OUTBREAK

Fresno Pt6 #36

"...but let us tell the rest of the Spine," said the officer. He looked at the man who entered the tent, giving him a peaceful yet sorrowful look.

The man left the tent, still nervous, but comforted that everything will be said to the Spine.

The council of officers spoke softer after the man left, leaning in closer to one another.

"What was on the call?" said Lucin.

It was the overseer of the McFarland group who took the call. He had brown skin and short dark hair, a military type of guy. "Some kid. He said he was from the Fresno gang. They said they know about the horde, and offered us shelter."

The circle of officers was silent.

"Okay," said Lucin, with a sigh. "Are you sure there isn't another way?"

"It's not like we have a choice," said the officer of Pixley, who was short and European. "Fires to the east, ocean to the west, and death from the south."

Lucin shook her head.

Another officer spoke up, "These people just slaughtered our people. Now we're coming back?"

"What if we take them on from the inside? They're letting us in, all we have to do is start blasting," said the McFarland overseer.

"I can get behind that," said the officer of Pixley.

"We're putting our own people at risk," Lucin said sorrowfully.

"We're all at risk," the McFarland overseer responded. He was unhappy but unmoved.

—

The radio clicks, cutting off communication. Hugo slowly puts the small round microphone down onto the table.

Master was standing to his right, with a knife to Hugo's neck. "See? That wasn't so bad," he smiled.

Hugo's face was cold, unmoved. He was tired of being around Master.

"Look," said Master. He put the knife into a sheath and placed it on the table, to which Hugo immediately bursts from his chair, with a fist flying to Master's face.

Master dodged the blow and with one motion Master's hand shoots like a bullet to Hugo's chest. Hugo is knocked into the wall of the shack, making an indent in the wall. The shack rattled like an earthquake hit, and Hugo falls to the ground, dazed. He could hear Master chuckle as he tries to pick himself up, but fails.

Master leaned over to Hugo with a smile once more, "Look, I can respect a fighter, there's not many out here. So here's what's gonna happen. You're gonna be my right hand man. Okay? Sure, you might try to kill me, but don't worry..." Master leaned in closer, "You won't." He stood up and walked out of the shack, still in earshot of Hugo. "Don't worry Hugo, you'll be much happier here. You know why? Because I'm a man. I'm a man who knows what he wants, and takes what he wants. And if I want respect I'm gonna take that respect whether you like it or not. So, I want you to work for me, and you are going to do that whether you like it or not. So when your people come, I'll take your women, or the hot ones at least. I'll turn your men and children into slaves...maybe kill a few as an example." Master looked out into the streets of Fresno from the roof of the building they stood on. "So you're gonna work for me. If you don't...like you refuse to do everything I say, I'll kill all of them, and make you watch."

Hugo shambled out of the shack, leaning onto the door-frame. His bruised and beat up body was practically purple all over.

Master looked at Hugo, then looked away, "Come on, we got to prepare for our new guests."