After the change of clothes, Avery had taken the liberty to find more information about her disgruntled 'host'. Gathering from the many shipping containers attached to one another, lack of windows and the valuable ammo room, it was safe to say this man was a prepper.
Slowly, she skimmed the area looking for the stories that hid through the dimly lit bunker as she tried to piece together her own answers. It turned out that the man's name was Dutch Roosevelt, or better yet, 'Dutch' was his nickname. The older man had served his time in Vietnam with the 82nd Airborne; that much was clear from the photos. Putting this information with the rest of what happened the night before allowed her to piece the full picture together.
The cult believed the world was coming to an end.
Apparently, so did Dutch.
But his beliefs did not follow with the cults so that only left one question. Where did his ideals end and theirs begin?
Avery was well aware that many of the veterans that had served during Vietnam had come home only to be ostracized by their own nation. If she followed the typical story that she had heard of before, then she could only guess that he held his own reserves at coming home from the war. Vietnam was known to be a no-rules fight that the U.S had failed to understand in time. Nothing was off limits. It was a hard thing to teach yourself out of when one came home. Perhaps that was why he had taken to living on his own, tucked away with all the things to survive.
Before she could speculate any further, he had come back to see what was taking her so long. She was caught red-handed looking through a cabinet which she closed slowly at his disapproving glare.
"Let's go before I change my mind about keeping you around," he warned.
Following him back into his main room, she was impressed, and unnerved, at his many tables that held computers with security cameras playing on the screens, radios, and a large map of the County.
After listening to him debrief on the events that had unfolded (followed by how badly the Officers' presence had escalated the situation) she realized her new role in this. By the looks of it, her escape from Joseph made the cult take drastic measures including road barricades and blowing the tunnel leading out of the valley. The citizens were being harassed daily and the Project was eager to find her.
Now she had an ultimatum; stop the cult single-handedly and try to get her team back, or Dutch would hand her over to the Father.
No, he didn't outright say that, but Avery was not stupid. He had himself and other people to consider. He didn't know her, so why keep her around if handing her over was a means to an end? Given the option, she knew being handed over was not something she preferred. So she would nod her head and listen to what he had on his mind. Luckily, her goals lined up with the his anyway. She needed to find her team.
But first, she needed to know who she was up against.
Dutch was more than happy to elaborate there. As she stood before the map, she listened as he broke down the regions and outposts that the cultist had claimed. When she began to dig deeper as to the siblings, he seemed to hesitate. The disgruntled veteran was quiet for a moment as he looked between her and the map. It looked as though he was having second thoughts as to her credibility to handle the Seed family. Part of her felt relieved to know that he did care about her to an extent, even if they had just met. Another part wanted to explain that she was tougher than she looked and had a plethora of skills to help her against any foes.
But she kept those thoughts to herself. She didn't know what to expect from this family and wasn't too eager to step into the ring with any of them, so to speak. She had already underestimated them one time too many. Not really my fault that I didn't get more of a warning of what I was walking into…
After the tense silence had passed, Dutch let out an exhausted sigh as he dropped his gaze. Shaking his head, he looked back to her and she could see just how tired he really was.
"Look, kid…. I'm not making you go out there-Not against them. But if you want your friends back… that's the only way. My opinion? I would count yourself lucky. It may be too late for the others…" It was a sign of defeat from the old man. At least enough defeat that he could live with.
Shaking her head, she knew she couldn't back down. "I'm not leaving them. If I have to take on the whole family then I will."
She paused as she stared off at the far away wall. When she spoke again, it seemed like she was talking to herself more then to Dutch. He could see the wheels in her head turning as she mulled over the scenarios.
"Compartmentalize… I'll start with one part of the region and work out. If I can start gaining ground, then that will make their hold weaker. I just have to find where my team is. " Turning back to the map, she missed Dutch's surprised expression as he listened to her resolution.
He hadn't expected her to willingly take to the challenge and he couldn't help but think she just didn't understand the severity of it all. But a small part of him began to think that perhaps she knew exactly what she was doing, and it wasn't just false confidence.
"Aren't you just a rookie?" He had questioned.
She only shrugged but didn't turn away from the map. "Depends who you ask."
At this, Dutch chuckled. Whether she was prepared or not, he couldn't help but trust her judgement.
"Well, sorry to say but your team isn't in one location. Joseph had the bright idea to split them all up. He tends to do that when he gets a fresh group of recruits."
Avery turned back to look at Dutch with a questioning look. "Split them up?"
The older man nodded and stepped beside her to view the map. Pointing at the lines he had charted that split the regions up, he began to explain.
"Remember how I said that there are three regions? The Heralds of the regions are the siblings of Joseph. Not only do they secure the land of Hope County, but each has their own contributions…." He paused as he seemed to think over his words. "More like their own twisted talents. Everyone in the family is a little screwy in the head, if ya know what I mean."
"I'm assuming my team is split up with each of them…. What kind of 'talents' are we talking about?" Avery questioned with furrowed brows. Dutch pointed at the lower region labeled Holland Valley.
"This here is the youngest brother's region. He has the most public role of everyone and isn't nearly as pleasant as he seems. John will use intimidation, belief, and violence to secure any resources he sees fit. Be it property or people, doesn't make no difference to him. He used to be a lawyer but you will come to know him as 'The Baptist' more than anything," Dutch paused as if he had a bad taste in his mouth just by talking about the youngest brother. "He's a sadistic prick, kid. Your Deputy Hudson friend is with him. She would be a lost cause in my book… If she doesn't convert, she will probably be killed."
