It has been a week since what Don has told me what happened to Paul. During that time the people all around have been actively rebuilding. Their village named Dank, surprisingly. I also found out who brought me to the house and who has been taking care of me during that time.
The ones that were taking care of me was the Gandors. The family of the girl I saved about a week and a half ago. They have been trying to wipe sweat of my face and every now and again they would wipe me down. The man would do that though. Would be weird if the girls did it.
In that small amount of time the people of the village have built small tents. I also found out they have a barn and live pretty close to a forest. Making them able to have feasts, but they didn't though they were still pretty sad about what had happened to their village.
That caused them to burn the bodies of the recently departed. And to the enemy's they were fed to the pigs. None of them were spared if even one soldier shot even remotely in the direction of them, pigs ate them bones and all.
The tears that were shed the day of the burning could have filled a river. There was screams as wife's hugged their husbands because they lost their son or daughter in the teen years, or just before their adolescence. Men cried cause they lost their, closest and long time friend. Children grabbing the legs of whoever is close because their family is no longer with them, whoever the legs belonged to eventually hugged them and took them in.
Some just gave remorse, but still understanding the pain of the people giving them hugs and some offering prayers to others. Even the Gandors weren't free of pain. They had lost another. An older son. Dark haired, he was just taller than me but not as built he was more of just skinny.
He was strong though, he was said to have taken out four before they shot him in the head. He was protecting his family and another family. The fathers were out helping with the war. The other family was killed but apparently the Gandors were spared, they also said they don't know why.
"… but the man on the radio did say that there was already enough mayhem and bloodshed."
Those were the words out of the mouth of the little girl. Her name was Gal. Gal Gandor.
Everyone all pitched in to help clean the place up. Moving rumble and any debris out the roads as a first of all. The bodies pile was what was next and that process though majority was of the soldiers that helped keep them alive there was still a huge amount of village people that died because some helped keep them alive. Like the the older brother.
After the fire. Some stayed right next it, til it died out even then some denied moving cause they felt that they would only be close to the dead if next to the giant bond fire of death. The only way they moved was by eventually becoming exhausted and fainting only to be carried back to a tent.
Some families tried using a radio to ask for help but that didn't work. The frequency they all tried never got through. They tried different frequencies. Sometimes the same. Different houses, they thought it could be time zones difference, Don brought that up. Still nothing.
'They might have thought this place was gone. Cutting all chatter here to make time for others.'
That was one of the first thoughts I had. After the week past I started thinking that, that was the truth. Because no one from either side came to check it out. They probably thought this place was a waste land. A ghost town.
The village also dedicated a group to always be on lookout. The called it Nightwatch. Simple yet good. I thought that was a good idea so I decided to help out. Don later thought of being apart of the night watch for the village.
Slowly with a weeks worth of determination they started cleaning the place up. It was near tip top shape but it was better then before. Some house still looked like ruins. Families had to either live with other families or in tents outside. I was lucky to have been allowed to be with the Gandors. On the couch.
Slowly I got to understand them. What they used to do. How they used to live their life before these unfortunate circumstances. The mother, Stacy Gandor, took after her husband, used to work as a teacher taking the daughter and son the school. Gal and Grant Jr. Gandor, named after his father, are Fraternal twins. Grant Jr. is a young, small, straight haired, white boy, same eye color as his sister. Gal the same, jet black hair, white brown eyed girl. The dad used to work down at the farm.
'That's why he's so strong. Damn near ripped the collar right off my shirt.'
The same went with the brother. He worked down at the farm. The farm was nearing the outskirts of town. So it was really affected by the attack. The owner of the farm even came offering food and his barn to the people. Some took his offer, other stayed thinking it was to far from town. Don is one of the people that took the offer.
The only downside was having to help around the farm as well as making it back to help with cleaning the town. I never understood how he did it anyway. Don, he was able to help with Nightwatch. Return back getting a minuscule amount of sleep, help the barn then, the clean up. Though in the beginning he denied ever wanting to help. What's up with him.
The people also decided that Nightwatch has gun privilege. Considering that if another attack were to happen they would be able to defend then warn people that danger was coming. So me and Don had to tell the people how to use these, since majority of them have never even felt the need to pick up a weapon until a week ago.
That's where I'm at now. A sleeping tent as well as a meeting place. Standing in front of about the dedicated fifteen people for Nightwatch. Behind a table with in front of me an Mp40 and its magazine.
"Remember this is the magazine. It is the one that holds your bullets without this your gun is just a toy."
I say holding up a thin but long rectangular object. Inside about thirty-three, bullets inside.
"You slide the magazine into this pocket hole."
