Luna Crying

[Toneh]

“Some people that need to be shot.” Ira huffed out to Gabriel as he removed Aarons now blood soaked shirt, and began applying a tourniquet to his leg. His chest was heaving greatly, but there were no signs of panic or trembling. For the moment Ira managed to actually stabilize him self. It was then that Gabriel would give the order to surrender.

All of the men in the village who were armed would put their rifles. Ira noticed this and in his weakened state his gloved fingers wrapped around the rifle with intensity.

His helmeted head would turn to Gabriel. “Fuck you.” Was his response. He was not giving up his weapon, nor would he ever lay it down. “I will hold my fucking fire, but I wont surrender.” He grunted. “Move me…” He hissed as he pointed to the main hall. “FUCKING MOVE ME!” He snarled at the few who remained around he and Gabriel

“
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GLAD TO SEE WE HAVE COME TO OUR SENSES.” The voice called out as the gates began to open. It would be several moments, but when the gates finally lowered, the town would see a large black Vehicle’s lights drawing closer and closer to their village.

It would enter through the town gates. It was not a tank, but more like an APC. It had three pairs of rubber tires, and mounted on top was a rather large version of Ira’s own Rifle. Sitting behind the large weapon was a man, wearing a face mask, a pair of glowing orange goggles, and heavy plated black armor. On the shoulder plate was a sigil, a simple blue cross. The Gun swiveled on it’s turret, and the armored man would Aim it at the people out side. “Fucking move to the center of town, all of you!” He shouted, as the Vehicle pushed deeper into New Zion.

The APC would halt as it entered the Town square, and a hatch on it’s aft compartment would pop open. Like a legion five more of the armored figures would in a rather organized fashion file out of the vehicle, and immediately began herding up the town’s people into the town square. Their weaponry was vaguely reminiscent of Ira, their armor was damn near identical, save for the fact that Ira’s was a Smokey grey, theirs was a full fine black.

“Who is the leader of this town?!” One of the men ordered. He was holding a large black weapon, that was attached to his armor using a robotic control arm.

“Shit.” Ira would say as he was placed in a chair at a large table in the town’s rather bare hall.(Right next to the church)

The Muffled voices, the black armored APC, the MA weapons. They were Army of the Northern Cross.

Ira removed his goggles, and opened up his face mask. He placed his rifle on the table. Immediately, he pulled out a cigarette, fire it up and began to smoke.

[Kings Anointed]

While the vehicle advanced forward he looked back to his brave brave men who would lay down their lives for him if he'd only ask. Then the voice ordering them to move in to the center of the town square. Whatever these people, these invaders planned it must need to take place there in front of all. They probably expected Gabriel in the sight of their massive weapon to quake in terror or lose their heads. A mistake. They wouldn't retaliate however they wouldn't give these people the satisfaction of letting terror eclipse their faces. Gabriel backed his men into the town center, watching as the vehicle stopped and it's hatch opened allowing a few soldiers similar to Ira in uniform and armor. "These friends of yours Ira? They look a lot like you but they have less than half your manners." Gabe said smoothly without a hint of fear in his voice and he smiled at the approaching men in defiance.

"I am the leader of New Zion, why are you here and feel the need to destroy a building. We share with all who are in need for we've got plenty gentleman." Gabe spoke carefully but unwaveringly. He had to, and with God's grace and strength he did not falter And there's no need for the swearing either, there are children in town and need not hear such vulgarity. We are God loving people and I ask you honor that while you're here." He took his stand firmly before his men between them and the soldiers. A brisk wind blowing the dust around them on the steet, ruffling Gabriel's long brown hair and open stained white button up short sleeved-shirt. The breeze was refreshing but foreboding. He could sense more would be needed than kind words to convince these new comers to get along with them peacefully. His gaze fixed on the man Gabriel believed to be the commander. "I'd like a word with your leader if I may gentleman." Gabriel pulled his pants up a little more around his waist carefully and waited to see if they'd allow him that much, to speak with their leader all the while continuing to smile not like a nervous idiot but calm and collected.

[Feena]

That strawberry colored head tossed slightly as she lay on the ground. Vicky pulled the duster jacket tightly around her body. She let smiled as Francisco said “Mami.”