Avery listened to Dutch as she stared at the youngest brother's picture, trying to get a read on him. She remembered the way he had stared at her when she had arrested Joseph. The evil glint in his eyes and the cat-like smile. Sadist surely would fit the picture there.
"Then next is Faith's region in Henbane River. Don't let her fool you. She is the Siren of the family, though not officially a member."
"Adopted?" Avery asked with a tilt of her head.
Dutch gave a wry smile. "Something like that. She may seem innocent, but she is far from it. Do you know what Bliss is?"
The brunette shook her head.
"Bliss is a hallucinogen that she uses to mess with your mind. Faith is in charge of manufacturing the drug and even has some followers that have indulged a little too much. Those are her so-called Angels. Twisted bitch… She's the one that has your Sheriff and Marshal. If you are really set on trying to get some of your team back, I would advise her area if you think you are mentally strong enough. She's a master manipulator so make sure you don't believe anything she says, kid." He looked to be getting into his foul mood once again, but Avery knew it wasn't directed towards her. The resentment ran deep against the family, but she could understand why no one was openly opposing the cult. They had sunk their roots in deep in Hope County.
"What about Whitetail Mountains?"
Dutch looked at the map before shaking his head. "Don't worry about that place. Like I said. I would get your friends from Faith and call it good."
Avery furrowed her brows at the man. She wasn't here to just get half her people. "I came here with four others. That's how I'm leaving this place. The only area left for Pratt to be is Whitetail Mountains, right? Then I need to know about it."
The veteran didn't seem taken aback from her firm tone. Instead, he only narrowed his eyes back at her. "What makes you think you stand a chance against them? I know I said you are supposed to un-fuck this situation but all you are doing is just setting yourself up to get killed."
"I haven't died yet, Dutch. However, if I do then you won't have to worry about them hunting for me and harassing your people so much. It's a win-win. You don't have anything to lose from it," she argued.
Dutch wasn't having it. "Just because you haven't fucking died yet doesn't make you qualified. You would have been caught already if it wasn't for me, Rookie. Probably be swimming in Bliss right about now!"
Avery rolled her eyes at his little jab. Damn her luck for being stuck with someone so stubborn.
"I have served in the Air Force for 8 years before I became this Rookie. And no, I didn't fly planes or sit in a damn chair," she added with an accusing finger at the man. She had heard plenty of jokes in her lifetime about 'Chair Force'.
Dutch began to open his mouth, but Avery knew what was coming and interrupted him. "I was Security Forces, or better yet, a K-9 handler for my Tactical unit. Hand chosen, mind you, so I know my stuff."
A tense silence fell over them before Dutch chuckled causing Avery to cross her arms as she waited for the verdict.
"Fair enough. If you really want to know then fine." Facing the map again he narrowed his eyes at the photo at the top of the paper. "Jacob Seed... Oldest brother and main recruiter. He runs the security, so to speak. There isn't a whole lot that I do know except that there have been rumors of brainwashing and he trains a pack of wolves to become his little hell-hounds. They are called Judges and run his region along with his hunters—"
"Judges and Angels? They are a theatrical bunch, aren't they?" Avery asked with a raise of her brow.
Dutch sighed before continuing. He still wasn't sure how to take the young deputy. She seemed capable…-ish. He wasn't exactly sure if she was full of herself or if she really was equipped to handle the cult.
"I will look into what I can find on your buddy there. But I would advise you to stay away from his region. Jacob is not like the others."
./././././
**Two weeks later**
John leaned forward in a church pew as he replayed the update from Faith in his head. Anger bubbled under his calm demeanor, but he knew he wasn't fooling anyone else. It was very clear how livid he was as he stewed silently in his seat. Luckily, he didn't have to worry about being reprimanded for his anger by his brothers, seeing as they were not too pleased at the moment either. The church was mute as the words lingered in the stale air, each person in their own thoughts.
Of everyone present, it seemed that Jacob was the least bothered by the news that Faith had brought them. The oldest brother sat beside John with his bowie knife in hand, mindlessly playing with his favorite weapon. The methodical twisting of the blade between his fingers would normally irritate John to no end but today it allowed for his mind to focus on something else besides the elusive Deputy. How she continued to slip through their fingers baffled John. If it wasn't for the damage she was causing, he would find the chase amusing. But that was not the case today.
Faith stood before them with her hands folded in front of her and she kept her head down in shame. The stillness that filled the church was heavy and the youngest brother was grateful none of their followers were inside with them at the moment. It would not do anyone good if they were in the presence of an aggressive John.
Joseph stood with his back turned to his siblings as he stared at the ceiling of the church. No one could see his expression but the tense muscles on his bare back was enough to show his irritation. John vaguely wondered if he was fighting with himself to stay calm as he was or if he was debating the next steps per God's plans.
After a few more moments of tense silence, Joseph turned to his brothers, pausing for a split second, before facing Faith. She flinched once she felt his eyes upon her, but she was smart not to step away.
"Exactly how many Bliss fields has she destroyed?" The Father's voice was calm but there was an underlying tightness that hinted to his irritation.
Faith lowered her eyes before answering. "8 fields and the water plant where we were dumping the Bliss into…"
Joseph narrowed his eyes in thought. "How many times has she went under the Bliss effects?"