Pushing the magazine in the magazine well. Pushing it to fully secure the weapon in place.
"After to ensure that the rifle is good to shoot you have to pull the cock, pulling it all the way back into the guide."
Pulling a small curved shape on the left side of the rifle back into an opening for the rifle to start shooting. Looking back at the safety to make sure it won't fire by accident. I hold the stock into my shoulder and put my eye toward the rear sight.
"This is how your supposed to hold the rifle no other way."
Turning the weapon upside down and pointing toward the stock.
"This should never be taken off no matter what. This is what makes you shoot straight and good. Y'all understand."
"Yes sir!"
All fifteen of them say in unison. Some older than others. Holding the gun, examining it. Holding it the way I'm holding it. The first thing I taught them is to always check the safety.
Could quite literally and easily be life or death. For themselves.
Grant is here as well, the father. He's not in Nightwatch but everyone that wants to can watch the demonstration.
"Clean the rifles people. You, front row.."
Pointing toward a teen with short, black hair, shorter than me and with acne on his face. Wearing a flower design shirt that wraps around him like a sash. And pants that have to many pockets for his own good.
I'm wearing damn near the same thing for a week washing it only once this week. A different white shirt that didn't have blood. Along with the same cargo pants from before. Only this time, I have a sidearm ready In case of an emergency. A Silver, Colt M1911. Tucked into a holster on my right leg, at the right length on my left leg in case of anything.
"… you understand how to clean the rifle? I taught you this be fire yeah."
"Yes sir, you have taught me. In a earlier class."
His voice is always nervous. And it seems he is also going through puberty a bit late. He's around fifteen going through this process of having to clean a gun in-front of grown men. Doesn't matter because I believe that once battle starts every person on the field in a man.
"Good come up here and show them how to clean their rifles."
Getting up from his seat and walking up to me he gets behind the table and start disassembling it. As I make my way out past Grant, at the entrance of tent, as if he's a guard to the place.
Exiting, I'm seeing one of the least destroyed area, they planted bombs inside a good majority of the house.
From what I can tell destruction and death were their main concerns. That was the only thing they wanted to achieve nothing more and nothing less. Killing off everyone else in a brutal way as well.
Walking down a road, sometimes out of the way of the very minimal trucks dragging out the debris and bricks in and out of the villiage. The people together all wanted to be there for one another since this place was always, "more like a giant family home rather than a very small city.", Forgot who said that.
There is now a bulletin board putting up names and what duty they are on as to not overwork anyone except for two people. Don and I, we are the exceptions. Why? Because we are the saviors of this small village. Named, Dank.
We help though, because unlike some we have etiquette, I'm talking bout Paul. Thankfully, or not. I'm still figuring out if it was good to make him die. looking up at the bulletin board. All duties are up there. All in there own section.
Food compensation., along with Water compensation. Animal breeding. Butcher, right below it, written in smaller letters. Check the barn for the animals ready for butchering. Some names weren't put up there, most likely Nightwatch members that stayed up watching over. Never really got to learning everyones name. Yet, somehow they all knew me.
~~~
"Gal, how does everyone know me?"
"Mr. Keith, you saved us why wouldn't we know your name..."
Just us having this conversation some people waved at me, telling me, "Hello.", or , "Thank you for saving the town."
Other weren't as nice eyeing me down. As I'm walking down the rubble ridden road. To go and help around the town.
"... Plus Mr. Don told us your name..."
There was another pause before she stopped walking and looked back at me. Waving me down like she going to tell me a secret. I follow her instructions and bring my ear down to her.
Cupping her hand between my ear and softly speaking:
"...We also don't get a lot of dark colored people around here."
'Now sometimes the stares freak me out.'
~~~
That was during a time in which I never understood what was happening. When I first woke-up, around a day after actually.
Back to the Board all the regular ones are still here except one more. That's forest duty. A job thats relatively important because the people are starting to build their houses out of. So yeah its a pretty important. So even just looking into it is pretty important.
I do see my name under it though but not in a good way. Its calling me in. Along with Don. Asking for us to come in and help. Thats not something I'd ever thought I'd hear from people of this village after no radio chatter whatsoever from anyone.
'I'm not going there by myself.'
After that thought crosses my mind I set out to look for Don. Which my first instinct is to go to the barn on the outskirts of the village.
The road to the barn is long barren road. Walking through the heat of the sun in the middle of summer. My head is sweating intensely, but slowly I find that I'm at the barn.
Walking for twenty minutes I finally arrive the barn is a giant red, building that could be seen from a mile away if not for the increased amount of corn, in the giant corn field, growing. Some people are there hoeing away at the ground.
