Eli/Bruce - Haywood Annexation
As the gates to Haywood remained locked and guarded, a black van started to reach the complex's perimeter. The two guards speaking to the stranger (Rob), pulled away from the survivor and headed to the van. The color already gave away whom was inside, but it was protocol to check anyway. As they approached the vehicle, the guards by the gates pointed their weapons at the van. The stranger was completely ignored at this time, they had more important matters at hand.
The van's window opened slowly as instructed and since the guard noticed who the driver was, he turned to the gate guards and nodded. "All clear!" the guard yelled, allowing the gates to be pulled open by shear force of man. The squeak echoed through Haywood, allowing all the citizens know the gates had been opened and somebody was entering. When this happened, nosy tenants would peek out their windows and watch whomever entered their home. It was usually just in-and-out between the guards, Bruce Levi, or Eli. Hardly ever did they allow new survivors to enter their facility, unless they were women, but they usually left within a week or two. The tenants believed the women were moved to a more secure location outside of Haywood and into another complex known as Nirvana. This was obviously a lie distributed to everyone by their Mayor and his assistant.
"Before you enter, what do you want us to do with the survivor?" the guard asked the driver. The driver of course turned to Eli who was sitting in the back, and repeated the guard's question. "We are about to begin the operation. Follow procedures as planned. Today Haywood belongs to the people. Today we overthrow the throne" Eli instructed. The van then started froth, entering the complex, the guards outside locking the gates behind them.
The tow guards that were once with the survivor returned to him. "You will have to wait until further notice. We won't allow you to enter the city until we are allowed to. If you attempt anything, we have orders to put you down" the guard informed Rob. Unfortunately, Rob tried to join them at the wrong time.
As the van parked, Eli was the first to get out, followed by the men sitting in the back with him, then the driver and front passenger. All of them headed towards the confined zone of Haywood, prepared to enter the administration office, or as Eli calls it, the throne. Soldiers standing guard around the complex interior noticed the formation and joined it. Without having to be told, they knew exactly what was going on. So now, every guard that was inside the city and not guarding the gates were huddled behind Eli and heading towards the man of the hour, Bruce Levi.
As they reached the steps, everyone waited with their rifles ready and behind their new leader, Elijah Haywood. The man was basically a democrat, doing everything by the will of the people, focused on their success rather than his own. Some may say Bruce Levi was the same way, but unlike Bruce, Eli decided that everything, including laws, rations, medicine, scheduling, etc., should be decided by the majority, not by one man. Bruce Levi was a monarch, he did everything by his personal agenda. Even though the people were happy living in Haywood under Bruce's jurisdiction, none of them knew exactly what went on underneath their noses. Nobody knew of this underground trade, nobody other than the guards and Eli, his right hand man.
"BRUCE LEVI! Come on out you monster!" Eli yelled, the men behind him holding conversations in the meantime. "We've been caged by your terror for long enough! You've taken our women, our wives! For some, our daughters!" he continued, turning to meet the eyes of some of his companions. Most of the women that were traded were mothers and wives. About ten percent were young girls, daughters of the men that held their weapons high. The citizens exited their rooms and watched from afar, knowing they were not allowed in confidential territory without a pass. "Come out Bruce, tell these people your secrets, because if you don't, I shall!" Eli yelled on last time, making sure Bruce could hear him from wherever he was.
During this rant, Bruce sat in his leather chair drinking from his glass. He ticked his finger on the wooden desk nervously. "Damn traitor. What led him to such choice?" he questioned, walking up the entrance of the entire building. He looked out the blinds and saw all the soldiers were with him. "So this wasn't a last minute thing. He must have been planning this for a while. Fuck!" Bruce cursed, throwing his glass on the ground, the entire thing shattering. Bruce walked side to side for a couple seconds, thinking of a game plan to battle this raid, but nothing came to mind. There was no other exit, the building was made that way. He felt the sensation that he would be killed by men he'd kept protected for almost a year. He'd been giving them everything they needed to survive, but in the process, stripped them of their women. The only thing is, if he hadn't done what he did, they wouldn't be in such a great position in this hellhole.
