Thank you for continuing with my story. I know this is a Jacob and OC fic and nothing has happened yet but it is building up to it I promise. It won't happen right away but it will. There is just character development that I am building between our Junior Deputy and the other family members before Jacob finally meets her.
Disclaimer: I do not own Far Cry.
Avery took one last look at her surroundings and bent down to the ground where she had laid her small canvas satchel. Pushing her rifle behind her on the sling, she opened the top of the satchel and retrieved the item in it; a quart size Zip-lock bag full of meat steeping in a marinade of dark blood. Her nose wrinkled as she bent over a boulder and dumped the bag on the stone surface. The air smelled sour suddenly and she wished the bandana around her lower face was stronger to block the Bliss flowers and the smell of the meat.
Leaving the plastic bag at the base of the rock, she closed up her satchel and turned towards her escape route. Avery kept low as she darted through the Bliss field back to the safety of the tree line and away from the Peggies' compound. The familiar dizzy sensation seemed to follow her after she left the plantation and she hoped the breeze would blow it off sooner than later; her headache still was lingering from earlier that morning and she wasn't looking forward to another day of it. Once she arrived back at her chosen tree and bush, she sidled down underneath until she knew she wouldn't be spotted.
Deciding now was the best time to adjust so she would be comfortable, she pulled her bag and rifle into her lap, knowing if she needed something then it would be either of those two things. From this area, she was able to keep her distance while watching the results of Dr. Lindsey's experiment. It wasn't long, with the putrid meat in the air, to attract some of the Angels in the area. Once it did, they were quick to rush the boulder, parting the flowers like sharks to a kill. Before reaching the stone, however, they all came to a stop about ten feet away.
Avery crouched under the brush to see better and watched with furrowed brows. One of the Angels eyed the bag, then began to move closer.
Maybe it's going to work after all, she thought.
There were a few others that began to push forward towards the meat, but they seemed more interested in crowding the first Angel then actually getting the bait. A moment passed as they seemed to get closer and closer before they turned away, losing any desire to investigate the meat further.
"Or not," she deadpanned. Instead, they began to search the area in a frenzy pack-like action. If she had to guess, she figured they were now looking for her.
It wasn't clear about which part alerted them to the change in their field, but Avery was pretty certain it was the lack of scent on the bait. This one had a foul, sour scent that was different than the previous rancid meat that made the air smell like a stale slaughterhouse. It was enough to catch their attention but not enough to hold it. After the Angels began their hunt for the culprit that left the bait, it got the attention of the few cultist nearby.
These were the ones with a sound enough mind that could cause problems for the deputy. Jade eyes watched as a few peggies patrolled around the field, hoping to find some trace of the intruder's trail, now knowing it was most likely the deputy that caused the restlessness.
This didn't cause her to worry.
She was quick with placing the bait and leaving before she caught the drug induced, psychos' attention. Even in her swiftness she was careful enough to not leave any hints to her route and location.
After the second failure for the bait concoction, she was feeling defeated. Dr. Lindsey was becoming less and less positive over the outcome of the bait, that now, she couldn't justify waiting for a new product. Not to mention she made the deal with Whitehorse that after this little detour, she would leave the region.
Scooting back until she was leaning against the tree, she pulled her bag closer to her so she could get the deer jerky out. Might as well eat and enjoy the show.
Tearing into the tough piece, she watched a truck pull up along the roadside with a gunner in the back. She shifted slightly and her hand came down slowly to touch the comforting grip of her rifle as she watched the scene unfold. There was some shouting between them and those that were walking the outskirts of the field before the truck sped off down the road; the interruption was a minor nuisance to the Angels as they barely looked in the direction of the truck while still searching for her trail.
"They are a mindless bunch," she murmured to herself.
There was something about the animalistic way that they moved and attacked that unnerved her. The fact that they were so doped up that bullet wounds hardly slowed them down was not something she liked going against. Especially when the bullets tore through organs and flesh, leaving the wound to be fatal and they still got back up to attack her.
That being said, it didn't set well with her to leave the Prison without some form of protection for the civilians against these zombie-like creatures. The sheriff on the other hand didn't think much of it. Even when she argued over the extra ammunition that they had to go through just to stop the Angels, he merely shrugged and explained that was the reason for the higher caliber rifles. There wasn't much she could do to sway his opinion.
I should probably let them know that this was a bust too…
Taking one more bite of the jerky, she pulled out the radio and waited until she finished chewing. Watching the field for a moment longer, it seemed the peggies were beginning to give up the search for her trail. The Angels were not so reluctant.
Swallowing, she began her call back to the Prison. "Hey Sheriff. I have some news."
Letting off the button, she waited for a couple seconds before the radio in her hand came to life. "What happened, Rook?"
"The experiment was another bust."
There was a moment of silence on the other end and she wondered if he was feeling as defeated as she was or perhaps he had a feeling it wasn't going to work the entire time. At least he wasn't the type to say 'I told you so' if that was the case.
"Can you get Dr. Lindsey on?" she asked after not getting a response.
"Sure, kid," he answered. "Hold on."
Avery waited while taking another bite of jerky. She was really tired of eating the same thing the past few days. There wasn't much she could do about it unless she stumbled upon a cache or looted an abandoned building. With the tunnels and roads blocked into the county, they couldn't get food unless they took a plane. There was the option of taking some food from the Prison, which had been offered many times to her, but she knew they would need it with the more people they took in.
