No sooner did they stop than they heard Monty’s voice calling for them from the front of the hardware store. CJ and Elena looked at each other before turning toward the door. They barely managed a single step before Monty was standing in the doorway to the backroom looking between the two of them. Elena was still catching her breath from the sparing session and CJ had a guilty look on his face.

“What were you two doing back here?” asked Monty ears standing straight up.

“Nothing,” said CJ much too quickly.

“Come outside. Rubio rang that bell but you two didn’t come running,” explained Monty, eyes narrowing.

“I didn’t know we established that as a signal. Why didn’t anybody tell me?” asked CJ as Elena pushed past the both of them.

Monty stood there staring up at CJ. CJ just sped past him to get outside. He knew what Monty was insinuating. Nonsense like that could rupture the groups already tenuous relationship. Right now, CJ needed the Trinchar’s focused on the here and now. Once CJ stepped outside of the store, he could hear the bell softly ringing. Rubio must be gently rocking it, so it didn’t sound like a dinner bell for baddies.

“And what were you doing while we were scavenging?” CJ asked Monty who hustled up alongside him.

“I was checking the boundaries of the protection. Just like you said. Looks like it goes out at least three blocks in all directions. Not sure how to convert that into measurements you humans use so I just picked blocks,” replied Monty with a huff.

“Three blocks. That’s about point one five miles. Not exceptionally large but this isn’t a big village. Should be fine. Rubio, we’re all here. What did you see?” asked CJ once he got to the front of the church.

“I see something moving further up I-95. They are swerving between derelict vehicles. Looks like a lot of smaller vehicles. They’d be almost upon us if it weren’t for all cars dead on the road. I’d say we have about twenty minutes before they get here at that pace. They may pick up speed if there is a long section of road without obstruction. What’s the plan?” Rubio yelled down from the tower.

“Good question. First of all, everyone accept the Defend Leaf’s Bend quest. No point in going through this and not getting rewarded for it. Secondly, I’d like to talk to them first. There are few people left in the world and I’d prefer to only kill monsters. Besides, we’ll have to let people come here at some point. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life defending this small area. We’ll need more people,” said CJ looking for approval.

“You know if they are desperate, they’re going to try and kill you,” said Elena, her arms folded across her chest.

“Even better. I’m pretty low on mana. That’s why I said I’d like to talk to them. You two can lie in wait. If things pop off feel free to intervene,” explained CJ.

CJ spent the next ten minutes explaining his plan. After that they all split up to prepare their portions as they waited for whoever was on their way to the little slice of safety they had recently claimed. It didn’t take long. A minute shy of Rubio’s estimate, Monty’s ear’s perked up and CJ, seated one of the park benches, began to shuffle a deck of cards.

Eleven motorcycles revved their engines as they pulled off the highway driving down Main Street toward the park at the center of the traffic circle. They wore leather vests, chains, do rags and the one in the lead looked like he had human skull affixed to his full face helmet. This did not give CJ the warm and fuzzy’s. They all rode in a circle around the park before the skull helmet pulled over in front of CJ. They drove a mix of old extended front wheel Harleys and newer bikes with no electronic parts. That made sense to CJ, since mana wouldn’t necessarily meddle with combustion engines. Once all the bikes came to a stop behind skull helm, CJ notice one final detail that guaranteed what direction this discussion was going to go in. He prepared himself to regenerate his mana back up to full. There was a blonde woman tied to the rear seat of one of the bikes facing backwards. Her hands were tied to a metal bar jutting off the back. She looked to be in a bad way.

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CJ had his Repairman title equipped so while they were circling him, he noticed the majority of them were no phones. Only the skull helm guy and the guy riding with the captive woman didn’t have the telltale darkness surrounding their heads. In CJ’s mind that was good. It meant there was really only two threats out of the group.

“Welcome to Leaf’s Bend. I trust you’ve come to us looking for shelter in these trying times?” asked CJ as he stood up while flicking one card in a circle around the hand holding the deck. It landed right back on top.

“You Thompson?” asked Skull Helmet.

“Yup. So…,” CJ began before Skull Helmet whipped up a Beretta in his right hand and shot CJ in the head.

