The Peacemaker

Devastation Rains

Ellie came up behind Liv. "There's only four riders," Liv stated somewhat numbly. Ellie grabbed Liv and pushed her into the nearest tent.

"Stay in here and do not come out until someone comes to get you," Ellie told her before closing the tent behind her. Liv began to panic. She hated being in small spaces by herself. They reminded her of the compartment her mother had hidden her in before she was killed. Liv was starting to hyperventilate. She could not see or think straight. Was the tent getting smaller? Liv tried to focus on something, anything that would take her mind off of the tent. She heard someone crying. Now there was someone coming into the tent. Liv thought her heart was going to explode if it beat any faster or louder.

Wyatt came into the tent and Liv ran to him. He was a little bruised and very tired, but he was ok. He scooped Liv up, and she buried her face into his chest. They stood like that for several minutes before Liv asked, "Daddy, who didn't come back."

"Jim and Peter," he said sorrowfully. Jim had been her father's best friend growing up, and Peter had been one of the first men to join her father's gang. Liv went to find Ellie. When she found her, she sat beside of her. Ellie was crying so Liv did not try to talk. She merely sat there with her so she would not have to grieve alone.

Liv and Estrella raced across the Heartlands headed back to camp after an afternoon of hunting. Liv was fifteen now and one of the best shots of her father's gang. It was often her job to hunt for food. The men liked to joke that she was a bloodhound trapped in a human's body because of how quickly and easily she found game. Her father's gang had become a force to be reckoned with. They most often went after other gangs who had become violent towards innocent civilians. Unfortunately, this meant that they were a target for both the law and other gangs. Liv let her mind wander as Estrella galloped towards camp. The old mare knew the way and Liv trusted her to take them straight home.

A little ways from camp, Estrella spooked at something causing Liv to snap back to reality. The mare whinnied loudly and reared. Liv quickly tried to calm her when she saw what had spooked Estrella. There were two strange men riding towards her. Liv quickly whipped Estrella around and pushed her to run as fast as she could. She knew better than to lead these men back to camp. The men began to chase after her. Liv could not tell if these men were from the law or a rival gang. Either way she needed to lose them. "Come on Estrella just a little faster girl!" The old mare was breathing heavily, and Liv knew that she could not keep this pace for long. The men were gaining on her. Liv turned and shot at the two men, hitting one of them right in the heart. She tried to shoot again, but she her rifle was empty. The other rider was right beside her now. he hit Liv in the head with the butt of his gun and pulled her to his horse. Live tried to fight, but her vision was going black.

Liv awoke tied to a chair and in a strange place. Her head throbbed, and she could feel blood trickling down her face. "She's awake boss," said a deep voice to Liv's left. She tried to see who was talking but her vision was still blurry and moving to quickly made the room seem to spin.

"Olivia Williams," said another voice that seemed familiar to Liv. "It's been a long time. You've grown up right pretty haven't you?" Liv forced her self to concentrate. How did she known this voice? The man came up to her and turned her face toward him. Live finally realized how she knew this man. It was her father's brother, Bill.

"Hello Uncle," Olivia spat.

"Now Liv there is no need for hostility," Bill said. "We're just gonna have a friendly chat."