"H-hello? This is uh-this is Doctor Lindsey speaking."
Avery rolled her eyes at his awkward greeting. "Hey Doc. Your bait didn't work. In fact, it was worse than the first time."
"Oh… oh that's not good… maybe I didn't put enough of… no that can't be it. I must be missing an ingredient…." She could hear him rummaging around through what she assumed was his desk. "Uh. How did they react to this bait?"
Avery looked out at the field once again and saw that the Angels seemed to calm down a bit. Hopefully another ten minutes they would not be searching for her and she could take her leave.
"Well," she drawled out. "The bait got their attention enough to rush to the area, but they stopped about ten feet away from it. Sniffed around a bit and then started looking for me."
"Hmm… maybe your scent was left on the bait. Or the bait wasn't strong enough to hide yours…"
Avery gave a mock glare at the radio in her hand as if he would be able to see it from where she was. "I know you aren't hinting that I smell… because I would have to kick your ass if you were."
"N-no, no that's not it! I was just saying that I probably didn't make it strong enough. I can make another batch and we can see if that—"
"No, sir," Whitehorse interrupted. "Avery is already risking too much being out there."
There was a split-second pause before the sheriff continued. "You head on out now. You know what needs to be done."
Though Avery was expecting it, she couldn't help but feel defeated all over again. She really had wanted to aid them with something that could help the fight against the Peggies but all she did was end up wasting time. "Right. I'll let you know when I make it over."
"Take care, Rook."
Avery let her hand fall into her lap and her head hit the tree behind her. The wasted trip was not how she wanted to start off after leaving the prison. Now she had to make her way to John's region which would put her there late that evening or early morning. Not to mention that it hadn't been the plan to leave straight from the experiment, so she hadn't pack enough food to get her by. The travel there wouldn't be too much of an issue but now she was traveling in new territory. She would have to ask Dutch where some safe places were too. And what about Boomer?
She had planned on going back to the prison to at least retrieve him and have him help get Hudson back. Whitehorse would be pissed if she went all the way back for the dog. She wouldn't hear the end of it let alone want to hear about how she was wasting more time. Perhaps she would be able to ask if he could send someone to Holland Valley with Boomer after she got settled in a safe location.
Deciding that would be the best way, she brought up the radio to talk. Clicking the button, she heard the familiar static followed by silence signaling to speak. "Hey, Sheriff—"
A leg suddenly came into view between the branches in front of her. Her heart leapt to her throat and she quickly shut off the radio so no one trying to reach her would give away her position. Curious with who stood before her, she cautiously leaned over to catch a glimpse at two Angels breathing heavily as they tossed their heads to either side, clearly looking for something.
Avery's eyes widened and the familiar adrenaline dump in her veins caused her to tighten her grip on her rifle.
The fumes of Bliss were now apparent as the breeze rustled the shrub that concealed her. Both creatures lifted their heads to smell the air from the breeze but luckily her scent was mixed with the brush and forest floor. The one further away took a few steps forward while dragging a shovel and grunting. It looked like it had a wounded ankle, but it was common knowledge that it wouldn't slow the Angel down if she gave chase. Avery could feel her fingertips tingle in anticipation of a fight. However, being so close to the compound and a main road, it would be stupid to start shooting.
Fortunately for the deputy, the Angel with the shovel began walking away followed by the ting-ting of the metal shovel bouncing off rocks in the grass.
The other Angel was not leaving, though.
A growl left its throat while it took another step towards her location; interspersed with short, breathy snorts that could have been mistaken for some other noise from nature if Avery wasn't so familiar with it. It was the noise they made when they were tracking something, especially when tracking by smell. Seeing it made every muscle in Avery's body stiffen.
Did the radio chatter attract it? How did I not hear it approach? Did it smell me?
Looking down Avery saw the only thing that could have made sense. Damn my luck.
Her frown deepened, knowing her rations were slim as it was already and throwing out the deer jerky was one of the last things she wanted to do. Weighing the options, common sense said the left-over jerky was not as valuable as the ammo she would use if she decided to shoot her way out of there. Well fuck…
The Angel took another step and Avery knew she was out of options. Tossing the bag away, she watched as it skidded over the grass before spilling out the contents next to the Angel's feet. The drugged-up girl spun quickly at the object, revealing a hammer in her right hand.
Avery watched as the Angel pulled the mask down and began to tear hungrily at the jerky on the ground. Gripping the handle of her knife strapped at her ankle, she stalked up behind the Angel while it was distracted. The nerves she would get whenever she was in a gunfight returned but her entire focus was on the target in front of her. She knew she only had a few seconds before her window of opportunity was up.
Everything seemed to slow down.
Bringing up the blade, she angled it just right at the base of the Angel's skull. Avery couldn't help but think about her thin neck, the fragile vertebrae just underneath her skin; such a weak defense for the spinal column now that she thought about it.
Knowing that she was nearly out of time, she gave one solid shove of her blade, feeling the tip pushed into the vertebrae and the Angel going limp as all control from the brain was severed.
Avery plucked the knife from the back of the woman's head before rushing back to gather her items. She didn't have time to stick around after that mishap. A part of her thought about hiding the body but logic said she observed all she could from the experiment.
Now it was time to clear out, put as much distance between her and Henbane as she could.
