In The After Life

Chapter 14

As I come out of the tent I notice that the crowd of people is big. That most of the people here are watching what is happening over there which only fills me with concern.

The loud noise has caused some zombies to walk into the fence where the guards stay on top of killing them. "Kill them, they're not worth the waste of food, traitors" are all screamed at the centre of the circle.

As I shove my way through the sweaty crowd and stumble upon the scene my heart swells. Both Daniel and Miles are on their knees with my father standing in-front of them. This is all too familiar

"We lost the life of a guard today who's only soul purpose was to protect the people in this camp." There's no way either of them went as far as killing someone. No he ordered the guard to be killed to earn sympathy.

"He came to me with a will to show that he could be strong and that his young age wasn't an issue. If I would've know that these people were capable of killing the boy I would've turned him down when he asked for the job." Master manipulator at its finest domain.

The faces of the crowd are angry. One women had tears streaming down her face that only fuelled their thirst. "I have a job to protect and lead and I won't let this go unpunished" he looks at me a happy gleam in his eye.

"I don't know whether they're brave or stupid but it seems they risked their life for one sole purpose" my father walks between the two of them as he will say anything to watch me burn.

"He's going to kill them" Draven says bluntly and I don't know how to react. My father said he wouldn't. I haven't even done anything to make him want to go to that extreme. Yet I'd be blind to think it's already too late for a different ending for them.

"I know" Eve looks intimidated and horrified at what she's seeing as I see her make her way to the front of the crowd. Where had she been when my father was putting this plan into action.

"Does anyone want to know what that purpose was?" Of course no one was going to walk away since he seemed like he wanted to build suspense as he left the offer lingering in the air.

It was an even worse sight when Pope stepped forward. He clears his throat and I see Miles thrash about as he sees he's going to twist his words around on the two of them and there was nothing that could stop it.

"These young men use to share the same idea of the value of life as Vera. They were people she loved and trusted. His father was killed because of his unruly behaviour and aggressive mannerisms. I couldn't risk my people for a untrustworthy man. I should've put them down like I did him." I stare at Miles as I just want to hug him. His face distraught at the onslaught of Gunner.

"Yet I showed mercy because Vera asked me too. Vera how does it make you feel that you asked for mercy on their behalf but their plan was to kill you? I mean what cowards would want to seek revenge on someone they once knew and not the man who pulled the trigger? If my son wasn't present and someone caught this one then I'm sure our dear Vera would have had to kill her friends with her own hands. Unless they managed to get the better of her." Pope smirk is prominent as the people seem to believe his every word.

I'm staring at the two and their horrified looks. I have to keep my face neutral as multiple people look at me with sympathy. I had to show it didn't bother me. Evelyn was one person that I could tell didn't believe what pope was saying so she looked for me for reassurance that I couldn't give. That's when her trust in me cracked.

"As you have just heard ladies and gentlemen these two were set out on a mission to cause harm to my daughter." he wraps an arm around Evelyn who doesn't really know what to do. As they both walk over to me. He wanted it to seem that the alliance between the three of us were strong. Erasing the spread of distrust. Like we're the victims.