"Revenge is an act of passion; vengeance of justice. Injuries are revenged; crimes are avenged."
- Samuel Johnson
"Last I checked I was clear with our terms."
Aliya was sat straight up on her chair with her hands clasped together on the table, staring straight at the man in front of her. Katy and Arden were beside her with rifles in their hands, staring at the others behind the man. The man frowned, "Come on Aliya. You know us." Aliya sighed as she shook her head, "That's the thing. I know you guys." She knows how they operate.
The man was beginning to feel frustrated as he aggressively wipes his chin. This made Aliya lift her brow, "Are you throwing a tantrum right now, Gab?" Arden couldn't help but look at Aliya who scooted forward in her seat, disbelief in her face. "I gave you three chances to fix your shit. We're not a charity. You're done." Katy nodded at Kiefer at the door who nodded back and opened it for them.
Gab's jaw clenched as he glared at her, "This is bullshit." Aliya's lips twitched, in awe of his audacity to be angry when she has told him what the consequences were. "D'you really wanna do this, Gab? You really wanna be forced out by the others?" Gab shook his head before storming out, pushing the door loudly. Aliya turned to his friends, "If you're planning on going with him, take a pack and go." She watched them exchange glances.
One of them shook his head, "We have no plans of leaving." Aliya nodded and told them to have a nice day before Katy shooed them out.
Arden loosened up and sat across her table, "Gab might try to retaliate." Katy stared at Aliya to wait for her reaction when Aliya shook her head. "He can try." To both Katy and Arden, it seemed as though she was looking forward for the retaliation. Like she's craving a fight. "He's dangerous to us." Katy nodded at her in agreement but she can't help but feel that she's already giving a reason for whatever she's planning to do to Gab.
Aliya looked at Katy and creased her forehead, "I gave him 3 chances. I've been generous to him. He put a hand on our people." Arden could only look at the ground, thinking hard on what to do. "He might bring others to attack us." Arden's head whipped up. He knows where she's going. "What are you trying to say?" Aliya's gaze left Katy as she looked at Arden.
"Threats have to be eliminated."
Arden saw the glint in her eyes and that scared him. She's changing dramatically. He doesn't know if it's for the better or for worse. Katy walked towards them and sat on the chair opposite of Arden, "And how do you propose we do this?" Arden glared at Katy who just stared at Aliya. Katy was encouraging Aliya's violence and it was making him feel uncomfortable and scared.
Aliya shot a man the other week. It made Arden scared at how she only looked at the dying man with cold eyes before shooting him in the head, not flinching. At all.
Aliya thought it over for a bit, ignoring the expression on Arden's face. "I'll drive him out at least 20 miles from here." Arden immediately shook his head, "Are you kidding me, Aliya? You're going alone?" Aliya shook her head, "Not alone. He'll keep me company." Arden's jaw tightened in frustration. "It's too dangerous." Aliya was acting like it was all just a game and it was grinding Arden's gears.
Arden stood up and looked at Katy, "We need a minute." Katy briefly looked up at him before looking at Aliya who was staring at Arden with a pissed expression on her face. Aliya lifted her brow at him before glancing at Katy and nodding. Katy nodded back and stood up, tapping the table before leaving the two.
Aliya scratches her neck when she's pissed or annoyed and right now, the red marks on her neck matches the red tint on Arden's. Both of them are just seconds away from snapping and it wasn't gonna be pretty when they butt heads.
On the other side of the door, Katy and James are waiting for the screaming match to commence. Katy crossed her arms together and looked around before looking at James, "It's bad." James winced and took a deep breath, "What's the verdict?"
"Gab's been kicked out."
James nodded, "Good. After all the shit he pulled." Katy nodded in agreement, "She's planning on killing him." That stopped James in his tracks. Gab has pulled so many stunts that endangered the others but killing him seemed too much. "She's worried that he might bring others and retaliate." Thinking about the kind of guy Gab is, he now agrees that he really would bring others to retaliate.
Difficult decisions have to be made in order to protect the people we love. Killing might seem extreme but an entitled man who has been rejected can be very dangerous.
Katy noticed the torn expression on his face and sighed, "I know you think she's being too much but trust me when I say that a cold leader is better than a sentimental one." James could only stare at Katy before she decided to speak up again. "Gab isn't just an annoying and selfish asshole. He's dangerous. Just ask all the women." Katy's grip on her rifle tightened as James' eyes widened at the revelation.
"He fu-did what?" It was clear to her that James really didn't know a thing about Gab's predatory behaviour. "He did it to Aliya first. She just told us when other women spoke up." James felt guilty that he didn't notice at all. He just thought that Gab was one annoying motherfucker. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know." His forehead creased as he tried to rack his brain for anything unusual about his interaction with the guy.