././././
The sun had long disappeared over the mountain tops, casting a shadow over the valley. It had been a few hours since Avery left the Bliss field where she had the failed experiment. Besides avoiding a few Peggies driving around the area, most likely doing their daily rounds, the travel was overall uneventful. It was during one of these eluding times that she wished Boomer was by her side. Though it was a simple task to stay out of the line of sight of vehicles, the Peggies on foot were another story. She hadn't thought about it much at the time, honestly forgetting that she left with a broken message to the Sheriff, but now was as good a time as any to let him know she was alright.
Unfortunately, she wasn't prepared for a lecture when she finally reached out to her boss. In all reality, she should have expected it, should have known he wouldn't be too pleased with her shutting off all communication like that when he knew she was in enemy territory.
Now Avery found herself staring up at the sky with an impassive look on her face. She didn't register the evening stars or clouds, just merely looked on while he chastised her.
"Enough with the damn dog already, I said we would," Whitehorse reiterated over the radio in a huff. "You will have your dog when you find a safe spot in Holland Valley. Now can you promise not to wait so long after cutting the radio to let us know you are okay?"
Looking back at the radio in hand she knew he was right. Shutting off their conversation in midsentence, for six hours was a valid reason to be upset.
"Yes. I will try not to forget to reply sooner next time."
There was a pause as she waited for the Sheriff to reply. She couldn't help but wonder if he was expecting something else.
"I'm sorry for leaving you in the dark about it," she added. "It was stupid of me to not let you know."
"Its fine, Rook," he answered. She smiled at that, realizing her apology was just what he wanted to hear. "Just be careful. We thought something had happened for sure this time."
A string of guilt pulled at Avery. She hadn't meant to make him worry. It really had slipped her mind when her main priority was to just get out of the plantation before someone saw her.
"You worry too much, which kinda explains all that grey hair. You should know by now that I'm always careful."
There was a scoff from Whitehorse. "I would beg to differ."
Avery smiled again at their banter. She was glad he at least had a sense of humor despite worrying for the last few hours. Though it was a nice break from all the seriousness, she knew she had some questions on her mind that she wanted to ask. Travelling on her own in silence gave her a lot of time to think about things.
"How's Burke holding up? And has there been any news on Hudson?"
Another pause.
"Burke is… he's hanging in there. Trying to sleep off his migraine right now. Haven't heard anything on Hudson yet. Not since the broadcast two days ago."
No news.
No news on Hudson.
That at least meant that she was alive or else they would have heard about it by now….
But that wasn't necessarily true.
Avery was used to enemies that broadcasted their kills. But here in Montana, she wasn't against her normal enemies. The cult didn't want to murder people. They wanted to convert them. Can't broadcast a killing if you are trying to get people to join.
That's just bad advertisement.
On another note, if Hudson was viewed as a liability, then the cult members would surely rally for her death. From what she had seen so far, they didn't have much against killing those that didn't side with them and 'see the truth'.
Sighing, she knew there wasn't much she could do by thinking about 'what ifs'. The only one with the answers was John and that wasn't someone she was excited to meet face-to-face with.
"Well, if you hear anything, let me know. I'm not too far out from Holland Valley. I'll let you know when I get there."
"Sooner you get there the sooner I'll send someone with Boomer."
Avery laughed. "Are you bribing me with the dog to leave?"
"That seems to be the only way to get you out of here. Been trying since this morning."
"Fair enough. I'll be in touch."
The older man chuckled. "Take care."
Avery clipped the radio on her belt and proceeded down the hill. The moon was now appearing from behind the mountains, only leaving the small patch of color in the clouds. It was a cooler night and the temperature drop was apparent within the last twenty minutes. She was glad to have brought her black jacket with her instead of leaving it behind at the prison. The warmth it provided was a bit of comfort during her trip across the region.
The deputy didn't mind traveling alone even though she was used to having someone with her, whether it was her team, or her dog. However, the silence allowed her to reflect and think without the constant need for conversation. Perhaps she found comfort in moving across the terrain because it was familiar. She wasn't delivering inmates or sitting behind a desk. She was out in the night with the slight ache in the wrist from holding the rifle at a low ready. The tension that wound all the way in her legs as she moved across the dry, crackling leaves, always softly planting the heel, then rolling on the outside, steadily to the balls of her feet. Ears attuned to every sound.
Nice to know I still got it.
Pleased to see that she still had the edge to her stealth skills, Avery gave a soft chuckle as she began to walk normally; the crunching of the leaves becoming apparent as she made her way to a game trail. As she pushed through a patch of dense foliage, her thoughts began to wander to Hudson again.
What was her plan once she got to Holland Valley? She couldn't just show up at John's location and demand for Joey back. She didn't even know where his location was let alone where they had her companion.
Then came the question for Joey's wellbeing. Burke was dealing with a scrambled brain right now, but John didn't rely on Bliss. Avery didn't know what methods John used to convert his followers besides preaching and propaganda. Dutch had mentioned he was a sadist, but did that mean he relied on torture?
Surely John 'The Baptist' wouldn't dabble with crude means to convert someone with that type of name. Then again, 'sadist' wasn't a common title to slap on someone who didn't deserve it to some degree.
The thought of John torturing Hudson didn't set too well with Avery. She wasn't saying that her counterpart couldn't handle torture but they sure as hell weren't trained for it.
