A New Beginning

Inner Demons

Morning

AJ wakes up and stares into the sunlight shining in his room. He stands up and gets dressed and walks out of the room. He enters the kitchen and grabs a cup from the cabinet and places sugar and creamer in it. He grabs the coffee pot and inserts the coffee into his cup. He fills it halfway and grabs a spoon and stirs it. He takes a sip and wakes up instantly. He exits the house and sits on the chair on the front porch. He takes another sip and watches as the clouds form over the blue sky and smiles. Tyler comes into eyesight and glances over at AJ, who's currently sitting in a chair drinking coffee. Tyler approaches him and they fist bump. Tyler sets himself in another chair and they both stare off into the distance. "It's beautiful." AJ admires the beautiful scenery of the morning sunshine. "Really is." Tyler replies. "You ready to do this thing?" Tyler asks. AJ swallows his swig of coffee. "Yeah. We should be back before afternoon." AJ responds. Tyler nods and rubs his hands together. "I'm sorry for what happened yesterday." Tyler says. AJ lowers his cup and glances over at Tyler. "I want you to know that I would die for you." Tyler replies. "I would've died for Derek. I would die for my grandson, Tyler. I would've died for my wife.." he stops. "I'm sorry for your loss. I can't imagine what it's like to have that pain to carry with you." AJ replies sincerely. Tyler shorts and nods. "I'm sorry for yours." He replies. They shake hands and AJ stands up. "Well, I'm gonna get ready. Meet you at the front gate?" AJ says. Tyler stands up. "Mhm. I'll see you soon." Tyler walks down the stairs and heads to the front gate while AJ enters his house and closes the door behind him. He sets his cup in the sink and grabs his belt by the picture. He puts it on and pulls the cylinder out from the Python. Six bullets, fully loaded. He sets the cylinder back in and glances over at the picture. "Be with me." He says. He exits the house and heads for the front gate.

At the Front Gate

Tyler leans against the truck as AJ approaches. "Good to go?" Tyler asks. AJ brings his arm and and glances at his watch. 7:30. "Mhm. We should be back before 12." AJ replies. "Good. Let's roll." Tyler hits the hood of the truck. They both enter the truck and place themselves in the seats. The man that AJ brought in runs to the gate and opens it, watching them as they leave in the distance. He closes the gate and continues his shift on watch.

Two Hours Later

They searched and looted from downtown and the countryside. They decided to search their traps in the woods. AJ and Tyler walk in the woods as they hear leaves rustle below them and they chuckle. "I miss camping." Tyler calls out. "You know what? Me too." AJ replies. "We oughta do it sometime. Get to experience the wilderness again." Tyler responds. "I like that. Get us some tents and some sleeping bags and a couple of pillows and just camp out here." "And bust a nut for Mother Nature." Tyler jokes. They both laugh. Something catches Tyler's eye and he glances over. He spots his wife, holding the hand of their son who seems to be younger. "Alexis?" He begins approaching them. AJ stops and turns around. "Tyler?" He whispers. "Honey, you don't have to be afraid. It's me." Tyler says as he slowly moves over to the hallucination. His son hides behind Alexis and this only makes Tyler stop and frown. "Don't be afraid, William. It's me, Dad." Will holds on to his moms hand tightly. Tears begin to form in Tyler's eye and he realizes they don't accept him. He looks above him and then back at them. He nods and pulls his gun out and puts it to his temple. "To keep the demons away.." He says to himself. "Tyler, no!" AJ yells before snatching the gun out of his hand. Tyler stands there crying with his head down, facing the ground while his tears drop to the leaves below him. "I- I saw them, AJ. I saw my wife and my son.." AJ stares at Tyler. Tyler turns around and looks at AJ. "They don't accept me. They see me as a barbarian." AJ approaches him and hugs him. "I'm here for you, man. I'm here for you." Tyler cries as he places his head on AJ's shoulder. Tyler lifts his head up. "We should be heading back." AJ says to break the silence. Tyler snorts. "Yeah." He replies. They begin leaving the woods and head for the truck.