Faith pondered for a moment. She knew she had put the deputy under twice herself but the effects of burning the fields and her excursions through the tainted water all played a factor in it. "I would say she had to have been under the influence around a dozen times already. Two times from myself."
"A dozen times? What are you doing differently than with the idiot Marshal and Sheriff and all the other followers?" John asked as he stood up from his seat. He was getting too restless sitting there as he listened to Faith's failure in apprehending the girl.
"Be calm, brother," Joseph warned as he raised his hand to calm John. The younger brother sat back down with a scowl, ignoring the look Jacob sent his way.
He understood how his younger brother was becoming frustrated, but he was also aware that his temper had a way of making him stray from the path that they followed.
Turning back to Faith, who sent an annoyed glare to John, the Father asked, "How has she reacted to the Bliss?"
Though the drug was potent, the effects were known to be different with every person that went under. Only a few people had a higher tolerance for it which meant that they had to change tactics by sending those to either John or Jacob's care. The value that the individuals brought to Eden's Gate was another factor in… persuading those to walk the path.
The elusive Deputy was important to the collapse; this Joseph knew. What he didn't know was her exact role in this. His visons had shown him the world set ablaze as well as the world as it was today. There was a fork in the path but who made that choice was unclear. Was it the girl who did, or did she just play the stepping stone of someone else making that decision? Either way, God had explained the importance of her presence, so the Father was determined to not lose patience or hope in the girl just yet. All will see the truth in their own time.
"Nothing out of the usual. With all her exposure the last couple weeks, I am pretty sure during the last session I was close to breaking her," Faith explained. She paused before attempting to continue but she was cut off.
"You can't have been that close if she burned Joseph's bible afterwards and freed the Marshal…" John muttered to himself.
Hearing the snide remark come from his brother, Jacob leaned forward in his pew with a sigh. He sheathed the blade back into its leather case before shaking his head. "I don't think they need your opinion right now."
John tossed a mocking glare at the redhead while crossing his arms, ignoring Faith's second scowl completely. "It's not an opinion if it's stating facts. Besides," he turned back to Faith and Joseph, "how much longer are we willing to let her run around and destroy our work? I propose I send some of my men to Henbane to retrieve her. Some of them could use the extra work."
"And what would you prove by detaining her?" Joseph asked with a disagreeing tone. "You forget that using force does not always yield to loyalty. And it is loyalty that we want."
Turning to Faith, he reached for a lock of her hair and let it slide from his fingers slowly like sand. Her tense form and widened eyes did not go unnoticed by anyone in the church. She knew she was failing in persuading the Deputy to their side. The fact that Avery Mason burned the Father's prophet and freed the Marshal from the Bliss was a turning point that she didn't account for. What was worse was the Father's soft touches to her hair that were the opposite of what she had expected his reaction to be. There was anger and disappointment that laced his words and shadowed his movements, but he didn't act on them. She wasn't foolish enough to think she was in the clear because at that moment, he was using her to prove a point.
She was not part of their family. And she was not the first nor the last to carry the name Faith. Though she didn't regret turning to follow the Father and his brothers, she still knew where her place was. She was a tool. A very valuable and treasured tool but a tool none the less. She would always be on the outside no matter her feelings for the man currently playing with her locks.
The Father continued to run his fingers through Faith's hair as he explained his reasoning to John. "We need to convince her to follow the path and have her join willingly. Once she realizes her purpose, she will do anything to stay on the path with us. Isn't that right, my dear?"
Faith exhaled softly as she gave a modest nod. "Yes Father."
Joseph knew he was having the desired effect from the girl before him. She was doing her job in her sessions with the Deputy, but it seemed that the officer had a stronger will then most. This was a test for Faith to overcome, one that God had decided to task her with. She had to push herself and the Bliss to be stronger than their subject or else one of the others would be responsible for the deputy. It wouldn't be a problem if that was the case, but it would only show that Faith would be at her peak, in which she couldn't progress any further.
Pushing the thoughts aside, the Father took a few steps to stand before John. "This deputy is strong willed. We must play our end of the game accordingly. If it comes to it, then we will change strategies. Until then, we will give her the options of joining freely by seeing the light."
John let out a breath, allowing for the tightness in his shoulders to slacken. He knew he had disappointed his brother by pressing his opinion on the subject. "I understand…"
Joseph set his hand on his younger brother's shoulder, showing that he was forgiven before saying softly, "I hear your concerns, John. I will accompany Faith during her next session to gauge the girl's reaction. If I see that there is room for other options, we will discuss it then."
Turning back to Faith he continued. "I will be in touch with you soon. You are dismissed, my dear."
Faith bowed her head with a small smile. There was a blossom of relief that she felt knowing Joseph would assist her. Overall, the evening went much better than she had originally expected. "Thank you, Father. Praise be to you."
With that, she left out the Church to plan her next session with the girl, leaving the brothers behind to discuss the events.
Once the doors closed behind her, Joseph went to sit on the stairs of the alter as he faced his brothers. The news that night was not anything they wanted to hear. He felt that his decision on the situation was valid, but it was now that he wanted to hear his brothers' opinion. Though the followers of Eden's Gate never saw 'behind the scenes', Joseph greatly depended on his family's support. The three of them had been through so much in their lives, together and separated. He never wanted that to happen to them again.
