4 Hours Later, Missoula Farm Supply
Aldo Harmon
"So you guys have been here since it started?" I asked. The gentleman who tended to Vinny's wound was sitting across from me. Jordan wanted us to integrate more, so he had me join this guy, name is Horatio, on his guard duty.
"Well technically that isn't true." He shrugged. I raised a brow. "We didn't necessarily organize until a few days afterwards." Horatio smiled. "Most of us were former employees here. We just came here to work that day. Those who left initially came back a few days later."
"Wow. Pretty cool you guys have managed to stay somewhat self sufficient through it all." I praised. "We've been nomads for a little over a year now."
"So where did you guys come from?" He asked. "I remember you mentioned you came from Idaho."
"Well, we started out in Summerset California." I began. "After some shenanigans, we left and eventually found our way to eastern Washington. We spent a few nights there before relocating to Idaho."
"Wow, that's quite the journey." Horatio nodded. I held my pistol in hand, twiddling with it. "Must be nice to have a place here to call home."
"Well we did have a home for a number of months in Idaho." I explained. "Our resources began to run dry. Food became scare as game seemed to stop populating the forests around town."
"Running out of food is definitely a reason to leave." Horatio agreed. He seems like a nice guy. I've enjoyed talking to him so far today.
"Also, there were enough bad memories." I stated, remembering that one day. "It's also the place where my daughters were permanently scarred."
"Daughters?" He probed. I looked over at him, curious at what he meant. I thought I explained that yesterday. Maybe I didn't. "What happened to the shy ginger girl? And both of them are your daughters?"
I thought I mentioned it. Maybe I really didn't. "Yeah, they both are. I mean, Nelly isn't my daughter by blood." I explained.
"She's adopted then?"
"Technically no, there's no legal documentation, as if that matters these days." She'd been through so much, a family is what she needed. "But Kate and I consider her family, and Nelly considers herself part of our family as well."
"Oh, I see. How come you 'adopted' her?"
"Her parents were unfortunately killed indirectly by Bartholomew Carelli." I recapped. "Part of why we hate him so much."
"Oh...shit." He covered his mouth in shock. "Goddamn. That man is vile."
"He sure as fuck is." I nodded in agreement. "Anyways, back to your question. Kate was scarred during a bear attack while out hunting."
"A bear attack?" He almost sounded like he didn't believe it. "That is incredible. How did she kill it?"
"I can't say I know really." I admitted. It is true I don't for sure know. "Nobody but her was there. Though when we found her, the momma bear had about six or seven arrows in it. The killing blow seemed to not be by an arrow shot from her bow, but instead a throat slashing by an arrow in hand. She did that after being scarred by the bear."
"Alright, you had me for a while, but now you've lost me." He held up his hands. "She killed a bear while heavily injured and without an eye?"
"Adrenalin is a hell of a drug." I smiled.
"Sure seems like it." He laughed. I'm liking these people, aside from Vinny maybe. "You know, that daughter of yours, Kate."
"Yeah, what about her?" I asked in turn.
"She good with that bow?" He posed. I nodded. She's a damn good archer. "Nice. Must make walker slayin' nice and smooth."
"Walker?" That's a new one. Is that what they call the dead or something? "What's that?"
"It's what we call the dead." Bingo. Horatio took a sip of the canteen he held. As he drank, he froze. Suddenly he got up quickly. "Shit!"
I rose up as well. "What is it?"
He pointed out beyond the confines of this place. I followed his finger out. "It's Mira!" Indeed it was her. She was limping along the street, clutching her side. She looked horrible.
"What the fuck?" I gasped.
"We gotta get down there." He stated. I nodded. Horatio turned to run to the ladder, but stopped himself cold. "Hold on."
Horatio turned around to face me. "What's wrong?"
"Alright, I'm gonna need you to go down there and get Jordan." He instructed.
"Why aren't you coming?" I inquired.
"I'm gonna stay up here and keep a look out. I don't want those Legion fucks to get at us." He explained. "So get going!"
I nodded and ran to the ladder. I tried to get down it as fast as possible without just falling right on my back. About a foot from the ground I just jumped off. Landing, I looked around.
