Alive and Fighting: New in Town by Cole Connelly Read Free Book Online

Alive and Fighting: New in Town
    April, 2033
                  The world was a dark place, for many a number of reasons, but currently because the sun hadn't yet risen over Blood Oak. Travis however, was wide awake and preparing for the new day. Slowly and methodically, he walked around his small shop, waiting for the sun to rise and welcome in his clientele, should any choose to risk attack by leaving home. With his crossbow loaded, Travis took a seat and stared out the glass front of his parlor at the Mississippi river with the sun now just cresting the horizon. Just as he was about to turn on his lights a small bell rang, snapping his attention to the door.
                  "Weapons?"
                  "Knife belt."
                  "Gun?"
                  "Not since Alamo."
                  "Followed?"
                  "No."
                  "Unaffiliated?"
                  "Harvesters."
                  "Well then, Welcome to Travis's."
                  Travis lowered his crossbow and flicked a switch, illuminating his small tattoo parlor and revealing the woman who just walked in. She wore the signature white hoodie of the Harvesters, but had no red arm band. However, her Auburn-gold hair made up for it in Travis's mind. It was pulled back into a single braid that hung halfway down her back. Travis warmly gestured to a chair, which the woman happily occupied.
                  "You're out early it would seem." Travis said, gathering his supplies. "And for a tattoo no less…Long day ahead?"
                  "You could say that. New to the city, need to figure out what I've gotten myself into…Amy, by the way." Amy replied, her attention caught by the wall of designs.
                  "Welcome to Blood Oak then, Amy…alright, just a couple questions, have you ever gotten a tattoo before?" Travis asked, sitting down on a rolling stool.
                  "Three, one yesterday actually." Amy responded, turning her eyes to Travis.
                  "Really? I know I didn’t do it. Was it bad work? Here to fix it?" Travis questioned, preparing his tools.
                  "No, it's fine, but I'd like something more detailed than what the Harvesters can do with what they have." Amy explained, pushing her right sleeve up over her shoulder, revealing a simple rising sun tattoo.
                  "Okay, I understand. Yeah, I know the Harvesters like doing their own initiation work in-house. I've offered to do it for them, but that Mr. Williams likes keeping a tight ship…I guess I'd be a loose end to them, someone off the payroll…alright you've had ink before so that answers most of my questions…do you know what you'd like?" Travis asked, rolling over to Amy.
                  "Yep, got it right here." Amy answered, fishing a tattered paper from her pocket. It looked like it was torn from an old poster, and bore a symbol of two red and black hammers.
                  "Ah, the marching hammers…it's been a long time since I've seen these. Where'd you like this bygone symbol?" Travis questioned, taking out the proper ink vials.
                  "Right here." Amy said, pointing to right over her elbow and below the sun.
                  Travis got to work and for a moment the two remained silent, Amy staring off through the shop front as the sun now broke completely away from the distant river's opposite shore. Travis's work was by no means a rush job, but he certainly didn't drag his feet either. His detailed work provided the two time to talk, and for Amy to indeed figure out what she'd gotten herself into by moving this place.
                  "So you were in the Alamo Graveyard before this?" Travis asked, dabbing off excess ink.
                  "Yep, I'd been