Page 47 of Creed

I nodded. “Yep, it’s an old ghost town that can only be reached by quads or four wheel drive trucks. You have to drive through some really big creeks and there’s places to sling mud. It’s a place where a lot of teenagers find trouble without actually getting caught. We used to drink, throw parties, sling mud, and it was definitely the best of days.” A memory of Callie came to me and the smile on my face quickly fell.

He glanced at me then back to the road. “Someday you’ll look back fondly at the memories. It’s still a shock and it takes time to adjust to the rush of emotions. I lost my father in a tragic way, but I have no idea if it’s possible to prepare yourself. I’ve also lost a lot of fellow soldiers. Its hard and I get it.”

I didn’t look up at him as I played with the lanyard around my neck. “Thank you.” I glanced at him and gave him a half smile then watched so I could memorize my way to where he was taking me. We drove through a heavily wooded area on blacktop, passed a few motorcycles, then took a right at another fork. That was when I saw it and couldn’t believe my eyes. It was like a small town with several buildings. The first building was like a small grocery store and there was even gas pumps outside.

“That’s the commissary. You can get about anything from there but if they don’t have it tell someone, and they’ll get it for you.” He said.

The next building was humongous. “This is the community center.” He pulled the side by side into a parking space and shut it off. “If you get bored this is the place where you would spend the most time. There’s a lot to do to occupy your time and when Addie comes she can play with her friends here. Come on, let me show you around.”

How could any one person afford to build so much? “I’m sorry if this question is out of line, but how can you afford all this and pay people?”

He stopped walking and crossed his arms as he looked down at me. “The original headquarters was the commissary. I built that, the training center, and the original cabins out of my pocket, but our contracts pay very well, and we’ve added to the community and put additions on the training centers over time. Nothing inside here is free, and each resident pays dues to the community. Think of it like an HOA, except the people don’t own their houses. They pay one lump sum monthly. That includes their rent, utilities, Bolton and Zoey’s services, their charged meals, things from the commissary and bar, and their access to the amenities. They take care of their own yards, and have to invest in their retirements and health insurance. Nothing here is free, but we also don’t profit from what they do pay, so it’s affordable. They also cannot live outside these gates if they are operatives. It’s important I keep them and their families safe, and there’s still plenty of land left to build more family homes. I can send several teams out at one time and each mission earns us a lot of money. We also profit from the bike shop, which I’m sure you’ve guessed its just a front. All of my out of pocketexpenses to build this place have already been recouped and invested elsewhere.”

Wow, he was talkative. I guess since I signed that non-disclosure agreement he didn’t have to have many secrets.

I looked around me then at him. “This is amazing, Creed.”

“It’s not just my creation, it was a lot of team work. You’ll meet the men I served with soon. I guess you’ve already met Axton, Bolton, Magnus, and Drakos. Most of them are down in the command center working right now, but you’ll get to meet them soon enough.”

“Okay, and Creed, thank you. I know you don’t have to do anything for me. Just let me know what I owe for staying here and for your help. I’ll gladly pay you and your men for helping us.”

He shook his head. “Don’t worry about that, let’s go on inside.” He opened the door and allowed me to walk through. At first it reminded me of a YMCA or something. There was a woman younger than me at the front desk. She had long brown hair worn in a ponytail and wore khaki pants and a blue polo shirt. It looked like a uniform to me. Behind her was a partial wall with water streaming down like a waterfall. At the top it had the words, “Welcome To Creed’s Lake.”

“Freya, this is Morgan. Morgan, this is Freya. She does the scheduling here at the community center. If you’d like to use things like the sauna, join a yoga class, or want to meet with a trainer, she’s the one to schedule it with and she’s here from eight in the morning until four in the afternoon.”

“I’m pleased to meet you.” I shook her hand.

“Oh wow, I’m a huge fan. I love all your movies.” Freya complimented me.

“Thanks, I appreciate that, truly.”

“Come on, let me show you everything.” Creed put his hand on the small of my back and guided me around the reception desk. I gasped when I saw what was behind the wall. It was completely open with a vaulted glass ceiling. It was beautiful with a fountain and plants everywhere. An atrium was definitely not what I was expecting. “Let me show you the mess hall first.”

We walked into what looked like a cafeteria, but he stopped in the doorway, and I saw another keypad. There were round tables and what looked like a buffet setup. I could hear people in the kitchen. They were talking and moving around pots and pans. “It might be quiet now, but the dinner crowd will be here soon. When you want to eat, just scan the card on your lanyard here, the server will be notified you arrived, then she will have you sign for the meal. You can either get the buffet or order anything on the menu. It’ll be charged to my account.”

I looked up at him. “I can pay for my own food.”

“I know you can, but that doesn’t mean you will. Come on, let me show you the bar.” He guided me down a hallway and we walked into what looked like a dance club. There were a few men sitting at the bar and they all looked at me then quickly looked away.

I giggled. “What was that about?”

A half smile formed on his face. “They’ve been given a lesson in manners. Anyway, it’s just a usual bar until around eleven. It can get a little wild after that time and I doubt you want to be here for that, so let’s move on.”

“Wait.” I stopped him and pointed at the poles on the stage. “Is that a strippers stage?”

“It appears so, lets move on.” He was quick to avoid that conversation.

“I played a stripper once and I’m serious, my pole dancing classes were really fun and a great source of exercise.” I spoke as we walked down a hallway.

“Those skills won’t be necessary.” He deadpanned as he opened another door. We stepped into a huge room with several round tables and chairs stacked up against the wall. “This is the banquet center. We’ve held everything from wedding receptions, to dances, some wedding showers, engagement parties, and a few baby showers.”

I saw another stage and pointed at it. “Do you hire a band and allow them inside the gates?”

He shook his head. “No, but we do have DJ equipment. Maybe someday we will discover some musical talent here in the community. Let’s move on.”

We walked out of the banquet hall and turned right then took another right where I saw a set of double doors with yellow and black stripes framing it. It was an elevator. “Wherever you see those yellow and black stripes is off limits. Honestly, it just leads to the command center and the weaponry room. It’s nothing exciting.” He guided me to take another right where I saw a few doors. He opened the first set, and it was a gym. Not the kind of gym where you workout on a treadmill, an actual gymnasium with basketball hoops. “This is self explanatory, but we do have basketball and volleyball teams. If you’re interested just see Freya for more information on how to join. There are locker rooms to the right that connects all the athletic areas.”He shut the door then we walked a long ways before he opened another door. I was shocked to see a boxing ring. “This isn’t really your typical boxing ring. There’s some mixed martial arts tournaments, and Felicity writes up a monthly calendar if you’re interested in attending any events held in this building. It’ll be mixed in with the mail at the commissary.” He then shut that door and went to the next which was the indoor swimming pool and the weight room. We passed several offices and another room where he explained it was where Bolton taught yoga. We then crossed the atrium that was behind Freya at the front desk, and he showed me the movie theater, daycare center, roller rink, bowling alley, the salon, and a smaller gym he said was used by the children. He led me outside and that’s when I saw the playground then another gated area for the outdoor pool.

“I’m beginning to see why people don’t leave the compound too often.” I smiled up at him as we walked to the front doors to leave. “You’ve really built something amazing.”

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