By the time they all finished catching up, nightfall had come in. The promised banquet was finalized, and they were instructed to meet up in the parking lot. They had been sitting in the lobby of the shopping center, which was renovated with couches and tables. The inside had been cleaned out neatly. The registers were replaced with shieldings in case they had to fight against an assault. The shelves had various canned foods, waters, liquors, and other interesting gadgets and weapons. Further into the back, one could see that it was cleaned out for one to just relax and enjoy life.
For now, they gathered to the parking lot. A large bonfire was lit, and dancing was commenced. Music was being played as well. It looked like a full-blown festival which was odd in this world. Jen decided to dance with the women, and Boss was being hit on by some other Amazoness women. Well, it was more like they were preying on him and trying to mate with him. Don stopped at the doorway and looked at both of them. They seemed to be having fun which caused a smile to curve across his lips. "It's nice, isn't it?" The woman asked since she stopped beside him while looking out at everyone.
"It is. It's almost like this isn't an apocalyptic world." Don would reply, to which the woman chuckled softly. "Agreed; however, we are aware of what is around us. Many of our people have a bug and undead repellent Seed of some kind. So they use their seed in rotation as not to wary our people out. Unfortunately, Some slip through from time to time which our guards take care of." The woman would remark. "And of the other pests?" Don asked while referring to other Contenders.
"If the signs and pikes do not ward them off, they join their brethren. You and that man are the only two men who have been allowed to walk free amongst my flock. It took some time for them to get used to him, but since he is quite the stud, they have grown attached to him." The woman would smirk, which caused Don to chuckle.
"Yeah, while he isn't one to admit it. Boss is a ladies' man." Don would agree with the woman, which caused her to step towards him. "And what about you? I still need to repay you." The woman would speak sensually as she trailed a hand up Don's body. Don would take her wrist and stop her while taking a step back.
"I do not mean to offend you, but I am spoken for. She isn't here with me now, but that doesn't mean I can give myself to anyone. She is the only one who I will give myself to." Don would comment firmly and respectfully. The woman saw this in his eyes and stepped back from Don after a moment. A smile curved across her lips.
"Then she is a blessed woman." The woman would remark then turn back towards Rose. "What about you?" Rose was standing beside Don like some kind of bodyguard. Her brow went up when the woman put her into the spotlight, "I'm sorry?" Rose asked.
"Is there anyone you are willing to give your heart to?" The woman asked, and Rose shook her head. "No." Her response was short and cold. The woman could see an emptiness in Rose's eyes which caused her to frown. "I see." She took a look at Rose's hand and saw the large number on her hand. "Perhaps you will soon enough." She would add before returning her attention towards Don. "Well, if I can not bed you; may I at least dance with you?" The woman would offer her hand. Don looked at it for a moment. "I don't see why not." Don would take her hand, and she would guide them towards the bonfire where they danced a couple of times to the music. Eventually, Jen asked Don to dance, and Boss would see if Rose wanted to dance. Everyone ended up dancing with everyone else by the time it was well into the night. They all had their fill of food and laughter as well.
The fire was out, and everyone that was not on guard duty was asleep. Some even slept outside because of how tired they were, but the majority took to the buildings and inside the shopping center. Don had seen the other women that the chubby man from before had enslaved. Apparently, they all became the founders of this Amazoness' Encampment. The woman wearing the crown made out of cardboard and plastic was the Queen or Leader of this place. He got her name later; she was called Lasha.
Instead of going to sleep, Don decided to patrol the outpost. Rose tagged alongside him as they walked around the perimeter. Some of the guardswomen looked at him with a fancy. Everyone knew who he was by now and what he had done for their Queen. So there would be no mistake like before.
"You are quite popular... How did you put, a Ladies' Man?" Rose spoke up, which caused Don to shake his head dismissively. "I don't know what you mean. My heart, body, and soul belong to April." Don would reply, which caused Rose to shrug. "Just the number of looks you have gotten. A lot of the women tried to sleep with you during the festival too. Even the one known as Jennifer was clinging to you this afternoon. If I had to guess... you have the same effect on women that Avidity has on men." Rose would remark, speaking her thoughts plain as day.
Don's brow rose curiously when she spoke of someone named Avidity. "Who?" Don asked since he was curious.
"Avidity is one of the Seven Warlords that reside in North America. She is part of the special operation group known as Sin. They are the personal guard and soldiers of the High Commander of Branch here in North America. Their group is lead by a man named Ire. I was originally going to be part of their group after I succeeded in my mission to eliminate you and everyone else, but that matters not." Rose would explain with a shrug.
"I see...." Don would sigh exhaustively. There was more to this world than what he was lead in on. He wasn't simply surviving against oversized bugs and undead or other Contenders. He had to survive against the New World Order and their people too. Just thinking about it made him exhausted.
"But, you never answered my question. How do you do it?" Rose asked, which caused Don to shift his glance towards her. "Do what?" He asked in return. "Attract soo much attention?" Rose replied in question.
Don would shrug. "Don't know. Maybe I am some kind of Main Character in a book or something. If not, then it is most likely due to the training my Trainer put me through." Don would remark, which caused Rose's brow to raise. "Training? On how to attract people?" She specifically targeted that part while ignoring the other part since it didn't make sense to her.
