Chapter 29: Conflict within the Group
"So, majority of the guys go on the search for resources while others stay and guard the base. That's good. But you know. The resources are limited. We would sooner or later have to grow food by ourselves", Damian said.
"Smith's right. We would. But right now, we don't have anyone who knows how. And anyway, we would've to move to some farm or something for that", Nate agreed with him. "We'll continue doing what we are for as long as we can. There are resources everywhere and only few people remaining", he added getting approval from everyone else.
"So, you decided to join Jim for scavenging", Randall said as he approached Damian.
"Yes. He's the one who brought me in and I know him better than others", Damian said.
"You should join us you know, the main group. Jim's just a lacky", Randall said.
This made Damian look at him seriously, making him a bit scared and step back, "I would pretend I didn't hear anything. As far as I know, the only lacky here is-", but before he could finish, Tony called Randall, "Randall, you bitch, come here. Pick up the bags and put them on the car", as Randall hurriedly ran away before slightly looking at Damian.
'Hence Proved', Damian told himself as he stepped back in. It was their day to keep guard. It's been two days since he left the farm to look into the group. He completely understood the structure of their group now. There is the leader Nate who has his group of people that goes with him wherever he goes and strongest among them is Bob. Then there is Jim who has his own group of people though they are lacking in actual skills and seems like some small-time offenders. Jim has his own lacky, Jacob, the youngest in the group, even younger than Randall but taken better care of. Then Jim told him there is another one, called Hunter, who they say is the real savage. They told him that after Bob killed his lover to prove his loyalty. The people with their daughters and wives started leaving the group one by one. Seeing that, Hunter and his group captured the running men, raped their wives and daughters in front of them and killed them afterwards. The remaining people aren't actually in any group and just tags along with anyone when asked. They are more than 30 people altogether.
He found out that no one in the group had seen a young girl or heard of someone named Sophia. But they told him that Hunter's people might know but warned Damian to not approach them as Hunter is even more dangerous than Bob. Damian decided that the group was too strong for the guys in the farm to handle. So, he waited and decided what to do. As noon approached, two SUVs entered the premises, and some new people came out.
"Hunter, welcome back. Looks like you found more of that stuff there", Jim said as he approached a man with a bandaged eye. The man looked at him for a moment before stepping in without saying anything and others started smirking as poor Jim got ignored by Hunter. The group got tensed seeing their leader getting dissed by others.
Jim came back to his group and blabbered, "That bastard. I'm gonna kill him one day". Damian heard it but didn't say anything as Jacob calmed his boss. Inside, Hunter's group occupied whole of Cafeteria and started drinking beer and eating bread. Seeing that they were eating from the main storage which was for everyone but no one raising their objection, Jacob gathered his courage, maybe because he was somewhat confident that his group had suddenly become stronger due to Damian, and spoke, "You guys. That food is for everyone. So is that beer".
Everyone sitting in the cafeteria stared at Jacob but didn't say anything and just kept chomping on the bread and gulping down the beer. Suddenly, a crutch hit Jacob's neck from the back as he fell forward on his face and started bleeding as he got hit with the chair. "Little shit", people heard.
Sean came out from back, walking towards the group, "Hey, you guys came back", he said as he tried to shake hand of a fellow but the later didn't respond. "Hey, Hunter. I was thinking, maybe I'll be able to join you guys by next week", Sean said nervously as his group didn't react to him kindly. The atmosphere was awkward and the man named Hunter looked at a man sitting with him who nodded at response and stood up.
"Say, Sean. What did Hunter tell you before leaving?", the man asked as he landed a punch on his stomach. Sean fell down on the ground holding his leg, feeling pain. The man then put his boot on his injured leg and stomped hard as he screamed. "He said, not to come in front of him". One more kick and Sean was down and stopped making a sound. "Make even a slight sound and I will gut you right here", he warned Sean and looked around. "You. Take him away", he pointed at Jacob and ordered. Jacob who was holding his bleeding hand looked at them but didn't move. The man narrowed his eyes at Jacob but Jacob just looked at Jim and then at Damian.
Seeing Jim not coming forward, Damian clicked his tongue and stepped forward. He picked up Sean giving him his shoulder for support while also holding his crutch. "Did I tell you to help him?", the voice came from behind and Damian felt something coming at him as he moved sideways as he threw Sean to other side. He looked back and saw the man pulling back his leg. Failing to kick Damian, he moved forward but Hunter suddenly put his hand on the table heavily, making a loud sound. The man stopped staring at Damian and went back. Damian who was about to step forward was stopped by Jim. "Stop. Don't do something no one wants right now. Let Nate come back. We'll see him then", Jim suggested making Damian loosen his fist.
The group left the cafeteria and went to their section where everyone was frustrated due to their inability to directly oppose Hunter's gang. They all knew they were not strong as them and would be immediately killed. "You guys have guns, right? If they ever do something that endangers our group, I say we gift them a bullet in response", Damian suggested.
"Hunter would kill us", one of the people said.
"Not if he is the one I gift my bullet first", Damian said, filling everyone with confidence as they started thinking about it.
"He's right. One bullet. They will die just like us", other one said.
"That's not the point. We don't need an internal war", Jim said with a mature face while looking at Damian seriously.
"I am just saying. If one of them ever tries to disrespect you or cross me, I'd fuck them over and anyone else who tries to stop me", he said to Jim, who felt somewhat good as a smile appeared on his face. Jim said, "Anyway, don't do anything rash for now. Let's talk to Nate first. Hunter has been getting too arrogant lately. It'd be good to put a leash on him before he goes crazy inside".
After dinner, Damian stood on the roof to keep watch. The man from earlier who tried to kick him from back came up to him. "You. Who are you? I didn't see you here before", the man said while smoking. "Smith. Came here night before yesterday", Damian said without looking at the man. "You are good. Hunter liked you. He asked you to come talk to him tonight", the man said. Damian looked towards the man and was about to say something when suddenly he looked down and saw a car approaching. It stopped just outside the school and Nate, Bob and one other man who went out with them came out in haste. They looked around and quickly entered the building. "Something must have happened to his group. Well, come tonight", the man said with a smile as he tapped his back. As he left, Damian heard him saying, "Lucky us". Damian looked at the car and then in clear sky, gazing at the stars.
After a while, Jim came up and called him, "Smith, come here for a moment", Jim asked.
Damian came to him and asked, "What happened. I saw Nate coming with only Bob and other. Where are others?".
"They're dead. Killed by some people in a confrontation near a bar. They had them surrounded but Trailers messed up and got others killed. Nate said he had to run away. It's a problem. His group is gone. There is a power gap and Hunter is the strongest here. We have to do something, or he'll start leading", Jim said.
"Why are you so against him leading the group?", Damian asked.
"Hey, didn't you see before, he already doesn't listen to others. If he becomes leader, it'll be worse than Hitler's reign. He'd kill anyone who doesn't obey him and brutally at that", Jim said with a shiver.
"So, what is your plan?", Damian asked.
"We stay together. Nate's leadership is gone. All that's left there is a husk of authority which can be broken anytime by Hunter", Jim said. "We've got to look out for ourselves now", he added. Damian nodded as Jim asked him to come help if he needed him.
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