“Woss it..” She whispered softly back to Francisco. “Maaaamiii..” This time her eyes opened fully, and she looked up at him. She found the man standing behind a rocky outcropping, and looking down at the town. “Wotcher doin', isit? Can yer ever sit still?” She asked softly.

“I think your town is in trouble.”

Her eyes opened wider, and she sat up slightly, realizing that he was not joking “Wotcher mean in trouble?”

Vicky then rose to her feet, and began approaching Francisco. She stood next to him and could not see through the darkness. “Wot the hell is gahn on, we 'ave ter help them! Honest guv!”

[paper_stars]

Aaron watched from the side of one of the buildings out of view, she heard Gabe say Ira’s name out loud. She shook her head a bit. Idiot.. He referred to them and Ira as the same, they will know he’s a soldier now because of that. Aaron contemplated while she stood there in the shadows under the overhang, should she stay and help? It wasn’t her place to perform any kind of rescue. They weren’t her people, and she had no obligation. She only had an obligation to repay Gabe for the hospitality and that was it. But was his hospitality worth risking her own butt? Especially since preacher man keeps putting his foot into his mouth and down his throat. What was he thinking anyway? That those gents would roll over and say please before they shoot them all?

Honor it? Obviously these guys didn’t have any honor..if they did, they wouldn’t be attacking them in the first place. He was going about it all wrong, though he had the right to stand up be strong and defiant.. but visual defiance can get you killed.

Aaron shoved her hands into the pocket of her jeans as she remained where she was and just listened to what would happen next. There sure as hell was no way she was just going to step out there and be all cocky with them. She wasn’t going to do any heroics either, she’d be smart about this.. after all, these were trained killers. Not just raiders, not just animals. But worse, monsters perhaps..

Maybe, hopefully then didn’t catch that bit about Ira as he was taken away.. they needed him most of all, he would be the only one who would really know what to do. Gabe had no clue, and neither did she. But she wasn’t going to be stupid, that’s for sure.

[Shemyaza]

Unbeknownst to Ira, Mathilda had been keeping a close eye on the entire situation as it unfolded. After all, he didn’t tell her to stand down did he? (He didn’t tell her anything about this mission, in fact).

She slunk after the townies as they moved Ira to the town hall, astounded that they were capable of such foresight. It had amazed her that Ira would even let the filthy animals so much as touch him. In the back of her mind, Mathilda was starting to doubt her commander’s sanity. If it was her in his place she would’ve been more likely to grow a new leg and walk off on her own before letting those uncivilized vermin assist her in any way.

She started up the steps to the town hall, the rickety boards groaning underneath her weight.

They were still in there, those of the sun-worshippers that had brought in Ira. They shuffled dumbly down the hallway towards the cold and dangerous night that waited outside.

Ever since they got to this shit-hole the townies had done well in taking Ira’s advice of avoiding her, and now was no exception. A deathly silence fell over them when they caught sight of her. The men backed away from the slight, pregnant woman as if she were carrying some sort of plague in her wake. They eyed her with disdain, or maybe it was pity, but she neither knew nor cared. She had more important things to worry about now.

Mathilda crouched over Ira with a sardonic smile. Looking all-the world like a caricature of the stone gargoyles that still guarded the wind-blasted spires of ancient cathedrals in the cities of the wastes. She stared him in the eye, stoically watching his pupils fully dilate as the painkillers began to completely set in. The coagulate compound had already made quick work of stifling the blood flow. She leaned over farther and gingerly pressed two fingers to his throat, checking him for a steady pulse. The body could still have gone into a state of shock from the trauma alone.

“Yeah, you thought you’d leave for the killing fields without me didn’t ya? Thought that I’d slow you down . . . and just look where it got you, y’son-of-abitch.” She giggled despite herself, “You’re one lucky bastard . . . Well I’d consider this a valuable lesson learned, wouldn’t you?”

She gave him a quick, yet thorough once-over with a grimace. At least someone had had the good sense to tie a tourniquet on the mangled leg, but with the drugs in his veins he wouldn’t need it anymore. She took it off gently, even though she knew he was now in a place where pain was completely irrelevant.