Finally, I find the house. It is a one story but incredibly long house, with beautiful vines and flowers growing on the side. Red petals, growing lovely along the white paint of the building. Windows closed. Curtains shut.
A few little boys with their ears against the door. Getting closer to the house. I'm starting to hear mooing. Not sure if it's from the barn. Getting closer I now understand what's happening. Now I'm behind the boys. Instead of yelling at them, I just tap their shoulder and point behind me signaling them to leave.
They start by tiptoeing away in an embarrassed manner. Finally when they get a good distance away they start giggling and running away. Now, I put my ear against the door. Grunting and moaning on the other side of the door. Every now and again I would here pleads to, "DON'T STOP!!", as much as I would like to be a wingman we have places to be. I step away from the door.
I give the door a good hard knock. Once, twice, thrice. The moaning and grunting lowers. I knock again, once, twice, thrice. Now I hear hurried footsteps. But only one pair of footsteps.
The door opens, Don. He's awake bright and early. With a frown on his face and only pants on, no shirt. Showing his, four pack. His pants aren't even buttoned up. They are exposing his red underwear.
"It's okay it's just Keith!"
He yells back into the building. With an unpleasant tone. Out comes from behind him is Helena, the farm owners daughter.
She is brown headed with some white strands of hair. Around Dons age, he's 33. And shorter than both of us. At around 5'4. Wearing some shorts for the hot weather, some regular knee high pants. A beautiful shirt that matches that of the vines and flowers outside on the wall.
She's one of the people with more weight up on her but not in the bad way. She does however also have a bulky build, that could rival me if she were as taller. She has developed her body to the point where she has a six pack, her arms if she flexed would show more muscle than mine, but not near enough to rival Dons own.
Her legs are even amazingly developed as well, if she wanted to she could crush a watermelon. Her body is strong mostly from working on a farm it would naturally develop that way.
I've seen them talking a bunch. Leaving her only during night time. Sometimes.
People think that she unattractive because she is stronger than a big majority than some girls. I also hear from Dyral, the farm owner that Helena has also started a diet but now with Don by her side she might not. The diet was because she couldn't find a guy strong enough to help her. It would make guys feel insecure. eventually making up an excuse to leave her.
"Oh, hi, Keith. I didn't know you were coming here today."
Wiping out the hair stuck to her face, out of her eye. probably from the sweat, her hair only reaching her neck, with a beautiful shade of light brown. Her accent is a little like a southern American. It seems Don doesn't mind though. It is in a way sexy.
She extends a hand out for me to shake.
"I'm sorry Helena but I will have to reject your handshake on account of… Well just on account."
"I told you to lower your voice."
Don says actively trying to embarrass her with a giant smile on his face.
Her cheeks slowly start turning into a red hue. Slowly her whole face starts turning red. She turns around running somewhere in which I can no longer see to the account of Dons statue, actively trying to stop me from looking inside.
"Anyway why did you need me?"
He says leaning against the door frame and holding the door closed behind him, while his hand is the only thing keeping it a tiny bit open.
"No one's going inside the forest."
"The f*ck does that have to do with me?"
His voice made him sound like he genuinely doesn't have any concern for these people, concerns me.
"There has to be a reason as to why they don't have anyone going out there. Think about it anyway. We are practically outcast from the outside world. And the girl said the commander soldier said something about no more need for chaos…"
With a smirk growing on my lips and my eyebrows corners rising:
"… Helena would probably like it if you saved the village again. Plus imagine the bigger amount of things she would let you do to her."
[Don throws his fist toward me. A vein growing on the knuckle. His fist digging into his skin.
The hit lands punching me full force into the ground.
"Get up and leave. Don't be talking about her like she's a toy."]
Right then his fist goes flying, but with reflex and a little future looking. It misses landing against the door frame. Bending it inward. With a fist shaped hole in it.
"Leave get out of here. Fuck you and the village's people."
He walks inside trying to slam the door but I stop him.
"If you are going to change your mind. I'm going to the mayors place tomorrow morning around nine o'clock."
With one final push he slams the door shut. In the process pushing me back
Leaving me outside to wallow by myself. Slowly walking back to the village following the path. During me walking to the village the sun had slowly been going down. The conversation lasted for quite a while.
'Why did I say that, it was out of character.'
Night has come. All the workers are already gone left to be with family after a hard days work. The road leading into the villiage is along the forest. So majority of people walk on the safe side. Other just don't care and walk wherever.
Very little and I mean Very little do they walk past here at night. Because if they did they would have seen what was really in there woods. Even now as I walk past here. I unknowingly never saw what roamed these woods. The yellow eyed monster that disguised themselves as human to hunt their prey are called…