Never The End (Sequel to 'What Keeps You Alive')

Chapter 14: Truth or Death

--------Chapter 14: Truth or Death----

Gates and Rich both looked over as they heard the door unlock. The light streamed in as two men came in; it was Collin and Layton.

"Alright, your time's up," Collin said, walking over to where Gates and Rich were in the middle of the room, Layton not far behind him. "Bennett wants to see both of you."

Rich frowned as Collin grabbed him, tying his hands up in front of him. Layton turned to Gates so that his back was to him, tying his hands behind his back.

"Sorry about this man," he said to him quietly as Collin led Rich out of the room, Layton taking his time with tying Gates' hands. "Wish it didn't have to go down this way."

"You clearly don't like Bennett's rules," Gates said as Layton finished what he was doing; he'd tied it rather tight. "Why're you still here if you don't agree with him?"

"Better safe in here than sorry out there," Layton said in return as he led Gates out of the room, shutting and locking the door as Gates tried to get his eyes to adjust to the sudden light change; he'd been in the dark for at least an hour.

"I'd rather take my chances out there than in here with him."

Layton didn't say anything in response, just following Collin and Rich who were just up ahead; Gates didn't like where this was going. People watched as they walked past, probably wondering where they were being taken and what was going on.

It made Gates wonder how many people here knew what went on. His guess was the majority.

They walked to what Gates assumed was the other end of the compound, Collin opening a gate that was off to the side in the fence; one that unless you knew it was there, you wouldn't have seen it. Layton followed, making Gates go through first before he followed. They were out of the compound now and Gates didn't like this one bit.

He could see what was up ahead and he wasn't impressed. Layton pulled him to a halt next to Rich, Rich looking at what was in front of him.

"This isn't good," he commented.

"You don't say."

They'd been brought to a stop a few metres away from the edge of what looked like a ditch, a very wide one. The ledge spread for a while, so someone had obviously done it to ensure that walkers weren't going to get to the compound from the back. Gates couldn't tell how far down it was, but it was a few metres at the most. What was in the ditch though was what had him concerned.

There were walkers just wandering in from further in the woods and there was a lot, enough to make Gates concerned. No wonder Rich had said that most people didn't make it out. If the fall didn't kill you then the dead would.

"What the hell is this?" Gates asked, looking to Layton for a response; there wasn't anyone else besides the four of them out here yet.

"This' what we've come to refer to as 'The Pit'," he heard from behind him, making all four of them look to see who'd spoken; it was Bennett and he came to a halt next to Layton, a couple of the others that Gates had seen earlier stopping with him, just behind him. Bennett looked into the Pit. "Impressive, don't you think?"

"This where people go when you don't like them?" Gates dared to ask, Bennett turning his attention back to him.

"I see your attitude hasn't changed over the past hour," Bennett noted, looking Gates over.

"This attitude isn't about to change."

Bennett looked over to Rich who returned the look.

"Nice to see you Rich," he said. "I have someone who you might wanna see."