The gunfire was stifling. Stella shot a man that climbed over the wall, right before he charged Will. Will shot three more coming over the wall, a few feet away. The Raiders had slammed the garbage truck into the gate. It hit, right at the part where the gate and containers were attached. Not knowing the men had bolted down, then welded them together, they thought this would move the large storage container enough for them to get through. But, it only disabled the truck, and pushed the container back a few feet. It created a gap, and gave the men a way to climb the wall, though. There were twenty men involved in the attack. Will and Stella, had already killed eight of them. Some shot at Will and Stella, while others tried to get over the walls. Kyle and Jessie drove up on a four wheelers.
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They jumped off of the small vehicles, and ran up the stairs to the walls. Two men had come at Will. He shot one, but the other attacked him. Will fought the man. As they rolled around on top of the container wall, Stella shot another man. Jessie caught another, climbing over the top. He threw him back down to the other side. Another came over, he and Jessie began to fight. Kyle Grabbed the man that Will was struggling with. He picked him up from behind, and slammed him face first into the top of the storage container. Having had the wind knocked out of him, the man was stunned. Kyle lifted him up to the guard wall, then pushed him over the wall and onto the outer ground. Jessie threw the other guy down onto the ground. He turned around to see another man coming for Stella. The man hit Stella knocking her down. Before he could do anything else, Kyle grabbed him, and they started to fight. They were punching, and kicking each other. They flew into a wild brawl on top of the storage container. Stella, Jessie, and Will were stunned at the two men wildly fighting. Stella, was now, back on her feet. She saw another man trying to get up on the wall top. She shot him dead, too. Finally, Kyle had had enough of the man. He grabbed him, and body slammed him on top of the storage container. The man lay frozen. Kyle kicked him three times in the mid-section. Then, he lifted him up, and pushed him up over the guard barrier. The man fell, hitting the ground with a thump. Aside from the snarling coming from the nearing zombie mob, the silence was deafening. Then, from the trees, someone yelled. “We want our guy back! The attacks won't stop until we get him!” Will, Stella, Jessie, and Kyle exchanged some concerned glances with each other. Kyle yelled back to them, “If we give you your guy, you aren't going to just go home and call it a day, now, are you?” The voice sarcastically replied, “Probably, not. But, you are going to give us our guy back.” Kyle replied, “You are all going to die! And, if you piss me off, your guy will be fed to the dead, now.” Will said, “Kyle, don't!” Jessie suggested, “Maybe, we could reach a truce with these people? We give them their guy, and they leave us alone.” Renee, and some other group members, ran up the steps, in a state of panic, Renee asked, “How many are there?” Will answered Jessie. “It won't work. An agreement like that, only works when both side have decency and common sense.” Kyle said, “Will and Stella got some of them. Their guy said, there were only about thirty or so left. But, they have another group in another area. They are waiting for them to come back.” Renee asked, “How big is the other group?” Kyle said, “That mouthy guy of theirs, said fifty.” Renee looked worried. Will said, “They're getting desperate. They want that kid, and they want this Orchard.” Kyle said, “It may be that, the guy we have is the Captains' son. That is what they call their leader.” Will said, “ No.” He shook his head, as he scanned the trees for more of them. “They know that winter is coming. They know about the Orchard. The boys told me that, when some of their guys learned about the Orchard, they were determined to take control of it.” He looked at Kyle. “You were right. We have to kill every last one of them. Or, they will kill us.” All of them stared at Will, in complete shock. Stella said, “Dad, you don't mean that. If we keep fighting them, they'll probably give up.” Will scolded his daughter, “People like this, don't just give up, Stella. They have been Raiding, killing, and robbing innocent people, since this all started.”