Jacob, sensing Joseph's turmoil, decided to break the silence. "I have to agree with John. This Deputy is wreaking havoc in Henbane, and it's only causing more work for Faith's followers. She already lost her hold on the Sheriff. Now the Marshal… She is struggling to handle this girl."
"Are you volunteering to take Avery Mason to your region?" Joseph asked skeptically with a raise of his brow.
At this the brawny man shook his head with a smirk. "Don't get me wrong. I wouldn't mind putting the girl in her place, but I know how our roles play out."
They all did. With new recruits came both those willing and those opposed. For those opposed, they had 3 levels to convert them. Faith and her Bliss was the most subtle of the County. She was the Siren, the one to win over the hearts and minds using her hallucinogen and charm. If that didn't work then John would build from that with cleansing and preaching, using the freedom of religion to sway their will. If all else failed and they still served a purpose, then it was Jacob's turn to have some fun. It didn't matter if they were strong or weak. He had a job for both kinds of people in his region.
He remembered the night Avery had arrested Joseph. When given the orders to apprehend him, she had hesitated and thought about the outcome of her actions. This, at least, showed she was smart and didn't make impulsive decisions or blindly follow orders. He remembered looking back at the girl and meeting sharp green eyes. She was challenging them to stay back until she decided what to do. Tough little thing, he had thought to himself.
"However," Jacob continued as he addressed his brothers. "I believe that if you and Faith still can't get her to turn, then we will need to change our approach. Mason may need a heavier hand to force her."
John gave a nod of his head in agreement with Jacob. Though he was already berated once, he knew now was the time to speak his piece.
"I don't think we should risk much more damage to our supplies or people for this one Deputy's sake. I understand she has a role, but we cannot lose footing here. I can have my followers dig up some research on her to see who exactly we are dealing with…" Being a lawyer, he was more than capable of finding information on a person. It would be an easy task for him and his followers to do.
Jacob leaned back in the pew while tossing one arm over the back as a new subject was brought up. "I have been thinking about that too. Mason is this so called Rookie but is able to do more damage in two weeks than the Cougars have in months. She has to have some form of training in her history. No one is that lucky."
Joseph pondered on this for a moment before looking to Jacob. "Would you think prior Military?"
The older brother didn't hesitate to think it over. "If I had to guess, she must be. If not, then perhaps a transfer from another Police Department where they had more tactical training."
"Yes!" John stated as he threw a hand up for emphases. Blue eyes looked from Jacob to Joseph before he continued. "If she is Military then they are trained to not break if captured by the enemy. That would explain why Faith is in over her head. We need to push Mason to a different region."
Jacob knew that John had a point. If he was in the same position behind enemy lines, then a dream-like drug and innocent girl wouldn't sway his mind. The little voice in his head said that if anyone of them could convert her, it would be him. He knew how that type of mind worked.
During his Airborne training, his battalion was put into SERE or Prisoner of War scenarios. The training was very real and lasted for weeks at a time which is where they learned to escape and evade capture from the enemy. Those that got captured were tortured to see if they would break under pressure. Surprisingly, many did. Some gave in under the pain and fear being inflicted on them relentlessly. Others were persuaded to give information after the captors became their "friends". The nice-guy act was an easy tool to use against many scared individuals.
Faith was currently playing the role as the "friend"; the wolf in sheep's clothing. She was the downfall of those weak-minded individuals who thought that the world was kinder than it really was. Her Bliss and innocent smile were the backbone of her sessions and it proved to be effective.
Avery, however, was a fighter. She wasn't budging to their side which only proved that she needed a good shove in that direction. Something he was able to do in his region easily.
The opportunity to volunteer to take her was appealing but he wasn't ready to make his move just yet. He wanted to learn about her more. If she had a Military background and was this skilled at using her training, then there were more questions to be had. Not only that but it also opened a new door of possibilities for his conditioning that he used.
The suggestions hung in the air above them all as the Father listened to both brothers. Once Avery had crawled out of hiding, she hit the cult hard and fast. Though she was the lowest ranking out of the officers as a Junior Deputy, she was relentless. After a small skirmish in Holland Valley, they had assumed she would move deeper into that region. What they didn't expect was that she would disappear into Henbane. Once there, she didn't waste any time in making her move against them with the help of the Cougars.
They had clearly underestimated her and were paying the price for it. In the end, though, his decision was already made. The results from that was yet to be determined but he knew he wanted to see how the Deputy reacted under Bliss.
Would he be able to persuade her or would she prove to challenge them further?
"I hear your concerns and I understand. As of now, I will join Faith in her next session, and we will see how she reacts. If the results are unsatisfying then we will discuss further options. In the meantime, John…. I would like for you to have your followers gather her history."
John couldn't keep a pleased smile curl his lips. He would get his wish to have a role in this chase after all.
The Father turned to his older brother and paused, thinking something over for a moment. As Jacob waited, he was surprised that he felt a little anxious to see what his brother would have him do. Normally he didn't concern himself with the sinners in other regions until it affected him. Avery Mason was a different case. He somehow felt eager to interact with someone who was possibly prior military. A fighter like her would just make it more fun.
Finally, Joseph seemed to come to a decision.
"When John gets his findings on the girl, I would like you to review it with him. Hopefully we won't need it after this session, but I would like to be prepared. We should not risk losing any other supplies in the meantime."
