A New Verge

Reasoning and Resistance

Quick A/N before the chapter! Hey everyone! Thank you for continuing to read and support A New Verge. Due to the outpouring love and  support I've been receiving, I've been considering writing another book that would be based before the apocalypse. The only issue with this is I would be slower to upload A New Verge, as I'd likely go back and forth updating both stories. Would a new pre-apocalypse book centered around the Garcías interest you? Let me know in the comments!

"Thank you all for coming here today. It means a lot to me and my family that you could make it." Javi began to speak, glancing out to the crowd of anxious people as he stood on the stairs that overlooked the fountain. He was higher above the crowd, so that everyone could see him. Kate was sitting next to him, wrapped up in a blanket extremely tight. He was worried sick about her, seeing as she was so cold, yet it was the middle of summer.

Eleanor assumed it was from the blood loss, but that did nothing to quell Javi's worries. He had already given blood to Kate. If she needed more blood, or course he'd be willing. Even if she needed every last drop of his blood to stay alive. However, the first thing that needed done was to find the source of the blood loss in Kate. Javi waited patiently, hoping they'd figure out something soon. Javi watched her for a second, before staring into the crowd again.

Some looked anxious and fearful, others looked pissed at nothing in particular. Though he knew much of the backlash came back to him and his family, and the loss of their own families. Just thinking about how many had died gave him chills. Especially because he knew some of the deaths could be related to his family's arrival.

"I know you're all wondering why /we/ called you here. Well I'm here to share  that....Kate was attacked last night." Javi spoke, a hint of pain in his voice as Kate opened the blanket and revealed part of her injury to the crowd.

Many gasped, shocked at what they had seen. They thought Richmond was safe now, but clearly it wasn't. Maybe it was more dangerous now than ever before. Many thoughts and voices began to fill the air, and tension were high. It was definitely unsettling, and this alone made Javi more afraid to tell them the next part about one of their community members.

"She's okay...My son and I got to my....my Kate in time." Javi reached his hand over to gently rub her upper back. He watched her as she leaned over some to relax against his side as he began to talk.

"Macy, Clint's wife came after us to seek revenge for the loss of her daughter...and her husband. She brought a knife to Kate's chest and throat, and nearly killed Kate. If it wasn't for our son, Gabe, Kate could have died." Javi's voice cracked, clearly still a bit distraught at the thought. Kate reached for his hand, giving him a powerfully tight squeeze.

Some of the town members began to mumble. Some seem shocked, others confused, and even a select few seemed skeptical.

"Gabe shot Macy...killing her and saving Kate." Javi spoke, gloomily, thinking about the precious life lost. Any life lost was wasteful and senseless in this world.

"I'm sorry I couldn't save her. You all deserve a lot better than this. I'm....trying so hard to rebuild Richmond again, but it's not easy. I want to rebuild the right way, using our own supplies and will power to make this community strong. But we. Ant keep attacking each other. If we keep killing each other, we're no better than the muertos! We need to stick together!"

Javi spoke, some of the passion and hope returning to his eyes as he did so. He thought about a community that was safe, and self sustainable. He thought about a family with Kate, a house that felt like home. His eyes began to burn brightly at the thought alone.

But of course, there as always a skeptic or critic in the crowd, even as everyone else was growing excited and smiling at the thought of Richmond rebuilding the right way. Not everyone would be pleased.