since she was gonna be here awhile she might as well dress up like them.
"I actually like them, a little tight, but other than that I can't complain, I look good," Ellie said.
"Agreed," Carmina replied.
Patrolling the walls was quieter than expected. With the Highwaymen's increased activity, people expected Highwaymen to be near the community. But it seems the area is crystal clear. Which scared Carmina even more, something is brewing in the Highwaymen's territory, and it's nothing good.
"So what do you think of Hunter being your brother?" Carmina asked.
"I've always wanted a brother. You think Hunter can give me a few pointers with a bow?"
"I'm sure he'd love to. You know I once saw him kill three Highwaymen at once by shooting three arrows at the same time." Carmina remembered that moment like yesterday.
"So cool,"
With all the talk of Hunter now out of the way, the two resumed their patrol and enjoyed each other's company.
Outside the community, away from all the faces and whispers, the Judge could finally unload all the pain building in his mind. Things have been getting worse and worse for him with Jess resurfacing, being among his former allies, and even the truth about his old identity. Everyone keeps telling him that he's Jake but he is the Judge.
Jake died years ago, and there's nothing left of him. Yet all of that becomes unclear the more he spends his time here in Prosperity. Being among these people has shown the Judge he has not killed Jake, and he's crawling, scratching, and gnawing every inch to get out. The feeling for a moment felt like a literal inch just now.
"Stop calling me Jake…. stop it, stop it, stop it!" The judge yelled repeatedly punching a tree. He punched the tree so many times and as hard as he could feel his entire hand go numb up to his forearm. In the end, he could feel a tear stream down behind his mask. The only thing he could do was collapse into exhaustion, mind, body, and soul.
"Fuck!" The Judge screeched out of his voice.
The Judge then lifted his mask up to look down at his reflection in the stream. So many years have passed and every time he sees himself feels painful. This man failed an entire county from preparing for nuclear fire, and yet they're still here. The tension in his shoulders loosened, and his mind went silent.
"God… grant me… strength… please." Jake looked over at the setting sun, for a moment he felt at ease with himself like a great weight dropped from his shoulders.
But it won't last, this burden he carries will never be dropped, and he knows it. In spite of that truth, the moment was enjoyable.
Things seemed to be getting better but now they are getting worse. The Highwaymen are gaining the upper hand in this war. It's getting hard to see who is gonna win this war but the Judge has faith that God will grant them the strength to win this war. However, winning this war isn't gonna be easy.
"A storm is coming." The Judge said.
Dark and heavy storm clouds were approaching from the north, the Judge can feel it in his bones. Taking a step from the ground a new look of fury and determination glowed in his eyes. Whatever these locusts throw at him he will crush them.
Another chapter is finished, please leave a review.
If you see any errors in the grammar tell me.
I would also like to give shoutouts to Fairytail96 and Dr. Archangel for helping me with this chapter.