She can handle it. Joey is tough and strong-willed. John won't break her.
A weight seemed to settle in her chest.
Joey is tough… She might be beat down a bit but she is alright. John can't break her will.
The weight seemed to become heavier and she could feel the anxiety start to return.
She's tough…. John can't… She's fine.
Avery stopped suddenly as she looked out at the Henbane river that was now in sight.
Then why do I feel like I am underestimating John? Why do I feel like I'm only lying to myself?
The glistening water was just down the hill, across a road and down an embankment. Seeing it made her force a deep breath to steady her thoughts.
I'll get my answers soon enough. Stop dwelling on it.
She began her trek down the hill once again, trying to force the images of Joey being tortured at the back of her mind. No matter how many times she tried to mentally push the image away, it seemed to just sneak back again.
I wonder who I will meet over there. I'm sure Dutch has some good contacts for me, she pondered, finally forcing Joey away from her thoughts as she all but pulled a new topic to the forefront of her focus.
Hopefully they have food… I'm starving for a burger right now. A beer would be amazing too. I really need a drink. Oh, she hoped they could give her just that! She was tired of gamey deer jerky and water.
The sound of branches snapping to her left tore her attention from her thoughts. Fear gripped her as a beast of fur ripped through the trees, emitting a petrifying roar as it charged straight towards her.
"Shit!" Avery brought her rifle up as she backpedaled away from the enraged grizzly bear.
Throwing the switch to burst, she let loose three rounds into the giant of a bear as she tried to control the panic. A round grazed the bear's shoulder, a second in its neck and the last in-bedded in its face. Avery was prepared to release another three rounds when suddenly the grizzly poofed into a dreaded Bliss cloud.
The feeling of dismay only increased as two Angels emerged from the fog like substance ready to kill her. The three rounds she was prepared to use on the grizzly, she turned on the closest angel, this time bringing the barrel of her gun in a vertical wave as it spit out the bullets. The ammo impaled the first Angel's stomach, chest and neck, similar to the grizzly illusion seconds ago. And just like the bear, it too disappeared into a cloud.
A whoosh of wind grazed her left cheek, pulling her attention to the last Angel. Taking the split second to look behind her, Avery saw that a hammer had been thrown at her and had nearly made contact with her face.
Gritting her teeth, she looked back just in time to see the Angel reach her claw-like nails at her to tear into her skin. Not being able to raise her barrel in close combat, Avery decided to swing her rifle around, smashing the butt of her gun into the Angel's temple.
This caused her to stumble back from the force before she charged back at the deputy with vengeance, screaming out an aggressive cry.
Throwing her rifle behind her on the sling, Avery pulled out her 9mm and shot off another three rounds just as the Angel was two feet in front of her.
The Angel fell back onto the ground lifeless after the shots to the chest. But Avery wasn't taking any chances. Breathing hard from the surprise attack, the brunette stepped over the Angel just as she began to stir to life again. Narrowing her eyes, Avery let off one last round into her temple, knowing she wouldn't come back from that.
"Fucking hell."
She ejected her magazine to check her rounds, counted the last 3 bullets left before putting the magazine back in place. Placing her pistol back in its holster, she brought her rifle around to the front and set the safety. Forcing a shaky breath to steady herself, she looked back at the Angel that lay at her feet.
"Why do you have to be like that? I was just trying to walk out of here and mind my own business. Fucking grizzly bear-really?! Had to be a bear?" Taking another unsteady breath, she ran her hand through her hair before shaking her head. "A lot of good that did you, huh?"
The corpse only lay motionless at her feet, unresponsive.
Should probably get out of here. That was sure to have attracted someone's attention.
Turning around, Avery nearly jumped out of her skin.
Honey colored hair, light eyes, white dress…
"Hello Avery," the sweet voice greeted.
The deputy reached for her pistol, but Faith was already prepared. Pollen from the Bliss flowers were blown into Avery's face before she could even withdraw her gun. The world converted to a spinning top and her vision became more blurry, like getting out of a highly chlorinated pool. Losing balance and control, Avery landed on her back with a thud. The night sky hung over her like a dark cobalt ceiling and her thoughts began to shift to the fevered like consistency as she tried to figure out what happened.
I let my guard down. I don't want to go back to the Bliss… I shouldn't have let my guard down… Stupid!... How…It was a trap… I don't want to go back...
Faith came into Avery's line of vision as she did all she could to focus on the real world.
"Silly, why would you want to leave my home? We were just starting to make progress."
Avery could feel her grip on reality slipping. The Bliss fog was closing in on her and the sky above her was becoming the only clear thing left in her vision. Like she was descending into the ocean, staring up at the dwindling brightness of the surface waters.
"You have been invited into our home… into our hearts."
From the corner of her vision, Avery noticed the foot of the Angel she had just killed and in her delusional state, she realized how ironic it was that she was now in the same position with Faith standing over her.
And there was nothing she could do about it.
I don't want to go back.
././././
Light-headed and dizzy. The familiar sensation hit her as she opened her eyes to find herself lying on the ground. The forest was not the same as where she had just been in moments ago, but she knew where she was.
In Faith's realm.
Rolling over, she pushed herself to her feet, knowing there wasn't any way she could force herself out of the dream-like reality. I just need to stay away from the gates. Don't get stuck in here, Avery. You're stronger than this…
Please don't let me get stuck in here.
