Destroyer

Chapter 4

"Sharky, did you build that flamethrower yourself?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Just wondering how far away I should stay."

Peaches and Boomer made a low growl, concurring with Grace's caution about their latest companion. Nayeli couldn't help but smile as Sharky seemed to take offense, and was quick to retort that the duct tape would suffice in holding his weapon together. Somethings never change. Following her rescue from John, Nayeli was quick to regroup with Grace and Boomer, even liberating the Rye household and stealing back Nick's airplane from John Seed's Ranch as a big "Fuck you" gesture after forcing her to undergo one of his baptisms. With air support now on their side, they had a better chance of spotting the cultists movements, and a higher chance of finding Hudson. In the meantime, Nayeli was focused on finding the sole member of her family that she knew was alive: Whitehorse.

Getting into the Henbane had been easier than anticipated, so they made good time as they approached the County Jail. Nayeli's heart was bursting with excitement to be reunited with Whitehorse. She estimated it had been a couple weeks since she had declared him to be dead, but hearing him on the radio days prior had reignited the hope that everything was going to work out once they regrouped. If anyone could handle being under pressure it was the Sheriff.

They were about 150 meters away when explosions began to go off followed by the sound of gunfire and yelling. Nayeli's stomach sunk as dread overfilled her. No.

"We gotta move!" Grace shouted.

Nayeli drew her bow as she followed after the furry companions that darted out ahead as Grace and Sharky flanked her. It was naive of her to think that the Peggies would not try to take the jail, one of the few havens in this fucking nightmare. Everything happened so fast once they reached the jail's parking lot. Nayeli could only remember knocking her arrow and taking down Peggie after Peggie, like it was becoming second nature. Grace took up a spot in the distance, sniping off strays while Boomer and Peaches took care of those who would try flanking them. And Sharky- well, Sharky did what he did best as Eden's Gate vehicles began to explode left and right.

Opposite of the metal gate, through the metal bars, Nayeli spotted a familiar figure, fighting off those that got past the defenses.

"Whitehorse!" Nayeli cried as she drew near. Whitehorse looked to her direction, unable to believe his eyes. Nayeli and Whitehorse began to approach the gate simultaneously, but Nayeli paused as a figure darted towards the Sheriff. She could spot the milkiness of his eyes and the face mask covering the lower half of his face from where she stood; the same as the man whose life she had taken in order to protect Hudson in what seemed like months ago.

Nayeli was a few feet from the Gate when the Sheriff reached it, to which she immediately began to shout at him, "Get down!"

The Sheriff did not hesitate and dropped to a crouch as Nayeli prepared her bow, the head of her arrow positioned just between the bars as she released it. The arrow found it's target between the man's eyes, knocking him onto his back, dead. The rest of the Peggie's had begun to retreat at this point, allowing Whitehorse a chance to unlock the door of the gate, and giving Nayeli her chance to burst through.

"Oh my god." she cried as she rushed at the older man. Their arms flew around each other, with Nayeli's enthusiastic dash almost knocking down Whitehorse. "I thought you were dead. I thought everyone else was dead-" Nayeli exclaimed as she clutched onto him. Whitehorse held her close like he was scared she wasn't real.

"Rook...Nayeli, I'm so glad to see you in one piece." Nayeli pulled away enough to look him in the face, "I heard your radio message. Pratt and the Marshall...are they...?"