“Your Dad is right, Stella.” Kyle added. “They won't stop. They need what we have.” The man yelled “We'll be back!” It looked like the men were leaving. Jessie said, “I really need to go check on Mary.” Stella said, “ Yes you should be with her. Thank you for coming here to help, Jessie.” He said, “No problem, Stella. We are all in this together.” He went to check to his wife. Stella yelled, “Keep us posted about the baby.” He waived, and said, “Okay.” Charlie spoke over the radio, “It looks like they are leaving.”
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When Jessie made it back to the infirmary, Kyle was already saying good-bye to Imogen. He smiled, and slapped Jessie on the back. He walked past him, and said, “ Congrats, Buddy.” Jessie asked Imogen, “Did she have the baby?” Imogen smiled,” Yes. Go in, and see her.” Jessie rushed into the room. Heather had been helping Imogen deliver the baby. She handed Mary a bottle, and walked out. “Congratulations Jessie.” Mary smiled up at him, “Hey, Daddy.” She showed him his new baby. He kissed her on the forehead. “How are you feeling?” She said, “Better. Now, that you are back. Do you want to hold her?” He smiled, “Yes.” He took his daughter in his arms. He smiled down at her. “What should we name her?” Mary responded, “ I was thinking, Lily.” He smiled at his wife, “ Lily, is a fine name.” After Jessie spent time with his wife and new baby, he ventured back to the wall. Matt and Jose were keeping watch. When they saw Jessie, Matt asked, “ Did she have the baby, yet?” Jessie happily said, “ Yes. A girl. We are naming her, Lily.” Matt spoke out over the radio, “ We have a girl!”
The tank moved loudly along the highway. Rose drove the truck right behind it. Meg said, “Your group may not want us there. You know that... Right?” Rose said, “Sure they will. We have people from all over in the group.” Meg asked, “But, what if they don't? Then, what?” Rose said, “You kids will be with me, myself, my Granny, and my niece and nephew. I think that, you will like it there.” Meg studied her for a moment. Silently, she hoped that the lady was telling the truth.
That night, Scott called a meeting with the men. As they planned how to fend off constant attacks, they heard more vehicles from a distance. Charlie yelled over the radio, “They are back! They are back!” Scott asked on his radio, “Where are they? Charlie, where?” Charlie yelled, “This time, by the front gate to the Orchard. They have a couple trucks. It looks like they can't get past the container we blocked the entrance way with.” Kyle held his radio to his mouth, “How many do you see, Charlie?” Charlie answered, “I am counting..... twenty-one.” Scott asked, “How many vehicles?” Charlie responded, “Seven. But, three of them, are large trucks. They may have more people or weapons inside.” The men rushed towards the front gate. Scott directed the group over the radio, “Alright, People. We need as many guns as we have on all other walls. Stay on your radio's. Do not go outside the walls.” Ruby spoke on the radio, “Um. You guys. There are two people waiving a white flag, and approaching the east gate.” Scott said, “Ruby, Don't let them in. This is probably a trap to divert our attentions over there, so the others can force their way in by the front gates. Someone, get over to where Ruby is at.” Ben spoke out, “Chloe and I will go over there.” The men made it to the front gate.
As they approached, a man spoke through a bullhorn at Renee. “Who is in charge here?” She answered with a question, by yelling back, “Who are you?” He sarcastically responded, “I know that you cannot be in charge.” Renee, angrily resented this man, and his disrespectful attitude. She glared at him, from across the wall. If looks could kill, he would have been dead. Scott cut in, “You need to take your people, and leave.” The man spoke again, “Where is my Son?” Scott and Kyle, exchanged a glance. Will came rushing up. “We can't negotiate with these people.” Scott said, “I wonder what they have inside those trucks?” Renee said, “These people are not going to just go away.” Will said, “We need to distract them. Maybe, come up behind them.” Scott said, “No. We
need to figure out, what they have inside those two big trucks, first.” Sam said, “They could have weapons inside. If they do....”
Will yelled, “What guarantee do we get that, you'll take your son and leave?” The man glared at Will, from a distance. “Who are you?” Will said, “No matter who I am! You're son is a trouble maker! And, your people are thugs!” Renee put her hand on Will's arm. “This is not the time to be so honest.” she whispered.
