Discernment

Chapter 24

"Alright, I want extra watch on the walls at each gate and even along the walls. ASAP." I tell the District leaders, which include of Eddy, Washington, Devan, and Ryan and I decided to hold the meeting the same day instead of the morning considering this was very urgent to me. "Who do you think left these effigees, Thomas?" Ryan questions. "It was no doubt the Zealots, right? I mean it did say 'Die, Heathens' in stretched out skin." Devan says. "I agree with Devan, it has to be the Zealots. It only makes sense." Eddy says. "Yes, it was the Zealots, but that's not what's important. What's important is that I get people from each of your districts on the walls. I need extra eyes and firepower up there in case they return. Is that unuderstood, men?" I order and readjust my stance.

Amazed at how much I've changed, at how much this community means to me,  they all agree and spread out. "Ryan, you have those two men in cells right?" I ask him. Ryan nods as he turns around. "Separated I hope?" I continued. "Yes, Thomas. They're separated. No need to worry." He replies. "Good. I'm going to be there to talk to one of them tomorrow while you talk to the other. That's all for now." I tell him. "Alright, Thomas. See you tomorrow then." He concludes.

I write in my final notes, there in the hall that the meeting was held at, in a large book of current events. Listed in there was Eddy's plan for armor, Washington's plan to spread the community, ecetera. I close that book and hold it between my arm and torso and head out of the building before locking it behind me.

It was getting dark already as I headed home, people fleeing the streets calmly into their homes. They probably noticed that I had a meeting with the other district leaders and had no idea what it was about, and was scared. They have the right to be scared. You should always be scared even when not in danger, that's just the world we live in nowadays.

As I finally made it back to my home with Jess living there with me, I sat on the chair next to the couch. I didn't bother talking to Jess as I saw she was curled up sleeping there with her book in her hand, further in it than earlier today. I kick the chair's footrest up and relax for about thirty minutes. I managed to barely fall asleep but then was woken up when I heard knocking on the door. Jess didn't wake, but instead released her book onto the ground and turned facing the cushions.

I put the footrest down and resume to the door, and as I opened it, I saw Anna and Erin standing there. "Oh, hey Erin. Anna. How's the pregnancy coming along?" I ask, rubbing my eyes, then looked down to see Anna's developing, pregnant belly. "It's going well, thanks for asking." She replies. "So what brings you ladies here?" I ask leaning on the doorknob. "Oh, nothing really. We were just asking the original group to come for a small celebration, since we never really did that at the start of our new home, mind coming?" Anna asks. "No, I'm a little tired. You should hold it at a different day, after all it's been stressful today.." I mention to them. "Yeah.. You're right. Good thing we went to you first." Erin says. "Okay then, see you later guys." I say and close the door as they walked away.

"Who was that?" Jess asks as she sat up. "Erin and Anna, they were asking about a party, but it's not happening tonight." I tell her. "A party? You should have went, you're always tense recently." She tells me with a sigh. "I have to be tense to run this place smoothly, ya' know?" I say. "Yeah, I guess. But you should be able to have some fun once in a while? Right, Thomas?" She mutters. "Sure, but I can't do that with recent events, Jess. But right now I think you should go to sleep. In your room." I say, gently pushing her off the couch with a small smirk. "Whatever, Thomas. You should get some rest yourself. And shave that stubble off, man. It's getting bad." She says as she stumbled up the stairs.

Well, I suppose she was right. I do need to shave since it's getting itchy. So I do that right before I has went to bed.  The wrist watch I have on the dresser across the room is set for seven-thirty AM for tomorrow and simply fall asleep.