The Journal of Madie Beartri

Journal 131

I was discussing the Black Cobra issues with Matt and Hemy when Tony came through the front doors of Bear Country. He didn’t look as if he had been in a battle, so I assumed he hadn’t located Victor. I was getting ready to ask Tony if he had enjoyed his walk when Matt spoke up and asked if Runt (Victor) was roadkill.  Tony thought for a moment before answering. He said he had initially run out to catch Victor and bring him back to Bear Country but after walking around town for a couple of hours he decided it wasn’t worth the effort.  If Victor wanted to be a Black Cobras, he could accept the consequences. I was getting ready to agree when in stumbled Victor through the front doors. He looked awful. He was bleeding and bruised. My first thought was that a gang that didn’t agree with the Cobra’s way of thinking caught him.  The four of us, Matt, Hemy, Tony and I stood there staring at him. Do we help? Do we pretend he isn’t there? Do we kick him back to the curb? Victor was practically in tears. I hate it when people cry. He stretched out a bleeding arm and asked for help. I turned to look at Tony and ask him to help me get Runt upstairs. Tony shook his head “no” and walked away toward the basement. I turned to Matt and asked for his help. Victor is a little twit and probably not worth the effort (definitely not worth the effort) but at that moment I couldn’t kick him out of Bear Country. Matt and Hemy helped me get Victor upstairs.

Hemy helped me clean out and bandage Victor’s wounds. I know it’s mean but we weren’t trying to be gentle.  I caused as much discomfort as possible. Call it pay back for Victor’s treacherous deeds. Victor sat through the whole thing trying not to cry or say ouch!

Victor thought he was joining an elite group of the Black Cobras. He spent the last week performing task to prove he was worthy. It was just a Cobra game. After helping the Cobras steal our food, the Cobras told Victor he was too young to join their elite group. Victor received his injuries after he realized the Cobras tricked him. He attacked one of the older boys out of retaliation.

Journal 130

Today was not a good day to go to town. I woke up early and went to town to see if I could barter for candles. I found the candles but while I was away in town trying to avoid Black Cobras in the street, Bear Country had guests. Marty, Gretchen, and Cecelia said they were leaving the media center when Victor arrived with a dozen of his Black Cobra Friends. Victor led them straight to our food stores.

The Library Trio attempted to stop the Cobras from taking our food. Victor and his friends took practically everything that was in the kitchen. The Runt needs to pray I don’t run into him when he is alone.

Tony has actually left the basement. I just wish I knew where he was at this moment. Tony spent the day in town putting up posters protesting against the Black Cobras. When he returned to Bear Country, he went straight to the kitchen for something to eat. Tony was a little upset when he discovered everything was gone. He was more upset when I told him who took our food. I hope Victor is wearing his fast shoes.

Sheriff Pete and Jonas have been gone for several days. I am keeping my fingers crossed they have already arrived at their destination.

Journal 129

My stay out at the Spurs Fort was very peaceful and relaxing. I even slept well in the bunkhouse. Joshua woke me up around 7 am with pancakes and a cup of coffee. It was so very sweet. I left for home after breakfast. Joshua tried to get me to stay and he made the offer again for Bear Country to merge with the Spurs.  I declined but I was tempted to say yes. I can’t make that kind of decision on my own. Everyone in Bear Country would have to agree for that to happen.

Joshua offered to walk me home. It was a nice thought but I really wanted to be alone at that particular moment. The walk home was quiet for the most part. I really should try to avoid the center of town. It’s hard to avoid the Black Cobras there.  I ran into Victor and a couple of his friends. I would have taken another route if I had known I was going to step into his path. It wasn’t a bad encounter, a little teasing but nothing I couldn’t handle.  I think Victor was trying to impress his new friends.  I tried to be calm and not combative. I asked Victor if he has plans to return to Bear Country any time soon. He didn’t answer. He just walked away.

