The Walking Dead: A Broken Empire

[N1] Chapter 8: Calm Before The Storm (Go with Jonas)

The world around Javier has crumbled. Days have gone by without any sign of his family. The previous groups he was in turned on each other and each faction wanted blood from one another. After incredible loses and sacrifices, Javier was left with nothing. He had to choose where he would go next, forever departing from Mathis, from Dave, from his own history.

"I'll go with you, Jonas." Javier announced.
"To Woodton you'll go then?" Phil asked.
"Yeah," Javier replied, "Better to get out on the water, away from these monsters."
"Good point." Mary agreed.
"Here." Phil said, grabbing a bottle of water from his bag.
"Thanks." Javier replied.
"It's good to look out for each other. Remember, it's best to have someone's back." Phil nodded.
"Well.." Jonas mumbled.
"It was nice meeting you folks. I'm sorry you people went through all that crap. This world ain't as pretty as it used to be. Just keep on living, being smart. You guys are capable of great things and I'm sure you can positively change this world." Phil stated.
"You too, stay safe." Javier said, as he walked off with Jonas.
"Goodbye." Phil and Mary replied as they walked off towards Clarance.

"What's going on here?" Javier asked.
"Betrayal." Ricky answered.
"What's the plan for that tied up man?" Jonas asked.
"He committed crimes against us. Killed one of our members protecting the rations. He tried to run away with our things, his punishment will follow." Ricky replied.
"What's that mean?" Jonas questioned.
"It means that our townspeople will choose how we punish him. It's what we usually do. These instances don't happen often, but the people can always agree with each other on a sutiable punishment." Ricky informed.
"So what do you want us to say?" Javier asked.
"No offense or anything, but I don't think you've been here long enough to form such an opinion of a criminal. The people around here won't like it much if you start pushing your desicions on them. Don't say anything." Ricky answered.

"No! Let me go, right now!" The criminal screamed.
"After intense investigation of what accusations have been presented upon you, we've found you to be undoubtedly guilty to the following offenses: The murder of our fellow friend and stealing of the town's resources. Your suitable punishment will be decided by the people of Woodton as of right now." Ricky stated.
"Kill him!"
"Shoot this bastard!"
"He stole from us! He deserves it!"
"Cut his fucking throat out!"
All of the townspeople yelled.

"I guess this guy isn't on their best friends list, eh?" Javier whispered to Jonas.
"I remember that man. He just joined this community around the time those guys and I left for the factory." Jonas stated.
"Really? What'd you think of him back then?" Javier asked.
"I could tell something was off about him, but I didn't think he would do something like this." Jonas replied.

"So be it," Ricky stated, " Your penalty will be death."
"C'mon Ricky! This is horseshit!" The criminal yelled.

"What was his name?" Javier asked.
"I think it was Ned or some shit like that." Jonas informed.
"Well these people don't fuck around here. They're about to kill him." Javier added.
"Learn from it. Don't ever try messing with them, they can all be... Harsh, with the punishments and all that." Jonas sighed.

Ricky walked forward to the tied up criminal and loaded his shotgun.
"You brought this on yourself." Ricky said to the struggling criminal, as he aimed the barrel of the shotgun at his head.
"Fuck all of you! I only did what I had to do to survive! Anyone of you little fucks would've done the same! Rot in hell!" Ned screamed.
"No," Ricky said, "You're the only one that's rotten here and now you're gonna rot in hell with the rest of the evil in this world. I trusted you, Ned, but you went behind all of our backs and stole from us!"
"I'd do it again in a heartbeat," The criminal sneered, "You better hope that shell kills me, cuz I'll kill of you if it doesn't. Worthless fuckin-"
Ricky pulled the trigger, cutting off Ned.
The ground shook with the blast of the shotgun as Ned's distorted and bloodied body hit the floor. Ricky walked over to the dying criminal and unloaded two shotgun shells in his head. Blood littered the ground along with Ned's broken skull and gore.

"Shit!" Javier yelled among the commotion.
"What? Never seen someone get shot before?" Jonas asked.
"I don't know, that was brutal. I didn't even know the guy." Javier said.
Jonas turned to Javi and spoke, "This is the apocalypse man. Get used to it."
"I am." Javier replied.