Madman's Break

Missing Persons

I can finally see Town Cada in the distance. With my head down step after step the sounds of cold leaves crunch under my feet. The air is thin and sharp in my lungs. With every breath a fog exhales from my mouth. I soon reach Town Cada still unable to feel any better about what happened. What was supposed to be a few hours ended up taking a whole night and a few hours.

I get spotted by Isobel and she runs up to greet me. Buddha not far behind running as fast as his stubby legs will take him. The first words out of her mouth "Where is Demmy?" My heart sunk. I can't even look her in the eyes and tell her I keep my head down. In a quite voice "he.." my voice cracks. I clear my throat "the teds found him". She looks horrified, eyes widened and her mouth gaped. She drops to her knees and stairs at the dirt. No words come out of her just a look of despair and pain.

I continue walking to the town hall hurting even more then I did. I get butterflies the closer I get knowing I'll have to tell everyone I'm the only one who made it back. I can see Isaiah waving at me through a cracked door giving me a warm welcome home. His hand slows down when he sees it's just me approaching visibly upset about something. When I get close enough for him to talk all he said was "no" almost whispering to himself. He opens the door the rest of the way letting me in.

Jason before turning around says "welcome back sit down for y'all's report". He turns then sees it's only me then he clears his throat to ask "where is Demetrius"? I break eye contact then tell him Demetrius was found. I can see the hurt in his eyes but he keeps his composure. He tells me I still need to make a report about what we found and what we saw. I begin explaining everything from me killing the ted in the gas station to me leaving Demetrius at the hotel. I tell him about the radio and that we can use it to keep tabs on the teds they don't know we have it.

A little bit later the other 4 walk in then take seats around the table. Isobel still ghost face just keeps her eyes down the whole time. Isaiah is the first to speak "what happened" he asks almost demanding an answer. I open my mouth to speak but Isobel cut me off "he's dead" she tells everyone. Everyone looks at me with a mix of suspicious and blame in their expressions. Jason steps in "calm down everyone it's not the kids fault. If he is telling the truth Demetrius made his bet and lost. The kid made the right decision that's why he's alive". This news makes everyone visibly upset.

Hardy speaks for the first time probably ever "what are we going to do". Two suggestions get everyone arguing either we leave it be or as Isobel suggest we get revenge. She stands up slamming her hands on the table to get everyone's attention. She looks up tears streaming down her cheeks her nose red and eyes puffy. "They need to die! They have taken everything from us I'm done. They have taken our lives, our friends, our family, and now Demetrius!" Shes yelling. Then the yelling turns into sobbing as she keeps pleading her case. "They took everything from me I can't keep doing this. They took my future I wonder what I could've done in the real world. I want to know what growing up would've been like, I want to know what my parents would've been like old, I want to know what could've been. Now I'll never get that chance and it's THEIR FAULT!". Jason grabs her then pulls her into his chest for a hug her muffled crying still audible as we sit in silence.

   Hardy raises his hand then speaks "I agree it's time we fight back". Jason speaks "I have fought for peace I won't allow you to bring a war to my doorstep. Although you all may be capable there are innocent people in this town that are defenseless." I understand his point as a protector he has to keep the peace. Then both radios I picked up go off "clear" one man says, a woman respond " go on patrol Peyton then break in 3 hours". Everyone looks at me then Isaiah asks "what was that". I quickly explain I have the radios from two teds I killed and we can listen to their communications.

Jason starts talking "if we use these we can find out what they are planning. Before we take action we do reconnaissance". Isobel speaks "we can know where they are with these. If we take them out little by little they'll lose their numbers". Jason explains that it will still start a hunt for us before we put a dent in their numbers. We don't know how many are out at all times plus we still don't know what their end goal is. I agree that we should learn more before we make our move to fight.