Chapter 27

Darren

Sitting in the cramped room with Matt and Jared felt like a weight on my chest. The air was thick, and I could feel my heart racing as I spoke. “Look, John trusts me. He said he’ll let me know about any plans before they happen,” I said, trying to sound sure of myself, but I could hear the doubt creeping into my voice.

Matt leaned back in his chair, arms crossed tightly. “You really think so? I mean, John doesn’t exactly spill his guts. How do we know he’ll actually come to you?”

I fidgeted with my hands, glancing at Jared, who was just watching me, his face blank. “When I created the diversion for him the other day I really won him over. He’s been talking to me more in the evenings. He told me that he’s making a plan and he’ll let me know when he’s ready. Just trust me.”

“Trust?” Matt scoffed, shaking his head. “You think that’s enough? We can’t just sit here trusting you. We need to be ready. Especially if he’s planning making a plan with that girl—the one who made the phones.”

Jared's eyes lit up, and he leaned forward, excitement bubbling in his voice. “That’s right. She’s a game changer. If we capture her, we can take back control. She holds the keys to the communication, and we can’t let anyone else have that power.”

“Exactly,” Matt added, his tone almost gleeful. “Imagine what we could do with her technology. We’d be unstoppable. Just remember that Steve Apple guy. He made the first phone and look how popular he is”

“Yeah!” Jared added. “We could make a fortune. I remember someone telling me they wished they’d invested in phones in the 1900s. And that they coulda been a billionaire!”

I opened my mouth to correct them but decided against it. Uncertainty twisting in my stomach and guilt from telling them about the phones. After hurting that boy I went off to cool down and clear my head. When I came back- boy was I surprised to see the guys I’d met at the rallies.

Now that they were here though and holding these people hostage, things felt- worse than I’d imagined. Over drinks we’d laugh and talk about the Walking Dead and how we’d be so prepared and how we’d be the ones who survived an apocalypse.

“Hey Darren you listening?”

I startled back to the conversation. “Oh yeah, sorry. Phones, yeah yeah. I’ll tell you any more information I hear about the phones.”

Matt cleared his throat, obviously irritated at my distraction. “And don’t forget Leander—he’s promised us the potential to rule over Earth once this tutorial phase is over. This is our chance to carve out our place in the world. To get the appreciation we deserve and to be treated exactly like that.”

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. “What if people don’t want us to rule over them?”

“Then we make sure they understand what’s at stake,” Jared said, his voice firm and unwavering. “This isn’t about being nice; it’s about ensuring our survival. People like some girl with a phone can’t be trusted to make the right choices. They need guidance—our guidance.”

“Leander sees the bigger picture,” Matt said, leaning in closer, his voice lowering to a conspiratorial tone. “He knows what’s coming, and he’s counting on us to be the ones to lead the charge. If we play this right, we won’t just survive; we’ll thrive.”

I glanced between them, unease creeping in. “I get that, but what if it all goes sideways? What if we end up in over our heads?”

“Darren,” Matt urged, intensity in his eyes. “This is bigger than just us. This is about taking back our future. You can’t let fear hold you back. We’re doing what’s necessary to protect our way of life.”

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

Just then, Jared shifted in his seat, a sly grin spreading across his face. “And speaking of changing things, we’ve got some big plans for tomorrow when the store opens up.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, curiosity piqued.

Matt leaned in, his excitement bubbling over. “We’re going to make some serious purchases. Weapons, supplies, and I have enough for a stone of resurrection. Immortality sounds perfect on me.”

“Yeah,” Jared chimed in. “Once we have the right gear, we can really get people behind us. We can save everyone. We’ll be ready to make moves, to take back what’s ours.”

My heart raced as I processed their words. “What’re we going to take back?”

Matt waved me off. “Anything we deserve. Just keep me updated on John, after today it won’t much matter but he’s been pretty jumpy so I want you to stick on him like stink on shit. Make sure that fucker is only doing exactly what he’s supposed to do. You do this for me and we’ll make sure you have enough for some killer weapons tomorrow too.”

I nodded. “You got it boss.” I turned to leave but Jared called out.

“Oh, and don’t forget Leander wants to have a list of those loyal for blessings at the end of the day. I need you to vet this list for us, make sure they’re with us okay?”

I took the list and left the tent without a word. I looked down at the list as a drip of sweat ran down my nose and onto the paper right on first the name, “Corwin”.

I stepped away from the tent, the weight of the list heavy in my hand. The name “Corwin” stared back at me, igniting a surge of guilt that wrapped around my chest like a vice. I couldn’t shake the image of what had happened to him. The stump where his arm used to be—a painful reminder of my failure.

As I walked through the camp, the world around me faded into a blur. Corwin was everywhere. Every time I glanced at him, I was met with that same sad look, his eyes a reflection of his pain. And then there was his sister. She had been missing ever since that chaotic night. I couldn’t help but wonder if one of the boys had taken her somewhere—I shook my head trying to clear the thoughts from my mind but they persisted- gnawing at my conscience.

I found a quiet corner behind the tents and leaned against a post, staring down at the list. It felt like a noose tightening around my neck. My hands trembled as I traced the letters of Corwin's name, my heart pounding. What should I do? My loyalty to Matt had seemed so clear before, but after watching him kill Colin, practically a kid, doubt crept in.

The memory flashed in my mind—Colin, begging for mercy, the way Matt’s face had twisted into a mask of anger and satisfaction as he silenced him. It was brutal and unnecessary. That wasn’t the person I thought Matt was. I had convinced myself that siding with him was the right choice, that it was the way to make things better. But now, every time I walked past Corwin, the weight of my decision pressed down harder.

Should I warn John? The thought crossed my mind, but how could I? I was just as trapped in this situation as he was. I couldn’t betray Matt, not when I was so deeply involved. But could I continue to be part of something so dark?

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting shadows across the camp, I made my way back toward the main area, my heart heavy with uncertainty. I couldn’t ignore the growing guilt. Each passing moment felt like a reminder of the path I was on—a path that led to nowhere good.

I spotted Corwin sitting on a log, staring into the distance, his expression lost. I approached him slowly, trying to find the right words. “Hey,” I said, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace. “How are you holding up?”

He looked up at me, and the sadness in his eyes cut deeper than any blade. “I’m managing. Just… trying to figure things out.”

“Yeah, me too,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. I wanted to reach out, to reassure him, but the truth weighed too heavily on my conscience. “I’m sorry about what happened. You know it wasn’t my fault, right?”

He nodded, but I could see the doubt in his gaze. “It’s not just that, Darren. It’s everything. I miss my sister. She’s still out there, and I can’t shake the feeling that something bad happened to her that night.”

My heart twisted. “I promise, I’ll do what I can to find her. We’ll figure this out. Hey what do you think of Matt and the new leadership?”

Corwin’s eyes narrowed and he seemed to draw himself away from me suspiciously, “You’re kidding right? They’re hardly leaders, Darren. They’re just bullies with guns. They took all of our supplies and credits.”

I crumpled the list in my pocket as my stomach churned. Could I truly be a part of this? I felt like I was being pulled in two directions—one toward the chaos that Matt and Jared embodied, and the other toward the remnants of what I once believed was right. “Yeah man, I’m just joshing yah. They’re so full of themselves. Don’t worry though. I’m going to keep an eye out for that sister of yours. Just checking in on you.”

Corwin relaxed and sighed a breath of relief, “Oh hey,” he said barely above a whisper. “John’s looking for you. He needs to let you know about tonight.”