Badlands

Entering Badlands Chapter Two

Badlands

Part One: Entering Badlands

Chapter Two: The Comrade and His Judger

On the other side of the state where Wayne previously was a citizen for a few months, another catastrophe happened. Another woman whom he had connections with was murdered. This woman was murdered the same way but this time she was more successful. More out there in the open. No one saw any signs of the murderer but this one was right away tied to Wayne Crawford.

A couple of days after that it didn't take the Californians Police Investigators come together and know that they were the last contacted with Wayne.

When he was sentenced for a questioning that was when Wayne thought enough was enough. He was accused of killing these women just because he had affairs with them.

"I think this is absurd. You all think I could really do something like this?" Wayne speaks over the court. He stands up from the chair, "ladies and gents I wouldn't even harm a fly let alone doing this-"

He points to the screen that showed the evidence of Carolyn Summer's death. There were murmurs in the crowd as he spoke and then it went silent as the projector didn't even have an image and was just fuzzy.

Instead of detaining him for the deaths, they wanted to further investigate. During the investigation he was moved. By them.

To Badlands. Population 782. Now 783.

In Badlands, right outside of the border between the hot terrain and the city itself, a camp was held. In this camp an army of in-training soldiers would be hiding. The outskirts where no one knew about, four overly large tents held fifty of these soldiers. Amongst them were comrades, chiefs, and just cadets.

And Wayne Crawford was entered to stay in this camp. His long curly hair would be either cut short or tied back. His recruitment day was a stressful day as he got from his apartment. Newslines. Angry people. Raging people who were just furious lined up to see the man have handcuffs and brought onto the bus. It was so similar as a small school bus as Wayne  entered it.

Right away Wayne knew the people who were true murderers and convicts were in this bus. As he was pushed to the very end there were hollers all around.

"Hey look at the new guy."

"New guy indeed. How are ya?"

"Do you usually prefer the women or do you like the thrill of all shapes, genders, and ages!?"

Wayne sat down as what was told and he put his hands out so they know the handcuffs were there. After the bus was started up again, Wayne couldn't help but look back the apartment complex. The line of people that wanted to see him be basically arrested. Now Wayne thinks that he would have been better off being arrested.

He looked ahead and the guy who was sitting ahead of him was turned around, "you're him aren't you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Him him. The guy who goes across the state killing all the women who he sleeps with," the man who was called Sam Keller slid down in his seat so only half of his face was shown. Wayne looked into the man's brown eyes with his green ones.

He leaned forward, "between me and you I haven't killed anyone."

Sam instantly got up from his position, "really but that's not what they said."

"Who is they?" Wayne gawked and then nodded, "oh yeah the fucking police. Well I didn't."

"It is kind of strange you were the last that contacted the women then they end up dead," the size of how wide Sam's eyes almost disgust Wayne.

Wayne sterns in his seat and then breathes out, "yeah well it's kind of strange that your dad decided to not pull out, because you wouldn't be in the same boat as I am if he did."

That makes Sam smile, "I like you," he says it in a way that he actually just made a friend and Wayne blinks very harshly and slowly. 

"I am not looking for any friends," he says and then looks forward toward the bus. 

Sam laughs, " you are definitely going to fit in."

Sooner than later the bus comes to a sudden stop, "alright up maggots!" 

Everyone but Wayne got up. He looked around and then got up too. With everyone looking straight ahead and no one making a peep a man goes down the aisle way. Step by step he would either taunt or hit every passenger. No one fought back. No one would say anything to him possibly because he was a man that people should be afraid of. 

When it came to Sam's turn Wayne couldn't hep but look away. He couldn't look that way at all. The man was terrifying. You could see burned marks all the way up his arms. Half of his face was shriveled up as if it happened due to a fire. 

"Hello I think I might call you Squid! Does that sound like a good nickname for ya!?" the man grabbed Sam by his collar and almost drooled and spat in his face. 

Sam nodded and then the man shoves him down. 

Then it was Wayne's turn. Wayne breathed in and out trying to show he had nothing to fear. It is not like he would be killed but he was still trembling really badly. 

"Look we have a new one on the block. Son do you know what this is?"  the man yelled in Wayne's face. Wayne blinked a few times and then looked at all the other people's faces. Their fear.

"I asked you a question boy now are you going to give me an answer!?"  The man almost made Wayne  jump. A regular person would be shaking and crying but Wayne is strong and will minded  not fall for the man taunts. 

Wayne shook his head  reluctantly though and then looked at the man. He had one eye that was fully brown and one eye that was grey. As if it was a false eye nonetheless. 

"This is your death trap boy!" The man turned around with his hands behind his back. Wayne breathed out and proceeded to look in the man's direction. "Every year we go around the states bringing you psycho paths and what not along on a little road trip. And when we enter Badlands your new story begins. Blah blah blah. And we have you."

He turned around and an evil grin showed up on his face.  It made everyone jump even those who were seated. "But there is one small itsie witsie mistake in there. In all the bullshit they tell you when you aboard. This isn't a camp."

One step he was looking from the left. Terrifying the passengers on that side, then looked to the other side. "No it is far worse than making macaroni faces and taking a little stride in your kayak on the lake. There is no lake!"

He lets out the most bellowest and loud laugh Wayne ever heard. He was the only one standing now. 

"Tell me son!" he walked back to Wayne, "are you ready for the ride of your life literally? Are you afraid of what is to come?"

Wayne shook his head and that made the guy smile oddly, "oh but you should be. You should be very afraid. For the next forty eight hours you all are mine. From dusk until dawn. We have new drivers every five hours. And don't you dare try to think of something stupid. This isn't ConAir folks. There was a hero. but none of you are heroes!"

Within thirty seconds the guy walked to the begining of the bus and sat down. Facing the right direction. Everyone got calm again and Sam looked up at Wayne. Wayne sat down and then furrowed his eyebrows.

"Okay who in the hell was that and how do we get rid of him?" 

Sam smiled, "that was General Cage. He is just a little moody because his time up as a general is coming to an end."

Wayne blinked and then looked at Sam,closely He leaned forward and asked in a whisper, "how do you know all of this stuff."

"This is my third time boarding this bus," he said and then Sam turned around. 

"Squid I hear you gabbling back there. Shut the fuck up!" the general hollered loudly without moving.

Sam  turned around and then shrugged to Wayne as if saying I told you so. Wayne had a lot to learn about this so called camp. And a lot to learn about Badlands and what secrets lie beneath this bus route. 

And maybe he had a lot to learn about just himself....