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Scott said, “We'll make you a deal. You take your kid, and leave. Never come back.” The man scoffed, “Well. You are not in the position to make a deal. And, my people, are just trying to survive in a very cruel world.” Will's face glowed red with fury. Someone backed one of the trucks up to the container that blocked the entrance way. Two more men ran around to the side of the truck, and untied a large tarp that covered the whole back side. After they pulled down the large tarp, everyone could see a lift, just like the one that their own group had used to put the containers in place. “We'll just remove what blocks us.” said the man. Scott said, “Everyone. Get ready to shoot.” Kyle ran to a four-wheeler. He started it, and drove off. Everyone watched him. The man speaking laughed. He thought that Kyle was afraid. They turned on the large lift. They started to back closer to the container. Will blurted out, “We should have bolted them down.” Renee shot one man who was directing the others. “Get away from my property!” Some of the others started shooing back, Now, everyone was shooting at each other. Will yelled, “We need to disable that lift, somehow.” Scott yelled, “We don't have a gun big enough to do it.” Scott shot at the Captain. The Captain shot back. A few minutes later, Kyle came back in a truck. He stepped out, and pulled the Captains' son from the bed. He was dragging him by the arm. He pulled him up the steps to the top of the wall. He ordered him to step out where his Father could see him, “Get up! Now!” He pushed his prisoner out in the open. The shooting stopped. “Do you want your son to die?” The Captain ordered, “Let him go!” Renee, and the others, turned to watch Kyle. Scott asked, “Kyle, what are you doing?” Kyle said, “Making a deal.” The shot back, “ Let him go.” Kyle said, “ Not now.” Kyle ordered Omar, “ You sit down on the floor!” He looked at Renee, “Watch him. If he moves, shoot him.” She obliged. He nodded for the men to follow him a few feet away from Omar. Will said, “It's too dangerous. We can't trust them.” Kyle said, “ We don't make the trade here. I'll take him somewhere and meet, while you guys stay here and disable that lift.” Scott whispered, “He is right. We need to disable the lift. Some of us can go give him cover to make the trade. If that psycho Dad of his, agrees.” Kyle pulled Omar up to his feet. He yelled “ You wanna see him die?” Now, Kyle had the Captain's attention. “Can we talk about this?” the man yelled. Kyle yelled back, “If you don't leave the lift, and get out of here, I'll kill him. Right here. Right in front of you. It's your choice.” The Captain replied, “ Let him go, and I'll consider leaving you people alone.” Kyle cut in, “I am not negotiating with you, Bub! YOU LEAVE THE TRUCK, WITH THE LIFT!” He held a gun to the young man's head. “And, all of your men leave! Then, I'll bring your spawn down the road, to the old bridge. In one hour. Or, he dies. And, you better not try anything. He'll be strapped with an explosive device. If any of you try anything, he'll die.” The man studied Kyle. He knew that this cocky man had beaten him, this time. He looked up. As sweet as sugar, he said, “You have a deal.” Kyle replied, “ Everyone has to leave, or he dies.” Will, and the others, watched in shock, as the man took Kyles' deal. He gestured for his men to leave. They did as ordered. As the men climbed into their vehicles and drove away, Kyle said, “Someone get out there, and fix that machine so that it won't work. I am bringing Jr. here, to Daddy.” He marched down the steps, pulling the cocky Captain's son with him. The young man, named Omar, said, “You are the one who is going to die, kuffar. My Dad, is not going to let you get away with this.” Kyle slapped him in the back of the head, “Shut up!” Renee ran after him,. “Kyle, you can't go out there alone.” Scott called Renee away from Omar, “ Renee, come here, please.” She complied. He continued, “I'll cover him, Renee. You need to be on that wall. Cover Will. This can go fast, and smooth. We have to stop them from using that lift.” She thought, what could happen if the Raiders did use that lift. If they got inside, they would kill everyone. She agreed, “Alright. But, keep us posted.”
