The Peacekeepers

Part One; Chapter Twelve

Home Sweet Home

While we were leaving we heard loud voices in the distance and we could see the light given off by many torches. It was fire and dozens of Fallen Kings headed straight for us.

"We have to go. Now! Dammit now!" Sheamas yelled. With our packs on our backs we started running with Sheamas leading the way.

"I thought they weren't coming till midnight! What the hell gives?"

Sheamas looked back at me.

"Please tell me you're not that naive Drake! They came for blood!" His gaze went forward again.

"They're animals. Vicious, blood thirsty animals. They deserve to be put down like the dogs they are.

I stopped running and looked behind me to see our home ingulfed in flames. Our place of shelter, of comfort, our memories. On fire. The flames were flickering out of the windows, The siding was melting, our crops were burning. I noticed that Alice had stopped beside me. She was just staring at the blaze blankly. She doesn't need to see this. I scooped her up and covered her eyes. We kept running down the broken road. It was littered with rusted cars, syringes, broken glass, blood stains, teeth and even a few corpses.

A black, poorly painted 4X4 pulled up in front of us.

"Sheamas, get in!"

We ran to the bed of the truck and jumped in. The driver hit the gas and we were taking off. Me, Alice and Sheamas were lying down panting, desperately trying to get air in our seemingly deflated lungs. I was grateful that Sheamas came along when he did, otherwise Alice and I would be dead.

I looked over at him. He was panting as hard as I was.

"I guess... I owe... ya one... thank you, Sheamas"

He looked back at me. His face was as red as his hair.

"Don't... mention it ."

After we had caught our breath was when our conversation started again.

"I'll join you. You saved my life and Alice's life. You have my thanks Sheamas. I owe you. I'll be a Peacekeeper."

Sheamas smiled and shook my hand.

"Welcome aboard Drake. We're glad to have you with us, brother."

We drove for a few hours before I saw a large wooden fence with barbed wire lining the top, bottom and middle of the fence. The closer we got I could see some wooden barricades made of sharpened logs like you would see in an old military fort. The inner gate was chain link with razor wire and it had a large steel gate that looked like it was made from multiple prison cell doors welded together.

The closer we got I could see how huge it was. Sheamas pointed out the "base of operations". It was a Wal-mart. That's how big this fort of theirs is. The Wal-mart was surrounded by multiple apartment buildings and a small convenience store.

This place was massive! I asked Sheamas how many people were living here.

"A couple dozen families and about one hundred Peacekeepers."

My jaw dropped. "One hundred?! How did you manage that?"

He sighs and hung his head down.

"The Fallen Kings have killed so many people. Every Peacekeeper here has lost someone or something to the bastards. I lost my home, my dad, my best friend, my girlfriend," His voice got lower and pain stricken. "I lost my son to them. They took my only child and I swore that I would never allow this to happen to anyone if I could help it. The Peacekeepers are my sons and daughters now. We're family. All of us"

When we arrived at the gate one of the men opened it up and we drove in. Sheamas took us to our apartment. It was on the third story of a five story building. When we stepped in I expected a really shitty, low end apartment but it was actually pretty nice. Two bedrooms both with a bed and a dresser, a furnished living room with a leather couch and two chairs (nothing too fancy) a fully furnished dining room and kitchen and the best part... A working air conditioner!

"Drake! It flushes!" I hear Alice yell from the bathroom. I couldn't believe my ears. A working flush toilet! I honestly thought it couldn't get any better but it did! Working lights! They were dim but they still worked! Working power outlets and even an electric stove.

"Sheamas! How on Earth did you manage all of this? The grid went completely down years ago! This is incredible! I have never seen an operation like this before in my life!" I turned to him with a look of amazement.

He chuckled, as he was entertained by my response to all of this.

"Well, I'll explain everything, including your jobs at 0800 tomorrow at the base of operations. Make sure you're there on time. Good night Drake. Good night Alice." Then he left.

This is our new home. Things are starting to really look up for me and Alice...