"Easy enough." Jacob just hoped John would be able to find her information sooner than later. He had a feeling that Joseph's next session wasn't going to go as planned and it would be one of their turns to work with Avery soon enough. If she actually was prior military then he was eager to see what she was capable of.
././././
Avery leaned against the wall of the prison gates as she looked out at the wilderness. The breeze was soft as it brushed through the countryside and she inhaled the crisp, fresh air. It was an improvement from the staleness of the prison's stuffy atmosphere.
Staring out along the rolling hills, Avery could see a doe grazing along the safety of the tree line, oblivious to her watching from the distance. Every now and then the deer would perk her head up and listen to the area around her before going back to the grass. It was strange for a day to seem so peaceful after all the events that had happened. It was like the world was all as it should be and there wasn't any civil war brewing.
Suddenly a hiss escaped her lips causing the brunette to rub her temples as an ache began to return. She had decided on resting in the safety of the prison to sleep off some of the Bliss, but the effects were lingering longer the more she was exposed to it. The last time she went under was the strongest yet and the persistent headache was proof. It all seemed like a terrible hangover.
Thinking back on the two weeks, she never would have expected the progress in getting her team back would be this slow. Since the day she left Dutch's bunker, with only a 9mm pistol and limited ammo, it became painstakingly obvious how overwhelmed she was. If it wasn't for the little radio that Dutch used to communicate to her, she knew she would be much worse off. She depended on his guidance through the county and was pleased that he was paranoid enough to monitor the cult's radio channels. Though they had taken a little while to warm up to each other, he soon become her teammate in all the chaos.
Coming into Henbane and stumbling upon the Sherriff at the Prison was a huge relief to her. Though he was occupied with keeping the Cougars afloat and not able to accompany her, it was still nice to know he was safe and free from Faith. It made her job easier getting one person from the Bliss instead of two.
The biggest help to Avery was a Blue Heeler named Boomer. On the way to Henbane, she had crossed a part of John's region where they were capturing dogs to use in the Cult. It was here that she was able to interfere with the little ammo that she had, and it was well worth the risk of her life. Come to find out, the dog she rescued was a local celebrity.
"He'll watch your back better than any man ever could,"Dutch had said over the radio.
He was right. Boomer listened well and was trained to handle most situations, so it was no wonder why so many people admired him. It was only by luck that she came across him and she would still swear it was too good to be true. As a K-9 handler, it was second nature that her dog was the best teammate she could have.
Now, Boomer wasn't the same as her dog, Tango, but he was a good substitute. She did hate how she couldn't take him with her as much as she would like in Henbane. As the Bliss was overpowering for her senses, it was damaging to his. Luckily, now that she had successfully brought back the Marshal, she was free to pursue another region in hopes of getting Pratt or Hudson back, which meant that her trusty K9 would be able to join her. She really depended on Boomer's hearing and sense of smell to alert her to anything she was unable to detect. Whenever she didn't have her dog with her, she felt exposed in the field, so it was a relief to be able to go somewhere with him again.
Now it wasn't just Boomer, Dutch, and the Sheriff that had provided some support to her. Avery had met many other people that had helped her with taking back some of the county and for this she was grateful for. The citizens may have been outnumbered but they still had a lot of grit and spunk left in their bones to fight.
Tracey Lader was tough as nails and was eager to work wherever they needed her. However, Avery had found out that she was pretty hard to get along with shortly after arriving at the prison. It wasn't until the deputy burned Joseph's bible that was the turning point in their relationship. Despite risking her life for the Cougars the last few weeks, it appeared that Avery had finally earned the girl's respect once she damaged something so sacred to Eden's Gate.
After arriving at the prison and having such a blunt welcome wagon from Tracey, it was hard for Avery act civil to her. The off-handed comments and glares was something the brunette felt she didn't deserve. Especially when she was the one going out beyond the prison walls and taking back the region a little at a time. Selfish people were not ones Avery could be polite to. It didn't help either that she wasn't the type of person to put on a façade to appease others. Sensing the storm brewing between the two, the Sheriff was smart enough to pull Avery aside and explain why Tracey was that way towards her.
Apparently, Tracey wasn't always on their team. She had followed Joseph's guidance and joined the peggies for a short time until people began to go missing. Her main reason to switching sides was because of Jacob Seed. The oldest brother had done something at one point that made her afraid for her life. Once she was able to make her escape from the cult, she hid away with the Cougars at the prison; it was one of the safest places in Hope County if you were against the peggies, after all. Not only that but it was far away from Jacob's region and his hunters. What he did to make her leave the cult with her tail tucked was something only Tracey knew, and no one had a desire to find out about it.
To this day, she continued to fight for her place among the citizens but was constantly an outsider to someone at some point. The fact that Avery was able to come into the prison and be welcomed was what fueled the girl's jealously. It all made sense to the rookie and Avery was able to keep her sarcastic replies to herself from that point on, much to the sheriff's relief.
One of the members that did appreciate her work against Eden's Gate since the beginning was Virgil. He was the Mayor before the cult took over but was persistent in staying positive. Her heart went out to the older man and she couldn't help but humor him with his Cougar pins that he insisted everyone wear. Sheriff Whitehorse explained that Virgil had lost his son and wife to the cult after they joined Joseph instead of staying with him. It was hard to be left behind and he almost joined Eden's Gate just to be with his family but decided against it at some point. Why he didn't join was a question she knew would never be answered.
