The Beginning

"So you are saying it is going to be hard?" Hunter asked.

"Not necessarily but it will be challenging." I said.

"Well here's the thing, I've worked in this business for my entire life. My father before me too." Hunter said.

"I was never a violent man though." I said.

"I can teach you a thing or two." He smirked.

"I know how to shoot. I just never.... shot people." I hesitantly said.

"Well listen, it's not hard. I know I know, I might sound like a freak but it is an act of self defense. Someone tries to shoot you but you outplay him and shoot him before he shoots you." Hunter explained.

"What about assassinations?" I asked.

"I was never fond of those. I was only sent on one and then I declined all assassination offers." He said.

"What about what happened with Ramsey?" I asked.

"Oh that old twat?" He started. "Don't worry he isn't dead. He is a snake, he slithered away before the explosion I'm sure." Hunter said confidently.

"If you say so." I said.

The road was quite and void of anything moving, apart from me and Hunter. The cool wind brushing against our faces. Hunter had brought me some clothes and armor. It was a pair of jeans and a red shirt. The armor was black. Similar to the one he was wearing. It had holsters as well so I put away the revolver and the ammo from the boxes. We got rid of the boxes because it would have been heavy to carry around. Hunter had also brought a duffel bag with similar contents to the one I was carrying. I kinda got it that he had prepared the steps of our escape with the help of Dr. Kross.

I was looking at all these cars left on the streets.

'People must have left everything just to get out of danger.' I thought to myself.

"What more can you tell me about life nowadays?" I asked Hunter.

"Well it's a mix of fear and fearlessness. You fear what you might encounter but you also need not to fear them in order to take whatever it is out." He explained. "Also having a weapon is essential. You don't want any red skulls approaching you or else you are toast."

"What are red skulls?" I asked.

"Mutated dogs. The virus slowly melted their fur until it shows only their muscles. Also there is a red glow in them. No one knows why they glow red but yeah that's their name and what they look like. Ooh ooh I forgot. They have long spiky tails. They are hella sharp too."

"I think I've seen one of those." I said remembering spike.

"Well, red skulls aren't the only new ones around. There are shriekers, who shriek hence the name. There are the roaches. They are big and nasty now. Rats are even more disgusting and more lethal, they go for one's throat first thing. They tear the throat out and the victim dies almost instantly." Hunter explained.

"That's an interesting variety of death sentences." I joked.

"Trust me nothing comes close to the ones with crystals on top of their heads. No one named them yet because whoever saw it has never come back. I've only heard tales about this thing. It is supposedly as big as a house, thirteen feet tall and super strong. Someone in The Capital claims he has seen one. He claims it took it one bit to eat two humans at once. If that's the case I never want to see one." Hunter said.

"Sounds pretty damn scary." I said.

"Wait till you see the fog monsters. Me and Tom once were isolated from our group and the fog caught up to us. I couldn't make out what it looked like I just shot my way out. I left tom behind because I was so scared. I never want to see these dumbasses again." He said.

"They only come with the fog?" I asked.

"Indeed partner." He said.

It felt nice being with Hunter. He looked like he could take care of both of us. And he actually knows what he's doing. He had the joking side too. Unlike what he was like when I first met him.

"Oh yes I remembered. What was it you wanted from Ramsey? If you don't mind me asking." I said.

"Well saving you last night was pretty much my resignation from The Syndicate so it's alright if I tell you. The Syndicate and The Savages, Ramsey's group had a deal. We work with the people in Southend and they work with the Elders. Southend's people hate The Savages and the Elders hate The Syndicate. So it was a win win situation. We were trading with Southend's people and The Savages were trading with the Elders. Mutual interests here. Until one day one of our caravans were wrecked by some savages. Henderson sent me and Tom to take revenge without killing Ramsey. A warning essentially." He explained.

"Who are the Southend people?" I asked.

"People living near Southend's sea. And that's where The Savages built their fort and set their camp whilst being led by Ramsey. The people hate The Savages because The Savages steal from them too often. And so far no one has stood up to The Savages." Hunter said.