Katy could only let out a bitter smile, "Now you do." James lifted his head up and nodded at her. "Did he-" James winced, "...touch you?" Katy's face became hard as she looked away. "He tried."
==+==
Aliya nodded at Quinn, a young man who sought refuge in the warehouse which was now named Camellia.
In honour of Dr. Elisha.
"Good day, Quinn?" Quinn immediately looked back at her, flustered that she was speaking to him. His cheeks reddened, "Y-yes Ma'am. No biters around." She let out an amused smile as her brow lifted up, "Is that comfortable for you?" Quinn blinked rapidly, trying to wrack his brain as to what she was speaking about. His eyes dropped on his sweater, "The sweater? Yes Ma'am." He thanked his brain for remembering the sweater they gave out last night.
She shook her head before putting her hand up to her eyes to shield the sun, "I meant calling me "Ma'am". Is it comfortable?" She was genuinely curious as everybody around her seemed to call her using honourifics. Well, except her close friends. Quinn felt like he was about to pass out in panic, "What would you like me to call you, Ma'am?" He was scared that she was offended by the title.
She thought about it for a second, trying to decide between messing with him a little bit or just answer him straight up. She chose the latter, "I'm comfortable with just my name, please." He nodded at her before briefly looking back at his post. Aliya walked towards him and stood right beside him, looking out at the space as well. "Can I ask you a question?" He glanced at her briefly before nodding, "Anything you want-." He stopped himself before speaking up again, "Aliya."
The corner of Aliya's lips lifted up briefly before she adjusted her sunglasses. "What do you think justifies killing a man?" Quinn's heart dropped as he glanced at her, making sure he heard her right. "Is this a trick question?" Beads of sweat travelled down his skin as thoughts worked over time in his head, nightmarish scenarios took over his brain.
Aliya seemed to notice the fear in his face, "I promised I'll take care of you guys. We'll protect you and you'll protect us in return. I won't harm you Quinn." Quinn tried to steady his breathing as Aliya spoke up again, "Unless you do anything to compromise the safety of all of us, then yes. There will be consequences. But right now, I just need some wisdom and opinion." She bumped her shoulder to his gently, "Help a girl out, will you?" She let out a polite smile in order to make him ease up a bit.
He cleared his throat before swallowing the lump in his throat, "I guess if a man murders another in vain, he should be put to death." The tone of his voice was questionable, "What else?" She was trying to fish for the reason that was already in her head. She wanted to hear him say it without her giving clues or any indication. A flash of anger in Quinn's face shocked her a bit, taking her aback.
"Kidnapping, torturing, sexually assaulting others."
A bell dinged in Aliya's head. Bingo.
"What do you think about Gab?" She got straight to the point now. "Gab? The asshole who bullies everybody he gets his grimy hands on?" Quinn was now visibly upset and angered by the mention of Gab's name which was not surprising at all. She nodded, "Yes. That Gab." Quinn blew a breath out, shaking his head in disbelief. "I hate that asshole. As if the end of the world isn't miserable enough." He was grumbling but his words were heard.
She nodded once more, her decision becoming more solid as the day deepens. "Thank you, Quinn. You've been a great help." She turned around to leave, not waiting for his reaction or response.
Quinn was left on his post, mouth agape and unsure of what he just did with his tirade.
Arden stopped mid-conversation with Jason when Aliya came into view. Descending the staircase from the rooftop. He tapped Jason's shoulder, "Give me a minute." Jason nodded before following his gaze that fell on Aliya. Aliya and Jason exchange a nod before Aliya manoeuvred around in an effort to avoid Arden.
"Aliya."
Aliya let out an exasperated breath as she stopped walking and turned around to face him. "What, Arden? I'm really not in the mood to argue." People around them noticed the tension and couldn't help but watch them both. Luckily, Katy was in sight and politely asked people to mind their own business. Arden sighed before licking his lips in frustration, "I'm not trying to argue." Aliya just bit onto her upper lip before giving him a sarcastic smile before storming away.
He tucked in his knife before walking, keeping pace with her. "Just please, help me understand." Aliya wordlessly took his hand and dragged him with her into the back room.
When they arrived in the room, she gently pushed him further inside before closing the door. She turn around to face him, "He's a predator." The words wrapped a chain around Arden's heart, making it drop in pain. "What?" His breath was knocked out of his chest.
Aliya sighed and crossed her arms, "He's not only a selfish asshole, who in multiple times pushed others in front of him to save himself, but he's also a predator."
"Did he touch you?"
Aliya looked down at the ground, "Yes." It didn't make her sad, if she was being perfectly honest. She was way past being sad. She was angry. Thirsty for revenge. "I'm sorry." She only shook her head at him. "It's not your fault." Arden was quick to respond, "It isn't yours either." Aliya's eyes glossed over as he gently made his way in front of her. "It's not your fault, it's important that you know that." Aliya let out a grateful smile before walking into his arms.
