The Peacekeepers

Part One; Chapter Eleven

Unexpected Visitor

Alice and I were eating dinner. Fall was on the way. The leaves were starting to change color, the air was getting cooler and the days were getting shorter. It was a decent dinner of some potatoes, corn and two squirrels that Alice caught in a few snares she made. We were eating in silence until it was broken by a knock on the door. I immediately stopped eating and dropped my fork on the plate with a clatter.

"Alice get under the table, now." She obeyed without question.

I cautiously approached the door and looked through the peephole. There was a man standing there. Just one man. He was heavily built with larger biceps than me and chiseled forearms. He was fair skinned and had short red hair. This may have been a bad idea but I opened the door slowly and with my fist clenched, ready to strike if necessary.

"Good evening. I'd like to talk to you for while. May I come in friend?"

It took all my willpower to stop my jaw from dropping. He had a very thick Irish accent and seemed way too damn nice and polite for his own good. Especially for someone his massive size.

"You show up at my door out of nowhere, you're way too damn polite and judging by the fake as hell smile you obviously want something. Speak your peace then leave."

He cleared his throat.

"My name is Sheamas McCallihan. I'm the leader of the Peacekeepers. I want you to hear me out on something. It's a really good offer that you won't regret, I promise."

He has a very charismatic voice. I really do have to give him that. I decide to let him in to hear his "really good offer".

"Why don't you come in and have some dinner? We'll discuss it there."

He smiled and nodded. I held the door and allowed him in.

Alice came out from under the table nervously. We ate and talked but Alice kept her guard up. She looked like she was ready to run away at any time. Can't really blame her honestly.

"May I ask your name, sir?" He asked me very politely.

"My name's Drake and this is my sister, Alice. Last names really don't matter anymore. So what do you want?"

He leaned closer to me and looked me dead in the eyes. His polite face went dead serious and down to business.

"Okay, we all talked it over. I talked to the guys that ran into you. They were impressed by the way you handle yourself in a fight. I'll be blunt. We all want you to be a Peacekeeper." He said very bluntly, as if he thought he knew my answer before he even walked in my door.

I kept a blank gaze at him. "Get the hell out of my house and off my land. Finish your meal and leave. I refuse to be dragged into your bullshit with the Fallen Kings. I'm keeping my sister alive and that's it!"

Right at that time a brick went through the window in the living room. I ran to the window and saw two guys with Fallen Kings bandanas running away from the house. I looked down and saw it. There was a note attached to the brick by a worn piece of rope. I untied the knot, unfolded the blanched piece of paper and read the poor handwriting.

"Leave by midnight or die!!!"

I had heard stories of them from passersbys warning me or traders telling me about them and their brutality. If I stayed and tried to fight them, they'd sent dozens upon dozens at me. They'll kill me, if I'm lucky that is. They'd burn our crops, our house and do God only knows what to Alice. I can't risk it. It seems as if you got what you wanted Sheamas.

"We can provide food and shelter. Water and protection. Electricity and children for Alice to play with safely. Clean, running water, Drake. I hate to pull this card on ya but think about Alice. If not for me, just some guy ya don't know, not for yourself because near as I can tell you don't give two shits if you live or die, then do it for Alice. Think about your little sister. We need someone like you. Someone who can fight, farm and teach a new generation how to rebuild and live! How to carve a new life out for themselves. Or you can stay and die here. Either way it's your choice."

I look over at Alice. Sweet, innocent little Alice. I can't protect her by myself anymore. My mind seems to have been made up for me.

"Alice, pack your things. We're leaving."

Her jaw dropped. She had a look of despair on her face. I watched her eyes as they quickly filled with sorrowful tears.

"But Drake, you promised me that we would never leave here! No matter what happened, we'd never leave here! We can't leave our home! We can't leave our mommy out back by herself!"

Her tears were flowing like a mini-waterfall. I felt like I was going to but I couldn't. I knew I had to stay strong for Alice. I knelt to her level and spoke to her in my soft voice.

"Look Alice, I know what I promised. I don't want to leave our home either. But I also promised that I'd keep you safe and that's far more important than this house. No matter what I will never allow anyone to harm you. That's why we're leaving. So I can keep you safe." She sniffled and let out a meek "okay" from her small mouth.

I patted her on the back, ruffled her hair and playfully flicked her nose. I put on a fake smile trying to make her feel better.

"C'mon, I'll help you pack your stuff."

Sheamas helped us pack our things. Mostly clothes and jackets. A little food that we had stored up and canned. My training gloves that I gave to Alice and my weighted gloves. We were walking out of the door by 9:00 that night.

It's a good thing we were gone because The Fallen Kings aren't very well known for keeping their promises...