Teller, Kataro, and Julio continued walking further away from the abandoned convenience store, unsure of what to think about their new boss.

Julio spoke first. “I know we’re all thinking it, but I'm not sure we can even escape, I can’t even stop myself from walking towards his camp’.

Tellie looked around them. It was a deserted town. Most of the buildings had collapsed and she could tell most of the town had been looted bare. “We were told to not think about escaping, but the moment I try to. I get this blinding headache.

Julio and Kataro nodded.

Kataro was torn. He liked the idea of turning around and getting as far as possible away and the crazy man, but the more he dwelled on the idea of escaping, his splitting headache only grew more intense. When he thought about staying and seeing what was at the settlement, there was a sudden comfort in that thought, like a rush of dopamine suddenly flooding his brain, the headache suddenly gone. Kataro figured this Sheriff guy had the sole power of command, but what if it was much more than just that? He thought. Kataro had to know more about This Sheriff before he could ever consider-

His piercing headache returned. It tuned out all thoughts. Kataro pressed his eye lids closed tight. Straining them closed. He wanted to press the palms of his hands into his eyes, but his stubborness to keep his motocyle helment prevented him from doing so.

Kataro slowly opened his eyes. He shook his head to distract from the dots that appeared in his vision, “If this sheriff guy has some sort of gang-like community, he could order them after us if we leave. I- I mean we don't know him enough to know if he is the type to order them to bring us back or execute us on the spot. So-” The many questions and scenarios in his mind stacked causing the painful headache to escalate enough to which he let out a scream of pain.

Julio and Tellie looked at Kataro and said nothing, they couldn't stop moving forward but they were able at least to pat Kataro on the shoulder.

Julio decided this sheriff guy is someone he’ll have to keep a close eye on. He’d met Junedays with some weird powers before, and they were not the type of people you’d want to mess with. It was times like these he wished he had some sort of power that was useful. He was like the majority of the world who didn’t get to make a wish on May 31st. Anyone who did was called Junedays.

The three walked in quiet silence for a long while until Julio broke the silence, “How about this, we take a look at his small community. Stay for a while, and see how it is. After a few days, we’ll meet up and decide if we should stay or not"

Julio felt a small pang of pain from the last part of his statement. Even as a undead, he could still feel a pain. Like a essance of pain that shook his bones.

Hey trailed off for a moment to consider how he felt this pain. The moment he try to continue he's suggtion of leaving, another pang of pain hit him. He stumbled back.

Julio placed a hand on his forehead, "I...believe...that any thought of leaving or negative thoughts on our new leader causes pain"

Tellie ran a hand through her hair, her face scrunched. She yelped, "Yo ow ow ow. fuck that hurt. That's how he has an iron grip. I know I'm going to be in pain for a long time. I don't like being told what to do, and this is beyond ok"

Tellie started to take deep breaths and she fell forward. She had two hands on the top of her head. Her face giving an expression of agony.

Juilie helped Tellie up. Tellie was taking in deep breaths.

The three of them felt this pull. Like an invisible chain, forcing them to move their legs.

The didn't resist the pull, as pain struck them the harder they resisted.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Kataro, Tellie and Julio looked at each other. Not saying a word, they slowly nodded in unspoken agreement. They each flinched, in preparation for the pain beforehand. The three of them carried on forward.

They were being forced to walk to their master.

They were determined to figure out this place, and then decide what to do from there.

Tellie was quietly enduring the pain shooting through her veins as she thought about ways of killing their controlling leader. She winced every few steps. Julio and Kataro noticed but said nothing. They knew Tellie was stubborn. For once, her stubbornness was going to potentially help them.

Or get them killed.

They saw smoke on the horizon up ahead.

----------------------------------------

Two hours of walking later, they finally got close enough to view what appeared to be a repurposed prison.

Guards were stationed at all posts, they peered in their direction from the top of their towers. a few undead guards were walking around the perimeter.

They walked to the main entry gate towards the security booth. The guard, with severe burn scars on his face slid open the check-in window. “Names?”

As the three of them just stared at the guard speechless.

The guard stared back at them intently, holding a clipboard with a list of names. He began to tap a pen onto the clipboard, his expression bearing a mixture of boredom and impatience.

Kataro peaked at the clipboard and noticed there weren’t many names on it and most were crossed off. “We were told to come here-”

“Yeah okay, but what are your names”? The guards impatience dripped, like he was ready to get back to whatever he was doing.

Kataro spoke for the group, “Kataro, which is me, this is Tellie and this is Julio”

The guard took out a walkie-talkie. “The three have arrived. Keep entry clear, I'm opening up the gate”. He slid the check-in window closed and after a moment and a loud click, the main prison access gate slid open.

A guard met them on the other side, “Follow me”. She led the three of them towards the courtyard, at which they were caught in awe for it was converted into a marketplace.

About 200 people were walking around this bustling market. There were booths of personal hygiene items, clothes, fresh fruits, veggies expired boxed foods, and canned foods.

Merchants even sold old-world technology, art, and everything in between. No one took notice of the three newcomers.

Tellie smirked at the name of the coffee shop, called Scarbucks. Kataro took an interest in a bar area, partially because it had billiards. Julio was still in awe at the size of the crowd. It has been a while since they have seen so many people.

Next to the marketplace, the group noticed a good portion of the courtyard that wasn't the marketplace had been converted to agriculture. The prison building itself was a three-story brick building, with a complex assortment of individually built shack homes along the roof of the prison. The shacks were built with an assortment of scrap metal, rope, tarps, and wood. Ahead of them, the crowd was separating as Sheriff Brody Claire strode towards them.

Their escort nodded at the Sheriff and swiftly left.

Sheriff Claire clapped his hands and widened his grin, “Welcome! I’m glad to see the three of you made it safely to my humble community. I have a rule that everyone here in our little community has a task that either supports or builds our community in some way. I have Sarah-” a young woman in her early twenties walks up and stands next to him, she's well dressed in clean business attire. “...who is our career specialist? Her task is to find the best position available for newcomers like yourselves that will put good use to your very own individual skills and talents. Now, some jobs may not be as glamorous or fun as others, but everyone’s assigned job is just as everyone else's to the overall growth and stability of our little community. He spread his arms and smiled his best artificial grin. “Any questions?”

Tellie was half listening, “Not at this time Mr. Sherriff, but I'll let you know later if I do”

Julio elbowed her. Tellie turned and glared at Julio.

The Sheriff's smile faltered for a moment before shaking his head. His perfect smile returned.

Kataro felt uneasy as the Sheriff stared at the three of them with his unnerving smile.

Kataro spoke, “I don’t have any questions on our assigned jobs, but-”

“But? But what?”, there was an edge in The Sheriff's voice.

Kataro couldn’t look the Sheriff in the eye, “Nevermind”

The Sheriff placed a hand on Kataro's shoulder. Kataro tried not to flinch.

Sheriff Claire looked directly into Kataro's eyes, “No need to be shy, we're all family here, right Sarah?

The women, holding a clipboard, had an concerned expression, yelped in surprise, "Yes, yes Sir! We're all a happy family here. We work together to build a better community"

The Sheriff noded, "That's right. Now, Kataro right? Now, tell me...what’s your question?”

“I was wondering about our living sit-”

“Great question! Sarah, help these three new hires out, I’ve got some other things I’ve got other projects planned today that need my direct supervision” Sarah nodded and adjusted her glasses, “Yes sir”.

Sheriff Brody walked off.

The three newcomers followed Sarah into the what was formally the prisons inmate processing building.