In The End

Chapter IX

Xavier looked at the sun as it set. It was about an hour since Julie left to go find Ronny. He was readying everyone for war. Mothers who were used to washing clothes, now equipped with a semi automatic rifle. With Gavin and Ronny gone, everyone voted Xavier leader for the time being. Frank walked up to him, "We should have enough fuel to get there. When are we leaving"? Xavier said, "Soon. We should leave once it gets dark". Xavier peered out to the forest and said, "Can you ask Nick to come talk to me". Frank ran to get him. A few moments later, Nick walked up to him. Nick was a fairly tall young man. He had short brown hair and stubble on his chin. He said, "You wanted to talk to me"? Xavier said, "Yes. I need you. With Shaun healing, I need you to come with me, Frank, Gregg and Suzy". Nick said, "But I thought Julie said there were like twenty armed men there. How can we can down twenty with just four"? Xavier said, "We're going to get Ronny and the rest of the group free so they can help. With them we can handle it".

Xavier grabbed a water bottle and drank it. By now it was dark. A cool breeze blew past Xavier. He looked at the group who now surrounded the makeshift campfire. Their faces glowed from the flame. Xavier said, "Tonight were ending this hatred between us and the Bikers. They can either choose peace or death. We enter expecting the worst. Jenny, while me and the group are gone, you'll be in charge of the camp". Jenny appeared from the darkness. She was a young adult looked as if she were sixteen. She had no kind of joy in her face. She only felt vengance. Jenny said, "Let me go with you. I have some business I need to settle". Xavier said, "No. Our people need a leader. Someone to protect them while we're gone. That's for you to do". She stormed off.

Xavier said, "Yeah, she may not like it but we all have a responsibility and we may not like it but it's what we do to survive. Now, we strike". Xavier loaded his gun.

As everyone walked back to their makeshift tents, Xavier started pack a small amount of goods to bring with. Then Nick, Gregg, Suzy, and Frank grouped up around Xavier. Suzy was a thirty year old woman. She, like everyone else, looked filthy. Her clothes were ripped and stained. It seemed like even her brown hair and brown eyes were both covered in filth. Unlike Julie, Suzy didn't care about anyone on an emotional level and unlike Sarah, she didn't care about her looks. All she cared about was survival. Xavier said, "Is everyone ready"?

Later that night, Xavier and his group silently walked through the woods in the direction Julie told them to go. Xavier looked at Nick and said, "Are you ready"? Nick looked back and said, "I'm ready to die". Xavier said, "Don't think you'll die. Otherwise you'll die. You don't even know how they'll react, maybe they won't even see us as a threat". Nick stumbled along behind Xavier as they navigated through the forest.

Then through the trees, they saw a light. It was a campfire. Xavier looked at everyone to make sure they were ready. Then Xavier pulled out his binoculars to get a closer look. He saw the people huddled around the fire. A few of the bikers were also sitting by the fire. He looked toward the woods and saw a police van with two bikers guarding it. He looked deeper into the woods and saw a small wooden house that was also guarded. Xavier said, "I think we can take them". He was still looking through his binoculars when he heard someone say, "Can you though"? It was a voice that Xavier didn't recognize. He turned around and saw that Suzy, Nick, Gregg, and Frank had their mouths taped up and were on their knees. A biker looked at Xavier. He showed his yellow, crooked teeth as he smiled, "Well, I recognize your ugly face". Then he pointed his gun at Xavier and said, "Give me your weapon, then get on your knees". Xavier looked at the other bikers who were ready to blast his head off. Xavier slowly handed the biker his gun then got on his knees. The biker wrapped duct tape around his mouth and walked over to the other bikers.

After a brief discussion, the bikers dragged Xavier and his group to the camp. Most of the way Xavier was forced to keep his head down. The walk was only a few minutes, but to Xavier, it seemed like hours. Finally, the biker pulled his head up, but all he saw was Zack. Zack smiled and said, "Well hello there. You 'member me"? Xavier remained silent. Zack said, "Fine. Be that way". Zack looked at the biker holding Xavier, "Michael, put them in the van". Then the biker threw Xavier's head down and dragged them to the van. Once in the van, Xavier looked around and saw that it was empty. He sat down and watched the others get thrown into the van. Zack walked up to the van door and said, "We'll be comin' to get you all in a couple hours for our greeting ceremony". Then Zack slammed the door. Xavier looked at Suzy. Suzy said, "Some rescue mission. I thought we would have at least made it to the camp before we lost". Nick said, "Shut up Suzy. I'm done with the negative attitude. It's bad enough that we're in here, we don't need the negativity". Xavier said, "Guys calm down. Let's just think. Ronny, Gavin and the others are here. We can still take them. We just have to get a few guns and we can handle them". Suzy asked, "How the fuck do you suppose we'll get guns? They all have guns, we have nothing Xavier, nothing". Xavier stared through a bullet hole and saw the glow from the campfire and suddenly the reality of the situation hit Xavier. His head bowed as Suzy said, "Exactly. It's hopeless to believe that all of us will make it out alive. Most of us will die".

