back to the real world: Hunter part IX

Hunter Jackson wakes up. he tries to stand up. it is hard to even think right. he tries to count the days. he only has two months left. he looks at the Ferryman, he is on his human shape playing chess by himself. the Ferryman seems to be exited.

Hunter is confused for Ferryman's behavior. the Ferryman starts to talk to himself about the old days. he talks about wars. the game seems to be a simulation to develop one's strategy on war. the Ferryman then takes a book about modern warfare.

Hunter feels weird about his roommate's strange behavior, well he is stranger than usual which is already strange enough. Hunter changes his clothing. he goes to the bathroom to shaved. he is also thinking about cutting his hair.

the Ferryman seems to be planning something. he vanishes with no traces left behind. Hunter takes a beer from the refrigerator. his phone makes a sound. he takes it to look. there is a message from Ryker. he wants to meet with him.

Hunter feels a shower of cold water. he looks at his right hand as it trembles. he is speechless at the moment. he answers the message. he looks around of him, like trying to make sure that he is not been watch.

[Ryker-

I am not your enemy. I am not trying to hurt you. they know about you, about me. they also know about your activities of stalking. they know you are following that famous Gamer, and they don't like it.]

[Hunter-

how Do U know so much? I am so confuse, this is killing me. I think I am crazy.]

[Ryker-

don't let them affect you. I was on your place long, long time ago.]

Hunter puts his phone away. he puts on a jacket. he leaves. he is thinking about stalking someone. a man who is suppose to be dead. Hunter thinks that this man can be a key. a key to solving the matter of how to save Beau.

[Ryker-

don't do it. don't play with things you don't know.]

Hunter reads the message he didn't have the time, nor the tolerance to send a message. Hunter walks quietly on the streets. he looks at the man. the same man he has been following for many days.

Hunter follows him step by step. he observes every word he says. every action he takes. he wants to learn everything about him. is possible that he already knows about Hunter's stalking. Hunter knows that he isn't doing something legal. he just wants to do everything for Beau to return.

[Ryker-

stop, stay away from him. this is too dangerous.]

Hunter kept ignoring the messages, of the only other person who cares, the only one on his side outside of the virtual world. Hunter doesn't have enough trust to do as that man commands him to do. Hunter wants to see the limit of his options.

Hunter knows how wrong his actions are. he knows his time is running out. he needs to find a hole on the rules. an alternative way to save Beau from dying inside of the game. Hunter's thirst for answers is unique.

that same day later at night; Hunter is following a strange man. the strange man is walking quietly on the street. Hunter feels like something is about to happen. something about the night feels wrong. Hunter puts a cigar on his mouth.

Hunter isn't a smoker. the cigar is just to please his nervousness. his hand starts to tremble once more. he uses his left hand to hold his right hand. he starts to sweat. he feels sick on his stomach, he feels like throwing up.

Hunter concentrates on the strange man. he follows as quietly as possible. every sound that his footsteps makes is a sound that makes echo. he tells to himself to not lose the man in front of him. his existence is a key to a discovery.

he walks on a dark alley. he hears screams. he is witness of how the strange man hides cowardly behind a dumpster. the stranger looks at something with fear. Hunter puts his glasses on and he looks carefully. he is witness of a woman being push & kicked by some criminal looking guys.

the woman seems to be terrified. there is a man making eye contact with the stranger. Hunter takes his phone out. he calls the cops. he knew he wasn't strong nor trickery to use to his advantage. he looks at the camera on his phone. he decides to record the whole thing. so the police can have evidence of the crime and faces to put behind bars.

Hunter's hands tremble as he records a man being brutally killed in front of the woman. he felt repulse as the men on the video were laughing and making sick comments about the man they killed. they throw gasoline on top of the girl. Hunter felt weak and inferior to not been able to help.

finally he hears the sirens of the patrols. he smiles as he is witness of the criminals running away. the stranger stands up and he leaves at first just walking, then he starts to run away. Hunter looks directly at the eyes of Abdo Ghoul, the man he has been following all this time.

"what was his gaming name again? oh yes, it is Alpha Purple Warrior, or am I wrong?"

said a man hiding in the shadows of the night.

Hunter looks behind of him to see an older man, the man seems to be younger of his actual age. his white natural hair, plus some small wrinkles can't lie. he man shows a card to Hunter. he looks at the card. in it is the name Ryker Wright.

"I heard somewhere that you are my greatest fan. you had read all of my books. the pleasure is all mine, don't mind me and go. I know you want to make sure the poor girl is okay and you want to show the video to the cops. don't worry we will see each other soon, not that soon. well I will be waiting for a more formal meeting."

said Ryker with a flirtatious smile and a wink.

