After Death

Chapter 18 (And Release)

Chapter 18: And Release

Ethan Warren

Estimated, July 2024

About 26 months after outbreak

California, The Circus

Season 3

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I left The Circus for a few days, I took Marcus' old backpack, packed what I needed and just left. I didn't feel bad about it, I told Rudi I'd be back in a few days before I went. I didn't need them panicking after everything that's happened.

The main reason I left was because Thomas hadn't said any plans for The Crawlers, they'd been there a few days just locked away in their cells. Most of the citizens expressed how much they wanted them gone, even some suggested execution but Thomas disagreed. He tried to get my side but I refused to get involved. I've made it clear by now that I didn't want to help Thomas lead even though he obviously needed it at least a little. I knew I needed to be there for my family but they wanted to rely on Thomas because he actually knew how to lead a group of people, even if his methods seemed dangerous. I knew I wouldn't be able to relax but I could at least try to clear my mind a little bit.

I didn't plan to stay long, this world was too unpredictable to be able to do that and I wanted to make sure that I actually got back like I said I was going to. I tried not to think of The Circus but that's all I was able to do. I didn't know how tight those locks were and I feared those things escaping. They probably wouldn't spare anyone now, we had made them angry and they looked like the type of people to hold grudges.

I found some supplies that I planned to take back to the community, it wasn't much but it was a start to getting our pantry restocked. We never got the food back from them, I don't know if Thomas asked for it or not but it didn't leave that much of an impact on us anyways so he probably figured it would be best for us to just find more instead.

I walked back late in the afternoon the next day. I walked in fear, praying that I wouldn't see the place lit up into flames. I didn't but what I would learn would be just as bad, almost worse.

Dallen greeted me as he opened the gate for me. Leah was there too, she gave me a little wave as she stayed sitting in a lawn chair.

"Ethan, Ethan!" Airianna yelled, tugging at the hem of my T-shirt.

"What?" I asked. I expected her to just be happy I was back but unfortunately it wasn't that simple. "You need to talk to Thomas, you're not gonna like it." She ran away after that, the look on her face made me know it was serious.

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Rudolph Alinsky

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"You let those freaks out before Aiden?" I yelled at Thomas, Ethan came into the room and I was glad he was here. He needed to hear all the bullshit coming from this man's mouth.

"They're not our people," Thomas made an excuse.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean? What's the difference? They've commuted genocide. They're cannibals. They're worse than Aiden and you let them leave first. You didn't even hurt them. You practically said "Hay, it's okay you're murderers just try not to do it near me." What if they come back, then what? What if next time they kill your wife. What if they kill your daughter and eat her flesh right in front of you?" I tried to calm down but I hated this man. He was a liar and a coward and we were stupid enough to let him lead this shit show.

"Is that true, Thomas? Did you let them out?" Ethan asked from behind me. I moved aside and sat in one of the chairs next to Juna who played with her dolls on the floor.

"Yes, it is. It was for the best."

"Did it ever cross your mind how they got in here in the first place? They said they weren't the ones to steal the medicine. If it wasn't them then who was it, Tommy?" He gave him a head tilt and I honestly had no idea where this was going but Ethan knew something and he was about to let Thomas know. I really hoped this would be the moment that Ethan took over, the moment that he became our leader.

Thomas' face changed, he looked like he had something to hide and he did. He didn't know what would happen to him or his town if it got out into the open. He wasn't only worried about himself, he thought of his community too, it was obvious that he did.

"The people will know of your lies, Thomas, just like I know."