Tracey was bitter and stubborn. Virgil was positive and timid. The Sheriff really did have his hands full. Not to mention the occasional attacks by Faith's angels that only scared the citizens further. Now that Marshal Burke was back and recovering, Avery was able to work on getting the rest of the team back. It was an uphill battle, but progress was still progress no matter how slow.
Picking up her rifle that was leaning next to her, she examined the condition. It was in need of a cleaning with all the shooting she had been doing. How was it that 14 months ago she was defending her country overseas and now she was fighting her own countrymen?
The world was a dark place beneath all its beauty. She never would have guessed that she would be here now, in the middle of two clashing sides that was on the brink of a civil war. The state was damn near an apocalypse scenario. The things that she heard from members of Eden's Gate and what the Cougars told her were nearly always the opposite. Faith Seed truly believed that there was something coming and what she stood for was the good of the people. Others said she lied and was evil along with the other Seed family; that the citizens are the victims in all of it.
Avery wanted to believe the Cougars and Dutch but thinking on what Sheriff Whitehorse had said in certain situations made her second guess it. Even through all of this, he still seemed like he wanted to stay neutral on the topic. She couldn't blame him as she was trying to do the same.
Really? Trying to stay neutral but openly attacking Eden's Gate? Her inner voice made a valid point.
I'm doing it to get my team back. Nothing more… she tried to tell herself. But if that was true then she wouldn't be destroying fields and books.
Her head hurt trying to think about it all. Maybe the sheriff wasn't as neutral on the subject either. He was defending the citizens and fighting the cult instead of helping her to get out of Hope County.
His job is to protect people. Same as yours. YOU are openly attacking the other side.
Avery clenched her jaw as she tried to pick apart everything that had happened. What was her role in this? Why was this getting more complicated than it should be?
"You must be dizzy. So many roads to choose. What to believe? Who to trust?" Faith's words rang in her mind. There was some truth to what she said during all the Bliss trips and Avery hated that. Part of her wanted to kick herself for listening to what they said, and the tickling of doubt was becoming evident.
"What have you done? His words!...Don't you understand what he will do to me?"
What did Faith mean by that? She was so loyal to the Father and Eden's Gate, but she was afraid of getting in trouble after Avery burned the prophet? Then again, Faith was in charge of the region. If Major Biggs, Avery's Unit Commander, lost something important to the enemy, then the Generals would be pretty pissed too.
Faith didn't bother to hide that fact. If she was lying about how great Eden's Gate was, then wouldn't she not disclose that she could be punished?
Avery shook her head, hoping to rid herself of the thoughts. She just had to get her team free and nothing else.
Sighing, she dropped her head. These two weeks were taking a lot out of her. Her muscle's ached and she wasn't eating regular meals. There was a lot of travelling and though there was vehicles for her to use, it didn't do well for stealth. And it was stealth that she relied on when out alone.
Deciding to keep her mind busy and to talk to Sheriff Whitehorse, she began her walk around the wall to the stairs. It didn't take her long to find him inside. He was just stepping out of the Medical bay that she had been staying in after her last Bliss trip. The brunette adjusted her rifle strap on her shoulder and offered a smile.
"Hey, Rook. How are ya feeling," he asked while returning the smile and closing the door behind him. Avery didn't miss how he had bags under his eyes and his movement was sluggish. She knew he was exhausted.
"Besides a headache still, I'd say I'm good." She paused as she turned around and fell into step beside him. "Did you not get any sleep again last night?"
He gave a half shrug before opening the door to the outside for her. Despite just coming from outside, she stepped through to the yard once again.
"Been worried about you and Burke. He has been under Bliss for over two weeks and I'm afraid it may have scrambled his mind too much."
"While I can't speak for Burke, you know you don't have to worry about me. I'll be fine," Avery replied stubbornly. It was true that the marshal was not recovering as fast but for a good reason. She just hoped that he would be able to make a recovery.
"Don't give me the tough guy act. I don't even know how you both made it back here in one piece." His tone was firm but from the sideways glance and shift in his mustache, she knew he was amused.
Turning serious for a moment, Avery asked the heavy question on her mind. "How is Burke doing?"
Whitehorse rubbed the back of his neck, trying to relieve some tightness. "He's… He's trying to take it slow. Was pretty pissed at you when he first came too. But," he drawled out, "I think that was all the Bliss talking."
Avery furrowed her brows. "You don't seem so sure about that."
The older man let his arm drop to his side. "A part of me isn't," he admitted. "But I know I wasn't exactly pleasant coming out of Bliss either. Give it time and he should come around."
'Should' wasn't a word Avery cared much for but given the circumstances, she supposed it was the best that could be given.
A few moments of silence passed as she walked with him through the yard. Some of the weeds in the cement path were beginning to grow thick from the rains and it made Avery think of abandoned buildings that were long forgotten. She wondered briefly if there would ever be peace back in the region.
Deciding to break the silence, Whitehorse questioned, "Do you still not remember how you and Burke got here?"
Both stopped as he turned to face her. She pondered on if for a moment before she couldn't meet his gaze any longer. Looking away from her boss's sharp eyes, she realized they were back at the prison's outer wall. The corner tower leered overhead as it casted a shadow over them as if trying to listen in. A middle-aged man with a baseball cap and bandana around his neck nodded to them as he walked by, doing his rounds. Whitehorse returned the nod before looking back expectantly to Avery.