“You look like hell, Ira. It’s good they brought you in here though, otherwise the rest of you might have wound up looking just as fucked as that ground meat you used to call a leg." She paused for a bit before getting the nerve to continue, "Speaking of which . . . It’s gonna have to go.”

[Toneh]

Ira’s gaze had settled on to the open door way, his single eye now had a heavy dark circle under it, and his normally olive toned skin was now pale as a ghost. He made no resistance to Mathilda as she reached out and touched him, nor did he even really flinch when she decided to chide him for what had happened. The only thing that really concerned him was the fact that ANC soldiers were out side pretty much raping this village, and he wanted to know why.

A plume of blue smoke was exhaled into Mathilda’s face, and before she could mutter an objection, a pair of fingers was offering the rolled up cigarette to her. Once she took it, Ira would reach down to his belt and unfasten his medical bag from his belt, and bring it up to the table, dropping it in front of him. “Yea.” He said in response to the fact that his leg had to come off. Reaching over to his right leg, he would unfasten a button strap, and with draw a rather well cared for Machete, this too was soon dropped on to the table next to Mathilda.

Ira did his best to stretch out his left leg, turning his body from under the table, and straightening his knee out. AT the bottom of his shin bone, was the crack in his armor. Blood was soaking the boot, and muscle tissue was chunked all about the get up. In fact all that was really keeping the leg connected to his body was the fibers and plates from his combat armor.

“Do you…remember when I first found you?” It was would be at this point that Mathilda would do well to be some what alarmed, it was not the question Ira had asked, nor was it the fact that he just handed her his medical bag and Machete. It was the fact that when he made his inquiry to her, he smiled, not a fake, forced smile, but rather a warm, though small, welcoming smile. It must have been the drugs talking.


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(Scene One)

The villagers were for the most part herded into the central Town, with one of them demanding to see the Leader of this group of Soldiers.

One of the black armored looked at Gabriel and immediately began walking up to him. It was a fast walk, and he began nodding his head as the man spoke, then in the blink of an eye sent the butt of his rifle flying into the Man’s jaw. “SHUT THE FUCK UP AND DO WHAT WE TOLD YOU!” He roared as he would send a steel toed kick into Gabe’s chest. “NOW FALL IN WITH THE OTHERS!” He said as a gloved hand would reach down and grab Gabriel by the tuft of his hair, and drag him up off of the ground and started force walking him into the crowd.

It was at this point that a rather petit figure had calmly exited the menacing APC that was looming over the frightened villagers. She wore armor like the other troops, but she did not wield their impressive weaponry, she had a pistol resting against her right thigh. But her face was not covered with the breather mask, or the bulky helmet, rather she had one a simple soft cap, that had a pair of thick blue bars sewn into it.

Her face was not young, but it was not mottled, and lovely would have been the word to describe her, were it not for the smug smile she had on her face as she let her men joyfully do their jobs. You could here shrieks, squeals, and yelps as the Soldiers walked around the group. Punches were thrown, slaps were handed out. One of the men jerked a baby from the arms of its mother and throw it into the street.

The woman, drew her pistol, aimed it and fired. All that was left of the baby was a crudely made blanket and a corpse that lay lifeless. The towns folk all jumped and screamed

“Now that we have your attention, I believe some introductions are in order. Who exactly are you people?” Her voice was smooth, almost seductive, and it certainly commanded power. She paused, and turned her head catching a glimpse of Aaron as she passed in between a building. “Stop her, GET THAT WOMAN!” She snarled as she instinctively aimed her weapon at the back of a frightened young boy’s head. She did not need to say it, but if anybody moved she would shoot the child who was huddling into his mother’s bosom.

Two of the soldier’s broke away from the main group and moved to Intercept Aaron. They walked “Put you hands up outsider!” The first one shouted. His voice was all business, very gruff, but clearly controled

“Fuck that.” The other one said. “I hope she fucking resists!” He sneered as he raised his carbine and aimed it at her. “Look at those tits!” He said loudly as he eyed her up.

