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Chapter 23: Avenge

It took me FOREVER to write this! Sorry! I was trying to figure out a good way to continue after the last chapters depression :(

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Sunken faces and weary bones stumbled through the dense forest. The encampment had been forced to migrate from their old fortress feeling the weight of their loss. Although their loss was great, they had gained an army. There were nearly two hundred prisoners freed from the Savannah sector. Even though they now walked as free men, they were nothing more than bones. Many were malnourished and often collapsed on their journey to the next section. Makeshift stretchers were crafted to support these fallen men, but nothing more could be done for them.

Atlas marched behind the group with his head hung low. His downcast eyes never looking from his muddy boots. The rain seemed to bear down heavily as it drenched his midnight curls. Its stray droplets masked the tear streaks evident on his cheeks. His feet dragged behind until a body appeared next to him. Warmth radiated off the body as an arm cast around Atlas' shoulder. Looking up, he watched as Hope placed a thin fleece blanket over him. She matched his pace as they drifted through the swamp in silence. The only sound between them was the obnoxious plop of raindrops on the ground.

"Atlas," a stern voice boasted from the crowd. The group stirred as a battered man walked backward towards Hope and Atlas. He stood as tall as he could manage in front of the pair. With tears in his eyes and a sneer on his face, he lunged at the man. Atlas was caught off guard and powerless against the attack as the man knocked him down. In a mess of mud and blood, the frantic man pummeled Atlas' face repeatedly. Hope reacted quickly and yanked the man off. The attacker was relentless and threw himself towards the man again. Atlas laid motionless in the filth and would only move to flinch from the pain, making no move to defend himself.

"Stop it, now!" Hope screeched at the man. She pried him off, covering Atlas with her own body. The dirty man halted his fist as more people from the herd jumped into action to hold his arms steady. The man struggled and fought the men restraining him, but was far too weak to break free. Finally, he spoke again.

"Atlas! You bastard! Look at me!" The man was in tears as he spoke, his clothes soaked. "Do you know who I am?" his voice was erratic as he yelled.

Atlas slowly raised his head to look at him. Hope shifted to sit him up, supporting his back still. Examining the broken man, he recognized him as Joseph. Atlas nodded carefully as his expressionless face watched Joseph struggle again.

"My son... how could you!?" Joseph was racked with sobs as he completely collapsed to the ground. The men holding him loosened their grip and let him wither into a puddle. Atlas felt another pang in his heart. He knew exactly what the man was upset for. His son Ezekiel... Zeke had been at the camp when the PI guards invaded. He had burned with Will.

Atlas slumped onto his knees and raised his head up to the sky, "Hit me," he said.

The circle that had forced around them looked on with shock as Atlas submitted to Joseph. Joseph stared at Atlas with confusion. The pain was evident on his face.

"What?"

"I said hit me again!" Atlas shrieked. The wildness in his eyes was enough to scare any man off. Joseph leaned away slightly and shook his head. Atlas was breathing heavily as the mud-soaked further into his jeans. A sudden smack resonated through the now quiet encampment.

Atlas knelt dumbstruck as Hope had whipped her hand across his cheek. He had expected a brawl and instead had been assaulted by the one person he never wanted to hurt.

"You idiot!" Hope cried. Tears pooled in her eyes as she glared at him, "It wasn't your fault. You didn't know..." Hope fell into Atlas, sharing the cold ground. Her arms wrapped around him as she sobbed into his shoulder.

Her voice quivered as she spoke, "I miss him too, but we have to stay strong. We can't let this tear apart the Resistance. We have to avenge them. All of them." Now, Hope was speaking to the crowd behind her as her volume raised to a shout. She wiped away tears and remained facing away from the group, moving away from Atlas' warmth. The ground squished underneath as Joseph stepped towards the pair. Reaching his arm down to Atlas, he extended his hand. Atlas looked to Hope, who glared at the ground past him and took the outstretched hand. Joseph pulled Atlas in for a strong moment and whispered "For the fallen." Atlas squeezed back and nodded.

Hope stood up, composing herself, with red puffy eyes. Atlas looked to the grieving faces in the concourse. With a nod, he motioned them forward and addressed them all with a booming by pained voice.

"The Resistance lives on."