The young brunette was shorter than him. Shorter than even Hudson by a couple inches but despite her looks, she was tough. He could remember reading through the resumes three months ago and almost passing her over to hire someone else. It was her military background and capability that brought him back to her file. Experience in the field was something he personally favored over those that were book smart. Anyone could study to pass a test but if you didn't know how to apply that knowledge than you were a liability. To this day, he felt like he made the best decision and it was proven every day they were out there at Hope County.
"No. Last I remember, Burke and I were in a boat during the Bliss trip and he was talking about how he was…"
Happy… She shook her head as she avoided getting into the details of what they talked about.
"When we got out, he was leading the way to the gates and I was trying to keep up. Part of me was just following and the other was trying to reach him… to stop him."
She closed her eyes and took a breath. If she would have just followed him through the gates, would she be stuck with him in the Bliss? Fear from that thought began to claw at her ribs but she pushed it down again. She hated going under Bliss. She hated not having control and feeling like she was trapped inside her body.
"I remember Faith yelling at me to leave him alone and when I finally was able to grab him, everything became black and I saw flashes of what was happening in reality. I remember driving a beat-up truck down the road and peggies shooting at us. Then everything was black. Then stumbling across asphalt while dragging Burke and then hitting the ground. I don't remember anything else."
Whitehorse sighed as he dropped his gaze. "I'm not surprised you don't remember. Just surprised you were able to have enough will over your body to get back."
The conversation was troubling to her. She didn't know if it was like a blackout after drinking too much or if she really had been fighting through Bliss the entire time.
The older man patted her shoulder, jerking her from getting too deep in thought. "Come with me."
Avery followed him as he climbed the ladder to the top of the wall and around to the front of the prison where a couple vehicles were parked. Two were in usable condition while the rest was twisted metal that was littered with bullet holes and scorch marks from prior battles. The Sheriff walked up to a couple guards who were in deep conversation until they saw the two Officers approach.
They stood up suddenly and grabbed their rifles close to them. Avery smirked at that. It was the same reaction she had seen in the military when members were slacking off during their shift and she knew the motion didn't get by the sheriff.
"Sir—we were just," the young man stumbled over his words as he tried to explain.
"Relax, Keith," Whitehorse greeted kindly at the young couple. "Just checking in to see how things were fairing."
Avery rolled her eyes at his back. He was being a lot nicer about it than she would have been. Those who stood guard needed to pay attention during their shift. If it was alright for everyone to slack off, then why have a guard to begin with?
Looking the couple over, she noted that they were close to her age, possible younger. The girl had a green flannel and white t-shirt with a smiley face staring back. Her blonde hair was just above her shoulders and had the build of a model.
Her companion reflected the typical ideal college student with sandy brown hair that was longer than she felt he normally kept it. His hands were untrained as he held the gun at an awkward angle while he stood nervously next to the girl.
"Everything is good. We just took a seat to rest our legs," Keith explained.
The sheriff hummed as he looked out to the wreckage of vehicles from past attacks. "Don't get complacent out here. You never know who could be watching from the tree line."
Keith nodded his head in understanding, but the girl spoke up. "You really think someone would be watching us? Why not just attack?"
The question was innocent enough, but Avery narrowed her eyes at the slight hint of attitude the girl gave off.
"Because if someone sees that you two just sit on a wall and make-out during your shift than they know the ideal time to attack."
The sheriff smiled again and raised up one of his hands to keep anyone from saying anything further.
"Carla, this is Avery, my deputy. Avery, Carla," he introduced.
Carla's blue eyes widened slightly as she exchanged looks with Keith. "You're the deputy who got the Marshal from the Bliss? I didn't know! That was awesome the way you rescued him!"
"Tracey said you burned one of Joseph's bibles too! I'm surprised you are still alive after that."
Avery was slightly taken aback from their reaction. Judging by the sheriff's now cocky smile, she realized he did that on purpose to take some steam away from her lecture. She resisted rolling her eyes again and responded to the couple.
"Yeah, I'm surprised too."
"The next time you go out, I would like to join you," Keith offered.
Carla gave him a glare and he smiled sheepishly at her. "I told you it was dangerous out there. I don't want you going and getting killed."
"Babe, I know but…," he motioned to the deputy as if that was enough of a reason. "It's the Deputy. I would be fine. Besides, you know I told you I wanted to do something other than guard the gates."
"Like get killed?"
Keith opened his mouth to respond but Avery cut him off. "Look, I'm flattered you have a high opinion of me, but I probably kicked the hornet's nest after burning the book. I think I should lay low for a while before venturing out."
The older man chuckled beside her. "I have to agree with that. Why don't you two take a break and get some food. We will watch your post for you."
Carla flashed a bright smile as she all but dragged Keith behind her. "Nice meeting you!"
Avery watched unamused as the two retreated down to get breakfast. "Yeah… pleasure." Turning back to the Sheriff, she crossed her arms.
"You need to hold them accountable. Especially now."
He looked over his glasses at her as if to say 'really?' "You need to know not everyone functions like you."
"You're right… It's a shame."
This earned another chuckle from him. "So, what are your plans now?"
Avery stepped beside him as they looked out at the road. "Well…. I was going to ask you that question, honestly."
Whitehorse gave her a sideways glance but didn't say anything.