[paper_stars]

It was to be expected that Gabriel would get the treatment that he did. He was just holding his head far too high. Aaron kept her ground, unflinching with her hands still in her pockets. She was listening to certain details about this group, retaining some of the information. It was obvious that they weren’t here to negotiate or just take what they needed. It felt like it was more blood lust, about killing. Aaron was right to think that this situation was going to be nothing but a blood bath, they might even all get killed. She tipped her head back to look up at the sky, she’s been around situations like this before.. she already knew what to think and knew the probable outcome. She watched the stars in the sky, while her ears stayed focus on the people in the middle of the town. The baby was crying, a mother screamed and then a shot echoed out and the baby cried no more. It did disturb her, but not like it used too. Aaron was numb to those feelings, it was like a dull throb; she’s witnessed it to many times to be affected by it.

She looked to the heavens, to the space and past the millions of stars. “You let this happen to people who believe in you.” She said quietly to herself, but it was meant for the ears of God. She hated him more than she hated the raiders, the killers of her parents and even these soldiers.

Now she was discovered, her head turned and she glanced to the two men that started to walk towards her. If she had left before they opened the gates to the city she wouldn’t have to suffer with them, she’d be well on her way. But she stayed. Perhaps there was that yearning for humanity, because she did care even though it was hard to care about people she didn’t know or even like. The feeling pulled her in two different directions and she struggled with herself.

Aaron moved away from the wall and removed her hands from her pockets. What else could she do against armored men? She raised her hands into the air and stood her ground, not in a cocky way however. She was fully cooperating; after all she didn’t want to get shot and she figured if she cooperated she’d be escorted into the middle of the town with everyone else.

[Kings Anointed]

"HUng!" Gabe fell back from the force of the riffle butt smashing into his jaw, it didn't break his mouth but most certainly rattled some of his good teeth causing one to fly out of his mouth. With that done him now on the ground his chest immediately being met with the steel toed boot of the soldier who riffle butted him. "If I said evil, hit me, but if not why do you?" He managed to say before he was ordered to shut up. In truth he was quoting Jesus when he was on trial before the teachers of the law before being brought to Pontius Pilot. However, these people were clearly the "Romans" coming in to conquer them. Any hint of rebellion obviously would be viciously stomped out with fierce flexing of authority. He grunted a bit as he was jerked by his long hair into a standing position. He put his hands on top of his head as a sign of submission but his heart was far from it.

Then it happened, it happened with one fateful throw of life and a cold weapon aimed at and discharged with deadly precision. At his feet now lay a lifeless innocent. This broke his silence as the bitch in command piped up asking who they were but snidely saying "Now that I have your attention." Gabe had been taught by his elders to not lose his head when bad things happen but this was worse. The flagrant disrespect for the sanctity of our town, our people, and now now our children. "Now that you have our atteniton!? You've had our attention for an HOUR NOW. How in God's name can you be so cold as to gun down a defenseless infant!!?" Gabe's words were mixed with anger, fear, and righteous indignation. He knelt down and with shaking hands picked up the slain innocence with blanket also and held it to his chest as if he were it's father looking down at it and stroking its head and kissing the child's crown.

Gabriel's calm voice rose from silence once more, hot tears streaming down his now soiled and bloodied face. "We are humble, peace loving, God-fearing people. We are Christians. And we may be small compared to you but the God we serve is bigger than you. While we pose no threat to you, God Almighty whom we serve, our savior Christ. He for whom vengeance alone is granted, HE WILL DESTROY YOU AND YOUR WICKEDNESS!" Gabriel then glared down the woman, finally spitting out the blood that'd formed in his mouth along with the tooth, after which he spoke no other words and then looked to his now terrified and sobbing neighbors. Everyone's eyes on him as Gabe held and hugged the small dead bloody infant against his body. Yes, it was, the weight of the world at this very moment was upon his shoulders. He was the Christ figure of this town indeed and they needed a miracle from Heaven.

[Toneh]

Scene 1:

“Drop down to your knees bitch!” The second man snarled, he made the motion with his gun. “Plant your face in the mud.” The second said in a much cooler tone. “Get back to the captain, from the sounds of it she could use the support.” The first soldier’s voice was calmer, colder, but he seemed less inclined and more in control of his actions then the second, or maybe he simply was not in the mood. Aaron may have found her self surprised when all the soldier did was bound her hands behind her back, and then quickly pat her down. He found a simple blade on her, and quickly discarded the object.

