Within the government building that was Pine Barrens Municipal Reservoir, there seems to have been quite the construction project going on. The large cistern in the center of the building once surrounded by offices and mechanical engineering workshops, now had wooden scaffolding surrounding the walkways. Beneath the scaffolding were multiple wooden walls with doors built in. They segmented the area around the deep water receptacle. You essentially had to walk through four different segmentation's to get to the other side from the front door. The scaffolding served a dual purpose. It also held up the modifications to the second floor of the structure. Originally tool storage rooms now converted into various living quarters for the Flaming Pitchforks.

  That iconography was spray painted everywhere in here. The guard rail around the cistern was about three feet tall and heavily boarded up. There was one walkway that could rotate around the top of the water, but it has since been boxed into one position thanks to all the post-apocalyptic construction. The original walkway was constructed of iron railings and metal platforms. Its biggest issue was that it was parallel to CJ’s position giving the running guards perfect shots halfway across the open area as they began filling the length.

  CJ and his team all ducked under behind the three foot tall wall as bullets ricocheted off the iron railing that ran around the lip. Theo was curled up into a ball behind Marty who had taken a defensive position over the boy. Doc Redmond and his wife Cynthia were hunched down beside CJ while Elena and Jenn were flat against the wooden wall to their left.

  “What now?” asked Redmond.

  “Well, we can’t extricate the kids out though a hail of gunfire.” Replied CJ as he checked his revolver before spinning chamber and locking it into place. “We need to find a way to end this quickly. I was hoping to be able to talk to Skipper.”

  “No one has seen him in weeks. Jerry has been the one running things.” Added Cynthia.

  “No bueno.” Commented CJ, then he nodded to Elena across the distance. She pulled the ignition cord on her chainsaw and started cutting through the barrier. “We’ll need a distraction. Good news is, I’m very good at that. Which way are the kids?”

  “These goons aren’t highly creative. They probably put them in the classroom.” Cynthia responded and pointed to their left. “Three doors that way”

  CJ stood up and began waving his arms as he ran to the right. That was the opposite direction from Elena and Jenn. While the gunfire didn’t completely drown out the sound of a chainsaw, Elena was quite adept at cutting through wood. She didn’t need to lever it back and forth since it was thinner than a full log. Something about her class allowed her to saw with ease. In short order the wall was down, and Jenn spun around her spraying at anyone hiding behind the barrier.

  New Message from Party Leader CJ: I’m going toward the kids. Jenn do not create a toxic environment; we don’t know which way we’ll have to run to get out.

  New Message from Jenn: You’re no fun.

  CJ managed to stumble through multiple gunshots before three of the six men peeled off the iron bridge and ran toward CJ knowing he would be caught at the first wooden barricade. Those shots brought CJ’s mana up to one hundred and fifty points. As they halted CJ’s progression with raised weapons, CJ cast Choking Hazard on them. All three of them began choking as small objects comprised of unaspected mana flew into their mouths from seemingly nowhere. The first of the guards got another shot off at CJ that just paid for the cost of the spell as it slammed into his right shoulder. The other two guards clawed at their throats as the guns clattered to the floor. The first one finally relented as CJ moved passed them now that the door in the wall had been opened.

  “Thanks gents. Better luck next time.”

  On this side of the barricade CJ found more luxuries. Sofas and recliners lined the walls up to the first original door in the wall. It was labeled grocery. CJ flung it open to find an older man with his hand raised toward some fresh produce. Small puffs of water vapor misted from his open palm. His white beard came down to just below his jaw line. The clothing he was wearing seemed to have been patched and resewn multiple places. He also had an iron cuff and chain attached to his ankle. The clattering of running feet came from behind as Cynthia Redmond showed up.

  “He’s the grocer, he keeps the room cool and the food fresh.” She huffed out, “I’ll do what I can to free him, my husband went after Ed and Riley. Go help him.”

  CJ didn’t need to hear anymore as he peeled back out into the main chamber of the building. He took a minute to check on Jenn and Elena. Seems like there were in their own pitched battle. They were exchanging gunfire with three other Flaming Pitchfork members on the opposite side of the building.

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  New Message from Theo: You left these three gasping for air over here. We’ll take care of them, you continue on.

  CJ was about to respond back to the boy before he heard three gunshots in succession followed by Marty screaming in protest. Knowing that Redmond was going to need help but torn about what was happening behind him, CJ reluctantly ran off after the doctor. He hoped Theo was alright. At least he could send a message.

  New Message from Party Leader CJ: What was that? Marty what happened?