"With the Marshal back, I figured we could all head back to Holland Valley or Whitetail Mountains to get the others. Obviously, we will have to wait for him to recover first."
The older man looked back to the road and he thought over what she said. It made sense why she wanted to get the others, but he knew it wasn't going to be that easy. Faith was using her talents to control both him and the Marshal. If it wasn't for Tracey, he would still be in the Bliss.
Most recently, Faith was controlling both Burke and Avery but with both free, would Faith be stronger? Now she would be able to use her Bliss with her full concentration on Avery if she got caught again. The fact that Avery barely made it out last time was unnerving to him. He wasn't willing to risk her becoming Faith's puppet for their sake.
"Burke's condition is still uncertain," he said carefully. "You really stirred the cult up this time, and I have a feeling they will be out to get you once you step a foot outside these walls."
"They have been out to get me since we left the helicopter," Avery corrected. "That doesn't change the fact that we need to get Hudson and Pratt back."
"And if we get them back, then what do you plan to do?" He was facing her now with one hand on the wall and the other resting on his holster.
Avery was caught off guard by his firm response, but she stood her ground. "Then we do whatever we need to. Get more back-up or call in the National Guard. I don't care what we do right now. I just want our team back."
Her boss sighed and turned back to the wall. Avery watched him a moment more before turning back to watch the tree line. The sheriff was not being very receptive of her ideas and she wondered why he was hesitant to get their team back. She knew he wasn't against rescuing the others, but he wasn't joining in either.
"Before you came to get me, a bit ago, I was checking in with Burke. He's not in good shape but he was awake and talking. It seems like all that arrogant fire he had before has been snuffed out and he is just a shell of what he once was. I really hope he can make it out of this as a full recovery, but it will take time. I'm sure you can agree that a gunfight is the last thing he needs."
Avery stayed quiet as she listened to him. She knew he had a point about it, but she didn't like the idea of them splitting up.
After not receiving a reply, Whitehorse continued. "I plan on staying back and watching over him and the Cougars here. If you want to go out and rescue the others, then I advise getting to Holland valley as soon as possible."
At this, the 28-year-old shook her head. "That's where I disagree. We need to stay together. I can wait until Burke recovers and then we can go to the valley together—"
"And what if Hudson can't hold out any longer against John? What if she ends up losing her life?"
"Why do you have to be the one that stays with Burke? Tracey and Virgil are here. I'm sure they can manage him on their own!"
"Because I was the one that had been under for so long. They never went under or know the effects that Bliss can have on you." He exhaled a heavy sign as he dropped his head.
Avery could feel her irritation grow but forced herself to relax her tense muscles. She could feel her headache throb harder at her temple and the pain now stretched behind her eye.
After a tense silence, Whitehorse spoke up in a drained tone. "Rook, I'm old. I should be retired right now and yet I am here dealing with this. If anyone is going to get Hudson and Pratt, it's you. And if you fail… well they are as good as theirs anyway if you wait here for Burke to recover."
Avery still didn't like the idea even if he had made a valid point. "I can still travel at your pace. If we do it right, we can avoid gunfights and—"
"It's been two weeks. Two weeks, Avery." Whitehorse stared at her with cold eyes. "I don't even know if Pratt is still alive, but Dutch says Hudson somehow is. Says John had broadcasted her two days ago over the television while you were rescuing Burke. She's not going to make it much longer."
That gnawing fear was back in Avery's ribs and was stronger now. Why was John broadcasting Hudson? Was this more cult propaganda? How bad of condition was she in that made the sheriff doubt her life expectancy?
"Not only that but Faith won't be holding back any longer. You are in danger and if you stay here, I know they will come for you."
And put everyone here at risk…. She knew what he was getting at even though he didn't say it. "I don't like this. Separating is a stupid idea. What if Faith attacks here and captures you and Burke while I'm gone?"
Whitehorse snorted at her worrying over them. "I'm old, Rook. Not useless. You need to stop thinking with your emotions and just focus on doing what you do best."
Despite the heavy topic, Avery smiled and rolled her eyes. "That's the most military thing you have said since I have known you."
"Well I figured that's the only way to get through to your stubborn self."
"Hmm. You're learning."
Both looked out at the road again, each in their own thoughts. Avery knew thinking about 'what ifs' was just going to cause more issues and delays but she wanted to be prepared for anything. However, if Hudson really was in bad condition, then she needed to get her out of John's grasps as soon as possible. The fact that nothing was heard about Pratt didn't sit well with her either. Two weeks was a long time but only averaging one person a week was too slow of progress. She would have to get with Dutch to see if he had heard anything about Pratt in the Whitetail Mountains.
"I don't like it… but I will go. Before I do, I need to get the ingredients for Dr. Lindesy. He thinks there is a way to make bait that will attract the Angels to one spot. It would be the easiest way to destroy them. I would feel better if you guys had that here while I am gone. Hopefully, it will help holding them off if they attack again. Then I will go after Hudson." She didn't leave any room to argue.
"I have a feeling that this is the best we can get at negotiating..." After only receiving a smile, he sighed. "Alright but you should leave as soon as possible."
Hearing a giggle from the courtyard behind them, she knew their time was up. Carla and Keith were coming back to their post.
"No worries. I'll head out today," she reassured, missing the sheriffs worried glance at the tree line as she turned to greet the smiling couple.