Outlaws

For many Outsiders, there was no way out. So they would have to put up with the situation and work for the enemy. Meekly accepting their old lives were gone, most could not leave their loved ones behind. And they knew it was impossible to stand up for themselves. But some went for an escape route. They made it through the borders of Area Seven to the tree line beyond. Over the open fields, they dragged bags behind whilst others carried them over shoulders.

These Outsiders would not put up with their allotted duties. But, instead of fleeing to other Areas and moving on, the disaffected stayed in a no-man’s-land between Area Seven and the border of Area Six. Ragged Wood was their new home under makeshift shelters and living off the land. It was a spartan life, marked by malnutrition. Known as the Missing by the rest of the Outsiders, these partisans could not completely abandon their family and friends. So they built rough lives in the woodland by the fields. They had running water from Stream Seven, some food and, most importantly, freedom. Life was hard, but they were free.

Gronk was unhappy with the loss of lazy shirkers and read a report the so-called Missing were living as outlaws nearby. He was irritated the forested area to the North of the Snook had not been chopped down by his former employer when it had the chance. A Destructor rumbled to the back gate of Area Seven and Gronk jumped out. His boots hit the tarmac with a satisfying thud and he strode toward the lookout tower. Uncomfortable at first with its height, he managed to climb a ladder to the platform. A Pinkshirt in the tower held a hand out.

“Here Sir, let me help you.”

“Hmmph, I should think so too,” Gronk muttered as he was hauled into the tower. “Now, where are those slovenly renegades?”

“Over there. Do you see the camp fires?”

Gronk peered out and saw a few lights dotted around in the night.

“They’re out there in a laughable attempt at insubordination. Work-shy layabouts… sluggards, the lot of them,” Gronk scowled. The bunch of varmints can live in the wasteland like drifters, he thought and shakily headed down the ladder to safety. But Gronk’s foes were gaining in number and they were beyond his control in the woodland.

Copyright © 2025 Callum Stanford.  All rights reserved.