The black box opened. Samuel got his first glimpse of daylight in almost two days. He was taken out back, stripped down, and hosed off. When he was brought back inside he was brought into a room with Syd who was wearing a black and white striped prisoner jumpsuit that looked like it was from the dollar store. Samuel did not laugh because the same Halloween costume was there for him. Nobody would talk to Samuel, not even Syd. The guy was on death row and so broken that he played along. Samuel had no idea what to think.

A man with a black hood opened the door. Black hood was putting it lightly; it looked like he had a black bag on his head. Samuel didn’t think it was see-through because the idiot kept stumbling around. If Samuel’s hands were not chained to Syd’s he might’ve made a move to escape. But alas, they were pulled into the courtyard. The sun felt good on his face. Samuel appreciated the beautiful day. It felt like it was almost spring. They were dragged over to a boarded up fountain where Hamilton had evacuated his throne to get his hands dirty.

It was all red. As Samuel got dragged closer and closed his mind was taking leaps and tangents to the worst possible explanations for what Hamilton was carving into. He raged and squirmed and watched Hamilton reach down and take a bite out of whatever spilled the red guts. What the hell was Samuel in for?

Soon his sight came into view and Samuel could see Hamilton spitting out watermelon seeds, he walked down the makeshift stairs and handed the entirely too large double-sided axe to the executioner. Syd and Samuel were brought to the fountain gallows. Syd’s face got placed firmly onto the chopping block. Samuel decided to keep his eyes pinned to the floor for this next part.

“Is there anyone who thinks this man should live?” bellowed out Hamilton.

Karina watched from above. Although they were just faceless men to her from way up here, she could not help but want to speak for him. She remembered the early days of the outbreak. Syd came after Hamilton and Karina, once he knew what Hamilton was capable of he tried to take Karina away with him, but she was too scared. The next time she saw him after that was the night the bell called the dead. She prayed he did not come back and risk all of those people’s lives just for her. That would be insane. So she felt regret and remorse for the man, but not enough to speak up, and no one else did either. Karina checked all their faces, even the guards, when she came upon one she had not yet seen before. He was now watching her intently.

Karina blushed at first, but returned his gaze. The man scaled the side of the bell tower and climbed up to Karina’s window.

“What are you doing up here?” he asked.

“You need to go.”

“I asked you a question.”

“If he catches you talking to me he will kill you.”

“Who is he?”

“You need to go and never come back.”

“Let’s start over. I’m Malcolm. What is your name?”

Karina had not been asked that in a very long time, it made her feel like her old self, “It’s Karina. My name is.. Karina.”

“Nice to meet you, Karina.” Malcolm bowed formally, “Do you need me to get you out of here?”

“I’ve been with him from the start. I can’t leave. They would never stop hunting me.”

“That bad, huh” Malcolm scoffed as he peered out the window, “Great view up here.”

“Please, you must listen to me.”

Just then Malcolm became distracted. He walked away from the window and over to Karina. “Take this,” he handed her a pistol, “I’m going to walk out the front door of this madhouse, the rest is up to you.”

Karina held the gun like it was poisonous.

“Do you know how to use one of those?”

“I’ve never…”

Malcolm showed her how to lock and load the pistol. Before leaving, he bid her farewell, “I hope I see you again.”

Karina kept track of Malcolm for as long as she could before her attention was pulled back to the courtyard by something she heard Hamilton say.”

“If there are no objections,” Hamilton smiled at his kingdom, “Then swing away, Mister Executioner!” he danced around on stage, pointing his fingers, putting on a show for Warren.

The black mask lifted the heavy axe high above his head and took a big gulp. Everything was in his hands. He lowered them and everyone watching held their breath.

The executioner missed his mark. He mumbled something.

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“What did that asshole say?” Hamilton scoffed.

“I CAN’T SEE!”he called out.

“Take off the fuckin’ mask then!”

Samuel saw the black hood land on the floor and heard a swift stroke followed by a squishy thud. It was time for him to take his eyes off the ground and accept the world he was now living in. From bottom to top he scanned the courtyard. First there was the hood, followed closely by Syd’s lifeless head, his eyes still blinking at him while the skull struggled to find its grip on the ground. Syd’s body slid down and the axe dripped. Samuel followed the weilder’s hand up to his arm to find Harold’s face. Behind him, on the stage next to Hamilton, it could not be, Hamilton was talking Warren’s ear off.

