Red Rock

Chapter 23: Best Interest (Part 2)

"Fuck!" Jacob screamed, kicking his cabin door open, storming outside and coiling his head around. "How could this have happened?! Where's our military."

Zack had trouble keeping up with Jacob, holding his injured shoulder while shuffling to keep pace. "They're all over the place. After the party last night, no one has reported for duty."

"For fuck's sake!" Jacob continued in anger, seeing the group of cannibals in the distance. "Are you sure they got Daire?"

"That's what I've been told."

"Andy!" Jacob called back inside his cabin.

"What do you need?" he replied, knowing the severity of the situation.

"Go find Luke and tell him to get his army together now!"

Andy ran off in search of Luke, but it was too late. The cannibals were at Jacob's and Zack's feet in a matter of minutes. The large group of vicious men kept their distance, barbarically looking at Jacob and Zack, wanting nothing more than to raid the sparse town. "Are you OK?" Jacob asked a beat up Daire.

Daire nodded. "Yeah."

"I see you've found some new members to join your party," Jacob spat toward Blud. "These shit stains look even more incompetent than the last."

Daire remembered all too well the rivalry between Jacob and Blud. The smoke that rose between them almost always inspired irrational behavior, making Daire nervous. "I'm reminded why I'm going to kill you slowly every time we meet. But for now, I'm here for my two-hundred-fifty coins."

Jacob looked at Daire for any truth to the statement. "This isn't a ransom," Daire stressed. "It's an upfront payment for their help with invading Goroth. I swear!"

Jacob counted the cannibals and started to nod his head. "From what I recall, these guys got butt fucked by three men from Goroth. Why should we pay them two-hundred-fifty gold coins to go and die when we can kill them ourselves!"

Blud settled the blade of his machete an inch away from Daire's neck to contradict the statement of 'this is not a ransom'. "Give me the gold, or I'll kill him," he said unfazed and sternly.

Jacob gave a distressful grunt, looking around for Luke to come and save the day with his military. It wasn't happening. "Give it to them, Zack," Daire said, now fearing for his life.

Zack looked at Jacob for confirmation. Now that Daire was under the influence of the cannibals, he wasn't sure what to do. "I'm sorry, Daire, not like this."

Blud touched the sharp edge of his steel machete gently on Daire's throat. Daire felt full panic flush through his body in the form of adrenaline and fear. "Jacob! Please!" he begged. "Trust me, we need them, it's not just about me."

Jacob had been thinking about showing where the gold was or at least pretending to. He wanted to buy some time until Luke would come with the army and finish Blud and his ruthless gang. Any action of aggressiveness toward Blud would end in Daire's death in every scenario. Jacob's thoughts of the society's future without Daire was now occupying his mind. The scenario didn't look promising. Luke would probably take over command with the force of the military if Daire died. This would leave the lives of him, Zack, and everyone else who was close to Daire at risk. "Zack, go get two hundred-hundred-fifty coins from the vault," Jacob said, defeated.

The vault was a small and thick building that held all of the nation's treasuries. It was constantly under the supervision of two policemen or soldiers to keep anyone from entering or exiting the structure. Zack was one of the only ones who could enter. "Are you sure?" he asked, making sure his decision wasn't based on his fear for Daire's safety.