giving a speech. Getting them excited.”
“Keep watching.”
Another man walked into frame and tapped him on the shoulder. He leaned in and whispered something into his ear. Simon stopped, glared at the man, and then started to yell. He stomped the ground and threw his arms in a fit of rage. His entire face turned bright red. He drew his gun, pointed it at the man’s head, and fired. The other men did not react. They stood in formation and awaited orders. Simon swung the gun around at one of them and pulled the trigger. Moved to the next. Pulled the trigger. His men stood still as the gun moved down the line.”
“What?” Ella said, confused. “Why is he killing his own people?”
“He was throwing a fit, simple as that. It was the day we reclaimed one of our supply posts. He had captured it from us just days earlier. That man was giving him the bad news. He killed twelve of his men that day.”
“He’s nuts.”
“He has a temper for sure.” She popped the cartridge out. “I have more.” She picked out another one and slipped it in.
Another image came up. This one was in some sort of store. It was a large warehouse with shelves full of products. People walked up and down the aisles, browsing through the selection. A group of armed men and women charged in, Simon leading in front. They yelled at customers and forced them to the ground. He said a few words and then signaled to his troops. They pointed their guns and fired. Simon left and returned with jugs of gasoline. They drenched the aisles until they were all out, and then lit the place on fire.
“Jeez!” Alan said.
“It’s savage, I know,” Charlotte said. “This was a store that Greene owned. There are many of them throughout the City. Lots of people shop there because it’s affordable. To Greene, it’s important that everyone has food and water, even those struggling with money, so he provides low-cost options. But to Simon, anyone who shops at these stores is a supporter of Greene. He kills them because he believes they’re against his cause. In reality, they are only trying to put food on their tables. Innocent people die every week because of this.”
“He does this a lot?” Rupert asked.
“All the time. This was just one instance, but he’s attacked a number of Greene’s stores throughout the City. He’s slaughtered peaceful supporters of Greene. Unarmed people who want to support what we do.”
“I’m starting to get the picture,” Alan said. “This Simon guy is bad news.”
Charlotte reached back into the drawer. “I have one more to show you.” She pushed in another cartridge.
A little girl stood alone in an alley. Simon walked into frame holding a large gun. He handed it over to her and walked back out. When he returned, he was dragging a man. The man was tied up, gagged, and blindfolded. Simon dropped him in front of her and pointed at his head. The girl refused, shaking her head. Simon burst out yelling. She teared up, the gun trembling in her hand. She raised it up, closed her eyes, and shot. The man’s head exploded, and his body fell to the ground. She stared at the headless corpse in terror. Simon took the gun from her, patted her head, and walked out.
“I think we’ve seen enough,” Ella said.
Charlotte nodded. “I know it’s hard to watch. Simon recruits kids at a young age. Forces them to kill. Greene has a strict no-children policy. He doesn’t recruit children as soldiers, and they must give their consent to be test subjects.” She looked at Vince and Saul. “Of course, you two are the exception. Barnabus panicked and disobeyed orders. He was not meant to inject you against your will. He was punished for that.”
They were all silent as they walked back to their bedroom. When they arrived, Rupert turned to Charlotte. “Do you mind if we talk amongst ourselves for a moment?”
She nodded. “Of course. Take all the time you need.”
They huddled in the corner. “What do you think?” Alan
“Keep watching.”
Another man walked into frame and tapped him on the shoulder. He leaned in and whispered something into his ear. Simon stopped, glared at the man, and then started to yell. He stomped the ground and threw his arms in a fit of rage. His entire face turned bright red. He drew his gun, pointed it at the man’s head, and fired. The other men did not react. They stood in formation and awaited orders. Simon swung the gun around at one of them and pulled the trigger. Moved to the next. Pulled the trigger. His men stood still as the gun moved down the line.”
“What?” Ella said, confused. “Why is he killing his own people?”
“He was throwing a fit, simple as that. It was the day we reclaimed one of our supply posts. He had captured it from us just days earlier. That man was giving him the bad news. He killed twelve of his men that day.”
“He’s nuts.”
“He has a temper for sure.” She popped the cartridge out. “I have more.” She picked out another one and slipped it in.
Another image came up. This one was in some sort of store. It was a large warehouse with shelves full of products. People walked up and down the aisles, browsing through the selection. A group of armed men and women charged in, Simon leading in front. They yelled at customers and forced them to the ground. He said a few words and then signaled to his troops. They pointed their guns and fired. Simon left and returned with jugs of gasoline. They drenched the aisles until they were all out, and then lit the place on fire.
“Jeez!” Alan said.
“It’s savage, I know,” Charlotte said. “This was a store that Greene owned. There are many of them throughout the City. Lots of people shop there because it’s affordable. To Greene, it’s important that everyone has food and water, even those struggling with money, so he provides low-cost options. But to Simon, anyone who shops at these stores is a supporter of Greene. He kills them because he believes they’re against his cause. In reality, they are only trying to put food on their tables. Innocent people die every week because of this.”
“He does this a lot?” Rupert asked.
“All the time. This was just one instance, but he’s attacked a number of Greene’s stores throughout the City. He’s slaughtered peaceful supporters of Greene. Unarmed people who want to support what we do.”
“I’m starting to get the picture,” Alan said. “This Simon guy is bad news.”
Charlotte reached back into the drawer. “I have one more to show you.” She pushed in another cartridge.
A little girl stood alone in an alley. Simon walked into frame holding a large gun. He handed it over to her and walked back out. When he returned, he was dragging a man. The man was tied up, gagged, and blindfolded. Simon dropped him in front of her and pointed at his head. The girl refused, shaking her head. Simon burst out yelling. She teared up, the gun trembling in her hand. She raised it up, closed her eyes, and shot. The man’s head exploded, and his body fell to the ground. She stared at the headless corpse in terror. Simon took the gun from her, patted her head, and walked out.
“I think we’ve seen enough,” Ella said.
Charlotte nodded. “I know it’s hard to watch. Simon recruits kids at a young age. Forces them to kill. Greene has a strict no-children policy. He doesn’t recruit children as soldiers, and they must give their consent to be test subjects.” She looked at Vince and Saul. “Of course, you two are the exception. Barnabus panicked and disobeyed orders. He was not meant to inject you against your will. He was punished for that.”
They were all silent as they walked back to their bedroom. When they arrived, Rupert turned to Charlotte. “Do you mind if we talk amongst ourselves for a moment?”
She nodded. “Of course. Take all the time you need.”
They huddled in the corner. “What do you think?” Alan
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