The First Raider

Conflict Resolved

I wake up, contemplating getting up or just laying in complete solitude.I decide against rest and groggily stand up. A sharp pain presents in my left hip. I gasp, sucking air through my teeth. "You'd better sit back down, you've got a helluva lot of explaining to do, Dexter." Says Sheriff Mackleroy, leaning against the doorway, hand on his side arm. "Okay, okay" I barely put together. I sick back down on the bed, my hip throbbing. "So it'd appear that you were the man that stabbed Greg, which in turn resulted in his untimely demise" He slowly walks over, "The question is, did you do it?" He says clearly. "Sir, you have to believe me, I did not murder Greg, I was on my way to work and saw that he had been stabbed..." I state. "It was your switchblade that killed him, Dexter, do you really expect me to believe you?" Mackleroy rebuttals."Sir, I didn't even have my switchblade last night, and on top of that, I'd never kill anybody, you know that" I protest. "Well Dexter, you know what happens now, nothing I can do to prevent that." "I understand." I sadly say, realizing my fate. I look up and see a smile on Mackleroy's face, I decide to ignore it and prepare for some wasteland justice. "Well it's time" Says Mackleroy "Let's get you to the block." For the normal town, the block was a flat area, usually on the outskirts of town, wherein "justice" occurred. On the way to the block, I can't help but notice everyone staring at me, some with looks of shock, others with disgust. After a number of minutes, we arrive at the block, a crowd has formed. I'm held in place by two large men, Paul and Quinn, both work as the town's butchers. "An eye for an eye, a bullet for a bullet, a stab for a stab. This is how John has decided justice be done. Any objections should be voiced now" Constable Cole speaks, saying it unemotionally and in monotone. I stare at Coles patchy, unshaven beard, it makes me angry, if only someone believed me... "Wait!" A voice from the back of the crowd shouts, it's Lydia. She shoves her way past many citizens and bursts into the front of the crowd. "Dexter's innocent" She shouts. "Yeah, you know when I said voice your objections? That was just a formality. The execution stands." I glance over at Cole and see him smile, seriously? Why's everyone smiling? Lydia runs up onto the block only to be siezed by two guards. I see John approach me, knife in hand. "That's a big knife." John closes in at a comfortable pace, stopping three feet in front of me. "This is what you deserve, you rat." John says spitting in my face, he's drunk. Three feet, three feet was the distance between me and the cold touch of death. My eyes meet with John's and he steps forward and trusts the knife, I move to the left, dodging it by a miniscule amount of space. John steps back to about ten feet. He rushes towards me, I jump up, using Paul and Quinn as support, kicking John to my right, the knife goes deep into Quinn's stomach. Quinn cries out in pain, now's my chance. I sprint as fast as I can towards the wasteland. "Stop him!" Constable Cole screams. The guards restraing Lydia release her and pursue me. I make it to the ten foot high fence, not entirely sure how to get over. I notice a shack that's near the fence, I sprint towards it and jump, clinging too the roof. The metal cuts into my hands. I muscle my way up onto the roof, great. All I have to do now is clear a seven foot gap, easy enough. With the guards closing the distance, I sprint and leap , without any way of knowing how or where I'm landing. I crash onto the ground, with my legs cushioning most of the fall, but with some extra support from my torso. Seconds later, I groggily get up, and without sparing anymore time, I run. I run for about ten minutes before seeking refuge in a hole about four feet deep. I calm myself down, I notice my stitches have ripped, terrific. An hour of deep thought and I decide to head out and find somewhere to stay. After what seemed like hours of walking, I hear loud talking, I hide behind the frame of a car and spectate. I see two men walking side by side, they look... mean. After suddenly stopping, they look my way, oh man. "Come out, before we make you." I quickly step out from behind the car, hands in the air. "I'm out, I'm o-out" I stutter. "Come here boy" The taller man demands. I walk over slowly. "Give me all your valuables" he tells me. "I don't have anything, I swear." I respond. "I'm not going to tell you again" he shouts. There's rustling from a nearby storm drain, I see a pair of curved horns appear...