The doors then opened quickly, clashing against the side of the building. Bruce Levi stood at the entrance, his hands by his side. He didn't speak at all, just stared into the eyes of his ex-assistant. "As instructed I headed to the raider camp...." Eli started. "....As always I handed him the module of trade. For all that do not know, we obtain all our resources from a pack of raiders!" Eli yelled, letting all the people of Haywood listen to this rant.
"Shut your damn mouth!" Bruce called out to Eli. His eyes dilated from all the fear that ran through his bones. The truth was about to be revealed and there was nothing he could do about it.....or was there?
"We do not take women to.....to this 'Nirvana'! Instead, this man right here...." Eli pointed at Bruce. ".......This man has us trade our women into slavery. In return, we get food, medicine, water, weapons, and everything else we deem necessary! For so long have we been going through this process. Many of these men behind me have lost their wives. I have lost my wife! I have also fell a victim to this 'king'!...." again he pointed. "....But no more! Haywood, named after me, must become a democracy! The people are the will, not you! Never you! You will no longer hold us captive to your reign! WE DO NOT FEAR!"
Eli then started to walk towards Bruce. The men behind him remained still, just watched their new leader face off against the fallen king. "This is annexation. We as people, as equals, take over Haywood as our own. You no longer rule here Bruce, you are here by banis-"
The last word of his speech was cut off as a shot rang out. The guards raised their weapons and pointed them at the 'king'. Eli fell to his knees as blood poured from his appendix, flooding the ground with red. The pistol used to fire the gun then landed alongside the red, getting tinted in the color. The entire event went down so fast that all the guards did was react. As Bruce placed his hands behind his head, the guards merely apprehended him. Most of them were more worried about their future leader. They rushed to his side for aid.
In the meantime, Bruce was taken captive and escorted to the one place prisoners were meant to be held, the cell. The cell guards opened the door to the building, inside, the pregnant girl, still strapped to the chair as if a slave. Once the uninformed guards were informed that the operation had already taken progress, they let the girl free of the chains. As a guard helped her stand and balance, Bruce was quickly brought in to take her place. On the way there, the man had been beaten half to death for what he had done. They placed him on the chair and strapped him in. "Guess......I'm here to......relieve you" Bruce told the girl with a smile, which in effect, was punched directly across the face. He spat out blood onto the side as one of the guards turned to the girl. "Here" he said, handing her a crowbar. "I apologize for everything you and your child have been put through, but it was he who did this. He forced fear into all our beings, punish him as you see fit. It was Eli's last wish." The guards then left the room, leaving only the girl and her child's father.
"What.....are you waiting on? HUH?! Isn't......isn't this what.....you wanted? Yeah......I remember. I always remembered you. I left you with that other......other girl. The soldier-like one. Did....she die?................Never mind, it doesn't matter. So? Are you....gonna kill me? What are you waiting on? DO IT! SHOW THEM! SHOW ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT NOBODY IS DIFFERENT! SHOW THEM THAT IN THE END, WE ARE ALL KILLERS!!" Bruce yelled, finally showing his true colors. He'd always been so collective and calm, but now, in a time of despair, he'd become weak. As of now, everyone in Haywood was confused. Eli, the supposed new leader had been killed by the old one, and everyone was in panic. "They all say that they'll no longer deal with the raiders, with Tyler, but that's not true. Even.....even if you kill me.......They'll be coming to get you. How do you think they'll get food and medicine? Hunting? Gathering? No! They're just having you......kill me so that my blood isn't on their hands. So that if it all fails, you're the one to blame. They'll say that Elijah and you were working together to overthrow me. That's what they'll do. Think about it. Why didn't they just kill me in town? Oh yeah, you don't know what happened do you? All of them, the guards, Eli..........they all came to my office and started ranting about my ideals to the public. Eli tried to kill me, but I shot first. Now i'm here. With you! So if you're not going to kill me, then leave! I don't want you to be the last thing I see, because you're pitiful! That child will burn in hell just like I will! It may be mine, but it means nothing to me. You're just another whore I fucked, that's it. Don't think yourself special because you had sex with an important figure. Nowadays, it doesn't matter. Nobody is gonna care for someone like you because you're a liability. How do you plan to have that child huh? In this world? No! It'll die before it is born and so will you! SO NOW KILL ME DAMMIT! I've got nothing else to live for. I've lost my world, my kingdom. There's nothing else I desire but death."