The Divide: Origins (28 page)

By
the time Rebecca got to Raines, the battle was already over. As she walked to
the center of town, she saw
Matt giving
orders.

“Make
sure all troupes are disarmed, and get our supplies back. These people have
seen what they’re up against. They won’t be any trouble from now on,” he said.

“Are
you stupid? We have to kill everyone in
their
army. If
we don’t, they might retaliate,” Rebecca said.

“It’s
so nice of you to join us when the battle is over,” Matt said sarcastically.

“I’m
serious. If you don’t kill them, I will,” she said and pointed her gun at a
guard.

“If
you fire, you’ll be going against my direct orders. Do you have any idea what
that will mean for you?”

“I
don’t really care,” she said and turned the gun toward Matt.

She
fired before anyone could even react. The bullet pierced his skull, and he fell
to the ground. Liam couldn’t believe what he had just seen. He didn’t want to
execute people, and Rebecca didn’t seem like herself, but she
did
have a point. By destroying their
army, they would snuff out any chance of retaliation.

“What
are you
people
waiting on? You came here to conquer
Raines. Kill the soldiers, and leave the citizens. We’ll trade with them fairly
in the future, and they’ll see just how stupid they were to cross Norak,”
Rebecca said.

No
one dared move. Most people from Norak knew Rebecca well. She wasn’t the type
to shoot a man without a second thought. Something was wrong with her, and they
didn’t want to be taking orders from someone who wasn’t in their right mind.

“You
heard her. Dispose of the soldiers, and load the trucks with our supplies.
Leave everything that belongs to Raines. We’re only taking back what’s ours and
sending a message,” Liam said and walked to Rebecca.

She
holstered her gun, and he took her by the arm and led her away from everyone.
They could hear people begging as their soldiers executed them. Normally that would
have affected Rebecca, but it didn’t even make her bat an eye.

“What
happened to you? You’re different,” Liam said.

“I
found him.”

“Max?”

“Yeah.
He was in a house a few miles from here.”

“That’s
great. Where is he now?”

“I
buried him in that neighborhood,” Rebecca said and looked down.

“No.
That can’t be true. He didn’t die because of me. How am I supposed to live with
that? I’m so sorry, Rebecca. I never meant to . . .”

“You
did nothing wrong, Liam. You defended Zoe like you should have. He covered for
you because he loved you kids. This is for you. He left you a last message. The
other one’s for Zoe,” she said while handing him two letters.

“Before
I read it, how did he die?”

Rebecca
tearfully told him the story. Even as she said it, none of it seemed real. How
could Max be gone?

“It’s
going to be okay. We’ll get you back to Norak, and then Zoe and I will face
this with you.”

“How
can you say that?
Nothing
will be all
right until Troy Leland is dead. The doctor told me that he caught wind of what
we were planning and fled. I killed that doctor for what he did to Max, and I
ordered our people to kill all the soldiers because they might have had
something to do with Max’s death. There’s still one person who needs to die,
though. After I make Troy suffer, maybe I can come home.”

“You
don’t have to face this alone. I’ll help you kill him. Right now we can’t do
anything, though. We don’t even know where he is. People are going to need you
in Norak, too. You just killed our leader, not that I disapprove. He was a
coward and a tyrant. They’re going to need leadership, though, and you can set
them on the right path. They’ll follow you.”

“I
don’t care about that town. The people there are broken. They left Max to die.
Zoe and I were the only ones who did a thing to help him. I’m done with Norak,
and you should be, too.”

“What
does that even mean? If you won’t come back for them, then do it for Zoe and
me. We’re going to need you. Our child will need you.”

“I’ll
be around, but nothing will ever be the same without Max. You know that.”

“Is
this what he would want? You’re clearly grief-stricken. I can help you work
through this, and we can get justice for Max, but you have to come home with
me. Will you at least come back for a day? I don’t want to be the only one who
breaks the news to Zoe. He meant so much to her. She’s going to need you
there.”

“What
about what I need?”

“I’m
here for you. I know that’s not enough, but we’re all hurting just like you. We
can come back from this, though. Max would want us to grieve and then move on
eventually. If you don’t, it’s just going to destroy you.”