Hunter runs towards the woman. he kept his distance from her. he didn't wanted to scare her after what just happen. Hunter calmly tells her that he called the cops. he tells her that he recorded the whole thing. he shows her the phone.

the cops arrived at the crime scene. they looked suspiciously at the devilish handsome ginger man. Hunter tells them everything. he puts up the hand holding the phone. he shows the video to one of the cops.

"young man, you did the right thing. most people just walks away from others on need. is true that violence doesn't solve all. and you are the proof of that. is for people like you that it is worth it to be alive. thanks for being the example."

said an old cop feeling proud.

the next day; Hunter wakes up on his department. he is looking at the clock on the wall. he laughs as he looks at every second that ends. he knows in any second someone out there on the world may die without even knowing it was his last day. and here he is aware of when is his last day. he haven't done anything to enjoy his last months alive.

Hunter finally stands up. he takes a shower. he brushes his teeth. he puts on clothes. he does the laundry. he does everything he will do in a normal day. Hunter looks at the Ferryman in front of him.

"do you think you can save Abdo? the actions of last night are basically the reason why he ended on the other world. I didn't stop you, because it was destiny. now that you did your job on four year on the future he will kill himself, well he will failed and then die on game. like every other loser stuck in there. now I forbid you from contacting others."

yields the Ferryman furiously.

"how can that man be alive? I saw him on the game. he was suppose to be dead.I no longer understand what is going on."

yields Hunter with clear fear written on his face.

Hunter falls on his knees. he is crying. he just wants everything to end. he is tired of all. he just wants to give up. he doesn't understand why is he even trying so hard, he tries so hard to accomplish something. life seems to be unjust.

"you stupid fool, your world is linear. because you know white is white, it doesn't mean white is going to be white in another dimension. there are other worlds that aren't linear. which simply put means, not everyone in there came from the same time. that world, exist on a time & space that isn't of human understanding."

yields the Ferryman filled of rage.

"that means I can stop others from dying in this world. there is so much I can do."

said Hunter with a stupid smile.

the Ferryman felt so much rage like he has never before felt. he wants to killed that human now. he suspects that letting that human live may cause his fall. he can't let something so small to be the end of him.

the Ferryman thinks about sending someone after Hunter. the biggest problem is, he can be in big trouble if they find about the deal he made with the mortal. he has risked too much. he had done so much. he can't let a mortal to be the reason of his fall.

"you stupid fool, if you do anything too stupid I am taking Stewart's life. not only his life, I am also going to take Martha's life. don't you understand? the deal was for you to have some fun before death. I can't let you undo my hard work."

yields Ferryman feeling irritated by Hunter's face.

"I am lost. I don't know what to do. every damn time, every time I do something, every time I take a step forward, I am forced to take four steps backwards. I am so tired. I don't have the energy to keep arguing. I am so tired of all."

said Hunter as he cries quietly.

"you stupid fool, you are meant to be nothing more, nothing less than a sacrifice. you are meant to be part of my collection. you can't avoid the mistakes of your past. your future is no other than a sad lonely death."

said Ferryman with a sinister smile.

the Ferryman leaves. Hunter falls on the floor. he doesn't want to stand up. he doesn't have the energy to leave the room. he wants to stay in there for some time to think about his life choices. he receives a message. he takes his phone.

Hunter looks at a message that came from Ryker. that man is a strange person. he is indeed a man of doubtful origins. Hunter knows nothing about the man, and the man knows everything about Hunter.

the most important thing now is, why? why is Ryker so focus on helping? what does he win by offering his help? what can he lose or win? nothing seems to be a coincidence when it is about Son of Sun.

who are you Ryker? what do you want? are you with them? or against them? which choice is the lesser evil? those and many more are the thoughts. things that are on Hunter's head at the moment.

the world seems to be more dangerous. the world seems to be more cruel. more evil of what Hunter ever believed it to be. how can I be part of a world like this one? is the last thing on Hunter's mind. he feels a deep void.

someone knocks on the door. Hunter walks towards the door slowly. he takes a bat from the floor. he opens the door slowly. he looks at a letter on the floor. he takes it. he gets inside as he closes the door. he looks at the letter. it was written by Ryker.

Hunter opens it slowly. he is really cautious as he knows nothing about that man. he thinks it can be a threat or a warning. he reads it slowly. once he finish reading the letter he burns it. there are only ashes left. no one can know he ever read that letter.

it can be strange. it can be suspicious. it can be many things, but it can't be evident that he knows about the letter. if there was no letter. then nothing was revealed. Hunter sits on the bed. he stays there thinking quietly for some time.