Adrian, Dusky, and Paige each wore their headbands, moving as one in perfect shinobi form. Paige was shaking her head while running with her arms behind her back,

  "Why does the AI want our arms behind our backs while we run?"

  Dusky gave her a perplexed look, "Haven't you ever seen Naruto? Your class is literally named after a place in that show, even if the Hidden Mist Village has nothing to do with how your mist powers work."

  "Huh, learn something new every day."

  "I think we're gonna learn a lot of new things," Adrian added.

  The group was heading east towards the settlement that Todd had located. He said the settlement is around a university, a part of town that flourished before the change, with prominent hospital systems situated here, along with the prestigious university and a renowned art museum. It makes sense that a settlement would have been established in this location.

  "I don't get how those women turned me down but were all over Dusky." Brody no longer had a British accent and was pouting about his fat friend having more luck with women than he did. "I should've just used my powers. Then I can sleep with anyone I want. Hell, I could've made them make out with each other."

  "If I see you use your powers to fuck someone, I'll kill you without hesitation." Maeve was already irritated by Brody being Brody. They were in a car exploring the southern suburbs of Cleveland when they stopped for lunch on a hill overlooking a valley. There were groups here and there, but nothing too organized or threatening, just people supporting one another to get through this ordeal. However, homes were shuttered as they drove by, as if their group was going to cause trouble. Todd and Maeve noticed right away as Brody kept talking about himself.

  "I can be the greatest influencer on this planet if only-"

  "Quiet," Maeve said, "Truck inbound." The three of them moved to cover as two Amazon delivery trucks rolled up on their makeshift picnic. There were men in the trucks with weapons who exited the vehicles. A total of 10 men approached them. It didn't take long for Maeve to hate these guys. In short, they were rednecks. They had their overalls and bulging lips from the chewing tobacco—the stereotype of people who make meth in their trailers.

  "Look what we have here, boys!" The one man said with a pistol in his hand, looking Maeve up and down. "We have a sexy Viking lady ready to join our cause. I like that." Maeve's eyes went hard. Both Todd and Brody knew Maeve well enough that she wouldn't let this man live, and they were mentally prepared for what would come next. Brody was about to speak before Maeve lightened her stance and walked up to the men.

  "Look at these handsome men here to save me from this scary new world." Maeve started to flirt with one in front, playfully moving her finger up and down his bare chest, and she walked around him. "Can you tell me more about this cause of yours? It sounds like you boys are ready to change the world. That's all I want is to find some Big. Strong. Men, to protect me in this scary world." It was clear to Brody and Todd that Maeve was doing a 'bit' and let it play out.

  "I'm all the man you'll ever need, baby. Call me Ricky Bobby. Always liked that name. I'm one of the leaders of the Unwoke." The man stroked Maeve's face like he already owned her. He walked around her and eyed Brody and Todd. The redneck let out a 'hmph', unimpressed with the quality of the man in front of him. He made sure to let them know before getting back to his monologue.

  Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

  "The cause of the Unwoke is simple. To rid the world of the impure and the woke. Society has regressed over the past decade. We can't allow those who only take and don't contribute to continue to be a parasite on society. No more handouts or rights for the Adams and Steves of the world."

  Maeve smirked, "Oh, tell me more. Who are these parasites crippling society? What do you plan to do with the inferior stock that plagues us?"

  Rick grinned as he looked at Maeve, "Isn't it obvious? We need to purge these lands of those who don't belong. We finally have a system to allow the superior to be superior without having to subsidize these people and give unnatural beings the same rights as us." Rick was passionate about this ideal, as if the dream would come true. "And the Unwoke will be the ones to set the world right."

  Maeve wanted to get more information out of the neo-nazi, but couldn't stomach any more of his bullshit. "Oh, I completely agree that we need to set the world right and rid the world of those undeserving to be here. Brody, wouldn't it be great if you could influence people with your words like the charismatic Rick here?" Maeve winked at him, and Brody understood the assignment. He didn't hesitate to gather his energy.

  "Do anything Maeve tells you to do. She is your leader now." Brody spoke with deep magic in his words. He needed to concentrate to keep the spell going, but trusted Maeve to be quick.

  All the truckers froze, looking terrified. Some of them tried to run before Maeve began,

  "Don't move." And they stopped in their tracks.

  "Everyone, look at me." And they did.

  "Now, turn to the man next to you." And they did.

  "Take turns kicking each other in the crotch as hard as you can." And they did.

  Some of them were trying to fight the effect, but most of them were kicking hard, looking like they were enjoying themselves. Maeve grinned at the display and turned to Brody, who was looking tired after the spellcast, "How long can you hold this spell?"

  "No clue."

  "Great, let's find that limit." Maeve clapped her hands and spoke, "Stop kicking rednecks!" And they stopped. Maeve walked up to Rick, whose eyes were now bloodshot with bloody tears running down his cheeks. "Tell me everything about the Unwoke."

  *****

  "You didn't need to end the fun so quickly," Maeve said to Todd. Todd wasn't going to be a part of an atrocity, even if he knew the Unwoke would commit them against those they deemed as evil. Todd and Brody killed the Unwoke under their spell, so Maeve couldn't continue her fun of torturing the deplorable rednecks.

  "Can't believe my spell is strong enough to make people kill their own," Brody said, looking over the corpses, "and we abused the shit out of it. Can't wait to do that when Maeve isn't near me."

  "What was that, douchebag?"

  "Nothing! Just saying how great of an interrogator you are when using my spell. We make a great team. And that was taken out of context." Brody muttered the last part.

  "We found true evil and need to exercise it. But seriously, how can they give a fuck about politics when we're in a magical apocalypse? How small." Maeve spat on a corpse with disdain in her eyes. She let that man touch her. The thought caused her to shudder. "I need a shower."

  "You and Rick aren't that different, Maeve. Your ideals are the same; you only differ on who should run things and who should be punished. We'll probably see a lot of that ideal play out while 'order' begins to be established." Todd was tinkering with his lightsaber while giving Maeve his opinion. To Maeve's credit, she didn't lash out at Todd and just looted the corpses of the Unwoke.

  "You can think whatever you want, Todd. My purpose is set in stone."

  "Nothing is set in stone, but I won't push. With the information we have on the Unwoke, I'll be happy to blow them all to smithereens. We're in this together." Todd put his hand in the middle, and Maeve followed for the team chant. Both of them are now looking at Brody.

  "Fuck you guys!" Brody said, exasperated. The memory of getting shunned by the group earlier is still too fresh.

  "C'mon, Brody! Be a team player and put your hand in!"

  Defeated, Brody walked towards his team members and put his hand in the middle with the others and muttered, "Surrounded by dickheads and lunatics."

  Maeve laughed, "That was my second choice for the party name."