World of Anarchy/Chapter 57

This is a preview of chapter 57 of World of Anarchy entitled: What’s Right And What’s Left

Synopsis
Familiar faces makes appearances to both David and Teresa, helping them both out of their dire situations--though not without a cost.

Chapter 57 - What’s Right And What’s Left
Time seemed to drag on in the room Garland kept him in. It should have only been a few hours since he saw the infected returned to ‘life,’ if one could even call it that. Everything was different now. Garland’s new army put him at a huge advantage compared to him and the others back at the zone. Even if he managed to find Emily and escape, which he didn’t plan on failing, there was nothing to stop Garland from turning more infected and attacking the zone.

A shuffling sound came from the other side of the door followed by the sound of the door unlocking. David stood up, but kept his eyes on the shadows shifting back and forth beneath the door. Now was his chance. He readied himself to fight whoever was about to enter.

The door whined as it swung open. He almost lunged, and would have if it weren’t for who was there. One of Garland’s men, a burly looking man in his twenties entered along with Emily, who was completely naked and marked with a black eye. Less than a second later the man shoved her in further and exited, slamming the door shut behind her and locking it.

Emily didn’t bother to cover herself as her eyes traveled across the room. She looked disoriented, as if she had just awoken and was unsure where she was. Eventually her eyes found him.

“David!” She exclaimed as she rushed over and embraced him in a strong hug.

“Emily, are you…? Did they…?” He asked, his voice coming out as more of a croak.

She head shook against his chest. “I’m fine. They--All those shitheads did was hit me when I cussed them out. They did take my clothes though. That Garland guy said that he wanted to mess with your head and make you think that--well you get the idea.”

As soon as she broke the hug, he pulled off his shirt and handed it to her. She took it from him and slid into it, while he averted his eyes. Unfortunately, the shirt rode up a little too high giving a slight peek at her crotch and the bottom of her bottocks.

“Well. That fucking sucks.” She muttered with a small sigh as she tried pulling the shirt down a little more to no avail. She glanced back at him and blushed. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s not your fault they took your clothes.”

“No, not about that. I mean, here I am sad annoyed that the shirt you offered me is too short while you had your arm sliced off and eye shot out. How’re you doing with all that?”

“It’s not important” He told her as he looked down at his stump to which she rolled her eyes.

“Cut the crap, David. You lost an arm and an eye. I don’t expect you to fine.”

“I,” He began. “I still feel it...like it’s still here, like I can still move it. I can handle the physical pain, but the phantom one? I think it’s going to drive me crazy.” He looked to her again, noticing how cold she was..“You sure that shirt’s fine. I can give up my pants too.”

“No. I don’t want your pants.” She said with a laugh. “Without a belt, I would keep having to pull it up while we run out of here escaping. We are going to find a way out of here soon, right?”

“We are. But first I need to find the Cipher. It was in my coat that they conveniently took while Garland was talking to me earlier. Next time someone comes to get us I’m going to need your help attacking them.”

Emily nodded and took as seat against the wall hugging her legs. “The Cipher...That was that thing Garland was asking for the other day, right?”

“Yeah. Your father said that--” He started but faltered when he noticed her expression.

A tear rolled down her cheek as she shifted into sitting cross legged style. Every few seconds she moved her lips as though she wanted to say something but never did. Maybe the thought of his death was too much, or maybe she couldn’t find the right words to say at the moment. Either explanation was understandable to him. After his parents had died--or rather--after he thought they died, he was the same way around others.

“You really killed him?” Emily finally managed to speak after an uncomfortable silence.

“I did.”

David told her about everything that happened between the two of them, every single detail, no matter how insignificant, wasn’t left out. Towards the end he felt his voice crumbling under his grief.

“Why did he do it?” She asked, her gaze fixated on a blank spot on the wall in front of her. “Why did he abandon us? Why did he join those shitheads who kidnapped me? Why...did he have to die?”

David thought for a long moment before answering her. “Because he was loyal. Because...he was a true hero. Until the very end.”

He took a seat beside her and placed his remained arm over her shoulders. Tears rolled off her face, but she didn’t cry. Not exactly. No whimper of any kind left her, nor any contortion of her face. It was just tears. Neither of them spoke again for quite awhile. Eventually she fell asleep leaning up against him.

Instead of thinking about the chaotic events leading up to that current moment--the fires in the safe-zone, killing Jayden, learning of Teresa’s supposed death, losing his arm and eye, being raped by his ex, and learning about his father--he chose to let his mind go blank. All of it was too much. He just wanted rest. He wanted some peace. But as he sat there, the words Jayden spoke before they fought came back to him like tiny knives jabbing at the back of his head.

''No matter how this turns out, the fate of the survivor is sealed! They will continue the fight--live a life without rest and be entrenched in a never ending conflict!''