Wade
The time has come for the war to begin. My guys are armed with ammunition, military assault rifles, hand guns. And, of course, the grenades. Everything is as concealed as it can be on our bodies. We've scoped out the territory and we know exactly which neck of the wood The Iron Legion thinks they're hiding out in. What did they imagine? That we wouldn't find them? I grew up here and I know every hill, forest, and valley of the place. They might be expecting an attack but nothing in the range of what we're about to deliver. It is a well-kept secret that we have more weapons than most motorcycle gangs could ever dream off. That is our strong point. We also know that since they’re from out of town they’re woefully underequipped, even for a group their size. You can only carry so much on a bike.
Alex has the lay of the land mapped out. We have our scouts and we’re coming in far enough back that the Legion doesn't see us. Their campground is all tents and fires and even some trailers.
First, we come upon the lookouts and kill them first to keep things quiet.
There's only a few of them, three maybe. Jason and Alex stab them quickly and silently. Then we crawl on our bellies toward the camp. Jason signals to Stone and Alex that it's time and they each throw a well-placed grenade.
The explosion is massive and hits the center of their site. I see limbs and pieces of fabric blown off. I keep my cool though. It's nothing I haven't witnessed before.
The fight has started and Alex, Jason and I look at each other one last time as if to say one last goodbye…you know, just in case we don't make it out.
We descend upon their camp and it is chaos. My crew is clearly marked in red bandanas so that nobody gets lost in the mix. Fires start raging around us and I'm shooting and stabbing and killing any piece of meat that comes up against me. I'm doing this for my father, my brothers beside me, and for all the brothers I've lost over the years. Every time we fight it's in their honor.
And I’m doing it for Zeva.
These bastards really fucked up when they decided to mess with her.
It doesn't take long for us to wipe out most of their group. There was only a hundred or so here. The ones that aren't dead start running and they take off on their bikes. They know we've got them outnumbered and see the threat of our arsenal.
The guys start yelling and celebrating. They think it's all over. They start tapping out from the Legion's kegs and they drink their whiskey. Smoke, one of the newer members, is especially boisterous in his celebration.
“Oh come on! That was easy! These guys were pathetic. This is what it’s all about!” Smoke yells out, draining mug after mug of alcohol.
I shake my head and hang back trying to survey the damage. I want to see if we lost any guys. Unfortunately I see some red bandanas attached to men on the ground.
"Stop, guys. Get these men to a damn hospital before you start celebrating."
They do as I say and start to tend to the victims. I'm standing on the side of hill just watching all the fires and all the bodies left to rot. Before I realize what's happened, and before I can even pull my gun up, someone jumps out from a tent and fires at me. I'm blown backwards by the force of it and I can feel the pain of the bullet in my shoulder.
Jason is at my side in an instant and he takes the guy down. He's all clout as he doesn't even draw his gun but he stabs the guy over and over again. He yells for the men to check all the tents and every possible hiding spot.
I'm wounded on the ground, just bleeding out. It's funny because all I can think of in this moment is Zeva's shining face. I don't feel sad or anything, I just remember her face and it makes me happy despite all the blood. I have to get back to her. I have to see her again. I may or may not die from this wound but I will get back to where she is and either hold her forever or tell her goodbye.
Jason is wrapping a dirty rag from his jacket around my arm. "You gotta get to a doctor man, I can't tell how deep this goes. You could bleed out if you don't go."
"No, first I have to go see Zeva. I have to see her face."
He shakes his head, "First things first, Wade. Get yourself looked at and then decide if you should go see her."
"I have to go now, Jason."
I get up and cradle my injured shoulder. I grab one of the Legion bikes parked near me and I ride off into the night using only one arm.
"Take care of the rest," I call to Alex over my shoulder. He's shocked at my decision, but I could really care less. Jason stopped up the bleeding enough for me to get home. I will see her first and then we can determine how bad this injury is. It's hard to maneuver the bike with just one arm but I manage. I think back over what just happened.
No one likes to see war.
No one wants to kill.
I just wish like hell this gang would've known what's good for them and just disappeared, to begin with.
I ride home at a slower speed than normal because I just can't manage it. It's late, and I know Zeva will be worried. Hopefully, she can check the wound and at least tell me if the doctor should come or not.
I'll be alright, I have to be.
I want this fresh start with Zeva. Now that the worst is over, and hopefully we've done our job, the Legion will crawl back to the rat holes where they came from and all will be well.
And once that happens…well, maybe it’s time I start considering a different life.