DUSK 2
Undead bodies of sinners squirmed and twitched at the ends of the gallows ropes. Instead of crucifixions, Reed had ordered civilian traitors and cowards to be dragged from their homes and lynched. All good, able men would serve in his cause or they and their families would be executed. In the end of days, the only profession was the warrior. The women loyal to the messiah would be left home to guard the base and the next generation, but the men would follow Reed into battle as soon as their home was cleansed.
Here and there, Reed’s forces found pockets of resistance, but their spine had been broken outside of the cathedral. In the distance he heard gunshots. His forces would either return with news of more rebels being crushed or the extermination of lepers. Now, Reed and Griffin walked the streets with a contingent of thirty soldiers. His mission was not to oust traitors, but to be visible. He wanted the people to see their leader. He wanted them to look to the future and see hope, for hope was faith. Outside of their home, the sinners were many, but thy were weak. They would be crushed under the might of righteousness.
A jeep with a shattered headlight approached. The driver was a Hispanic general in his mid thirties.
“Sir,” the general said. “Another general found a large number of troops in a building outside of the western boarder. They’ve sealed themselves inside and we’re having a hard time taking them out.”
“Take the building down with them in it. Use whatever you have in your arsenal, just smite them quickly. Every minute we spend on them pushes back our moment of glory.”
The general whipped his jeep around and sped back to his battle scene, pulling spare troops as he went.
Reed felt a pull towards an empty alley.
“Griffin, take over recruitment, I have to do something alone.”
He went with the tug, rationing his speed as not to attract attention. Though he’d heard the voice of God, Reed was not sure that he wanted to reveal his secret to the rest of the flock until they were ready to fight the larger war. If the sinners knew he was a profit, they would surely do all in their power to discredit his word. As just a man of faith, they could only silence him.
“You have done well,” the messiah’s voice said as Reed entered the darkness.
“I just wish I could have worked faster. We are still finding the heretics.”
“Have patience, my child. You have destroyed their leaders. Next you shall find my killers.”
*
The messiah had not revealed everything, but he gave Reed hints and told him which direction to concentrate his search. As he stepped out of the shadows, an explosion filled the distance; probably the general carrying out his orders.
A new family was standing on the wooden platforms, wearing ropes around their necks. Though many were hanging, undead Reed knew that most of the men were joining the cause.
The gunfire had stopped, so Reed hailed Griffin.
“Gather the generals. I want to meet with them, but first tell one of them to send four teams of his best men west to find a ruined paradise. I don’t want them to engage the enemy unless they are spotted. Just tell them to find the city and return. I will search the place myself, when our army arrives.”