Destroyer

Chapter 11

The jail was filled to capacity with both Whitetails, Cougars, and Holland Valley residents as they chatted amongst themselves, their respective faction leaders conducting their next plan of attack. The only people missing were Pratt whom's fate still lingered as a largely unknown variable over Nayeli's head and Eli who was supposedly on his way back with a report from the North in regards to Jacob's forces.

"We have a lead on Faith's bunker, just waiting for the scouts to come back with verification. Then we can plan a course of rescuing the hostages and blowing that shit to hell." Tracey spoke as they all hovered over the map sprawled out on the table.

"Why not clear out the bunker and leave it intact? Use it as a place for those who have been displaced from their homes? The Peggies obviously have enough food and water reserves stored until we can figure out a more permanent solution." Dutch spoke up.

They bickered back and forth, Tracey, a recovered Hudson, and Mayor Virgil condemning the bunker while you had Sherriff Whitehorse, Grace and Dutch voting to save it. Most of the other prominent members of the rebellion were either in the medical bay, such as Burke, or out doing the daily work of doing supply runs, such as the case was for Mary May and Pastor Jerome. Nayeli stood off to the side from all the arguing, her eyes lingering on the northern region, anxious for Eli's return. Sharky stood beside her, her tension becoming palpable.

"You doing alright there Nay?" he asked.

Sharky had been worried sick after she had left the Spread Eagle in search for Hudson and went radio silent for days before calling for all their forces to consolidate. She wanted to share her burden and the torment she and Hudson endured, to have one less thing weighing down on her shoulders. To not feel so alone.

"I'm just worried...what if this is all for naught?" she spoke, her bravado that she had had slowly slipped away.

Sure, they could take Faith's bunker with little issue with their combined firepower, but she had the Bliss at her control. Then there was the matter of the Whitetail Mountains. Jacob's region. Trying to take that area would be suicide. Jacob was a strategist with an army at his control. Always three steps ahead. Always inside her head.

"Hey, we got this! We made it this far after all. We're gonna send those Peggie's packing." he reassured her.

Sharky had begun to wrap an arm around her shoulders to which Nayeli jerked away unintentionally, more so as instinct. She could see the confused look across his face to which she tried to remedy.

"Sorry, I just...I'm just a little sore from fighting my way out of John's bunker you know?"

"Of course, of course. No worries Nay." he smiled awkwardly.

She knew what was on his mind, and she knew that she could not string him along any longer with false hope. The way he looked at her, it was like his heart was gonna burst out of his chest at any moment. She had used him. She knew that. It was something she regretted doing but she knew no other way at that moment. Saw no other way to regain some autonomy.

Nayeli sighed and began to speak. Lets get this over with...

"Sharky, I think that maybe we should talk-"

As if the cosmos wanted to give her a break from what was potentially going to be a very awkward conversation, a Whitetail recruit came bursting into the meeting room with a look of urgency on his face.

"Deputy Lamb! Eli has returned, and I think there's something you may want to see."

The entire party looming over the map turned towards Nayeli, waiting for her response. This could be nothing good she thought to herself as she headed outdoors with her entire party in tow.

Sure enough, as she walked into the daylight, she spotted Eli approaching the main gate supporting an unmistakable face as he struggled to stand straight. Weeks of who knows what torment and mental games taking its toll on him.

"Pratt!" Nayeli cried as she dashed towards the pair, taking up Staci's arm around her own neck as they brought him inside the jail.

"We need a medic!" Whitehorse shouted as the others prepared a cot for the young man.

Eli and Nayeli placed him gently down, his eyes struggling to stay open as he took in his surroundings. When he saw Nayeli's face though, they opened fully with a sigh of relief.

"Nayeli." he gasped, just barely conscious, probably exhausted from the journey here.

"Pratt. I'm so sorry. I am so, so sorry-" she began to mutter taking his hand into her own.

Out of the corner of her eye, she watched as Sharky shifted uncomfortably before leaving the room altogether. That conversation would have to wait for another time. Right now, she was simply overjoyed that Pratt was alive, and now out of harm's way.

"Found him wandering around just outside the Veteran's Center, along with some of the other captives." Eli spoke up, "Entire place looked like it had been cleared out. Also began to get radio calls from the other areas that the outposts had been abandoned as well. Most of the Peggie's seemed to be traveling southbound to Joseph's compound though. Probably as a last-minute defensive strategy."

Nayeli raised a brow, confounded by this information. Had Jacob just given up his entire region? Or was this an elaborate ruse to lull the resistance into a false sense of security.

"I have the remainder of my people securing the outposts just in case the Peggie's try to come back." Eli added.

Whitehorse chimed in, "At this point, once we take Faith's forces down, we'll have that bastard Joseph Seed surrounded."

"And then we can all wake up from this fucking nightmare." Hudson quipped as she took a seat beside Pratt's cot, placing a hand on his shoulder to which he placed a hand over hers. Behind Hudson stood a weary, but proud-looking Whitehorse. The image of those three alone ignited the fire she needed to continue on this fight. She had her family back, and she'd be damned if they were separated again.

"Alright then." Nayeli spoke up. The room's inhabitants turned toward her, leaning on her every word. Their designated leader. "Let's give Faith a run for her money."