Fear was pumping through her veins as she steadied herself. She couldn't get stuck in here. She refused to become like Burke.
Walking forward, she saw a large tree in the distance. A small blossom of relief settled in as she realized there were no gates in sight. A few butterflies fluttered across her path as she continued towards the tree, partially out of curiosity and partly because there was that all too conversant pull that she couldn't resist. As she made her way through the field, she could see the feminine figure dancing at the end of her path.
Faith.
Avery tried to stop, not wanting to confront the siren who put her back in this place, but her legs wouldn't obey her.
Stop moving! She tried to use her anger at the situation to give her strength over her body, but it all seemed like wasted energy. There was little control here in this world.
"Even those who fight against us seek salvation, Avery." Faith must have seen Avery struggling for control as she quickly appeared in front of her. Encasing the deputy's gloved hands in hers, she gave a light squeeze that offered comforting.
"You're proof of that… we all need guidance in times like these. You took Burke away from his family, but you didn't know what you were doing. You thought you were helping him. But now you will understand."
Turning away, she pulled Avery towards the base of the tree where she saw a group of people sitting around one man in particular. Like a crashing wall, it all made sense what Faith said.
The Father stood before her with his dark denim jeans and no shirt so he could proudly display his macabre carvings. He was preaching to those that sat at his feet, drinking in every word while Avery tried with all her will to gain control over her body.
Faith's hands on hers tightened soothingly as she turned to whisper to the stressed deputy. "Now you'll see. Now you'll truly understand what I have been trying to show you."
But I don't want to see, her mind screamed. She was about to protest to Faith but the weight of someone's attention made her pause.
She turned her attention back to the circle and saw Joseph peering through his yellow aviators at her. His full consideration was on her, triggering her heart to pound harder in her chest.
"Because those on the outside will see what we have built here together, in our New Eden… and they will come." His voice was calm and soothing as he addressed his followers. Faith stepped by his side and they exchanged a small nod before the heavy eyes of the Father turned to Avery once again.
"And they will try to take from us all that we have built." He began to walk towards her planted form.
I'm not taking anything except my friends, she tried to say but her words were stuck in her throat as the Father stepped closer.
The inkling of being the prey hit her once again and she hated the feeling, but try as she might, she couldn't shake the sensation. With no control over her own body, she was at the mercy of Joseph Seed in this realm. Within moments, he stood only a foot in front of her and he looked down upon her with his intense gaze, drinking in everything that she was.
Avery swallowed as fear began to swell in her belly from the man in front of her. She hadn't given it much thought before as to her feelings for Joseph Seed. After the Helicopter crash and his threatening words, she tried to focus on only her team members. If she was being completely honest with herself, she would admit that she hoped she would never meet him face to face again.
Something about him was off to her and there was a fear of him that she wasn't keen on admitting to, there was a power to his presence that she had never seen in anyone else. His gaze was always solid and intense like his company and she could only wonder how crazy he may actually be. Him being a few sheets to the wind seemed like an understatement.
"You judge me. You judge us," his voice was low but there was the calming tone to it. The idea of it being possible to read her mind in the Bliss startled her but she filed it away for later thinking, knowing there wasn't anything she could do about it now if that was the case. "You judge the things that we have done…"
He set his hands onto her shoulders and she jumped at the contact. There was a shadow of movement at the corner of his lips and Avery wondered if he was amused by her reaction. The thought irritated her, and she hoped her fear wasn't broadcasting as she felt it might be.
Get ahold of yourself.
Embracing her frustrations, she found her voice but her will over her body was not strong enough to pull away from Joseph.
"You and your following have committed crimes. You can't pretend to be innocent."
Being in such close proximity, Avery could still make out the deep blue eyes that observed her from the yellow lenses. There was amusement dancing behind the glasses as he had expected her outburst.
"No one is truly innocent to begin with. But there is a power that we follow. A path that is set forth that we tread across. You too, walk across this path but you do not see it," he replied serenely. "We have atoned for our sins and thus see the truth. The choice is up to you whether you will fight against it or open your mind to what is really happening."
Avery furrowed her brows and she could feel the Father's hands tighten on her shoulders. It was more of a reassuring pressure then trying to inflict pain, so she decided to push her luck.
"You're delusional. I'm not walking any path. Just trying to get my team back that you took from me."
Joseph shook his head, a small, knowing smirk curled his lips. The grip on her shoulders tightened to inflict pain and Avery wondered why that pushed him to react, however, she had enough sense to keep her mouth shut.
"You can deny it all you want but you have a purpose here. I am here to show you. To give you the choice of following a higher calling that will impact the world as we know it. Sinners and non believers say that I am crazy… but when you wake up in the morning you look at the same news that I do."
Joseph released her shoulders and turned to his left as something else pulled his attention from her. Avery didn't realize she was holding a breath until his piercing gaze left hers.
"Do your eyes not fill with horror, Avery? When you see the murder and war and sins that fill the streets?" He began to walk away from her, but the trepidation returned full force when her eyes landed on what held his attention.
The peaceful atmosphere that inhabited Faith's realm had dissipated into a new darkness that the deputy had never faced before. Off in the distance, a mushroom cloud of fire and ash billowed into the green sky. Joseph raised his hands to the heavens as if welcoming the explosion.