“And
what if I want to be destroyed?”

“I’ve
been there. I know you don’t think so right now, but it does get better. We can
get through anything together. Just give me one day in Norak, and I’ll prove to
you that you belong with us. What do you say?”

“Fine.
I need to get some more supplies before I go after Troy anyway.”

“Great.
We’ll take Matt’s Humvee. It’s not like he’ll miss it, and these guys have
everything else handled,” he said and led Rebecca toward the edge of town.

As
they walked, they heard a collective gasp behind them and turned to see the
impossible. A beaten and bruised man was walking into the city. Even in his
state, Rebecca could recognize him. It was Max, but how was this possible? She
had buried him. As their eyes met, he collapsed, and Rebecca ran to him. She
didn’t know how this was possible, but it didn’t matter. She had a piece of her
world back, and now that he was with her again, Rebecca would
never
let him go.

Chapter 28

The Escape

Rebecca
and Liam quickly ran to Max. They helped him to the Humvee. He could barely
move, and once they were inside, Max asked for water. Liam grabbed a bottle
from the back and gave it to him. He had a lot of questions for Max. How was he
still alive? For that matter, what had he gone through? He looked like hell.
Max’s left eye had been gouged out, and he was missing an ear and finger. Then
there was his face. It was obvious that he had been punched more than a few
times. Still, now wasn’t the time to ask. They had to wait until he recovered.
As Max took one last drink, he passed out. Rebecca took the bottle from him and
put his head in her lap.

“Get
us back home, Liam. We’ve got to get him medical attention as soon as we can,”
Rebecca said.

Liam
nodded and got up front. As they started the journey home, Rebecca reached into
the back and grabbed a medical kit. She disinfected his wounds and wrapped
them. Of course, Max woke up as soon as the alcohol touched his ear. It was
painful, and she hated to hurt him, but it had to be done.

“I’m
all finished. Are you okay?” Rebecca asked.

“I’m
with you, so I guess so. I never thought I would see you again.”

“I
know. I got the letters from the doctor. I snuck into the city looking for you,
but they had already taken you. You don’t have to explain if you’re too weak,
but I want to know how you’re alive soon. I buried you this morning. I don’t
see how any of this is possible.”

“You
didn’t bury
me
. It’s complicated.”

“Then
start at the beginning. I’m not going anywhere, and I’m going to make sure no
one ever hurts you again.”

“It
started when we got back to Raines . . .”

* * * * *

After
Troy gouged his eye out back at the doctor’s office, he pulled his fingernails
off. The pain was almost unbearable for Max, and he was bleeding badly. Mercy
didn’t come from Troy, however. He punched Max in the face over and over again
until his face felt like one big bruise. At that point, Troy was out of breath,
and he was starting to notice how pale Max was. If he kept going at this pace,
Max would be dead soon. That wouldn’t do. Troy wanted him to suffer for as long
as possible. He walked out of the room and told the doctor what to do. His job
would be to cut Max up into little pieces and send the parts of him back to his
family. There was a catch, though. He had to keep him alive for as long as
possible. Max could tell the man was hesitant to do what he was told, but his
family was being threatened. The doctor stopped the bleeding from Max’s ear and
eye first. Then he gave him a few moments to rest. In truth, he was trying to
delay the inevitable. He had never tortured a man before, but he didn’t have a
choice. This had to happen.

“I
apologize for what I’m about to do. I still remember when you and the others
rolled into town. I helped save Liam’s life. At that time, I could’ve never
anticipated us being anything less than friends,” he said.

“You
don’t have to do this, you know,” Max said.

“He’ll
kill me and my family if I don’t.”

“Let
me go, and I’ll help you escape.”

“We
both know you’re in no shape to protect anyone including yourself. If you were
healthy, I might take you up on that offer, but all letting you go now will do
is kill the people I love. Well, I guess we should get this over with. Once
again, I’m truly sorry.”