His gloved hand immediately gripped around her right elbow and he shoved her forward. “MOVE IT!” he said poking her in the back with his gun.

As Gabriel shared his out burst with The leader, he would find his world once more crashing down onto him. Or rather the butt of another rifle smacking him atop his head from behind. It was the second Soldier who had been sent after Aaron. “YOU WILL NOT SPEAK TO MY CAPTIAN LIKE THAT!” He howled in his high pitched voice. “Right now she is god!” He roared as he aimed his gun over his head, and started to squeeze the trigger.

“Enough!” That commanding voice cried out. The Townies were crying and shouting. They were starting to get rowdy at the sudden commotion. A crack of thunder saturated the town in its vengeful noise. Normally for a town that sound was like a symphony, it was the noise of salvation to hear ANC weapons being fired, because it usually meant the purge of some unwanted threat. Today the weapons sounded more like tyranny.

The Leader, turned, the soldier Immediately stayed his weapon but kept it trained on Gabriel. She moved over to Gabe, and stood over him with the gun in his face. “Now, you must be the leader? I suppose I introduce my self.” She said as a smug little smile pursed across her full lips, her green eyes piercing down into Gabe’s own.

“I want to make it clear, you will all do as you are told, for now we want you all in a kneeling position. We, like you want this to be as painless as possible, and if anybody even tries to escape or resist, we will start killing, beginning with your children, then your men, and then the woman. The women are held last for the reason that they are worth the most. Now you said you were Christian?” She said raising a neatly trimmed eyebrow. “How many are Virgins?” She said smirking slightly. "Well, she certianly won't be one for long." The Captian said as she nodded her head. Immediatly The soldier

She with drew her weapon from Gabe's face as Aaron, was shoved rather ungracefully to the ground near Gabe. "Well, she certianly won't be one for long." The Captian said as she nodded her head. Immediatly The soldier above Gabe went to her, and began ripping her clothes from her body, The one who had handled her would help his friend if he needed it. If she resisted she would feel a slap, or a fist, perhaps even a gun shot.

[paper_stars]

Aaron did as she was told paying attention to the differences between the men. One was harder, in control stronger. The other was not, he was loud and almost panicky in a sense. He would be quick to shoot out of nervousness, but perhaps easier to persuade. While the other may be more logical, he was more deadly. His choice of the path he took may be set more in stone than the other. But truthfully it was hard to say who could be reasoned with, persuaded to do something else, to stray from their path. She was weighing them out in her mind, things could be changed if the seed was planted correctly. They were following a leader, perhaps not everyone agreed with their leader.. or perhaps someone else wanted to be a leader. By the sounds of it, it was a woman.. not all men liked being under the control of a woman..even if they get to do nasty deeds such as this. A rift between the men and their leader could separate the group and cause a problem for the leader.

Aaron could attempt to plant such a seed. It may or may not work but the only way she could do it, would be to end up being alone with one of the soldiers. Right now she didn’t see that happening, and she’d dare not open her mouth in front of a woman leader. The woman would know what she was doing right off the bat. To be a leader of soldiers, of men that are turning into unmerciful killers she had to be stronger than them, smarter even and most of all she has to be able to scare and buy them into submission.

When she was lifted up she did as she was told and walked to the rest of the group without much of a fuss. Her mind was going over that possibility, but she was also distracted by Gabe’s voice and his distress.

As she was shoved to the ground next to him, she saw that he was holding the baby and the towns people were becoming rowdy. She truly did feel bad for him.

When the women mentioned the bit about the women being virgins, Aaron hoped to God that Gabe wouldn’t open his mouth about it. With the loss of the baby he wouldn’t be in a stable mind and she worried he would say the wrong thing..
However…

Her mind ceased in its thinking and her eyes locked on the woman with a vicious stare. The beating of her heart increased as her adrenalin started to pump followed by the tightening sensation in her chest caused by panic and humiliation as her clothes were being stripped away to exposed her scared body. It was the humiliation of being so exposed and helpless in front of a large group of people. Aaron can handle a lot of things, she can handle death, she can handle pain.. she wasn’t afraid of death, the dangerous animals or even dangerous people. She might even deny that she was afraid now..