"This is the world?! This?! This is the world we built for our children?" Joseph turned towards Avery and all she could do was watch in horror as all her instincts told her to run but whatever power the Bliss had, kept her firmly in place. Her breathing became labored as her mind tried to process the sudden change in events.
This isn't real. It's just the Bliss.
But the gusts of wind carried the smell of smoke and soot; the bitterness of death tinted the air. Her body began to walk towards the Father without her consent, but she still tried to dig her heels into the ground.
"Communities being torn apart. Walls being erected because leaders are too important to act. Bullies are too addled to lead righteously." Joseph saw the deputy struggling to gain control of her body; noticed the sweat beading at her temples at the sight of the nuclear blast behind him.
Good, he thought to himself. She does have fear.
Holding out his hand to her, he summoned her presence to be with him. He could see her struggle before it became too much, and she was rushed to his side by the Bliss.
As she came to a stop, he placed his hands on her collar bones and drank in her fear driven eyes. It was different than the anger she had immersed in while they were last face-to-face in the helicopter and he enjoyed the change. Her vulnerability was just what he wanted to see.
"I did not ask for this," he explained in a husky voice just low enough for her to hear. "I was chosen."
Avery swallowed as he brought her to him in an embrace, followed by a blinding white light. Anxiety clawed at her and her inner voice screamed for release.
Moments later, the blinding light began to recede back to reveal a new location. Lush, green fields were now barren waste and set ablaze. Cars were distorted, twisted metal and buildings were now in ruin. The epidemy of hell.
"See, everything is coming to an end. You can feel that," Joseph rasped as his gaze had now turned dark as he regarded her. Avery was about to protest but he shook his head. "I know you can, Avery. Don't deny it. The wars-the death… The selfish leaders who drain our country into crime."
This was too much. She didn't know what to think. What she saw was something out of movies. Not what the world was supposed to become. Sure, there was always a possibility but mankind wasn't that stupid. Or at least she hoped they weren't.
"We aren't going to destroy ourselves like this. Its suicide," she objected but it came out as a feeble excuse.
"Mankind is weak and vulnerable," Joseph replied back sharply. Avery was slightly taken aback by his anger, never having been around his temper. His calm demeanor was enough to make her uncomfortable and fear his intentions. She wasn't wanting to be on the receiving end of his rage.
"We are hurdling towards our destruction and no one is willing to do anything about it!" He stepped away from her and held his arms out to display the world around them alight in flames. "I can see that! You can see that!... There are no excuses for this devastation!"
Softening his voice a few decimals, he continued. "So, what are we supposed to do? We just sit back and await the inevitable?"
The question hung in the air with only the cracking of fire and eerie billow of smoke echoed around them. The Father could see her shaking, eyes wide in fear as she watched him.
Avery desperately wanted to leave this new hell, but she knew there was no escape until they were done with her.
This is just the Bliss. It seems real but it's just the Bliss. Avery forced herself to take a few deep breaths to control her fear. It was so hard to keep her mind straight when she was in this realm with limited control of her body and the Bliss miasma.
"Why?" she asked, pleased that her voice didn't betray her still racing thoughts. "Why are you showing me this?"
The Father looked at her but didn't answer right away. The carvings across his chest reflected off the fire from a nearby truck, the shadow dancing across his shoulder. For a moment, she thought that maybe he wasn't going to answer her. When he did finally speak again, he didn't carry anger nor sadness. There was an emptiness to his voice that took her off guard.
"I do not claim to be a perfect man, but I saw what was coming and I chose to act. To lead. Because society is broken and the only way forward… is to go back to the way things once were."
He walked back to stand in front of her, but this time Avery steeled herself for his presence.
"Innocent and pure…So safe and protected… in our Garden." Joseph raised a hand to push some of Avery's sweaty bangs away from her temple. His touch left a burning feeling across her skin, but she couldn't look away from his sharp gaze.
The fear began to return to her belly and all she wanted was to wake up from this nightmare.
"I can save you, Avery. I can keep you from burning in this world." The Father kneeled down to a patch of white Bliss flowers that were left untouched by the flames. Plucking one delicately from the ground, he stood back up and handed it to her just as a blinding light left her in complete darkness once more.
"But you have to have faith."
./././././
Avery did not wake up, so to speak. She became more aware of what was going on around her. None of it made any sense to her but nevertheless her brain began interpreting everything is short bursts; none of it was clear but rather drifted around some mental distortion, half-developed. She could smell the faint musk of mildew and the cold draft around her.
Unconsciousness pulled at her like a black hole. A voice could be heard from her delusional state. A female voice.
Was it Faith? Was she here to drag her back to the Bliss?
I won't go again, she thought as she slipped back to darkness. Not again.
Avery felt herself falling but could not see anything. Her feet felt as if they were tumbling over nothingness. Hands grabbed at her. She felt cold and warm all at once.
This world collided with another full of her memories. Running in a field away from the school bullies. Standing on a sand dune, watching the splotch of colors from the beautiful sunrise. Michael sitting next to her in the Humvee as they drove through a foreign city.
"Everyone around you dies," he said sadly.
Then she was on her back while the image of an Angel leaned over her. Avery struggled for her knife, felt her hands gripping it but the handle felt more like sand in her fingers.
"Rook! Rook! Open your eyes!"
The Angel grabbed her by the wrist and twisted the knife out of her hands. The deputy jerked back and forth as best as she could, trying to punch or choke the Angel but then the face changed to Whitehorse shaking her.