"Why haven't they stood up yet?" I asked.

"They may be savages but they have immense firepower and manpower. They can outnumber anyone in the Free Side, but not The Capital." Hunter said.

"I feel bad for them. Kinda." I said.

"You shouldn't. They welcomed Ramsey and his savages with open arms. They deserve what is happening to them. Every action has it's consequences. At least that's what I think."

"What about these Elder guys? I heard you guys mention them a couple of times. Who are they?" I asked.

"Oh those pricks. Well buckle up for this one. These idiots are the self proclaimed Elders or overlords of The Capital. They see themselves above everyone else whether in The Capital or in the Free Side. They are a collection of dick bags that want to feel like they are important people. Now remember I told you I had one assassination mission done? It was on one of them guys." Hunter said. "It went like this. They had a meeting at about midnight and my target was the guy who organized the meeting. If my Intel was correct which nine times out of ten it is, then this guy knew the bunker's location. He was going to tell the remaining elders about it and they were going to attack us. I took him out right after he said 'Today we will discuss matters about The Syndicate savages.' And then in flew my bullet right between his eyes." He said proudly. "I don't have bad blood with anyone but these guys. I will admit it, killing them gives me comfort." He confessed.

"Why do you hate them?" I asked.

"Simple. They killed my family, and I will do anything in my power to take them out before my last breath. That's why I accepted to escort you to The Capital and stay with you until you finish what you need to do. Because Kross said he would let me go to take the Elders out afterwards." Hunter said excitedly. "But he said only if you succeed he will let me do that. So I will do everything possible to make sure you finish what you are going to do." Hunter reassured.

"Good to hear. How 'bout this, we finish my mission then I will partner you to take out these Elders." I said.

"Really?" Hunter asked.

"Sure. Revenge is sweet. And you deserve yours." I said.

"You are the first person to ever offer me help voluntarily. And for that I thank you partner." He said emotionally.

"No worries partner." I said to him.

We continued our walk until we both got tired. We agreed to take a little rest under a tree close to the road we took towards The Capital.

We ate some canned beans and took some sips of water from the bottles that were in the bags. I checked the revolver Hunter gave me. It looked beautiful. I checked it's bullets only to find it empty.

"I was wondering when you would check." Hunter said as he started laughing.

"You bastard I could've died." I said.

"I wouldn't let that happen trust me." Hunter said as he took another breath and continued laughing.

"Whatever you prick." I said.

I was a little annoyed. Then I started taking bullets from the ammo holsters and loading them into the revolver. It felt oddly satisfying.

After Hunter calmed down he took another look at me. I looked back and he turned away.

"What?" I asked.

"I'm sorry if that annoyed you." He said. "But I hope you understand I couldn't trust you at the fort." He said.

"So it wasn't loaded there either?" I said.

"Yes but I didn't do anything so Tom doesn't call you an idiot." Hunter said.

"And why didn't you load it afterwards?" I asked.

"To be perfectly honest I forgot until you checked it." He said as he giggled.

It took me a little time to see he was actually serious then I started laughing at him.

"You are just as big of an idiot as I am mate." I said as he started laughing too.

"You're not wrong there." He said as we laughed a bit more.

After about thirty minutes of sitting and leaning on the tree, the sun started to be seen in the horizon.

"Isn't it just beautiful?" Asked Hunter.

"Gorgeous." I replied. "People don't appreciate nature enough nowadays."

"Everyone is just stuck trying to outlive this guy and outlive that guy they forgot what living feels like." Hunter said.

"What do you imagine your ideal life to be?" I asked.

"Calm." He answered.

"Likewise partner." I said.

"Well we better get going. We need to reach The Capital before midday. That would be ideal." Hunter said.

"Why?" I questioned.

"Everyone would go to have lunch so little to no people will recognize us." He said.

"Let's hit the road then." I said as I zipped my duffel bag.