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<br/>
《 Rachel 》<br/>
<i>Location: LDS Church<br/>
Addressing: Church goers</i>​</div><br/><div style="text-align: justify">The caravan of miscreants had only made a small dent in what Rachel could only assume would be a longer trek when Armando was commanded to stop. She grasped the strap that crossed her chest and immediately gazed around, taking in their surroundings. Rachel had not seen this area of town, even before they came to stay at Abendblume. None of the landmarks, or the ruins left behind, were familiar to her. Beyond not knowing where they were, she also didn’t have a clue as to where they were headed.<br/>
<br/>
From where she stood, it felt like the world was standing with its arms wide open. The mountain rose tall behind the Holy building. Abendblume, now hidden behind the thicket of trees, lay nestled at its feet, resembled a prosperous kingdom that would only exist in her memories. Behind her, a forest of trees left to thrive and grow now that the threat of humanity was nearly extinguished. There was another, smaller, mountain range in the other direction. Rachel knew not the name of the forest or the mountain, but she had a mind about her to start acknowledging the specifics.<br/>
<br/>
The opportunity for vengeance would come without warning and Rachel needed to be ready.<br/>
<br/>
Rachel stood beside Tobias and watched as the woman climbed down from the carriage. She was frail, probably wouldn’t survive a night alone if the undead were to swarm upon her. By the sounds of it, that was what she wanted. The woman didn’t want to continue traveling with them, and as time went on and her argument gained in strength, the opposing side also grew in numbers. This time, a man stepped down, brushing his hands off on his corduroy trousers. These were the same people that she had helped to gather their things. The same ones that Dan had helped into the carriage.<br/>
<br/>
“Damn it.” She murmured under her breath. Rachel heaved her duffle bag off of her body, slipping out beneath the strap before it landed on the grass with a muffled thud. “Wait!” She called out, jogging after the group as they walked in a scattered formation towards the main doors. Rachel cut them off and raised her hands, bringing them to a slow stop before they could enter the building.<br/>
<br/>
“It’s not safe.” Rachel argued, unafraid to use her own body to keep them out.<br/>
<br/>
“So you’re going to tell us what we can and can’t do now, mm?” One leveled, staring at her. Despite her wrinkled skin and the wisps of brown-gray hair that hung around her face, the woman’s eyes displayed an intensity that dared Rachel to fight her. She was the epitome of ‘<i>respect your elders’.</i><br/>
<br/>
“<i>It’s not safe</i>.” Rachel responded, staring back at the woman. The one that had brought this movement to fruition. The two women started at each other for a moment longer before Rachel forced her edges to soften. Truthfully, she wanted to drag this old broad back to the carriage so they could be on their way.<br/>
<br/>
“It’s not safe.” She repeated in a softer voice. The woman shrugged dramatically and took a step forward, causing Rachel to mirror, blocking her path. Rachel placed her hand on the woman’s shoulder and tried her hardest to be a voice of reason. There was a chance that her words would fall on deaf ears, but it was a chance she had to take. They couldn’t leave this woman and these people behind.<br/>
<br/>
“Hale selected us all because we have something in common.” Rachel began, lifting her gaze to the few that stood behind, just in the grassy yard. “We test the limits. We push his buttons and make him uncomfortable. We are stubborn and bull-headed. Every single one of us.” She swallowed and took back her hand. “We are not going to let this be the end. We are resourceful and scrappy. The last few years have been good because we felt safe in Abendblume, but it’s not where we belonged. Not really. We don’t belong under anyone else’s rule. Not the Hale family. Not Armando. We are the only ones left to hold ourselves accountable and as long as we stay together and have each other's backs, we can do this.”<br/>
<br/>
The broken fragment of a group stayed grounded, their attention on her.<br/>
<br/>
Rachel brushed her hair from her eyes and continued. “Stopping here to pray is putting every single one of us at risk. We are tired, we are hungry,  and we are scared. We need to get to our landing point and then we can decide what to do from there. Together.” She tilted her head, addressing the woman now as an equal, which Rachel hoped she would respect. “You know as well as I do that a church is not necessary for prayer. There was no church in Abendblume. There doesn’t need to be a church now. Just, please, let us get where we need to go and I will help to find you all a suitable place for worship.”​</div>