Twisted City (21 page)

“I
need a car,” Lathan says to James as he maneuvers out of bed, ready to leave
after hearing the news that the masked man escaped with his vehicle.

James
moves in front of Lathan, holding out his hands, palms outward, to try to stay
him but cautious of actually touching
him
, well aware
that Lathan’s injuries still may not hinder him from causing harm to others.

“Lathan,
you are in no condition to be leaving right now. You’ve suffered a concussion
that needs to be under observation along with injuries that should be –”

“I’m
not staying another day, James!” Lathan’s voice is louder and harsher than he
means for it to be, causing James to recoil and a bolt of electric tension to
strike throughout the room.

Once
the tension settles a bit Taya catches her breath, holding a concerned gaze on
Lathan. James holds his composure,
neither backing away nor
advancing, simply waiting for the furnace to cool
.

A
moment passes. Then Lathan takes in a deep breath, lets it out, and calmly
says, “I have to go.”

“It’s
that important?
The briefcase?”
James says.

“Yes.”

“Very well.
You’ll get your car. And whatever
else you’ll need.”

“Thank
you. I won’t forget this.”

“No.
We
thank
you.”

Before
leaving Taya kisses him long and holds him tight.

“I
meant what I said. That I love you.”

Lathan
is at a loss of words. Although he tries to formulate a response, nothing seems
to want to pass his lips.

“You
don’t need to say anything right now,” Taya says. “You can wait till you come
back home. Okay?”

Although
it’s only been twenty-four hours since the news of Vincent’s and his followers
deaths spread throughout Maddick, much change has already begun.

Not
long after Vincent’s departure a group of men and women gathered together to
prepare for a takeover. This group has been meeting in secrecy for months,
planning for the opportune moment. They’re a conglomerate of people ranging
from the common townsfolk to the prostitute to even a few of Vincent’s very
own. All of whom have had enough.

Once
Vincent was gone the takeover began. It happened quickly. Vincent made the
mistake of leaving very few of his soldiers to secure order and surprisingly
they gave no resistance in being subdued. In fact, most of them were relieved
at what was happening and asked to join the alliance.

The
group gathered at the town square, where so many daily fights took place, to
announce their uprising. All those willing to join them and fight were welcome.
But all those who wanted no part in it were asked to stay in their homes or
leave the town entirely.

Many
stepped forward, standing with them.

Many
others went back to their homes.

But
moments later they returned, carrying knives, axes, pipes, and other potential
weaponry, ready to fight alongside them.

The
first to show back up from the battle was Mongoose with Max in tow, frantically
asking about Jizell. They had already taken her and Tank back to
Jizell’s
home where she was doctoring their cuts and
bruises. The moment Jizell saw Mongoose her immediate concern went to the two
huge cuts on the sides of his face but he brushed her hand away, insisting that
she care for Max first.

While
Jizell went to work on Max, Mongoose gave everyone the news that Vincent was
dead.

A
quiet disbelief
bestilled
the room for a moment until
someone spoke up.

“How
do you know?”

“Because I’m the one who killed him.”

The
surviving Maddick’s who
came
running back to their
beloved Maddick were greeted by an unwelcome force. If they made it back in
they were either driven back out or killed. Many were killed.

As
all of this was happening a committee was formed whose responsibility was to
transform the town into a democracy. All people are liberated and subject to
the new democratic law constituted and enforced by a committee of their peers
under the town’s jurisdiction solely for the well-being of the people.

The
town will be re-named as well.

Two
days after Vincent and his men went to their slaughter, late in the evening, a
stranger arrives in an old muscle car asking about the masked man.

Everyone
insists that no type of SUV has shown back up, and even if the masked man had
appeared back in town sans the mask no one would even know it was him since no
one has ever seen his actual face.

The
stranger describes the fresh cut on the masked man’s face but with all the men
who’d showed back up with all kinds of facial wounds they couldn’t be sure.

The
stranger doesn’t stay long to investigate further. The masked man isn’t stupid.
He knows it is only a matter of time before the masked man discovers the
briefcase and the contents inside.
If he hasn’t already.
And he has two day’s head start already. The
Brakida
Mountains are thousands of miles away, and the journey has only just begun, and
it’s expected to be a hard and trying one.

And also perhaps a very lonely one.