Journal 128

I couldn’t spend one more moment cooped up inside Bear Country. I wasn’t in the mood to tear down Black Cobra posters or throw manure at unsuspecting Cobras from the rooftops. No one wanted to go to town anyway. Tony locked himself in the basement. He won’t talk to me or let me in. It sounds like he is building something in there. I could hear banging and clanging coming from inside the room as I stood outside the door.

Out of desperation for companionship, I walked out to the Spurs Fort to spend the day with Joshua. I kept my fingers crossed the whole walk there and I prayed he wasn’t too busy to spend a little time with me. I needed someone to talk to me.

Joshua was busy but he let me help with whatever task he was working on. I worked hard most of the day. I’m going to be sore in the morning. I can already feel my muscles protesting about the day’s unexpected workout. I usually try to avoid physical labor but today it felt good. Sleeping tonight shouldn’t be a problem. Joshua is letting me sleep in one of the newly built bunkhouses and he promised me a grand breakfast in the morning.

Journal 127

I’ve been sitting at my desk, staring out the window. It’s a beautiful sunny day outside but you couldn’t tell it by the mood inside of Bear Country. The mood in here is extremely depressing. Almost no one is venturing out of his or her rooms. The people I have seen are walking around without saying much of anything to anyone. The younger children are usually running up and down the halls. I haven’t seen any of them today.

Tony has locked himself inside the basement. He won’t let me in. I asked Tony if he wanted to join me for breakfast. I volunteered to make pancakes or anything he wanted to eat. He turned me down. I went back at lunch to see if he wanted to go to the arcade. He said no again and asked me to go away. I walked away but only after making a couple more attempts at gaining entrance.

Hemy and the Central Bobcats are attempting to make themselves at home inside Bear Country. They have taken up residence in the empty classrooms in the west wing of the school. They mostly keep to themselves. I think they are still recovering from having to leave their home. Hemy is handling things much better than I would. I would be a crazy woman if I had to give up my home. Matt is doing his best to make the transition as easy as possible and he has finally moved out of his room in the admin hallway. I was beginning to think he was never going to give up that room. Today he moved all of his stuff in with Hemy in the west wing.

Journal 126

It was an early morning for Tony and me. I think we left Bear Country around 4 am. There are less people up at that hour. It makes sabotaging the Black Cobras easier. Not necessarily safer but easier. Tony and I were making considerable progress when we unexpectedly came across a group of Black Cobras tormenting a couple of Blue Monarchs. Tony and I were just getting ready to intervene and stop the madness when we noticed one of the Cobras was Victor. The two of us dove behind a couple of burning barrels. I had to stop Tony from jumping out at Victor and ringing his scrawny little neck.

The Cobras are the scum of the earth. They beat people up for fun. This is not something new. Tony was pissed. He said a few words I rather not repeat. I don’t think he was pissed because the Black Cobras were beating up Blue Monarchs. I think Tony was pissed because Victor was one of them. I was pissed Victor was one of them. It is sad to say but I wish we had not taken in the little runt. We gave him food and shelter. He would have starved to death if it had not been for Tony.

We couldn’t intervene and save the Blue Monarchs from their tormentors. Victor would have recognized us and led the Black Cobras back to Bear Country. It was difficult but we chose to sneak away and let the Blue Monarchs attempt to escape from the Cobras on their own.

Tony didn’t say anything all the way back home but I could tell he was angry and disappointed. I feel bad for him. I don’t know what to say to make things better.

Journal 125

I said goodbye to Aleece, Casey and Alexander this morning. It was hard not to cry when they left. I am keeping my fingers crossed that their journey is a safe one. Casey said she would send a letter as soon as they are settled. Alexander promised to keep them safe. I wish they didn’t have to leave but I understand the need to keep Aleece safe and out of harm’s way. I will miss Aleece very much. For a while, she was mine and in that, short time I grew very attached.