Darkness pulled at her again before another face filled her vision.
"C'mon give her the adrenaline!"
A female face leered over her and raised a sharp object over her head. All Avery's saturated mind could register was an Angel trying to stab her with her own knife. Gathering whatever strength she had left, the deputy reached up and grabbed the Angels' wrist, reversing the roles as she attempted to keep the sharp end away from her chest.
"C'mon. c'mon. Stop fighting! C'mon-just stop!" Whitehorse came into her view, but she was in survival mode. Nothing they yelled made sense to her.
"Don't fucking move! I need you calm and still!" the Angel above her ordered. The face of the woman above her changed for a split second to Tracey but then it went back to an enraged Angel once again.
Whether Avery was going to listen or not wasn't up to her. Whitehorse pulled her arms towards him and left Avery vulnerable to the woman above her with the needle at the ready.
Before she could protest or break free, the tip came down into her chest, leaving a blinding light to stun her as she was forced to inhale a breath fit for a panicked, drowning person as the sudden rush of adrenaline flooded her chest.
"That's it… That's it, Rook. Good…." A calming voice broke through the sea of white.
The double vision cleared enough for her to see the familiar face of her boss. But whether it was reality or a dream was indistinguishable.
A new voice from deep within her subconscious spoke to her as she tried to regain her breath.
"If you turn your back to us, they are going to die, Avery. The world will burn in the Collapse and you won't be able to save them," Joseph stated from somewhere in the darkness. "The sinners will all perish. And you… will be alone."
And then like a meteor, she fell through the feverishness of her thoughts and illusions until slamming down into earth where there was nothing but herself and darkness. But at least the memories could not reach her there.
./././././
When Avery did wake up, she knew that it was reality. Her mind was instantly in high gear despite the throbbing headache that pulsed at her temple. The Bliss that had clouded her mind seemed like it had finally broken, now replaced with exhaustion and a migraine.
Blinking, she focused on the ceiling above her head. The water stained walls and blue fabric dividers was a welcoming sight as she recognized it as the medical bay in the Prison. But how long had she been out? How had she made it back here? Where was the Angel that tried to kill her? Was that just a bad dream?
Avery leaned up slightly and her hand went to her ankle, reaching for her knife but it was not in the sheath.
"Hey, Sheriff!" a voice hollered from the doorway.
Avery twisted towards the sound to see a familiar face, but the name was forgotten momentarily. Soon another older man came running into the medical bay, smiling broadly at the deputy.
"Rook! Glad to see you awake," he greeted. Sheriff Whitehorse walked briskly to her side, flanked by Tracey and Virgil.
The brunette wanted to return the smile but the inkling feeling of vulnerability was something that hindered her thoughts. She didn't even know if this was all real or another trick. From the events and nightmarish trip down memory lane, it was safe to say she was shaken up pretty bad.
And where was her rifle? She wanted her rifle badly.
Whitehorse knelt down on Avery's right as Tracey went to the left of the bed. Virgil stayed back nervously as he fidgeted with a pen. Avery did not trust her mind to tell her the truth and she found her eyes wandering to Whitehorse's revolver strapped to his belt. She wondered if she could get it away from him if this all turned out to be a ruse.
Tracey pulled up a small stool next to the bed and shined a light in her eyes. She spoke clearly and deliberately. "Can you tell me your name?"
Avery stared at Tracey, still utterly confused.
Tracey and Whitehorse exchanged a warry glance.
"Avery Mason." Her voice had a rasp to her ears, and she realized how thirsty she was.
The present company looked relieved.
"Do you know where you are right now?" Tracey asked as she lowered the light.
Avery became irritated. "I suppose I'm at the Prison. What the fuck happened? How am I here?"
The elder man rested a hand on Avery's shoulder and offered a calm smile. "Easy, Rook. We just needed to see if you came out of the Bliss alright or not."
The Bliss… of course that part was real. But the other bits… were they?
Michael was there with her. He spoke to her—
Avery felt herself choke on a sob at the memory and tears started to burn her eyes.
"Rook-what's wrong?" Sheriff asked suddenly concerned as he saw her mood shift to something darker.
Avery forced herself to swallow as she all but angrily shoved the memory away. Of course, that wasn't real. Michael was dead. He couldn't be there…
Clenching her fist in the blanket until she felt nails digging deep in her palms, she returned her attention to the others. "I'm fine."
There was a tense pause before Tracey took the initiative to direct the conversation along. "What's the last thing you remember?"
The deputy had to think about this one. "… I was almost to Holland Valley. Then Faith intercepted my path and I was in the Bliss again…"
"Do you remember getting here?"
Avery blinked, trying to pull anything from her hallucinations. "Um…I don't…"
"Do you remember being in a car?"
She shifted on the cot, growing frustrated. "No, I don't. Can one of you just tell me what the fuck is going on?"
"You're back in the prison," Virgil explained. "Back in Henbane."
"I know that." Avery bit out.
The Sheriff wasn't used to seeing his deputy with a short temper, but he knew he needed to defuse the situation before it got out of hand.
"Good," Whitehorse explained as he forced a smile. "Your brain isn't as jangled as we thought. Although you did punch Virgil in the face when he was trying to get you in the fence line."
Green eyes looked to the middle-aged man who offered a nervous smile.
