Reckoning

Chapter Six: The Truth

"I want answers. Now!", Anna angrily says to Lauren.

In an office at the old city hall, me, Anna, Lauren, Lucy, DJ, Emma, and Caesar gather around a table. It's been ten minutes or so since Nathaniel, the leader of the Angels of Darkness, left the gates of Haven with his army. After his appearance, the residents demanded that they know what's going on.

Lauren announced to them that there was nothing to fear. But that's where she was wrong. We have everything to fear. Nathaniel has an army, and he made it pretty clear that he was not to be fucked with.

While we have an army of our own, it's much smaller and less experienced than Nathaniel's.

Lucy then says to Anna, "While I want answers too, you need to calm down."
"I don't need to calm down", Anna snaps, "Hell, I have every reason not to calm down. Lauren has been lying to us the entire time."
"She wasn't lying", DJ tells Anna, "She just...didn't tell you."
"Is there a difference?", I ask, a little angry.

"Just let my sister explain", Emma tells us.

"Look", Lauren says to all of us, "I didn't tell you about Nathaniel when you came here because I knew you'd leave."
"What?", Lucy asks, "You didn't tell us just because you wanted us to stay here? Why?"
"Because we need the manpower", Lauren answers, "Nathaniel and his people outnumber us, so we need as many residents as we can get. Just in case we ever go against them."

"When did you first meet Nathaniel?", I ask Lauren.
"It was when we first put the walls up", she tells us, "He came to us asking for a few extra panels for his wall, and also he wanted peace. He said that he didn't want to put his daughter in any danger."

"So, what happened?", Anna asks calmly.
"We came to an agreement. As long as we don't go into each other's territory, there wouldn't be any conflict. But I guess he broke the deal to find his daughter."

"Nathaniel's a crazy son of a bitch", Caesar says, "No doubt about it. He's always looking for new recruits. At least, that's what I heard about him."

"Is there anything else we need to know?", Anna asks Lauren.

"Nathaniel is my older brother."

Oh shit, I think to myself.

The room goes silent. Lauren continues, "He was always...controlling and intimidating, even when he was young. At the very start of this...apocalypse, he told me that one day that we will meet again, then he left. And so a few weeks later, he came to us with his group, which was much smaller at the time. And that was that."

Once again, no one says a word.

The door to the office opens, and Caesar's pregnant wife Tina walks in. "Caesar?", she asks, "What's going on?"
"Babe, you're supposed to be resting at home", he tells her.
"I know, but Caesar...are we safe here? I heard about the man and his army, and I really need to know that this place is safe for our baby."

"I don't know", he tells Tina, holding her hand, "But I promise, I will make Haven safe for our baby."

Tina's wearing a long sleeved t-shirt and jeans, which have adapted to her pregnancy. Speaking of, Tina's baby is due any day now. Caesar kisses his wife and then starts to walk her home.

"This meeting is over", Lauren announces, "You can all go, now."

After exiting the city hall, I look up at the early afternoon sky, which is starting to get a little cloudy. Hopefully it doesn't rain down on us. I hear someone say, "Hey, David!" I turn around and see my best friend, Cody. Cody has blonde hair and blue eyes, and he's wearing a long-sleeved grey shirt and blue jeans.
"Hey, Cody", I say, smiling.
"You got any idea what's happening?", he asks, "I mean, I heard that we had a visitor, but that's all I know."

"His name is Nathaniel", I tell Cody as we walk towards my house, "He's Lisbeth's dad and Lauren's and Emma's brother. He has an army called the Angels of Darkness, and he threatened us."
"Shit...", Cody whispers, "I mean, Lauren didn't tell anyone who exactly he was the first time he came. Did she tell you about it?"
"She said something about an agreement. For peace. Wait, so everyone knew?"
"Yeah", Cody says, "But they didn't know he's her brother."

"When we came here, I'd though this'll be a fresh start", I tell Cody, "But I guess not, considering there's a whole other community out there."

"Hey guys", Grace says as she jogs toward us, "How'd the meeting go?"
"Well, we got answers", I tell her, "But I'm not sure that I just want to not do anything. How's Lisbeth?"
Grace took Lisbeth to the house after Nathaniel came. "She's fine", Grace tells me, "She's talking to Thomas."

"Little Thomas?", I ask her, "I never knew he liked meeting new people."
"Yeah", Grace chuckles, "I guess he is."
"So, what are we gonna do now that Nathaniel's coming back?", Cody asks. I think for a few moments, then I tell Grace, "Grace, go get Theo and Matt and tell them to meet me and Cody in front of the armory."

"Okay", she says, then she heads off.
"Come on", I tell Cody, then we walk to the armory.

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As Cody and I wait for the others in front of the armory, I look at all the residents of Haven, who continue to live normally after having an army appear right on their doorstep. Cody then points to Grace, Theo, and Matt walking toward us.
"So, why'd ya call us here", Theo asks in his British accent. He's British, remember?
"I want to know more about this Nathaniel", I tell everyone, "So I need your help to find where's hiding and find what game he's playing."

"Woah woah woah", Matt says, fixing his glasses, "Do you really expect us to leave Haven, go into the walker infested outside world, and find the Angels of Darkness?"
"Yes", I tell him.

"I don't know, David", Grace tells me, "This seems like a bad idea."

"We've been out there before, Grace. Besides, safety in numbers, right?"
Everyone else goes silent.
"Alright", Theo says, fixing his jacket like he's cool, "I'm in."
"Me, too", Matt announces.
"Sure. It's not like I got anything better to do", Cody tells me.

"Grace?", I ask her, "Please?"
"Ugh, fine", she says, making a face.
"So what's our first step?", Matt asks.

"We'll need a map, and some guns", I announce.

"I'll do it", Theo says, raising his hand, "After all I'm 23."
"Okay, make sure to not get anything big. Just a few pistols and knives", I tell Theo.

"Be back in a jiffy", Theo says as we walks into the armory. A few minutes later, Theo comes out with a handful of weapons hidden in his jacket. Like a ninja, he quickly hands all of us a pistol and a knife. "Okay", I announce, "Now we just need to take a car and get out of here."
"We can try the south wall", Matt says, "Someone just have to draw them away from the wall-"
"I'll do it", Grace announces, "I'm like, the best liar ever."

It takes us a couple minutes to get to the other side of Haven to the South wall. While the guys and I hide behind a few trees, Grace walks up the wall, where two people stand guard atop the walkway. After barely ten seconds, the two guards step down from the wall and walk down the street. Grace motions for us to come out and then I ask her, "What did you tell them?"

"That Lauren wants to talk to them", she tells me.

Theo opens the door of the truck that stays at the South wall for emergencies. While we keep an eye out, Theo looks for the keys to the truck. It's a nice truck, enough room for five people.

"Got 'em", Theo announces, holding up the keys. Matt, Cody, and Grace climb into the back while Theo and I stay up front, with Theo in the driver's seat.
"Wait, I'm gonna open the gate", Matt says, then he exits the car. Matt opens the gate, and Theo starts the engine and drives out. Theo stops the car and waits for Matt, who closes the gate behind him.

Matt climbs into the car, then we drive off to find the Angels of Darkness.