  There was no response, and he had almost caught up to the doc. Then a loud roar sounded from behind him. It almost resembled a deep lung rattling cough. That was all the time he could spare as Redmond came out of the second door on the path. Gun pointed at his head with his right arm pinned behind him. It was none other than Jerry. He kept Doc Redmond’s body between CJ and himself as the slowly walked out into the open.

  “I would have lost a ton of money on you being dead. The fuck did you come back here for? It doesn’t matter. Now I don’t have to hunt your deadbeat ass down.” He gestured with head for someone to come out of the room before continuing. “Drop the piece and put your hands behind your back. Kowalski, come out here and break this guy’s legs for me. Then we’ll find out where Leaf’s Bend is.”

  Someone CJ didn’t recognize from his time here lumbered out of the room. It was like they hired a retired pro wrestler to be Jerry’s personal bodyguard. The man was six foot eight inches tall and looked like he lifted all the weights in the gym. He practically had to duck to get through the doorway. His hair was black, and it looked like he had trouble growing facial hair.

  “That’s doc Redmond though. Don’t we need him for when we get hurt?” said the giant of a man.

  “Not the guy I’m holding at gunpoint you dumb ass! The magician with the goofy looking robe on.” Swore Jerry with a look of exasperation on his face like when you tell someone something for the thousandth time. “Did you just get out of the bath or something? Fucking artists.”

  CJ hadn’t noticed his robe changing back from the Flaming Pitchfork uniform disguise. That was a good thing. His cuffs were much larger which meant he could pull out even bigger objects. As his revolver clattered to the ground he put both hands behind his back. Kowalski was big but he lumbered around. CJ needed to come up with something fast. He didn’t want to get grabbed by this brute.

  New Message from MaRtY: CJ DUCK!

  CJ dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes as a humanoid made of hazy smoke with Marty as its core crashed into Kowalski, Doc Redmond, and Jerry. He was at least seven feet tall if he was an inch and almost equally as wide.

  “That fucking smoke monster is here!” screamed Jerry at the top of his lungs with a mixture of surprise and horror that CJ had never heard from the man before.

  CJ rolled onto his back and sat up. The crashing of wooden structures could be heard in the distance as Kowalski and the monstrous Marty battled it out like two titans. Sprawled on the ground around him was Jerry leaning up against the barrier to the cistern and a bruised but intact Redmond laying half in and out of the doorway. CJ swung his feet around and knocked Jerry’s magnum away from the dazed man. That seemed to be enough to snap him out of it, Jerry hopped up to his feet in a crouch. He was coiled and ready to spring at CJ.

  Two more goons ran across the metal walkway to join Jerry each with a baseball bat in hand. There was still gunfire coming from the opposite side of the building which told CJ the ladies were still doing their thing. He would have to check on them in his next free moment. That’s when he heard moaning coming from the Doc as he lay on the ground. White light bloomed from the doorway and Jerry took that as his opportunity to strike. He launched himself at CJ intending to throttle him. CJ simply dodged the man’s clumsy swings. While a terror with a gun, an accomplished brawler Jerry was not.

  CJ had spent the last month fighting life or death battles and had learned a few things. Things like he was very fast. Much faster than most people. So, he decided to use this as an opportunity to test what he’d learned. Maybe even get some payback for the years of abuse.

  “You know we just came here for the kids, woah watch it,” he said dodging another right cross. “This didn’t have to be about blood and hurt feelings.”

  “You stupid fucker. Stop hopping around like a Mexican jumping bean and I’ll finish you quick.” Shouted an increasingly frustrated Jerry.

  CJ was no fool. He realized Jerry was positioning him closer to the goons with the bats. He was excited to show him how much that didn’t matter. CJ cast Smoke Screen engulfing all four men within a cloud of smoke. Smoke that CJ could see just fine through. The bats swung for the fences and CJ just stepped aside. Both bats came crashing down Jerry. Once the two men felt purchase from their implements, they went at it with zeal.

  CJ stepped out of the smoke to check on Redmond to see the doc standing whole and hearty. The white light was slowly dissipating around his skin. Inside the room were racks and racks of weapons and ammo. CJ made a mental note before ushering the doc back out into hall.

  “The next room should have the kids in it. I’ll finish up here.” Pushing the Doc forward he continued, “shouldn’t take me too long.”

  “Understood. You sure you’ll be alright?” asked Remond.

  CJ leaned his head to the left touching the door jam and smiled at his friend.

  “I can’t imagine a scenario where we don’t come out on top.”

  A red streak lanced across the space between Doc Redmond and CJ. A pitchfork wreathed in flames stuck out of the wall and door frame. Three tines buried into the wood and a forth was sticking out of CJ’s left eye socket with the sound of sizzling meat.

  CJ’s eye burst from the heat and he started to screaming.