Siege of hell school (part 7)

Jason jumps as a walkie talkie blares with Riley's voice. "1 down like 15 to go." Jason hadn't noticed the gadget there. "Good good just be careful you guys and try not to have too much fun." Jason says. "Also you could have told me the walkies work." Jason adds. After a moment's pause Riley responds. "Wouldn't have been as fun." Jason sighs. As the young boy sits he stares at the ceiling. "If everything goes well we will have a lot more members soon so how do we ensure they follow our rules?" Jason asks himself, rocking back and forth in his chair. As far as he is concerned the key is ensuring they fear Riley. But he will also need them to revere him as well. "But how do I do this?" Jason once again asks himself. "You don't have to little man fuck Riley is a beast he might even take the damn horde out himself." Tank says reassuring his younger brother. Jason smiles "You know what Tank? I think you might be right but wouldn't it be something if he could kill that horde?" Jason asks, studying Tank's face. "Dude would be a monster I mean I don't really wanna mess with him now but a horde killer who wouldn't want that in their clan and who would fuck with them?" Tank says laughing shaking his head. "But that's not going to happen and we will be there for him so we are all bad ass." Tank grins. Jason strokes his chin. 'So it seems all I need to do is have Riley kill the horde.' Jason thinks to himself.

A full day later Riley and Rat have placed the buses and set up more barricades using a portable welder to be sure nothing will come through. "You think this will hold?" Rat asks swaying from exhaustion. "It fucking better that was a ton of work." Riley grumbles. The sound of an approaching vehicle catches Riley's attention. "Hey Slim how is ya?" Rat asks. The ever silent boy gives them a thumbs up. "Whatcha doin here buddy?" Rat asks. Pointing Slim shows the 2 boys the truck bed full of trash cans packed with arrows and crates of pipe bombs. "Oh Santa you shouldn't have, I've been a naughty boy." Riley says happily chuckling. Riley unloads the truck and starts getting ready to start laying traps. "Bro can we take a rest real quick?" Rat asks. "Yeah hop in the truck and grab a nap. Slim here can help me set the traps then we can go home." Riley says, staring at Slim who gives him a thumbs up. Rat groans and grabs a can of arrows. "Holy Marie mother fuck this is heavy." the other 2 boys laugh. They place the cans every 2 blocks and lay a trip wire with other deadly goodies in between. "Hey Riley I've been wondering but how do you know how to set trip wires or any of this kinda crap?" An exhausted Rat asks. Slim nods curiously. "Tattoo shop I hung out at had a guy in it that was part of the explosives team in the marines and he showed me stuff since he was friends with my dad before he died plus crazy bastard like blowing shit up." Riley says finishing the last trip wire. Smiling evilly Riley looks back at the others. "This is going to be veeeery messy." he says with a chuckle. "Ok so we are officially done right?" Rat asks. "Yep, let's go home." Riley says as he climbs into the truck. His body aches and his mind is weary. As they drive back Riley stares up through the tall buildings. In comparison to the skyscrapers of Jericho's Gate they weren't really that impressive but Riley still liked them nonetheless. "Cities within cities." Riley mumbles remembering something his father would say. Rat talks at the silent Slim as they go mostly about nothing and occasionally looks to the truck bed for Riley's approval but always finds the older boy watching the stars. As the truck pulls in, Tank wanders up to them. "Are we all set?" Tank asks, trying to hide his rising nerves as he realized what they were about to do. "Yeah we should be set to go tomorrow." Riley says tiredly. The boys and Jessica sit in the dining room eating while going over the plans again and again. "Eat and rest, tomorrow will be a long tiring and terrifying day" Jason says to everyone at the table as they eat, Riley and Rat doze off. "We told you so." Alex says to Jessica pointing a bandaged finger at Riley who is quietly sleeping slumped on the table. "That guy doesn't know failure, or dying." He finishes proudly. Tank taps Riley and catches the drowsy startled boy's fist. "Go to bed little brother, we have work to do later."

Riley stands in the doorway of Jessica's room. Watching her toss and turn tormented by their nightmares embrace. Slipping his backpack over his shoulder Riley walks down the stairs where he finds Jason waiting. "Riley you need to do this and Riley." Jason pauses studying Riley. "Kill 1 of the ones that argue with you to show them ours is an absolute path and that coming with us means accepting that." Jason says in his ever monotonous tone. "I'll do what I can, nothing more and nothing less Jason but I do have a request for you." Riley says studying his ever calculating brother. "What do you need Ri?" Jason asks. Even as his heart races and he fights with the reality before him Riley knows he can't even try this if those he cares about are going to be hurt. "Don't let anyone leave this place no matter what." Riley says, slinging a bow over his shoulder. "Do you think you can succeed?" Jason questions. "Or die trying." Riley opens the door and jogs down the road. As he sprints through the silent city killing the occasional zombie. "5 dead fucks. This is just a warm up. I can do this." Riley tells himself as he reaches the bus barricade. "I have to do this" He says climbing into the bus he crouches. "I am the monster, I am the hunter, I will conquer this world in a sea of my enemies blood living and dead. I will be a savior but for now I am the monster, I am the hunter." with his evolving mantra he drops down and moves ever closer to the horde and his goal.