I sprinted inside the store, where the back door had just closed. "Jordan?!" I shouted.
Towards the front, he turned to look at me. Looks like he was talking with Shade. "What's up?" As he noticed my panicked expression, his tone changed. "Is something wrong?"
"Come with me." I urged him. "Mira's back, alone." That got him up and running. I stepped out and held it open for him. He ran out. "She's outside still."
"Okay." I followed him as we made it to the gate. "Get this open!"
The startled guy in charge of the gate furiously began to pull the gate open. "Let's go." I led the way around the corner to the front of the store, where Mira had fallen to the ground.
"Mira! Shit!" Jordan sped up to reach her faster. He grabbed the shoulders and started to left her up. "Mira, are you with us still?"
I came to her side as well. "Jordan?"
"Yeah, it's me Mira. What happened?" I felt my heart pumping. This isn't good, not at all.
"Legion." Is all she said before falling unconcious.
"Oh fuck." Jordan gasped. "Help me get her inside." He picked her body up and put one arm around him. I took the other and wrapped it over my shoulders.
"Kate's not with her." I stated as we began to walk back to the gate. "What the fuck happened?"
"I don't know Aldo." Jordan answered in a hurried voice. "We gotta get her to the doc so she can explain." The gate was still open when we arrived. "Jeremiah! Get the doc!" He shouted.
A guy in the yard nodded and took off towards the store. "God Kate, please be okay. Please." I muttered to myself. She had to be okay. I can't lose my girl now. Not after all we've gone through.
"We'll figure it out man." Jordan snapped me out of it. I looked over at him. The man was worried as I was. "If she's out there, we'll find her."
"We better." I said quietly to myself.
That Jeremiah guy propped the back doors open so we could walk in easy. "Quickly. Quickly." A voice said. The voice manifested into an older woman as she stepped around a corner. "Let me take her. I'll get her treated."
"Okay." I relinquished my hold to her. The woman and Jordan took the unconscious Mira to a back room. Must be the medical bay or something.
"What happened?" Nelly gasped behind me. I turned in surprise. "Where's Kate?"
"Nelly, I don't know." I admitted. Her eyes grew wide. "She didn't come back with Mira."
"She didn't?" She gasped. Nelly rushed to me and hugged me.
I embraced her back. "We have to wait and hear what Mira says happened."
"She made it back?" Nelly pulled away. "She was so rude to Kate before they left."
"Rude? What did she say or do?" I asked. The guy Vinny walked past us into the store.
"She called Kate 'Scarface'." Nelly admitted. Yeesh, mocking someone for a facial scar? That's harsh man. "And the way she reacted after Jordan said the two of them would be going out there. Sure seemed like she wasn't happy with it."
"I bet that girl of yours attacked her." Vinny spat as he reversed to talk to us. "She clearly has anger problems."
"She wouldn't do that to soneone." I growled at him. "Piss off."
"Whatever asshat." He turned and stormed in.
"He's just blowing smoke." I stated to Nelly. Though he's not entirely wrong. Kate is definitely capable. "I hope they didn't get into it out there." I sighed.
2 Hours Later
I sat down in a chair outside the doctor's room. I need to know what happened. Where has my baby girl gone? Is she too hurt to move? Is she dead? Did Mira kill her? Did Kate try to kill or hurt Mira?
I hate to say it, but any of these seem possible. Kate's changed a lot over the last year. She seems to have gotten more angry, more intense. It sure showed itself yesterday when we met these people.
She's still my little girl though. Please God, of you're still out there, make sure my girl is safe. I don't know what I'd do if she was gone for good.
The door to the doctor's 'operating room' opened beside me. Jordan stepped out. "Mira's awake." He stated. "Come on in, let's get some answers."
I stood and followed him in. Inside was that woman doctor and Vinny. "How do you feel Mira?" The doctor asked, Mira's left hand in between hers.
"In pain." Mira groaned.
"I can imagine." The doctor stated
"You've got a broken bone Mira. I'm in disbelief you managed to walk back here." A broken bone? No way Kate could've done that.
"A broken bone? In my leg?" Mira asked, her breathing increasing.
"Mira, calm down." Jordan was there to keep her still and calm.