"Yeah. She always told me to keep my chin up and my chest out. To always walk with pride and to never let anyone degrade me. She always told me to hold what I cherished close and protect anything I valued. In her words, "Life is too short to sulk. Stand proud and tall, and if anyone tries to take anything from you... Send them straight to hell!" Don would remark while speaking the words of his trainer with a fond memory. He even recalled the wide grin she had when she told him to send them straight to hell; although, he couldn't quite see the rest of her face.
Rose was a bit taken back by this. "Your trainer sounds rather vicious..." Rose would comment, which caused Don to chuckle. "She was, but she was also caring. She adored and loved me. If anything... she was more of a mother to me than my actual mother. She was strict but gentle. I can only say that I loved her because April showed me what that feeling was." Don would express with a warm smile.
Rose was surprised by this. 'A hitman who could love and was loved?!' Rose spoke internally.
"I see..." Rose realized why Don was different from the General. It wasn't because she shared a connection with Don. It was because Don valued others. Don genuinely cared about those around him. He was loved and loved in return. Rose was beginning to doubt that she should even be here. She could never be loved. She genuinely felt like no one would or could ever love her. She was Tainted... Ruined... and Used. She had no heart either. She was an empty shell with a soul that was handcrafted to be a killer.
Don stopped in place, which caused her to bump into him since she was in her own thoughts. She looked up while rubbing her nose to see Don had this tense expression. "Is something wrong?" Rose asked while peeking past Don. Several lights could be seen coming their way. It wasn't fast, but more so steady. They were most likely walking. Don didn't understand who or what was coming towards them. If they were intruders, surely the Amazoness would have taken action, right? Don would take his rifle and aim down the sight so he could look through the scoop. Unfortunately, the lights were a bit blinding, so all he saw were silhouettes of people. Seven in total, four of them were bulky, and three of them seemed slim. Two of those who looked slim looked as if they were being dragged by the other four. The third slim one was walking in the back, shadowed by the others.
"I can't get a read. It looks like five people are dragging two people. I doubt this is any good. Can you go get Lesha?" Don asked while lowering his rifle and setting it back behind his back. Rose would nod, "What about you?" She asked, and Don would smirk, "I'll keep watch. Make sure you alert the guards as well. I do not want any surprises. This is too abnormal." Don would reply, and Rose would nod before hurrying along.
Some time had passed, and eventually, the seven people in total arrived, but Rose had yet to return with Lesha, so Don was the one to confront them. Don had drawn his shotgun and had it aimed down at them. "That's close enough." Don would remark when they were close enough. "And you are?" A rough voice called out. The lights were still a bit blinding. "I suggest you put down your lights if you don't want me to blow holes in your body." Don would retort instead of answering the rough man's remark. Finally, a gruff came from the man, and everyone clicked their lights off. Don's eyes adjusted to the darkness, and there Don saw four men. Two of them had two women on leashes with the arms bound and their mouths gagged. Don narrowed his eyes at them. "There, happy? Now, who the fuck are you?" The rough man from earlier spoke up. Don looked at him and shook his head. "None of your fucking business. Tell me why you have these women hostage?" Don asked. The man would growl at Don, who tapped the trigger of his shotgun which caused the man to grit his teeth and hold himself back.
"A trade offer. Safe passage through Downtown for these two women. That's it." The man would reply, which caused Don to sigh heavily. "That so? Did you not think the Amazoness would kill you right away without care?" Don would ask, which caused the man to scoff. "Those bitches? Not if they want their women alive." The man would retort, which caused Don to snicker, "And what's stopping me from killing you all and saving the women?" Finally, don would make a rebuttal.
"My, my... you really haven't changed. Given it has been a month, you are still the same as ever. Donathan." A sinister voice filled with vile and evility spoke up. Don recognized this voice right away. He had not seen the fifth man, so he assumed that person was hiding behind the others or something. Instantly his eyes went wide; he aimed the shotgun at the man. "YOU!" Don growled at the man while fingering the trigger of his shotgun once the man in the business suit came forth. "Me indeed. How is my sweet and beautiful April? You did save her, correct?" The man asked, which caused Don to grit his teeth. "You bastard... How the fuck are you alive? I blew your brains clean out..." Don would growl with venom, and the man would snicker at Don.
"Easy. I used my Seed. I crafted an illusion to make you think I was there. It was easy to fool all of you. I hid elsewhere while watching you kill the illusion and everyone else. Let me say, Don... you truly are a heartless monster, but at least you made their death's painless." The man would reply with applause. "I won't make that mistake again." Don would set the gun to the man's head. The man would grin and stopped his applause.
"That so? Tell me... do you really think you can kill me? How do you even know I am right here? I could be behind you..." The man would reply, and just as he said those words, the man's body wisped away like some kind of illusion. Don swiftly turned around to point the gun at the man, who chuckled sinisterly. "Am I here? Or..." The man turned into a wispy illusion and appeared behind the group of men with a wicked grin. "Or am I here? For all you know, I could be with April... enjoying her sweet plush and beautiful lips... tasting her to my enjoyment..." The man would lick his lips wickedly. Don quickly turned around once again. "I'll fucking kill you... I'll kill all of you..." Don would mutter with a semi-deadpan look in his eyes, but before he could pull the trigger, a proud voice called out.
