WAR

Chapter 19

"Why did you and River team up to kill your father? Why did you and River fight?

How are you still alive?" Questions bubble out of my mouth. "What's your name?" Asks Max. My poker face comes on. Oh Mother...... NO! NOT THAT PATH. "Ray." Max waits. "Ray Riveria." My cousin was the leader of Rivers side." Max nods. "Follow along. I will tell you what I know. River and I never saw eye to eye. She wanted war whenever someone would not agree with her. I wanted peace. I went along with most of her things. They were harmless. Jump into the river, Tell Father this. Put goat poop in Mother's pot. Stuff like that."

"Then one day River and Father got into a fight. She wanted freedom. He wanted to control out life. He had found a man for her to marry. He was 45. She was way younger. I took her side like normal, and then Father said he found a wife for me. That night we slaughter him. You know what happened next. Then, River and I spilt up. I wanted freedom from her and she was taking the path Father took. Control. So for once in my life i said no. I took my troops and tried to make peace. That was not what she wanted. She wanted a full blown war. We battled until I killed her in battle. I thought that was it. Her troops scattered. Then they got a new leader." I interrupted him. "Summer. She's my aunt. My mother's brother married Summer. Summer had a daughter named Ava. I believe Emma killed Ava. I killed Percy." Max narrows his eyes. "What's your full name? Age, parents." Yikes, I hate it when this question is asked. Though i never am around people. "My full name is Ray Leaf Rivera. My Mother was called Eliza Harper Rivera. My Father Mark James Rivera. My Father was from your side. A Guard from here killed them after we found him on death row. Were you still the leader then?" "No. By then people had locked me away here. How old are you?" "I am 17."

"I have been here for longer I think." I nod. Thinking. "I am here because of a horse, my bestie. Her name is Hermosa. We had a fight. And she ran off. Though it is partly my fault. Ok mostly. The night she ran, Last night, I had a dream of Sugar's old owner punching her and calling her Fea. I woke up, Asked Storm and Cracker to come along with me. My dogs. Crackers a Chow Chow, and Storm is a Poodle/Doberman mix. When I got to the border it was filled with people. For as far as I could see. Not far because of all the dust and stuff."

"I, forgetting about Storm and Cracker blended into the crowd. Women. Children. Men. Are training. Though who are they going to rain war apon? Ava is dead." Max flinches. "I overheard that Ava is still alive. The people you saw are all the people here. Out of everybody here I am the luckiest. All elders are shot. There is no need. Except for those few who can cook, or fish, or build. And such.

I am horrified. "People shoot people?" Max nods. "And worse. Anyway, there is a way you can escape this place." I frown. "What about you? I can't leave you here! You know the truth." Max sighs. "You are a careless young girl. I am a very old man who was here long before this war. They will not really care if you escape. But they will kill me if I escape."

"Then you won't be found." I say. Max smiles. "Alright. When the food cart man comes slip through his legs. Get him from behind. Pull off my nameplate from the door, Then don't knock him out. I will walk out and you toss him into the cell." I nod. And hide behind the door.

"Max, Max, Max, still here? Haven't killed you yet? Wow. You must be an important ELDER."