"And you tried to stab Tracey," he added.
Tracey nodded looking half amused and half irate. "So, we were a little concerned about your mental state, if you know what I mean."
Avery bounced between everyone in the room and shook her head. "I, err… I don't remember that. Sorry."
Tracey shrugged. "I'm just glad I got the knife from you before you bled me out. Besides, I'd say I got you back with the adrenaline needle."
After about ten minutes of trying to piece everything together, Avery was pleased to know that her companions had found her not far from the Prison walls. How she got there was a mystery as Avery couldn't even remember getting in a vehicle like she had the time before. Her time in the Bliss was estimated to be about 4 hours or so seeing as it was early afternoon now after her rest.
A part of her had a sinking feeling that she was deep in Henbane region again because that was what Faith and the Father wanted. Were they trying to prevent her from leaving the region? Regardless, the next move was hers and she already knew she was leaving to Holland Valley as soon as she was rested.
Luckily, they all agreed for her to at least get some rest before leaving for the trip out of there. Though the answers were not all recovered from the broken night, they at least were content with knowing that Avery was safe and, more importantly, sane.
The details as to what happened during her Bliss trip, she kept to herself. When asked, she mentioned Faith and the circle of followers but when it came to the Father and his vision of the collapse, she couldn't bring herself to repeat it.
She knew if she really needed to talk to someone, Tracey would be the best one to talk to. The younger woman had once followed the Father and the Project for a while, whole-heartedly believing that there was to be a collapse. But everything was still too fresh and real to Avery. Her emotions were high, and she desperately needed to gain control of her frazzled mind.
Instead of discussing anything else, she looked around with a slight frown. "I need some food and I would really like my weapons."
Whitehorse eyed her, his jaw muscles bunching. He seemed puzzled at her request as he pondered.
Avery had been exposed to a high dosage of Bliss and for a long time. Part of him felt like she should be acting out more, feeling violated and confused. Perhaps that would come later. The human brain did not like to be shocked and it would only allow you to process it in small increments. He just hoped it wouldn't happen all at once to where she would use those weapons to protect herself against them.
But Avery wasn't like most people here either. She had been exposed to many life altering events in the military. It was something the mind had to adapt to or break. From what he could tell, it seemed like she had learned to adapt to shock. Or so he hoped, that is.
Finally deciding what was best, he nodded. "Yeah I'll get them."
"I-I'll go with you," Virgil offered as they both left the room.
Tracey watched as they disappeared through the door, leaving them to their thoughts. Not wanting to not dwell in awkward silence, she decided to be somewhat productive and talk to the quiet brunette in front of her.
"You're a fucking wreck, Deputy," Tracey said as she stood to check the I.V. fluids hanging on the rack next to her bed.
Looking down at her left arm, Avery was surprised she hadn't noticed the catheter until that moment.
"Well," she shrugged. "I can't say I enjoy it."
Sitting back in the chair, Tracey observed her closely. Avery said nothing, knowing if she was going to ask a question, there was no stopping it. The look she was receiving was calculating, like Tracey was debating on bringing something up or not. Normally Avery would feel slightly nervous as to what would come but she was too exhausted to care at this point. Luckily for her, she didn't have to wait long for Tracey to decide on what she wanted to ask.
"Did you see him?"
Avery regarded her companion. She knew who she was referring to but refused to openly acknowledge it. "See who?"
"The Father? Joseph Seed," she stated bluntly.
Avery folded her hands in her lap while she debated on telling the truth or not. She really wasn't ready on reliving the scenario so soon. "Yes."
Tracey faltered but only for a split second. Almost unnoticeable. "Well, I won't lecture you about how dangerous he is, but I want you to know that he doesn't show up in Faith's Bliss visions often. If he made an appearance, its serious. Just… be extremely cautious moving forward."
Avery thought for a moment, feeling relieved that Tracey wasn't pressing for more details or answers. "Thank you. I will be as careful as I can be."
"I know it's hard for you," she snorted.
The deputy's face fell into a disgruntled frown. "Why is it that everyone thinks I enjoy getting into trouble?"
"Because you make a habit of it. The thing that makes you different than other people is that you can easily get out of trouble just to get back into it," she laughed.
At this, she couldn't help but to chuckle. "I suppose there is some truth to that… Hey… Do you think… Can you keep the Joseph info between you and me? I really don't want to relive the details of it if people start asking questions."
Tracey's expression softened at the request and she offered a soft smile. She understood better than anyone that somethings were best left in the dark. A part of her was disturbed to see the feisty deputy to be turned into a quiet girl over one night. Undoubtably everything was still fresh in her mind and she was sure Avery would be back to her normal self in no time…
But… the change was still unsettling. The broken request to keep the truth of Joseph's presence hit a nerve in Tracey, and there was an understanding as to what the deputy was feeling.
"Yeah. It stays between us."
Whitehorse and Virgil appeared moments later with Avery's M4 rifle and knife along with a bottle of water and some oatmeal. Avery slid the knife into her boot sheath and checked the chamber of her rifle before laying it on the ground. Whitehorse handed her the food and water which she happily took.
"Eat up. Get some sleep. We will wake you later so you can head out to Holland Valley. Faith won't be expecting you to be leaving right away so the sooner, the better."
Avery couldn't help but agree. She was more than ready to leave Henbane behind at this point.