Lyptic

Thankful

Killian searched his own thoughts. "He saved my life!" He blurted out. Bear looked up at him in 

unison with the other men. "I was asleep, he tried to kill me." Bear still in shock by what 

happened hesitated before he told them the truth. He had no clue whether they would accept it 

or be bitter. Bear chose an outsider over one of their own.

The reality of it was Dick was looking for a fight. He just didn't anticipate his untimely demise 

would be the result. Bear was ready for a revolt from them but Henry stepped forward and 

began to lift Dick's corpse when the others joined in. No words spoken. Bear was concerned and 

knew sleep was not happening anytime soon.

Killian asked if they needed help. Henry said "No, we take care of our own!" Killian tried to gauge 

the situation but there seemed to be no remorse but emptiness in their faces. Bear walked past 

Killian into the laundry room in search of cloths to clean the blood.

"Hey, go take a breather". Killian spoke grabbing a bucket and filling it in the sink inside the 

laundry room. He picked up a mop and a few rags. Bear, didn't fight he walked out of the room 

across the hall and sat down on his cot. Killian cleaned up. Dumping the bucket a few times.

Nothing said between them as time passed. Killian stood with the remaining filth and turned 

towards Bear. "Why did you?" He questioned.

Bear looking down at his blood stained boots. "Because", he responded. "Damn so detailed!" 

Killian said. "Because we have a mission, to save people from this fuckery!" Bear stated. "What 

about, the camps?" Killian questioned more.

"What exactly do you know, Killian?" Bear asked. "Like I said the only thing I know is that they 

hunt me. When this all started everything happened so fast. I didn't congregate with a lot of 

people for a reason because of shit like this. You never know who's who. I've never felt like 

anybody's been worth trusting because this shit is insane!" Killian finished. "I understand 

that" Bear said.

"At some point you had to realize what they are doing?" Bear stated rhetorically. "What exactly 

are they doing other than hunting people?" Killian questioning. "I know something has 

happened. It was on the news before everything went down", he continued. "Sometimes a 

conspiracy isn't just a conspiracy theory", Bear said.

"I seen all of those conspiracy theories floating around before." He continued "but all I know was 

I was on the run after that! Some people I knew where taken" and then nothing. The electrical 

grid shut down and food became scarce. People started freaking out. Some being escorted out 

of their homes. Others being drug out and killed", he continued.

"I was told to run so I did. Over the past 6 months I've heard rumors as I've passed through small 

communities of people", but what information should be trusted? I certainly am not going to go 

with everything I hear. He finished.

"Truth? The walls hold the sheep, the camps hold the in between and any others are killed or left 

to die out", Bear said bluntly.

"Our mission, rescue the people in the camps. We know either they're gonna end up complying 

due to the pressure. Once you're fucking reprogrammed in a sense, enough pressure is applied. 

Some people break and others don't. We try to get them out. We try to find the ones that we 

think will help us fight back." Bear said.

"How am I going to know which ones are the best to trust? I..." "don't trust anyone", Bear 

finished for him. "Honestly you seem like gut instinct is your way of life, go with that.

Bear threw himself against the wall sliding down in the bed. He was exhausted. He closed his 

eyes but feel the dimming of the track lights and the buzz from th fluorescent lights stinging his 

ears. The smell of blood still lingered in the confined space.

Killian finished cleaning ,pouring the last bucket down the drain. He sat up will resistance from 

his own body. He grabbed his gun and and placed it back in his make shift holster strapping to 

his leg.

He stood looked up at Killian. "Will you help?"

He asked. "I owe you, so yes. What do you need me to do?"