"That's enough!" It was Lesha. She was accompanied by Boss, Jennifer, Rose, and a few guards.
Everyone looked towards them as they made their way towards Don to regroup with him. "Eww... it's that stalker asshole." Jennifer would remark as she spat in his direction. "Ah... The little slut... I didn't expect you to be here. Or you..." The man narrowed his eyes at Boss, who smiled at him. Rose could see the look in Don's eyes. She knew that if Lesha hadn't said anything, Don might have just killed them, including the girls. But, she also saw the man who Don had directed his killing intent primarily at.
"Oh, it's you. Richard." Rose would remark towards the man who would push up his glasses after looking at Rose. "Oh, the doll. Shade... Interesting to see you accompanying Don. I wonder, does the General know?" Richard would respond with venom in his voice which caused Rose to shake her head. "No, and if he does, it doesn't matter. I am no longer bound to him or The World Government." Rose would reply, "Plus, my name is Rose." Rose would correct Richard, who scoffed at her. "Whatever. All of you toys are the same." The man would remark, which caused Jen and Boss to give him a glare. Don was still itching to pull the trigger.
"All the pleasantries aside, why are you here? I told your people I have no interest in joining The World Government or their New World Order." Lesha would speak up, which caused the man to turn towards her and shake her head. "Of course. I am merely here for an exchange. I want safe passage through Downtown in exchange for these two." Richard would snap his fingers, and the two who had the women on leashes came forth. Lesha would glare at Richard. Jen and Boss looked disgusted, and Don was still ready to kill. Rose was used to seeing this kind of thing, but she still felt discomfort.
"What's stopping me from killing you and taking them?" Lesha would remark, which caused the man to snicker. "Can you? How can you say that you won't end up hurting your own? I mean, after what happened last time, I am sure you know better than to attack without a second glance." The man began to speak in question like before; however, Lesha only burst into laughter which seemed to cause his expression to shift to confusion. "What? Do you find killing your own that funny?" Richard would ask with confusion in his voice.
Lesha shook her head. "Not at all. It's just that your pity little mind tricks won't work here. Did you think we wouldn't prepare? After the last time, you used your power. I trained all of my girls and even awoke to my own power. So we can cancel out your little power. It's nothing more than a mirage, after all. Soo... kill'em." Lesha would remark, and Don pulled the trigger of his shotgun. The two men who had the women on a leash had holes blown into them. Those men released the leashes, and the girls ran towards Lesha and her guards, who caught them. Richard's eyes went wide.
'Someone can block out Word of Power? But how? When?' Richard would exclaim internally, but when he heard the cock of the shotgun, he came back to his senses. He took cover behind another man since Don had the barrel aimed at him. Don killed the man that Richard tossed towards Don while trying to make a run for it. "Like hell, I will be killed here, especially not by you." Richard would mutter mainly towards him. The last guy was shaking in his shoes, but before he could beg, Don blew his head clean off and started walking after Richard while cocking his shotgun. "Rose stay here just in case there are others. I am going to go kill that motherfucker.... I will smear his fucking brains all over the pavement this time and ensure he is sent straight to hell." Don would remark with pure conviction and resolve as he continued after Richard.
Rose would nod. She knew that if a hitman had such conviction and resolve in their voice, then there was no stopping them. "Will do." Jen and Boss watched Don walk off. Boss always knew there was something different about Don, but he didn't expect this. He would have to ask him more in-depth when he returned. As for Jen, she could tell Don wasn't a simple man. Something about him always sent shivers down her spine, but this was the first time she got her answers, and instead of chills, she felt hot. Dare one say even turned on. "Will he be fine?" Lesha asked while watching Don fade into the distance. "He will. After all, Don is a hitman. Not just your normal one either. He is a Reaper. He will stop at nothing to kill those who get in his way. The only one who can stop him now is an Angel, and that Angel is not here." Rose would remark. She had seen it first hand. Don was going to slit her throat clean open, but April stopped him. April was Don's Angel, the only one who could guide Don out of the darkness. Without her... Don would become the Reape incarnate, and none escaped the Reaper.
"Even if that man uses his power?" Lesha inquired. Even with what Rose said and her knowledge of Don, there was still some doubt. Rose would nod. "Even if he uses his Seed. Don will find him and kill him even if it takes all night." Rose would reply. Jen and Boss could feel like there was some truth to her words. They were taken back when she called Don a hitman but did not find it surprising since he easily killed four men and was chasing down the last one.
"Well, let's head back. We'll leave him to Don then. Let's tend to the girls." Lesha would remark, and everyone seemed to agree. Except for Rose. "I'll stay here and wait for him." Rose would comment. "Are you sure?" Lesha asked and Rose would nod. "I want to be the first to see it when he returns." Rose would comment while looking out into the depths.
"See what?" Jen asked curiously.
"The abyss." Rose would reply emotionlessly.