The Wilds

Chapter 5

Recap:

"Oh, and hun, Welcome to The Wilds!"

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Kayla's POV

The Wilds? As in the rebel group? Can't be! We bombed them 10 years ago and there were no survivors.

"Here ya go hun. You must be starving." Elisa set down a bowl full of small bird which I assumed was seagull since that was all that flew in this area.

"So how many of there are you? How did you find this place? How did you survive the bombs? Why did you save me? Are you really The Wilds? Ca-"

"All good questions will come in time to those who wait, Kayla." Elisa smiled and took my hand. "I need to show you something."

I followed her out of the tent and looked around to see a small room with tents, full of people all looking at us. I spun around and hit something solid. I looked up to see a guy that grabbed my shoulders and swung me around facing the people.

"You see this? This piece of trash! She's a rally!! And our friend Elisa over here, thinks it's wise to hold her here but this!"

Pointing to my patch and ripping it from my uniform. "This is the symbol of the enemy! On who has killed so many of us! One who was a high ranking soldier! Her name! Kayla Vale!"

Gasps broke out among the people. The boy kicked my legs and sent me to my knees. One after another, people took their turn punching and kicking me, even a little boy who kicked me in the face. Although it didn't hurt, it did when he spat in my face and said I carried out a sentence for his brother to a public shaming following which, I shot him for not being embarrassed enough. Sad thing is, I remember, but it wasn't me that shot him.

--Flashback--

"Kayla, there will be a shaming today. I expect you lead, then you will get your promotion." I smiled. The promotion I had worked for. All I needed to do was shame this one person and I'd be set for years to come.

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I escorted Alex to the rotunda within the town center.

"Kay! Oh my gosh! I can't believe you're getting the promotion!! You deserve it!" Inala threw her arm around my shoulder and hugged me.

"Nala, you can let go now... I need to look good in front of Commander 237." I shook her off knowing they would view that action as a sign of weakness.

"No worries! I'll do everything to make you look good."

"Presenting Alex Moore, traitor of the Rally and New America. Standing accused of taking more bread than needed. Do you, Alex Moore have anything to say?" He stood shaking looking at me as I announced him.

"I paid for the bread! I just bought one more, but it was for my little brother's birthday party. I was going to surprise him. I would have gotten one less next month, I swear!" He looked at me with a pleading look. My thoughts wavered as I thought about his little brother. Would he see him?

"By the courts of Rally, I find you guilty and sentence you to shaming."

Nala tied him to a pole, on a leash, and pulled his shirt off. He was obviously a farmer, well-built, tanned, and an undying love for his brother.

I took a long whip and started lashing him.

One.

"Do you know what you did wrong?"

"No."

Two.

"You took food from another family! Are you sorry?"

"Figuratively or actually?"

Three.

"Think your sassy?"

"No, it was a question."

"Apologize to the family!"

*silence*

"Fine!"

Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten. Eleven. Twelve. Thirteen.

"I'm sorry! Okay? I'm sorry! I know what I did and I'm sorry! I accept any punishment set upon me!" He cried.

"Good." I grabbed the brand of the Rally Warriors and heated it. I brought the heated Nepal's red tip to his lower right back and held it for seconds.

"Now, Alex Moore, you are sorry." I will never forget as I looked down on him that determination to power through for his brother and most of all, understanding as to my doings.

"You may lay here for 24 hours and kiss the shoe of every passer-by. Got it?" I gestured to my boot.

He looks down and closed his eyes.

"Yes, I understand." He bent down and kissed my boot.

"Playtime over. Go home!" Inala shouted to the people in the crowds who moderately dispersed.

"Miss! Miss! I'm sorry! Please make sure my family is taken care of!" I made eye contact briefly before nodding my head.

BANG!

I watched Alex fall forward onto the ground.

"She is Commander to you! And you do NOT issue orders to anyone!!" Inala shouted.

I ran to Alex and leaned over him and looked into his eyes.

"Keep him safe, Singer Moore. Please, keep him safe."

"Nooo!!!!" A little voice squealed while he ran into the rotunda. I looked into his sad eyes while he cried on his brothers body.

My vision started blurring as a tear rolled down my cheek. I quickly wiped it away and walked to Inala as we waited for Commander 237. She will be proud.

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"Sing?" I watched his eyes burned with fire.

"Alex was the only one that knew that and you killed him!!" He grabbed my hair and kneed me in the stomach.

"He's not dead! And I didn't shoot him!" Everyone stopped, their eyes on me.

"But I saw he body bag!"

"We saved him. He's in a prison. Oh, and that money y'all get monthly was mine. He told me to take care of you, so I did. My Little, Big Boy, Sing." He teared up and hugged me. Gasps broke out as they watched us.

I had done something crazy that no other Rally had done before.

I saved someone other than myself.