Nedrick’s former followers will go to the governor’s mansion in the last state under Nedrick’s power and they will burn it to the ground. (Upon the mansion’s evacuation, they will discover that the governor still employs several women, against his own law.)
Nedrick the Sanctimonious will still blame exiles and outcasts, but the revolt will come from within. The people will be so angry. So angry. The people will wonder how they ended up slaves when only years before they were normal Americans eating microwave popcorn and waxing leased cars.
The exiles, the Sniper, and her husband will be far from the governor’s mansion. They will be waiting for the final battle. From underground, they will hear the armies move into place. They will hear how outnumbered Nedrick is. They will know he is there. They will feel him.
Early on a Tuesday morning, they will hear the ground above them rumble and creak. They will hear it fill with soldier after soldier. They will empty the tunnels and will call for full retreat. The Sniper will tell the exiles where to go. She will send them far from the coming explosions. Far from harm.
She will clean her rifle.
He will press the button.
And the final chapter will begin with a kapow.