The sun began to rise when a biker opened the van. He yelled, "Everybody out, now"! Xavier was the first to walk out. A biker grabbed him by his arm and walked him deeper into the woods. He smelled that morning smell that no one can explain. It was a pleasant smell. The plants were dusted with a morning frost. When he looked up, he saw they entered a clearing in the woods. There was a boy scout camp set up. Some bikers were sitting on the wood bench. The biker walking Xavier, sat him down next to someone. Xavier looked down the line of people and saw it was Ronny, Gavin, Sarah and Julie. Ronny looked at Xavier. Xavier could see the fear in his eyes. Xavier looked to his left and saw Nick sat next to him with Suzy next to him, Frank next to her and Gregg at the end. Then Zack appeared from the woods. He looked at the line of people and smiled, "Well, it looks like we're all here. So let's get this party started". He walked closer to the group. He observed each and every person and said, "Actually, we're missing someone". He snapped his fingers and two bikers dragged someone out in front of the group. Their face was concealed by a sack. The two bikers threw the person on their knees in front of everyone.

Zack looked at the unidentified person and said, "Now we're all here". Zack said, "Now from what I understand, you guys kidnapped and killed four of my men. Now I'm not one for revenge but that's not acceptable". Gavin trying scrambling to his feet saying, "You guys attacked us first". Before he could get to his feet, a biker threw him down to the ground and put the end of the gun to the back of his head. Zack said, "Hey, hey, calm down. There's no need to stick a gun down his throat". Zack walked to Gavin and knelt in front of him. "Now, Gavin. You and I are both civilized men. And from what I understand, you were in the army. Now I want to say first of all, thank you for your service. But it was all for nothing 'cause as you can see, America has fallen. Now as for your outburst..." Zack pulled out his switchblade and put it to his neck, "If you do that again I won't hesitate to kill you". Then he stood up and yelled, "And that goes for the rest of you"! He put away his switchblade and said, " Now as I was saying, I won't let my men die in vain. You all will pay for them". Zack looked at every single person. "So here's how it'll work. First you'll all give your supplies: weapons, food, medicine, everything. If you don't do it, I'll shoot. Secondly, any doctors, craftsmen, or hunters will work for me. If anyone believes I'm being unfair can tell it to my gun. Any questions"? He looked around at everyone, silence. Xavier said, " What happens to everyone who isn't of help"? Zack said, "Very great question. Well it all depends if I want to kill you or not. If you're fortunate enough that I spare your worthless lives, I'll let you go". Everyone felt a little more relieved but they still heard the word "if".

Zack said, "Well, I believe it's time we reveal our special guest". Everyone focused on the mystery person as Zack walked up to him. Everyone held their breath as he pulled the sack off. Underneath it was Kyle. His mouth was taped shut, but once the tape was removed, everyone saw the true nature of the bikers. Both of his eyes were swollen shut. His lips were cut and swollen. The bridge of his nose was crooked and bruised. So he had to breathe through his mouth, which revealed that the bikers punched out a few of his teeth. Gavin cringed as he forced himself to look. Zack said, "We found this stubborn prick on the side of the road. He was already injured when we found him. We knew he was with you guys, but he refused to talk. He's lucky we found you guys or else he'd be dead by now". He looked at Kyle and said, "Well judging by his current condition, I bet he wishes he was dead". He chuckled for a moment. "Maybe I should just put him out of his misery". He pulled his gun out and aimed it at him. Gavin yelled, "Wait"! Zack turned around to look at him, "Why do you defy my decision"? Gavin said, "I led this group. I kidnapped your men. I should be the one to be shot". Zack stroked his chin for a moment, "Nah. Let's make this more -- interesting. I need to prove that everything I'm telling you people are things I'm being serious about. I need you all to take what I say, to heart. So for now I'm gonna skip my second rule of waiting to see who is capable of working for me and I'm just going to kill one of you right here, right now, to show you that I'm dead serious".

Zack pulled out his gun and loaded it. He pointed it at everybody as he slowly walked by them. He looked at Ronny and pointed at him, "You. Move him away from the group. I promised him life, he'll get life". A biker pulled him off to the side. Zack said, "Well, I'm really sorry". He looked at Xavier. Xavier took in a deep breath and closed his eyes. Then he heard the gun pop, however, he felt no pain. He heard Sarah crying. When opened his eyes, he saw blood on the right side of his shirt. He looked to his right and saw Julie had no expression. She looked down at her chest and saw blood leaking through her shirt. Sarah grabbed her, crying. Julie started gasping for air. She looked at Sarah and then at Xavier. Julie looked deep into Xavier's eyes and asked, "What-what happened"? Then her eyes rolled back into her head and she fell forward. Xavier looked at her after she died and realized that she'll never get to see Shaun again. She'll never truly know if Shaun will survive or not; she'll never have closure. When Xavier thought of that, he began to cry as well.