The
doctor got a medical blade and cut through Max’s left index finger. It was over
in only seconds, but for Max, it felt like an eternity. When his finger fell to
the floor, the pain didn’t fade. As he yelled out, he looked down to see
another part of him gone. The most painful part of this wasn’t being hurt. It
was knowing that every part of him would be sent to the woman he loved. Max
didn’t know how, but he had to escape, or at the very least, figure out a way
to make sure Rebecca never knew what really happened to him.

“Doc,
I’m begging you here. Show a little mercy. I can’t take this pain, and Rebecca
didn’t do anything wrong. She doesn’t need you sending parts of me back to
her,” Max said as the doctor cauterized his wound.

“I
wish I didn’t have to. This is the only way, though.”

“What
if it isn’t? You could give me something for pain. How would Troy know the
difference?”

“You’re
right. I could. What if I had an even better option?”

“I’ll
listen to any suggestion at this point.”

“I
could kill you peacefully. I can inject you with something that will make you
go to sleep and never wake up again. It’s not completely painless, but it’s the
most peaceful way to go. Then I can take the parts of you after you’re dead.
I’ll tell Mr. Leland that you died in the night. He won’t be happy, but it’s
better than cutting you apart alive. I think that’s what I want to do, if
you’re on board.”

“That
still doesn’t help Rebecca. You’ll send her the parts of me, and she’ll think I
suffered.”

“I
know, but it’s the best I can do.”

“Then
forget about it.”

“Are
you serious? Are you actually going to make me cut you up while you’re still
alive?”

“Unless
you guarantee that Rebecca won’t see what you did to me, then yes.”

“You’re
crazy. I’m offering you a way out here. Take it.”

“No.
I’ve made my choice. Now it’s your turn to make yours. Are you going to be
Troy’s lapdog or help me?”

“I’m
not going to help you escape, but I can’t do anything else to you right now. It
might actually kill you if I did. Rest. Maybe you’ll change your mind over the
next few hours.”

Max
closed his eyes and drifted away for a while. During the night, the doctor
struggled with a choice he never thought he would have to make. Should he cut a
man apart while he was still alive or sentence his family to death by trying to
help him? There was no good option, and for six long hours, he fought what he
knew had to be done. Max wasn’t going to change his mind. There was only one
option. As he stood to finish what he started, Max opened his eyes and said
something that the doctor loved hearing.

“I’ll
let you kill me on one condition,” Max said.

“And
what’s that?”

“I
want you to write down my final thoughts to Rebecca, Zoe, and Liam. If you ever
see them again, I want you to give them the letters and let them know I didn’t
suffer. Can you do that for me?”

“Of
course. Just let me get a pen and paper.”

Max
gave him his final words to the people he loved most. It wasn’t easy for Max to
come up with what to say. After all, how do you say goodbye to the people who
saved you? That’s really what his new family did. Back in prison, he was lost,
and somehow he found himself again through complete strangers who became
everything to him. If there was one thing in his life he was proud of, it was
that his actions had kept Rebecca, Zoe, and Liam alive until they got to Texas.
Because of that, he could die without regrets.

When
the letters were finished, the doctor got what he needed and inserted a needle into
Max’s arm. Just as he was about to give him the mercy he needed so much, Troy
walked in.

“What
the hell are you doing?” Troy asked.

“I,
uh . . . I’m giving him . . .” The doctor said before he was cut off.

“Just
be quiet, and get that needle out of his arm. Whether you’re giving him pain
medication or trying to help him go gently into the night, I don’t care. We’ve
got to move him now. I’ll deal with you later.”

“Why
would you move him?”

“The
scouts at Norak caught wind of what they’re up to there. They’re planning to
attack us in a couple of days. If that happens, they might have a chance at
saving him. I’m not going to be here when the fighting begins because I want to
make sure this man suffers as long as possible. I figure I can set up shop with
him where the gatherers stay east of here. I’ll make him last as long as
possible before I end his life. Then I’ll be back. Until then, follow Diaz’s
direction. He’ll be in charge.”

“Sir,
I don’t think . . .”

“I
don’t care what you think. While our forces crush them here, I’m going to show
Max exactly what it feels like to have everything taken away from you. If you
keep objecting, I might just take your wife and daughter with us.”