The force of the shot was so powerful and so quick it sent CJ flipping backwards over the bench he was originally sitting on. Monty had been hiding behind that bench and fixed CJ with an I told you so look.

“Not yet. That was a good shot. I got twenty mana from that one. Don’t ask me why, I don’t know. They have a captive. I need to make a minor adjustment. Shouldn’t affect your part. I gotta get back out there. Stick to the plan. I’ve got this,” whispered CJ before casting Now you don’t on himself.

“That was simple boys. Tobias, you find us a nice soft bed so I can break in our special treat there. The rest of you scavenge the area. This guy looked shifty. I don’t believe he secured this place on his own for a second,” ordered Skull Helmet.

“I told you I knew where this place was Wells. I bought some bike parts from that auto supply place down the street. I did good,” replied Tobias.

“Yes, you did. Now do as I say. Murder always makes me horny… Where did the body go?” Wells asked as he peered over the bench.

CJ’s cards were scattered all over the place after the head shot. He pulled another deck from his inner pocket and walked around Skull Helmet who the other gang member called Wells. Pulling a six of diamonds from the deck he aimed at the ropes tying the girl to the back of the bike before Tobias stood up and blocked his shot.

“What do you mean Wells, you flipped him ass over tea kettle behind the bench. Guy must weigh nothin,” replied Tobias as he walked over.

“The body ain’t here. Everybody get back over here. We got trouble,” ordered Wells as he bent over to pick up one of the cards on the ground.

As the gathered ruffians turned back to the park from their assignments a playing card sprouted from the bonds holding their captive. It sunk deep into metal bar after it sliced through the ropes. The woman was no fool, she began to sprint away on bare feet before CJ grabbed her arm ending his spell.

“Hang on we’re going to get you out of this. Head to that hardware store when I say go. Now get behind and stay behind me,” said CJ inches from her face before stepping between her and the gathered men.

They all raised various pistols and opened fire at CJ. He leaned into the fire ensuring that the woman trembling behind him was completely covered by his body. Then he cast smoke screen on himself obscuring himself and the woman from sight. That was Rubio’s cue to open fire. Rifle shots rang out taking two gunmen in the head and dropping them to the ground. That left nine.

“Ambush! Take cover!” yelled Wells as he searched the roof tops to return fire.

“Check your aim. Don’t shoot the girl you idiots!” shouted Tobias as he took a machete out from under his jacket.

Most of the bikers were hunched down around their bikes to avoid the rifle fire. Rubio managed to clip two more, but they were glancing blows at best. CJ knew he needed to get the woman to safety. The smoke cloud lingered where he cast it as he burst out of it. He was gently holding her hand and sprinting for the entrance to the hardware store. A hail of bullets flew past him, and he spun the woman in front of him leaving his back exposed. Five more bullets hit home, and he pushed her the rest of the way through the door.

“This is my friend Elena. Anyone gets past me will have to deal with her. Okay?” huffed out CJ.

The golden light around his skin was sparking now. The smoke cloud would last five minutes. That was plenty of time for them to circle around it for clear shots. His mana had regenerated up to one fifty out of his two twenty. It was unfortunate that this group of survivors had to prove that people could be monsters too. CJ firmed his resolve to do harm to other humans. He wasn’t going to like this.

Elena ushered the woman into the back room before pulling the ripcord on her chainsaw. She had her pads on and began to walk into the center of the store. CJ was supposed to be up at the front, but she couldn’t see him anywhere. Two more bikers ran in through the doorway of the hardware store before drawing up short. Blood started to pour from a line in their necks rain off a mountain. Then they fell forward both heads rolling away from the bodies. This counted as an interaction as CJ dissolved into Elena’s perception. He was standing on the right side of the doorway with his right palm flat against the door jam. His thumb was extended straight up and there was blood slowly dripping from empty air in the doorway. Elena heard a zipping sound as CJ pulled his hand off the wall.

“What the hell was that?” asked Elena shocked.

“An unfortunate circumstance of our new world. Wait here and watch over her if you would, I think they’ve found your dads location. I’m going to help,” answered CJ in a solemn tone.