"I'm sorry for always trying to fight you." Arden only shushed her, "It's nothing." Aliya pulled back and shook her head. "I only try to start a fight in order to avoid you." She felt pathetic, confessing this to him. But she figured that he deserves an explanation. "I was so embarrassed that that happened and so scared of what you'll think of me." He pulled her deeper into a hug.
They came together that night, in all aspects of the word.
==+==
Katy cleared her throat, adjusting her rifle. "You sure you don't want me to come with?" Aliya closed the trunk, "No. I need you here to calm everyone down while Arden explains why I'm doing this." Aliya nodded at Arden who looked pained to see her go. She pointedly looked at Katy, "Keep his boys on a leash." Katy nodded before briefly hugging her goodbye.
Aliya looked at Gab who was tied up and knocked out on the back seat. She was worried that he would wake up and attack her so she tied him up behind the passenger seat. She turned to look at Arden, "I'll be back. Like I promised." A smirk made its way onto Arden's lips, his heart warming as he remembered the promise she made back then. He nodded after engulfing her in a hug, "I'll be waiting." They separated from each other with a smile.
That smile was immediately replaced by a snare once she came in the car. Gab's unconscious body was one seat apart from her. She sighed before turning on the engine and racing out of there.
It didn't take long for Gab to regain consciousness which set Aliya off. Gab cleared his throat and tried to pry off the cloth on his mouth using the headrest. Aliya noticed this and casually swerved sideways, making him bump his head on the window. He grumbled a reaction but it fell on deaf ears.
"Where are we going?"
Aliya grumbled and looked up briefly, pissed, before immediately bringing her gaze back to the road ahead. Gab thrashed slightly, pulling on the chain on his hand that was tied onto the metal under the passenger seat. "Are you going to kill me?" She gave him a side-eye which seemed to trigger something in Gab as he tried to jump on her, making her abruptly stop the car.
One click of the gun made him silent as a mouse. "You're killing me for touching you? That's hardly fair isn't it?" Aliya's thoughts became blank, creating a tunnel vision for his demise. His audacity is driving her over the edge and she's trying her hardest to at least cover 15 miles from Camellia before bashing his skull in.
"You're right. I should torture you too."
Gab's eyes widened as he kicked her seat, "You fucking bitch!" She just tried to ignore him kicking her seat, much like her ignoring punk ass kids in the airplane. She was thankful that the seat wasn't budging, "I would've let it pass if I was the only one you touched." Her knuckles turned white as she remembered the incident.
"Oh come on! Don't act like you didn't want it."
Aliya's patience snapped. She immediately pulled over, opening her door violently as she marched around the car. "Now I'm definitely not gonna regret killing you." Gab tried to scramble away from her, kicking at her when she punched him in the crotch. Gab groaned as he clasped her eyes shut, "You're gonna kill me for stealing some rations and cupping a feel?"
It was making her crazy how he seemed to not grasp the gravity of what he had done to others. It was making her want to pull her hair out in frustration. "I let it pass when you pushed Janice in front of you when we were cornered by a group of biters." She took a deep breath, "I let it pass when you touched me in my sleep." She bit down on her lip.
"I let it pass when you stole a pack of rations."
"I let it pass when you tried to shoot Kiefer."
"But when I discovered you touched others too?"
She cleared her throat before wiping her face, "Stop mucking around or I'll kill you right here." She pushed his feet in the car and slammed the door shut. The drive was silent as Gab was deep in thought, trying to find a way to convince her not to kill him. Aliya, on the other hand was trying not to pull over and just kill him here.
"Why are you driving this distance? Why not just kill me here?"
It has been eating Gab for the whole time. It seemed much more sinister that she was putting this much effort into ending his life. "So it'll be easier to forget you."
It took Aliya a long time to accept that others look at her as a leader. As a protector. It wasn't easy for them to open their doors for other survivors but they tried, and are still trying their hardest.
She remembered how awkward and incredibly stiff they were when they let a family in the warehouse. They interviewed them in the stock room one by one just to make sure that they weren't trying to trick them.
Now, they were valuable members of Camellia.
She could also remember the moment Gab and his group came into their community like it was just yesterday. They were once a part of a bigger group who waged war against Camellia. When Camellia won, the others decided to spare their life and give them a choice.
They chose to stay.
"I'll be better! You can punish me another way!" Aliya snapped out of her reverie when Gab's voice poked her ears. She scoffed, "I heard that from you before." Gab started sobbing, the fear of death melting his tough facade. He looked around wildly when Aliya started slowing down, "Please! Don't kill me!" Aliya closed her eyes in tune with the engine turning off.
She tuned out his cries as she focused on the night of the incident.