Warren was on his third beer and still had not recognized his father in the main event. “You see boy, I made that beer happen by sheer force of will. I found a guy smart enough to turn the brewery back on and restock the shelves. Got the lights back on so we could keep these suds cold. And they want to make me into some sort of villain?” Hamilton laughed to himself.

“Somebody had to do it and look where that somebody being me got us. Sure there were a few bumps along the way, like that smart guy who turned the lights back on trying to lead an uprising from within the bell tower, but I took care of it.” He stood up from his throne to continue talking to everyone now, “I have taken care of threats from both the living and the dead, from both out there and within. I have kept us safe and been fair to those who follow the rules.”

“This is what happens to those who defy me.”

“Load the next prisoner onto the block.”

From the crowd, Marcus told Annie to wait there and began making moves towards the fountain area. Samuel watched Harold react to Hamilton’s words. Harold’s hands were still shaking from the first go-around. He looked down at the guy who saved his life right when his life stopped needing saving. What was it all for? Was it to give it back to him now or was it to be the instrument of his death? Time slowed down for Harold. He wanted to ask Samuel what to do. All the miles they had traveled together and he still knew very little about him. Malcolm was all there was, the only person that still linked Harold to his past. And where was he right now?

Harold looked up and Malcolm was no longer at his post. He was nowhere to be found, all the way around the gate. Harold gave up looking for him when another guard pressed Samuel’s face to the block. Once Samuel’s eyes were forcefully averted he found a familiar face.

Up on the stage, Warren had finally caught wind of how the event had turned. He stood up and got closer to the gallows after catching onto to Harold’s reluctance. “Who is that?” he asked Hamilton.

“Some poor shmuck who threw his lot in with the wrong guy,” Hamilton grinned.

“What’s his name?”

“Kid, you’re focusing on all the wrong details, and frankly… You’re starting to bum me out.”

“Is his name Samuel Chase?”

“Who the fuck ca-” before Hamilton could start bullshitting his way into making a kid kill his own father, Warren disarmed one of the guards and was now holding the gun on Hamilton. Marcus used the commotion to take out the guard holding down Samuel at the gallows.

“Jesus Christ!” Hamilton shook his head. “Right when I’m about to give up on you, kid, you go ahead,” he removed his face from his hand, “and totally redeem yourself!”

Hamilton put his hands up and started slowly approaching Warren. The guards left their positions on the gate and rushed the stage. The crowd dispersed. As they did, Marcus and Harold started helping Samuel down off the block.

“Let’s get you some real clothes, Sam,” Marcus led them, “Come on, this way!”

“Wait! My son,” Samuel struggled as they dragged him away.

Warren backed Hamilton out the way they came in backstage. He put the tip of the gun barrel against his neck, “You’re coming with me.” Warren told him.

They turned the corner and Karina popped out and knocked Warren on the back of his head. “Damn girl, just in the nick of time” Hamilton took Warren’s gun, “I knew bringing back the honorary guest would get your attention.”

Karina looked around for guards or Warren’s people.

“Now the question is… do I kill this twerp now or wait to do it in front of his bitch of a father?”

Karina turned around, “You are not killing any of them.”

Hamilton laughed.

Karina pointed the gun at him.

“Not this same old song and dance, Karina”

Karina’s wrist shook. “No.. more…” she mumbled.

“You’re not going to kill me, babe”

“Don’t call me that, dammit!” Karina found her voice. “You kidnap me. Rape me! Torture me! Keep me here while you kill people who ask for mercy, make me part of your sin! And you think you can call me babe?”

“I saved your sorry ass.” Hamilton spat back at her.

“I could have let those brain munchers tear you apart, I thought you might show some gratitude but I didn’t wait to find out. In this new world you take what is yours or you die. You had to learn that the hard way, Karina, but don’t think for a second that I didn’t save your life.”

“ENOUGH MIND GAMES!” Karina cocked the gun.

“You’re mine, Karina. You won’t survive without me. If you’re ready to pull that trigger than maybe you are ready to kill the dead. Ha, I may be dead but I’m bettin’ for red.” He laughed.

That evil laugh.

The blood coursed through Karina’s veins. If she didn’t do this now… After the endless days of her working up the courage to get to this moment… There would be no going back. She had to or give up. There was no giving up! She tried that already at the top of the bell tower. There was either killing Hamilton right here and now or become his queen forever. The choice was clear.