Chapter 6

• Alex’s POV
• “I delivered your message to Jack. I have to tell you, he looked scared and didn’t speak for a long time after I finished, I was half expecting him to back off and accept the peace offering, but then his son Simon spoke for him. He said you’ve got two options, you either serve up his uncle’s murderer to the walkers to be killed, or everyone is fair game. His father didn’t intervene. It looked to me like he doesn’t have that much control over his own men, it’s his son calling the shots. By the way, they have no clue who killed Patrick, I’m certain of that”
• I close my eyes in frustration for not receiving the news I wanted.
• “Sheriff, I need you to pull back your men and prevent them from going anywhere near the town. I don’t want them getting caught in the cross fire. We need to handle this between us”
• “Alex, I don’t like this. We are supposed to maintain the peace, it’s our duty to this town” said the sheriff warily.
• “I know, but that’s not how things work in this town, you know that. Besides, your outnumbered ten to four hundred. Please, do as I say”
• “I’m pulling them back now… be careful out there”
• “Thanks”
• I hang up and face the rest of my family, as I crash on the nearest couch.
• “They chose war didn’t they?” said Lucas almost excitedly.
• He was itching to kill some Walkers for days now.
• Well, he’s going to get his wish, much to my dismay.
• “We either serve up Patrick’s killer or they will make good on their promise, that’s what Simon; Jack’s son, said. Apparently Jack is not able to control his own men” I answer in response.
• “What the hell are we waiting for then? Let’s go show them the true meaning of war” Lucas said as he held out his gun and loaded it.
• “Do they know it was Jacob?” mom asked warily.
• “No, he’s certain that they don’t know. The girl kept her mouth shut, for some unknown reason. But that doesn’t matter anymore. When we all show up without Jacob, they will figure it out on their own” I said irritably.
• “That’s why you shouldn’t have sent him away so soon” said Lucas grumpily.
• “How would I know the girl wasn’t going to say anything? She had every reason to rat him out. I don’t get why she’s protecting him… unless..” could it? I didn’t have any clue about Jacob’s love life. We’re not the kind of brothers who spill their guts to each other and talk about our emotions and stuff like that.
• “Unless what?” asked mom.
• “Unless there was something between them before our wedding, that’s the only thing that makes sense. Were you aware if he was seeing someone?” I asked my mom.
• She shook her head “Not to my knowledge. But I’m not so sure though. Jacob is not very open about his personal life with anyone”
• Lucas shook his head and said “Nah, I don’t think so. Jacob despised Patrick way before he betrayed us, he would never hook up with his daughter”
• Then why the hell is she protecting him?
• I shake my head, that’s a mystery for another day. I don’t have time to linger on this.
• “It doesn’t matter anymore. They are going to figure it out once we all show up without him anyways”
• “I can pass myself off as Jacob. We have the same body build and height. The town doesn’t know who I am to you, and I can wear a cap to cover my buzz cut hair. If I stay back far enough next to Lucas, they will think I’m Jacob” Said David confidently while looking at me.
• I shook my head “No David, I need you to stay here with Erik and protect the house in case someone slips past us”
• He gave me a half smile and said “I know protecting the house is just an excuse to keep me from putting myself in danger, Alex. You don’t have to protect me. Like my father said, I’m old enough to hold my own, I can help you, please let me”
• I stared at him for a while, thoroughly thinking this through. I had no idea about his capabilities with shooting a gun or covering himself from being shot, he might end up getting hit, or worse die. I can’t face my uncle if something were to happen to him. But then again, he wanted him to stay back and help us, practically gave me no choice but to keep him with us here.
• “Fine, but you will stick with Lucas all the time ok? Don’t go anywhere on your own”
• He seemed genuinely glad to be of help as he nodded his head and said “Yes”.
• “Go with Lucas to Jacob’s room and change into his clothes, see if you can find a cap, too”
• Just then, Mathew came hurrying into the room with a grim expression on his face.
• I immediately leapt from where I was sitting and walked over to him.
• “What happened” I asked as I started assuming the worst.
• “All the Snows who can fight, and are not guarding the borders of the town are gathered here. But the elderlies who live in the heart of town were hiding inside their houses, some Walkers dragged them out to the square and murdered them right there. Eight of them, one of their wives just informed me through the phone”
• The sheriff’s words ring in my ears at that moment.
• ‘Everyone is fair game’
• I explode in fury as I shout loudly “Those fucking vile immoral bastards!”
• My body was screaming in pain over the loss of those innocent lives that paid the cost.
• “Get everyone ready, we’re going into town and shooting every last one of them, and that asshole Simon is right at the top” I ordered viciously.
• Five minutes later, over twenty seven cars were headed into the town. All of us armed and ready for battle.
• I already gave everyone their positions.
• Half of them were going to surround the area and come at them from behind, while the rest of us will head straight into action.
• My number one order was: Shoot to injure, not kill.
• If they were shameless about killing anyone with no regards to their age or innocence, I was about to fucking show them the right way to get payback.
• As soon as we hit the center of town, bullets start flying in the air from all sides.
• We get out and take cover anywhere, waiting for the right moments to shoot.
• Half an hour later, my ears are ringing loudly, and my heart is hammering in my chest.
• Most of the Walkers are down. Either injured or dead.
• A little silence fills the area, as no one dares to fire back or fight anymore.
• “No!” I hear Lucas screaming behind me in terror and turn around.
• He and David were taking cover at the back of one of our SUVs, a few feet away from me.
• I saw Lucas running towards me just before my eyes landed on Simon Walker who was standing behind us, aiming his gun right at me.
• Before I could move one muscle, Simon’s gun fires, hitting my brother; who ran to stand in front of me, in the shoulder.
• Lucas collapsed to the ground, as I aimed and fired twice on both of Simon’s legs.
• Simon went down with a loud howl.
• David and I reached Lucas at the same time.
• “Damn it, Lucas!“
• I checked him out frantically, as he wailed in pain. The bullet made a through and through wound into his shoulder. It barely missed his neck.
• “Mathew!“ I called out to Mathew who was on the other side of the street.
• He came running over to us, I didn’t waist time as I lifted Lucas up, carried him in my arms, and spoke frantically “Get everyone to take all the injured to the hospital, and pull the dead ones from the street. no more clashes with the Walkers. Everyone stands down!”
• I moved towards the closest SUV and slid with Lucas in the backseat.
• “David, you’re driving us back to the house” I ordered David tightly.
• He closed our door and dashed to the driver’s seat.
• Mathew asked me through the open window “Just our men right?”
• “No, take everyone, the Walkers too”
• David drove away at once with blinding speed.
• He looks at me through the rear view mirror and asks warily “Shouldn’t we take Lucas to the hospital too, Alex?”
• “No, there’s no bullet, it’s a through and through. He just needs to get bandaged up. Mom can do that, she’s a retired nurse” I answer tightly.
• He nods his head and averts his gaze to the road.
• I look down at Lucas who was groaning in pain.
• “Why did you jump in front of me Lucas? Damn it if that bullet hit you in the neck, you would have been gone in a second!” I said deliriously.
• He grumbled as he said in a tight muffled voice “I couldn’t let him take you out Alex. You’re my brother… and our leader. I couldn’t protect dad… but damn if I let anything.. Happen to you”
• I closed my eyes in pain and held him tighter.
• “Don’t ever do something like that again Lucas, you hear me? It’s me who should protect you not the other way around”
• He smiled in pain as he said “That’s one hell of a thank you for saving your life, brother”
• “Shut up” I scoffed.