But it was in her eyes, because the moment they started to touch her and remove her clothing everything came washing back. Flashbacks from her childhood from the days she was a captive, the rapes, the beatings and the murders she witnessed. It was an inner torment and the fear would turn wild as she struggled. The sting of a hit, the bunt of a gun would hardly cause her to calm down or stop her struggles. They would have to hold her down. She kicked, she grunted, she wiggled and squirmed and if her hands had been unbound she’d be scratching. She never screamed however. There really was no point in screaming now.. but she was not going to lay there and submit. Which should be expected.

[Kings Anointed]

"You have no right..." Gabe would hit the ground knocked nearly out cold. The blow was jarring and debilitating. He coughed a bit spitting out more blood with his face in the dirt. He tried to lift his head to see it was coming toward him. He was quite close to passing out but mustered everything within him to stay as alert as possible. This was truly his hour to shine. When he heard her voice it sent chills down his spine then he felt the kick from Aaron as she squirmed and fought back against her captors like a caged animal. But he took no time answering the woman finally looking her in the eye. His brown eyes widened a bit peering into her green eyes.

To him they might as well be coals from the pits of Hell but he gave no mind and pierced them with his iron gaze. He may be the one kneeling but they will all fall under the hand of God's wrath when all was said and done. "You may be a captain but you're a cold blooded killer in my book and you're going to pay for your sins one way or another Ma'am. Will repay you seven fold what you've done to us who are weak. You should really leave now before you heap more onto yourself." With that said, Gabriel sad no more to her but closed his eyes. And called out to God, "Low for a walk through the vally of the shadow and death I shall fear no evil, for you are with me, thy rod and thy staff comfort me." Soon the whole group from their knees began reciting the same prayer word for word. Then Gabe recited the "Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be thy name,Your kingdom come, your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us each this day our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who've trespasses against us." When Gabe spoke that line he looked directly at the Commander then finished the prayer,"And lead us not into temptation. And deliver us from evil. Amen."

[Ava Lenore]

At the edge of New Zion was the chasm, the pit that fell forever into the black depths of Hell, for in falling one did not know whether he would meet the skeletal face of death to the sounds of starved groans, crunches and splatters, or some other—unearthly—funeral dirge. Having a bottomless pit in the midst of one’s city could prove to be a life-saving boon. Having one on the edge of one’s city could spell disaster if the tide ever turned for the worse.

As it stood, the tide had turned, and the townsfolk of New Zion were trapped between a rock and a hard place. Rebel and die at the hands of these sentient monsters… run and throw themselves into the chasm… or stay and endure the torments visited upon them by monstrous sadists.

Penemue had little choice in her current situation. Two pitons laced by a single rope stuck into the rock face of the cliff overhanging the chasm. Dangling from that rope was an exhausted climber—a nineteen-year-old survivor—who had managed to avoid the dangers of the wilderness by literally climbing halfway around the side of the world. When she had spotted New Zion, she had hoped to climb up and take shelter there for a time. Now she was not so sure what to do. Her ascenders and makeshift rope-seat were secure albeit uncomfortable. Glancing down into the endless gulch, Penemue placed one hand over her mouth to keep her nervous breathing quiet.

[Toneh]

It was getting harsh for Aaron as her flesh was no exposed for the public to see. He struggling how ever had gotten annoying to the tow men who were attempting to clearly rape her. This was nothing sexual, as rape usually never was, this was clearly about power and domination. The Captain was using this woman to make an example to the town that she and her men could do what ever the hell they wanted, to any of them. The first soldier reached to his belt, and allowed his rifle to drop down to his chest, and hang loosely from it’s harness. His hand came back out, and drew his truncheon which was suddenly deployed with the flick of a wrist, he raised it up, and was preparing to smack the struggling woman in the face in order to pacify her.

The Captain chuckled at Gabriel’s little threats. “Who the hell is going stop us?”

It was at this point that the prayer’s had begun, a crack of thunder would explode above the heads of those on the ground. The Soldier sitting atop the APC lulled back, his neck swaying his head around as the blood began flowing down his duster jacket and armor like a raging river., Soon he toppled over, falling off of the APC and landing on to the dusty ground with a satisfying thud.

