The next several days were spent getting the Big Tree guys housed up and giving them the most food we could afford while not compromising our own people. Elfindor quickly established that while they were here, they would all submit to his rule. He would allow the old chief to remain their representative, but there would only be one chief. I respected that.
They had no choice but to agree. We had a lot of them take abandoned barns that no one had bothered to upkeep. They were rotting, but with a few quick repairs to patch up holes, it was at least suitable for dozens. We kept them cramped and cooped up like cattle, but many were just happy to have a roof over their heads.
The old chief, who we found out was named Albert, and his three assistants were in talks with us for occupying one of the main warehouses we kept for storage. It was only needed during Shipment Day and that wouldn’t be for another year, so Elfindor allowed it.
A lot of our villagers chipped in and ate smaller portions so the children of Big Tree could have something to eat. I told Trent there was no way I was sacrificing my meals for people I barely knew. He sighed but accepted it. Elfindor did though, as he thought he should set an example.
The first few days, many slept in all day to recover their strength. And by the fourth day, some of Big Tree were asking to help out and be integrated in the village’s regular duties. Trent added some of their names to the card leger thing and made a new section for Big Tree workers.
Elfindor and the assistants talked about making trips to town and buying supplies, as well as cheap weapons for the villagers as they gathered the members they would take to hunt for food.
You could say things were running smoothly. That was… until the fifth day.
It was a very hot day. Hotter than usual with no clouds in the sky. Just the good ol’ sun burning holes through our thin clothes. It always surprises me how quickly people adapt to their new environment. They go from being grateful for a place to stay, to thinking of that place as their home, to getting bored and wanting more. When Trent and I did our usual inspections of the Big Tree folks in the warehouse and barns they were taking up, a lot of people complained of the heat and how inhumane it was to keep them trapped like animals.
“We’re working on installing windows. Our people gathered up the supplies and we’ll do a few barns a day. In the meantime, keep the door open and let air in. We can’t do anything about the heat. Also, you’re free to walk around.”
Some weren’t satisfied with that response.
“Oh, but you and your son get to live in that nice little mansion over there.”
I thought it was funny someone could call Trent’s four-bedroom house a mansion. Low standards will do that to you, I guess.
Others asked to borrow tools so they could build their own place.
Yeah, and who’s gonna pay for the lumber and all the other shit?
We left. Trent said not to argue with them, as it’d only make them crankier. But as we were leaving I saw a lot of disgruntled faces, especially among some teenage guys. I made a note of four in particular who looked like trouble. Two with long hair and decent musculature, one guy that looked way older than his age with a buzz cut but a baby face, and one guy with cold, lifeless eyes. The school shooter type.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
The day progressed smoothly and in the evening, we had dinner. Trent and Matilda announced they were starting a relationship and I congratulated them while secretly mourning the loss of a potential friends-with-benefits. But I was happy for them overall. Besides, I’d already seen it coming, as they gave each other flirting glances thinking Granny Eleonore and I hadn’t noticed. And they’d already banged the night Trent brought home wine.
Dinner was a skirt steak, steamed potatoes, and lettuce and tomato salad. Just standard stuff, but a luxury by Little Rock standards. After cleaning my plate, I told Trent I was going to take a walk and clear my head. It was already very late and most people would be sleeping, so I’d have peace and quiet.
“Sure, just don’t stay out too late.”
I walked to the lake and gazed at my reflection. Big brown eyes, messy brown hair, average height, a bland, normal face. But I did notice that my jawline was starting to sharpen a bit and my muscles were filling in. Maybe the effects of my card.
At night in this part of the village, the only sounds were usually crickets and frogs on the lilypads of the lake and bugs. That’s why, when I heard excited whispers and loud footsteps crunching grass, I got suspicious. There wasn’t anywhere to hide so I walked in the lake silently and kept my head under for about thirty seconds, holding my breath, trying not to freeze to death.
Fuck, this lake is cold at night!
I figured that would be long enough for me to be unseen.
When my head popped back up, I saw four people holding wooden stakes and other crude weapons.
They’re not heading to Trent’s house.
I got out of the lake, drenched, and I tailed them using trees as cover as they closed in on the chief’s house.
Are they gonna try and rob the place?
There weren’t any lights on. The fireplace had been put out, and a trail of smoke escaped from the roof. As the moonlight illuminated them for a second, I saw they were the same four I found earlier. Instead of going for the front door, they started climbing the porch to get to the second floor. Once there, one of the guys held the wooden stake looked like he was going to smash the window, so I shot him with a fast-moving water ball from below, hitting his head. I mean I did play football. That kind of shot was child’s play.
He was knocked out cold, but his unconscious body fell backward and his head hit a round stone on a stepping stone trail the lawn had to look nice. Falling from nearly ten feet directly onto a hard surface meant he was dead, right? I’d meant to knock him forward, but the body was on a slope and ended up rolling down. I felt like a huge idiot.
I ran to hide behind one of the pillars of the porch when the guys above me started audibly freaking out.
I was never here.
“Go check if he’s okay!” someone hissed.
“Should we back out of this?”
“Forget that! Go back down.”
They climbed down, hugging the support pillars and inching slowly until they were a safe distance to get off.
“He’s bleeding from his head!”
“He has to be dead.”
They stood on the lawn, contemplating what to do, two of them with dopy, helpless faces looking towards their leader. The last one exhaled loudly, saying they had to hide the body before anyone saw, or they'd be in huge trouble. They didn’t even notice me as they started dragging the body toward the lake.
Solid plan, but dead bodies can float after a while.
I let them carry their plan out without interference and followed them discreetly. They heaved and tossed with all their might and the body flew about a dozen feet into the lake. They ran off to the barn. Judging from the fact they’d toss one of their own without much thought, I reasoned they weren’t very close. It was a relationship formed out of convenience.
I saw them sneak into the barn, settle down in an open spot, and shut their eyes.
I know it's my fault that dude is dead, but I can't look past these new villagers trying to rob us. They might come after Trent's house next.
“Get some shut-eye, boys,” I whispered to myself as I walked back to Trent’s house. “Tomorrow I’ll show what happens when you fuck around in my village.”