End of the Suburbs

Chpt 10: Power

It takes a couple hours to drive out of the rut that used to be the river.
We reach the end and I tell Bill to stop.
I have an idea.
I get out of the car and go to the back. The third row of the is full of supplies.
He has a tank of propane fuel.
I grab it along with, the tape, a jar of cinnamon, a container of glue, and a few more ingredients.
I'm going to make a bomb.
I learned how to manufacture explosives as a part of training.
I tape it to the wall a few feet away and create a trail of accelerant leading far enough away.
Bill stands back and watches.
All that's left is to ignite.
I search the car.
I don't find one.
No use building a bomb that I can't set off.
I have an idea.
There's a bow and arrow in the trunk.
If I can create a spark the friction could be enough.
We only have 3 arrows.
I only need one.
I use the dirt to draw and make calculations estimating the distance.
I feel the wind direction and how hard it's blowing.
I draw back, take a deep breath, and release.
The arrow pierces the tank and it explodes.
The wall now had a small hole.
It didn't seem like much but water was already pouring through.
We get in the car and start to drive.
Skulker camp its a few miles west.
We get within 2 miles and decide to park and walk the rest of the way.
We'll attract less attention off-road and on foot.
The outer wall is visible from a mile away.
It's adorned with spears and weapons and animal pelts.
Bill tells me of a way in.
The river is redirected past the walls where there's typically one way in and one way out.
I secure a vantage point to see inside.
**BOOM**
**CRASH**
Suddenly theres a noise in the distance.
The dam is crumbling.
I hide in the brush and watch as the river flow slows.
I turn and suddenly Bill is gone.
I look around for him but he's nowhere to be found.
I see my opening.
I can't waste time looking for him.
I have to move now.
I hurry across the river.
It's slowed but still waist deep.
Casper dives through the water right behind me.
We both make it to the other side and kneel down signaling for Casper to go up.
He leaps to my back and I launch him over the barrier.
I jump up and climb, vaulting myself over behind him.
I make sure roll to soften my landing.
The town is full of people.
I have to find where they keep the prisoners.
Bill would be useful here.
He's been here before so that's probably something that he'd know.
That speech about the importance of a man's word seems theatrical looking back.
I can find them without him.
I head to the highest point in town.
There's a bell tower attached to what used to be a church.
I climb up while Casper hides nearby.
This gives me a better visual vantage point.
Most of the town seems still and quiet.
Suddenly I hear the sound of engines humming towards me.
I duck inside the opening.
I'm able to see a fleet of men in vehicles carrying weapons racing through town.
The front gates open and they drive out.
This will make things easier.
I notice that most of them came from same direction.
There's a arena further into town.
The place is covered in lights and its loud.
From the sound of it that's where most of the town is right now.
That's probably where I'll find the scavengers and Donnie.
I make my way to the arena.
I find an opening on the side where I can sneak inside.
I leave my bag outside.
It's extra weight.
I take my swords and move in.
Once I'm in I move strategically to avoid being seen.
I follow the sound of voices through a door.
I grip my sword tightly.
The door leads to the center of the arena.
The leader of the Skulkers is up in the announcers box looking down at the middle.
There's just dirt.
A fence is around the entire thing and the seats are filled with people.
I tuck my head back inside before anyone sees me.
Unfortunately it's too late.
I turn and run directly into 4 guards all holding clubs and bats and sharp weapons.
I could take them all.
Casper stands next to me growling.
"I wonder what dog tastes like." One of them say.
I charge.
They all charge too.
They're sloppy.
Untrained.
The first comes from the right holding a stick.
I ignore him.
The second is on the left.
He's holding a cleaver.
He cocks back ready to swing.
Before he can I kick him in his stomach hard enough to knock him down.
In that same instant the one on my right holding a club starts to swing but before he can Casper dives at him, tackling him to the ground.
He turns and latches his powerful jaws around his ankle and begins to drag him away as he screams from the pain.
The third is holding a knife, the fourth a sword.
The swordsman swings wide.
Sloppy.
I slip under him on the left side leaving him between me and the one with the knife.
I grab onto his pants and drop using momentum to toss him into the knife holder.
They both fall into the wall.
The man with the cleaver is up now.
He reaches into his waistband and pulls out a second one.
He starts to swing them both around.
*Scary*
Not really.
He starts to swipe with all his strength.
I dodge.
He works me back against the wall.
He delivers a last swing aimed for my head.
I duck just in time.
I take my sword and slice his wrist.
He starts to bleed.
He backswing with his uninjured hand.
I duck and thrust my sword into his shoulder and pull it out swiftly.
The other two start to get up and head towards me.
I kick off the wall and kick the cleaver man in the head knocking him out.
The swordsman charges.
He swings for my head, wide again, I duck and slice both ankles in one motion.
I spin my sword and thrust it into his lower back.
Before I can pull it out the one holding the knife is on me. He swings for my face.
I have to let go of my sword in order to dodge.
He's more angry.
He concentrates his fury into swinging.
He's fast.
I manage to dodge.
Finally he backswings for my head.
I catch his elbow.
We lock eyes.
He knows he's in trouble.
I drop down and move behind him twisting his arm.
With his arm bent I force him into the swordsman pinning them both to the wall.
I reach forward and pull out my sword.
He screams in pain.
He tries to push me off but I use the hilt of my sword to knock him unconscious.
Casper still is dragging the first guard by his ankle.
I tell him to release.
Before the guy can get up I deliver a swift knee to his face knocking him unconscious.
I have to move.
Its only a matter of time before more come.