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Kyle walked ahead of Scott. He pulled the young man into the storage space. He shoved him into the chair. Now, Scott stood behind them. He tied him up. The cocky man laughed. “Nervous?” Kyle grabbed a roll of heat duct tape, and taped his mouth. He left Scott and the prisoner inside the container. After a few minutes, Kyle came back with what looked like, explosives. He wired up the young man, like he was a human pipe bomb. Now, his cockiness was not showing. Scott sarcastically, asked the man, “Nervous?” Kyle showed him a small remote control. “If you step out of line.... If your buddies step out of line, I'll blow you sky high.” The young man was starting sweat, from fear. Kyle picked up his radio, “Will how's that lift coming?” Will responded, “Almost done.” Scott said, “Kyle, we need to get going.” Kyle said, “Okay. I'm going to walk him out on the bridge. I'll give directions on how disconnect the wiring on a piece of paper. You keep the remote. When I point to you, you need to wave it in the air, so they can see that if they kill me, you are going to blow up their buddy. This will give me enough time to get back to the truck. Then, we get out of there.” Scott said, “You have this all planned out. Hm?” Kyle said, “ Yes. Just remember, wave the remote.” Scott said, “Okay. We should go.” The two men put their hostage into the truck. Kyle covered his head with a dark colored bag. They drove to the bridge. They saw several trucks parked at the end of the bridge. Some men were standing outside. Kyle drove to the opposite end of the bridge. He and Scott stepped out of the truck, and onto bridge. Kyle handed the remote to Scott. “Remember, when I point to you, hold up the remote, so that they can see that you have it in your hand. I'll make sure to tell them that, you'll blow him up if they shoot me. If theyshoot me anyway, you high tale it out of here.” Scott said, “Okay. I'll cover you. Just, get right back here, so we can get back.” Kyle said, “Come on!” He yanked the young man's arm, pulling him in the same direction that he walked. Kyle and Omar's father met in the middle of the bridge. Kyle shoved his son at him. He said, “ He's wired. My buddy has the remote. If any of your guys shoot me, he'll blow you, and your son.” Kyle turned, and pointed to Scott, who was aiming his rifle at them. He waved the remote high into the air. The Captain focused Scott. The man was infuriated. “So, how do I disarm it?” The Captain was staring at the wires, and clay-like substance that looked like C-4 explosives. There were wires connected to it. The get up was placed on an old vest that his son wore. Kyle held out an envelope. These are instructions, as to how you can do that. Don't worry, the wiring is harmless without proper detonation. You take your son, and leave us alone.” The man glared up at Kyle. Kyle looked at this middle aged man. He was average in height, proportion, and looks. He wondered, how he gained such control over these men? Scott watched the two men through his scope. Kyle towered over the man. Kyle turned, and walked back to the truck. He said, “Come on. Let's hurry back to the Orchard.” Scott asked, “What did he say? What did you hand him?” Kyle said, “He asked how he would disable the bomb? I gave him written directions. That is why we need to hurry.” Scott curtly said, “You do realize that they can use those explosives against us...don't you?” Kyle smiled, “No. They won't. Which is why we should hurry it up. You drive.” Confused, Scott climbed back into the truck. As he started the truck, he asked, “Kyle. What do you mean?” Kyle said, “Hurry up. We only have a minute or two.” Scott drove back towards the Orchard. Back at the bridge, the Captain opened the envelope. He read the notation. An expression of infuriation came over his face. He threw the note onto the ground, and said, “Touche'.” He angrily ordered the men to untie his son. “Untie his hands. An
d, get that thing off of him! It's not an a bomb!” The men complied. Again, Scott asked, “Are you going to tell me what you meant?” Kyle, calmly spoke, “It is not an explosive device. It's some play dough that I found one of the kids playing with. I took it, and spray painted it, to make it look like C-4.”
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