“FUCKING FIGHT THEM!” Ira howled as he let loose another shot, this time missing his target, but sending all the soldier’s scrambling for cover. “KILL EM!” He snarled, his voice reverberating through out the entire town. “KILL EM ALL!” Another crack of thunder ripped through the air, the signature deafening report of Ira’s advanced weaponry. The wall to the Peterson residence exploded sending debris every where, and forcing two of the captain’s troops scurrying further back.

The Captain and the two men who where attempting to rape Aaron had abandoned both Gabriel and Aaron for cover behind an ancient automobile.

The Captain screamed at her men. “THAT IS AN MA RIFLE! HOW THE HELL DID THESE SAVAGES GET OUR WEAPONRY!”

The battle of New Zion had only been kicked off by Ira, their was no way he, with his maimed leg, and medication flowing through his blood could hope to defeat six armed and trained ANC troopers, no this battle would be won by Gabriel and his leadership

[Ava Lenore]

Penemue sucked in gulps of air as she listened to the gunshots recommence. She was frightened, there was no doubt, but she could not sit idly by and wait for these people to be slaughtered by a band of rogue soldiers only to scavenge what supplies were left in their city’s bloody ruins. A loop was secured in her rope, and she used it as a step to boost herself to the ledge overlooking the chasm.

It was nearly impossible to surround New Zion, due to its proximity to the cliff, that was the biggest plus as far as Penemue was concerned. It meant that there was no one pointing a gun in her face when she crawled onto solid ground. Her knees buckled as she stood, unaccustomed to standing on land after hanging off the side of the world for three days.

There was a small breach in the wall leading into the city. The AK 47 tapped her back, reminding her where it was when Ira shouted for the townsfolk to retaliate. Penemue slid through the gap and pressed her back against the nearest wall. She wanted to stay completely out of sight of the soldiers at the front of the town.

By the time the Peterson residence blew apart, she had gotten nearly close enough to peek at Ira from around a corner. He looked pretty bad off. The strap of her AK 47 slid down her shoulder and its cool body fell into her hands. She couldn’t deny that it was her favorite weapon, but the idea behind its purpose made her stomach churn. “And this,” Pierre had told her, “is for when I call on you to kill your loved ones.” This time, her targets were the evil ones.

Her mouth gaped to silence her breathing as she loaded the rifle. The injured man in her sights would not be walking out of this place if a retreat was called. Penemue shifted her weight, gauging if she thought she could carry him over her shoulder. Hopefully, he would let her. Until then…

She cocked the rifle.

[paper_stars]

Aaron literally froze as her clothing was being torn from her body, her entire form was completely stiff from the sudden rise of voices speaking out a prayer. She was able to see Gabe as he took another hit, he was right next to her.. so close they could have touched each other. So close that he could have attempted to help her, but he didn’t even look at her. No.. he couldn’t even spare her a glance because all he did was start to pray.

Maybe a sympathetic look, mouthed words of reassurance… anything, but there was nothing, nothing but his damn praying. Aaron has only cried out for help once, and that was when she was taken from her parents.. now she felt within her that she expected something from Gabe, it didn’t have to be a dashing rescue or an attempt at stopping the men. A simple acknowledgement would have calmed her fried nerves.

She felt the rapid beating of her heart in her chest, the tightening of her lungs as her breathing became harsh. She was completely exposed and vulnerable, the panic she had started to feel was turning into a tidal wave of rage. Aaron would scream in a deep defiance as one of the men readied to smack her across the face..

However thunder broke the air and the men stopped in their attempts at rape. She felt them leave her as they started to run. Her arms became tight as she started to pull on her bindings, Ira’s voice echoing through the air..was almost numb to her ears.

Aaron was naked and feeling those devastating feelings of being exposed to harsh eyes, but she was also being consumed by her rage. And not to mention she was still right next to Gabe.

“Untie me!!!” she shouted, her voice cracking with her uncontrollable emotions. “FUCKING UNTIE ME NOW GOD DAMN IT!!”

“UNITE TIE ME NOW!!!”