"Yeah. You'll be bedridden while it heals for quite a while." The doc stated. "You also sustained a concussion, a black eye to your right eye, several light bruises and cuts."
I'm just processing this. What in the world happened. "Explains why my head rings a little."
"Exactly." The doc nodded. I noticed now that Mira's leg was in a cast of sorts already. A makeshift one at least. "So my dear, this leads us to our big question. Mira, what happened?"
"Where is my daughter?" I asked hurriedly. I swallowed heavily. "You mentioned the Legion earlier."
"Yes Mira. What do you remember?" Jordan asked.
"Did that little bitch betray you?" Vinny asked. Why is he even here?
"Will you piss off with that shit?" I snarled. I'm getting tired of this vendetta.
"Gentlemen please." Jordan held his hands up. "Let her speak."
I sighed and quieted down. Mira was quiet, thinking about things. "I'm sorry." She squeaked out.
"Sorry for what?" Jordan asked.
"They have her." Mira sighed. "I couldn't stop it."
I felt my heart nearly stop. "They have Kate?" It's like my worst nightmare realized. "No, can't be."
Mira looked at me with a saddened look. "It's true."
"How did this happen Mira?" Jordan inquired.
"We were in the liquor store collecting some spirits when she heard voices." Mira began. "I recognized one of them as a Legion member. We hid behind the counter and they entered the building." Mira momentarily closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. "We had to find a way out. The worst case scenario would be that you guys see neither of us. There had to be a back door right? So while we were still shrouded in darkness I tried to make my way to the back room."
Mira actually smiled lightly. "I brushed a bottle I couldn't see. Instantly, four flashlights turned on to me. I was sure I was dead. But before they could shoot, Kate...she kept over the counter and started trying to fight them."
That's my girl. "I'm not entirely surprised by that." I said, still shaking with concern.
"She saved my life for sure. Though at her own physical cost."
One thing about Kate certainly hasn't changed. Selflessness. "I couldn't act fast enough to help. She was slapped down before long." They hurt my girl. They're gonna get it. "Before I could draw my gun, I had one drawn on me."
She paused, probably to remember things properly. "They had me stand up. They definitely recognized me, and Bartholomew recognized Kate." Ahh shit, that's not good. "Kate was out cold, the hit knocked her out big time. So they began their interrogation."
"Interrogation?" Jordan stood up in shock. "What did they ask?"
"Do you know this girl? How long has she been with you people? Was there more people with her?" She answered. "I tried not to give them answers, but they kept hitting me, hurting me. I spilled."
"So Barry knows we're here." I groaned.
"Anything else Mira?" Jordan asked.
She paused and winced as she felt her right eye. "I do remember this. Punched me into the counter. Ergguhh, probably where the concussion came from." Mira closed her eyes for a moment. "The last thing I remember was being hit in the leg with a bat. Bartholomew told me to relay a message to my friends, if I made it back."
"What was that?" Jordan had his arms crossed.
Mira breathed in and out before replying. "We have a hostage now. You have to submit to the Legion, or she dies." Oh fuck no damn way. "Aldo, Bartholomew Carelli doesn't forget."
"That's all." Mira finished.
Vinny stepped to me and grabbed me by the collar of my shirt. "Have you brought the wrath of him onto us?!"
"What the hell are you talking about?" I asked, grappling with him trying to get him off.
"Vinny! Enough!" Jordan pried him off and threw him aside.
"He did something to that guy. Makes him more angry with us." Vinny argued.
"Vinny, I don't even know what I did." I stated in my defense.
"Something like this would likely have happened if Henrietta had gone with Mira anyway." Jordan groaned.
"We're in this together." Mira sputtered. "So doc, when can I get back on my feet?"
"It's going to be a few weeks at the least." She explained. "I don't have all of the proper equipment for surgery, so it'll have to heal on its own."
"Damn." She sighed.
"So what do we do?" I asked. "I can't leave her in the clutches of that tremendous slime of a man."
"We have to be smart about this Aldo." Jordan put an arm on my shoulder and looked at me. "If we aren't, it won't go well. We'll think of a plan, and we'll get her back."
