Reckoning

Chapter Twenty Two: Checkmate

I head for town hall where Lauren said Eli is locked in a room.

The sky is cloudy, just as I thought it subsided. The cold breeze rushes through my dark hair. I shove my hands in the pocket of my dark gray hoodie.

Walking past all of the empty shops and old restaurants on the Main Street, I see Logan up ahead with Peaches, one of our horses.

Peaches is a beautiful, chocolate brown mare with a black crest, which is the hair behind her neck.

Logan is African American, and older man with lots of gray hair, wearing a pair of farmer overalls with a gray shirt underneath. He approaches me with Peaches restrained by his side, shedding a gleeful smile.
"Afternoon, David? You seen Anna? She was supposed to help me fix a gate at the stables", he asks.

I smile, but then it fades and I tell him, "You haven't heard, have you?"

His smile fades as well.

I take a breath and I tell Logan, "Back at Nathaniel's base, Anna helped us get out of there. She...got left behind."

Peaches raises and lowers her head. Logan mutters, "Damn..."

"Yeah", I quietly say.

"Is she...dead?", Logan asks, staring into my eyes.
"I don't know. But if she is, she died for her friends, the ones she cared about. That's what matters."

"Anna was a good person", Logan says, "she would always make sure I wasn't pushing myself too hard, and Anna loved Peaches. Ain't that right old girl?", Logan asks Peaches while patting her neck.

"If you need any help around the stables, just let me know", I tell Logan, giving a slight smile.

"Will do, David", Logan days before continuing down the street. He then stops with Peaches by his side, and tells me, "and I'm sorry about Anna."
"Me too", I answer.

Logan then pulls Peaches by his side, heading for the stables.

In front of town hall, I walk up the wide, short staircase made of concrete. The town hall used to double as a police station. Tall pillars hold up the roof of the large concrete building. Windows lay along the walls, equal space between them.

I open the wooden double door and step inside the cold building.

It's much colder in here than it is outside. The hallway that leads to the front door is eerily quiet and empty.

Old paintings hang on the tan painted walls. I start to walk across the dark red carpeted floor.

This building is practically a maze inside. I suddenly hear DJ shout from a room down a long hallway, "Fuck you!"
I approach the door where the shouting came from and turn the knob. I gently push open the door and there is DJ and Lauren, standing in front of what looks like an interrogation room. DJ has on dark brown pants and a buttoned long sleeved gray shirt. Lauren is wearing her outfit from earlier.

Damn, town halls don't mess around.

Behind a large pane of glass is Eli, obviously angered. Resting on a wooden desk to the right of the window is Eli's sword.

DJ and Lauren see me and Lauren immediately points out the door and tells me, "Get out."

"I just wanna talk to Eli", I say.

"This is adult matter, David", Lauren sternly says, "We don't need you-"
"Why is he still in there? I told you he's not trying to hurt us!", I exclaim, raising my voice. Eli helped us get out of Nathaniel's base, so I owe him.

Lauren practically shouts, "David! Walk out the door right now-",

"Wait", DJ says, holding up his hand, "As much as I hate to say it, let's have David talk to Eli."
Lauren argues, "DJ, David is a teenager. We can get answers ourselves-"

"Lauren, just listen to me this once."

Lauren lets out a frustrated sigh, turns to look at me straight in the eye and says, "Don't make me regret this."

DJ unlocks the door to the interrogation room, lets me in and shuts the door behind me.

Eli has heard everything from behind the glass. In the interrogation room, there is only a silver table and a single chair.

Eli walks backward from the glass and leans against the table.

I start our conversation by asking, "So what was that all about?"
"What?", Eli asks, running a hand through his black, wavy hair.

"I heard DJ yell right before I came in here", I tell Eli.

"I told him that it's their fault Anna got killed."

I step forward toward Eli and hiss, "There is no proof that Anna is dead. I still have hope."
"When are you gonna realize, David? Not everything has a happy ending. People are gonna die, no matter what. You're just denying the inevitable."

I look down at the tile floor, chuckle, and say, "You know I came into this fucking room cause I thought I owed you, but now I see that you're just an asshole."

Eli is about to say something but he shuts his mouth.

"Listen", I start, crossing my arms, "this war, I know that it's happening, so how about you either step up and help us fight, or you can leave."

Eli sighs.

"Can I have my sword?", he asks.

"Sure. Just as long as you don't murder us in our sleep", I tell Eli.
"Speaking of sleep, where can I catch a few z's?"

"You can probably talk to Lauren about that", I say. I turn and knock on the door. DJ unlocks it and I tell him, "Let Eli out. He's cool."
DJ raises an eyebrow, then turns around to see what Lauren thinks. Lauren gives a thumbs up with a straight face.

DJ lets Eli and I out of the interrogation room.

As I follow Eli out of the room, Lauren grabs my arm and whispers, "Don't make me regret this."

Lauren has nothing to worry about.

This is just one step closer to winning this goddamn war.

Yes it's a little late but who cares.
PS Evan if you're still awake here is a chapter XD