The
doctor stayed silent the rest of the time. Two men came inside and escorted Max
out to a car. After a minute, Troy joined Max in the backseat. All he wanted to
do was kill Troy in that moment, but a gun was fixed on him at all times. If he
even tried anything, Troy’s guards would kill him.

“How
does it feel to know everything is about to be taken from you, Max?” Troy
asked.

“You
can’t take anything from me. The only people I care about are back in Norak. I
don’t care what you do to me. I’ve lived.”

“Consider
this. I’m about to kill you, your family is going to attack a superior army
with much better weaponry, and after that, Raines will hold the advantage in
the trade agreement between our cities. You’re going to die, your family will,
too, and the city you built will be nothing more than a shadow of mine. You
messed up when you killed my nephew and left what should’ve been your home. I
helped you when no one else would, Max. I even forgave you for killing my
brother, and how did you repay me? You killed a kid who meant everything to me
and took part of my city with you. I learned something on that day. There’s no
such thing as friendship in this new world. There’s only power. Killing you and
putting the people who dared to walk away from me back into their place will
assure myself power for many years to come, so I’ll ask again. How does it feel
to have everything taken away from you?”

“You’re
wrong. You might kill me, but I know my city. They’re loading up to kill all of
you. There won’t even be a Raines in a few days.”

“I
get it. You need to hold out hope because what else do you have at this point?
There is no hope, Max. You, and everyone you love, are going to die before I’m
done here. I didn’t believe in vengeance before the disaster, but I had never
known what it was like to lose then. In a world like this, sometimes vengeance
is the only thing we have.”

“You’re
wrong.”

“How
so?”

“There’s
still so much more to this world than that. If we’re going to make the world
like it used to be, there has to be more.”

“Don’t
give me that. We both know the world will never be like it was. Good men die
now. All that’s left are the monsters. I guess there will be one less monster
soon, though,” Troy said as they pulled up to the houses.

Max
was forced out of the car and into one of the houses. All day, he was tortured.
Troy’s plans had to change a little because he didn’t have a doctor there. They
couldn’t cut Max apart just yet. They had to settle for beating him. By the end
of the day, Max was covered in bruises, and he could barely move. They tied him
down while they slept that night, but the ropes weren’t quite tight enough. Max
worked all night long to get loose, and in the early morning, he finally had
some luck. He got his right hand free, and from there, the rest was simple.
Once he was loose, he snuck into the next bedroom to find one of the guards
sleeping. He had laid his gun and knife on the nightstand. This was going to be
easy. Max slit his throat while he slept. Then he grabbed the pistol and walked
into the next room. He found the second guard sleeping on the couch and put two
bullets through his chest just as he woke up and stood. About that time, Troy
stepped out of the other bedroom with his gun raised. Their eyes met at the
same time as they fixed their guns on each other.

“You
better drop your weapon, Troy. I
will
kill you,” Max said.

“As
soon as I do, you’ll kill me anyway.”

“No.
I have some work for you to do first. Drop it, and there’s at least one
scenario where you’ll live. It’s your choice, though. We can both die here, or
you can take a shot at trusting me. What’s it going to be?”

“Why
in the world would I trust you? You killed my nephew.”

“That
didn’t go down the way you think. There’s a lot more to the story than you
know. I didn’t even kill him. I was protecting someone. Drop your gun, and you
can do a little job for me. After that, we’ll talk about this.”

“Fine.
I don’t see where I have much choice,” Troy said and set the gun down.

“You
made the right decision. You hadn’t even chambered a bullet yet. You would’ve
been the only one who died.”

“Why
didn’t you just kill me then?”

“Because
I really do want to work this out. Now, do exactly as I tell you,” Max said and
instructed him to strip his guard in the living room.

After
that, he told Troy to cut the man’s ear and left index finger off. Then he made
him gouge his left eye out. Troy was confused, but he shouldn’t have been. The
guard looked remarkably similar to Max. With a quick change of clothes, it would
look like Max had died in whatever took place there. Max walked over and
stomped on the man’s face a few times until cuts and bruises covered it. Then
he stripped and took the dead man’s clothes.