G Hopf - Driver 8 - A Post-Apocalyptic Novel

“Let’s first talk about what you’re doing with his wife. Are you really taking her as yours?”

Shocked that Barry knew, he asked, “How did you hear about that?”

“I have my own ears around town.”

He pointed at Barry and laughed, “A chip off the old block.”

“I learned from the best,” Barry said with a smile.

“She’s beautiful. I can’t wait to get my hands on her,” Xavier said. “And with these new hormones you’ve gotten for me, and some of the other enhancers, I should be fit as a fiddle.”

“When you told me you wanted me to kill Driver Eight, I thought you must have made a mistake. That’s why I asked for a confirmation. You know dad, I still remember when we found him. I told you it was a bad idea and you said either he’ll end up being a savior for our fledging group or he’ll be the one that will put an end to it. I think that’s pretty much verbatim.”

“I remember that, good memory.”

“Driver Eight gave us nineteen years of his life. Driving millions of miles so that our little experiment would thrive and when he had something that you wanted you had him killed. What kind of person does that?”

“Son, the world is not for the weak or the meek. We must take what we want.”

“When do you think I can take over?” Barry asked.

“Why do you ask?”

“I’m just curious. I’m almost twenty-six, I’m strong, educated. I think I’m getting close. Plus, I imagine you’ll want to enjoy retirement with your new bride.”

Xavier laughed. “Son, I’m not going to retire while I’m still standing. Secondly, you still need a bit more seasoning. Give it some more time, maybe spend some time outside the gates. See what’s out there.”

“I don’t need to see what’s out there. Its’ a shit hole.”

“You look tired. I’m sure your trip and what I asked of you has made you tired.”

“No, what I’m tired of is being disrespected. I’m ready to lead now.”

“I’m not sure why you’re getting upset. It’s must be because you’re weary. Go rest, let’s continue this conversation over dinner.”

“No!”

Xavier stood up. “I’ll not have you yell at me.”

Barry took a deep breath and calmly said, “Your time is up, father.”

The office doors opened and in walked Kyle with a pistol in his hand.

“You’re alive?” Xavier asked, his face contorted in terror.

Barry got up quickly and moved out of the way.

“You ordered to have me killed. You tried to take my wife from me. I served you out of a sense of duty because you saved my life and that is how you repay?” Kyle barked marching towards Xavier.

“Let me explain,” Xavier pleaded his hands up.

“There’s nothing to explain. I just heard this entire conversation,” Kyle said.

Across the room, Barry held up a hand held radio. “Sorry, dad.”

“You, you planned this?” Xavier hollered at Barry.

“What did you say dad, the world is not for the weak or the meek.”

Kyle walked until the desk was the only thing that stood between him and Xavier. “Time to die.”

“No, no, don’t. I can reverse all of this. Let me do that. I’ll give you whatever you want, just don’t kill me.”

Kyle index finger began to apply pressure to the trigger.

“I put you in that truck not because we needed you to scavenge for us, but because I know you needed to look for her. I know you’ve never forgiven yourself for surviving that day. I know you’ve been searching for her.”

“Shut up!”

“Let me help you find her,” Xavier implored.

“Shut up.”

“Please, let me help you.”

“Why? You can have anyone you want, but my wife?”

“It’s not like that.”

“It definitely seems that way to me. I’ve been loyal to you. I gave you my life in service because you saved me and put me in that truck.”

Xavier’s initial shock was morphing into anger at the sight of Kyle pointing a pistol at him. He could see something in his eyes that he’d never seen before, fear . “I did and I told you why. You’ve been driving everywhere looking for her, I know you have but did I stop you? No. I only let you do what you needed even though you were putting your needs about the others, even above your own wife.”

Kyle tightened his grip on the pistol and took a step closer, “Shut up!”

Barry watched with pure joy the interaction between his two foes knowing that this showdown would be the end of both.

“Do you know how alone Portia has been? Sitting and waiting for a man who can never truly give his heart to her because it belongs with someone else. Can you imagine how that must feel?”

“Shut your mouth!”

Growing impatient, Barry blurted out, “Shoot him already!”

Xavier looked at Barry, his expression turning to surprise.

“Just tell me why you’d betray me?” Kyle asked. His need to know was cloudy his judgement and putting the plan in jeopardy.

“Betrayal? Ask your wife about that,” Xavier said.

“I’ve been a good husband.”

“Sure, you haven’t lay with other women, but you’re never there for her, you’re always gone. Driving mile after mile all with the hope that one day you’ll find her. What was here name?”

“Don’t talk about her.”

“Her name, it was the only thing you kept saying when we found you. It was…”

“Don’t you dare utter her name,” Kyle said angrily.

“Let me remember, oh yeah, it was, Tif…”

Kyle pulled the trigger. The forty-five caliber round struck Xavier in the head and exited out the back leaving the wall behind him covered in blood and brain matter.

Xavier dropped to the ground dead.

“You did it! For a time there, I didn’t think you’d do it. I can’t fucking believe it, you killed him. Yes! Yes! You did it!” Barry cheered.

A gunshot cracked behind Kyle. He looked down expecting to see an exit would but nothing was there.

Barry turned to see Bravo One standing in the open doorway of the office with a pistol in her hand. She pulled the trigger of her pistol again but this time it didn’t fire. She tried again, nothing.

Not waiting to get shot at again, Kyle swiveled around and shot her two times in the chest.

She stumbled forwards, dropped to her knees then fell forward, her head smacking the floor hard. She gasped loudly then died.

The roar of heavy footfalls echoed in the hall beyond.

Kyle gave Barry and look, seeking to know what he should do.

“Don’t do anything stupid, I’ll tell the guards to stand down, but I think you should put the gun down,” Barry said walking towards Kyle.

A squad of guards rushed into the room, their rifles at the ready but Barry now stood in between them and Kyle, who still held the pistol firmly in his grip and out in front of him.

“Driver Eight, put down the gun. No more deaths. We have a deal, remember.”

The lead guard shouted, “Number Two step out of the way!”

“Don’t shoot, I’ve got this handled,” Barry replied. “Driver Eight, give me the pistol. These men won’t hurt you, I promise.”

“Can I trust you?”

“Of course, we had a deal.”

Kyle nodded and let go of his pistol.

Barry took it, stepped a few feet away and barked, “Arrest him. He murdered my father, he murdered our dear leader!”

Portia ran a brush through Melissa’s long, thick, dark hair. “What kind of braid do you want?”

“What kind are there?” Melissa asked moving the arms of a doll that sat on her lap.

“Let’s see, there’s a French braid, and a tear drop braid, that one we take and have it make a teardrop shape around your ear.”