The violence in town continues to escalate. I tried to go to town to pick up some needed supplies and barely escaped trouble. I ducked behind a corner as the Cobras chase some little kid down the street. I thought of intervening but my arm is still recovering from the blow I received at the rally. I have to pick my battles and that particular battle didn’t look very favorable. The Black Cobras are everywhere and many of them have terrible attitudes. Many Black Cobras walk around as if they are God. Not showing the proper respect can result in broken bones or worse. Keeping a low profile is essential these days.

Our attacks against the Black Cobras continue although out of plain site. Random fires have been springing up all over town against Cobra assets. Retaliation from the Black Cobras has been cruel and gruesome. I am not sure if our efforts are making any difference at all. I have been trying to get a message to Hess of the Blue Monarchs. I can’t find her. She is keeping a low profile or she has left town. Today, I am not sure which.

Journal 124

The Black Cobras continue to make life hell on the Central Campus side of Lafayette Blvd. I guess I should be thankful that they are not interested in Bear Country. Matt and Hemy have given up trying to keep Central out of Cobra hands. Matt, Hemy, and several remaining gang members from the Central campus have moved into Bear Country.

Joshua made an offer that I almost could not refuse. He has suggested that Bear Country merge with the Spurs. If I weren’t so determined to keep Bear Country out of Black Cobra hands, I would take him up on his offer.  I am keeping my options open. I hope this doesn’t become necessary.

Joshua and the Spurs are not immune to Black Cobra troubles. The Black Cobras attempted to take over the Spurs Fort. In the early morning hours, a band of Black Cobras attacked Joshua’s gang. It was a mistake. Joshua and his gang are well armed and well trained. The Cobras will definitely think twice before attempting to do that again.

Many of the local gangs continue to fight off the Black Cobras including Bear Country. It is difficult and many of the smaller gangs have fallen and failed at their attempts to keep the Cobras from taking over. The Black Cobras continue to increase in numbers, mostly because the smaller gangs don’t have the power to fight. The alternative is jail, death or abandoning their home. I have sent Sheriff Pete and Jonas on a mission for help. If everything goes well they should return within a week, hopefully with reinforcements.

Journal 123

Usually when I dream it’s a bunch of random events mixed up into a complicated mess that makes absolutely no sense. I had the most disturbing dream last night. Before my parents died, before the virus I went to a lake with a group of friends from my school. I went after my parents told me I couldn’t go because it was too dangerous. (The year before a student was seriously injured. We ignored the off limits sign.) Swinging out on the rope and jumping into the water was a rite of passage. If you swung out far enough you would miss the branches and roots. I lied to my parents and went to the lake. We had a great day. No one was hurt. Our day was a success. So we thought.  We all jumped except for Sally. She couldn’t get up the nerve to swing out on the rope. Several of the kids started calling her chicken and four eyed freak and a few other hurtful names. She left crying. I forgot about her until the next day when the news said she was missing. The search for Sally lasted more than a week. A group of kids attempting to make the jump found her floating faces down in the lake. I never told my parents I had been to the lake and made the jump.

In my dream, it was the same situation only the person not wanting to jump was Runt (Victor). Large roots filled the lake. No sane person would jump. I kept trying to convince Victor that he didn’t have to jump. He finally jumped only in my dream when he made the jump we were standing on top of a building. I woke up before I saw Victor hit the ground.

Journal 122

I hate days like today, everyone crying and saying goodbye. It has been a very sad morning. Several gang members have left Bear Country to find a safer place to live away from the Black Cobras. I hate saying goodbye. I hate seeing my friends leave. Casey and Alexander have also decided to leave Bear Country. This makes my heart hurt. They will be leaving in a few days. Casey is giving me a little time to say goodbye to Aleece. Sometimes we all have to make hard decisions. I wish Casey didn’t have to make this one. Bear Country is her home. Little Aleece was born just down the hall. The Black Cobras have ruined a perfectly good community.

Sheriff Pete and Jonas spent the day in town making life difficult for the Black Cobras. Everything went well and they made it home safely. Things have not gone well for a couple of the other gangs. The Black Cobras have filled the jail and started retaliating against gangs caught interrupting the flow of Bliss into the community. A couple of people have been beaten and put on display.