Wilson took a good look at Dash and took two hurried steps away from him.
"What's with the look?" Dash asked.
"Uh?"
"And why did you move like that?"
"I don't understand what you're saying." Wilson played the ignorance card, shaking his head but looking away in guilt.
Dash opened his mouth to say something but decided against it.
"Look over there! That red dot." He said instead, pointing at a red dot that was moving slower than the others.
"What's wrong with it?" Wilson asked.
"That's our first target." Dash said.
"Oh? Okay!" Wilson said with a nod of his head.
"But how am I supposed to get there?" He asked looking around. "Is there another secret passage or something?"
Dash nodded. He did not take his eyes off the screens, constantly keeping track of all the still-alive bounty hunters - all thirty-one of them. He took a small earpiece from his spatial bracelet and handed it to Wilson.
"Wear this!" He said. "So that I will be able to communicate with you."
"Okay." Wilson responded and collected the earpiece. He struggled a little to insert it in his ear.
Dash pressed a small button on a remote that Wilson had not noticed, and pointed to his left.
"There," he said "Go and stand on the small disc over there! It will transport you to wherever you are supposed to go."
Wilson had many questions he wanted to ask but knowing that this was not the best time and also trusting his instincts that Dash would not hurt him - at least, not yet - he walked towards the disc. As he walked calmly, he asked:
"So, am I just supposed to attack him at my own discretion or you are going to be giving the orders?"
Dash answered immediately.
"I will give you whatever information I can glean and maybe some suggestions and ensure that the coast is clear before you attack. The rest would be left to you."
"Hmm." Wilson hummed in thought.
"As long as you listen carefully, you should be able to figure something out."
"No problem!"
*Booom*
An explosion suddenly rang out.
"What was that?" Wilson was alarmed.
"Don't worry! Someone activated another landmine." Dash said, his voice calm and nonchalant and his face; serious as serious can be. It was really scary to listen and see someone like Dash act so calm and serious. No smiles; no curse words; no insults; just a poker face that stared straight and unblinkingly, at the screens; counting down slowly as red dot after red dot disappeared. It just really did not match with the personality Wilson had gotten to know him for. Was this the real Dash? Was it a facade? Were both personalities real? Did he have.... what was it called again... split personalities? Or was he just generally serious when things got serious?
Whichever way, to Wilson, the contrast was a little too much. It was freaky and somewhat creepy - Like how one would feel if a war general and psychopath came together.
'Whatever! I should just not think about it. Now is not the time, anyway.' Wilson thought to himself as he stood straight on the disc.
"The disc will soon start moving." Dash said, pressing a combination of buttons and soon after - just like he said - the disc did start moving. It spun one hundred and eighty degrees and moved horizontally, straight towards the wall.
Wilson was shocked. Was the disc defective? why was it going straight at the wall? He was about to raise an alarm when the disc suddenly sped up and phased into the wall. The next time he regained consciousness - which was about two to three seconds later, but felt like three hours to Wilson - he was in a new open space, albeit a little tightly enclosed. He did not have much room for movement. He gripped the butcher knife in his left hand and clenched his right fist really hard.
*Boom* *Boom* *Boom* *Boom*
Several more explosions rang out and as they did, Dash, who was looking at a real time video of the explosions, briefed Wilson about the last man behind who was also the first man they would hunt.
"Okay, Wilson. The red dot we talked about is Shane Dawson. He has no powers; neither ability nor magic. He is a lecherous son of a bitch. His legs were burned in the earlier explosions, so they are slowing him down. He is also in a great deal of pain, so, he is unable to focus. He is distracted. Just sneak up and slit his throat from behind, on my orders. Easy peasy." He said, his eyes glued to the screen still.
Wilson blinked and shook his head, telling himself over and over again; not to mind the goosebumps he was getting. Even he himself did not fully understand why - why Dash gave him the chills so much more than Ruthless and the elders and even the snow tiger and one-eyed gorilla. What was different about Dash to scare him so much? He really had no idea.
"Wilson, in ten seconds, you will have your chance. The tree behind him is where you are and it will open up. Just swing the blade once and that should do it." Dash instructed. Wilson nodded and changed the hand that held the knife, moving it from his left hand to his right.
"Now!"
Immediately Dash said so, the space before Wilson opened. At that moment, Wilson realised that he had been moved by the disc into another hollow tree. He saw the target panting, hands on knees, and he, Wilson hesitated.
The target, Shane Dawson, held a low-level healing potion. He looked constipated and was wheezing. He really was in a great deal of pain. He raised his head and moved it backwards to take the potion.
'Opportunity!' Wilson thought.
He did not think too much this time. He simply activated the vibrational function of the blade and swung at the already injured Shane Dawson's neck, cleanly separating his head from his shoulders. Immediately he cut the head off, Dash, who was watching, quietly activated the disc and Wilson disappeared, while the hollow tree closed up.
He appeared back at the same space as Dash.
"You hesitated."
"I know!"
"Don't, we will get killed that way."
"Okay!"
Dash's change in countenance had unknowingly affected Wilson's reaction and responses to him. Dash turned his attention to a different screen.
"The next target is Captain Boomerang. He is actually a mere wannabe boomerang user. He is terrible at throwing it."
Wilson wanted to chuckle but couldn't. His throat was dry. It would be a lie if he said he wasn't nervous as he knew that any mistakes he made will not only affect him and Dash but also the little girl that recently became his baby sister. He has not forgotten what happened with Uncle Dale.
"He will soon be left behind. The fear is getting to him, so he will surely slow down. When that happens, you strike. Don't worry, he does not have much bounty hunting experience. And he is not a good fighter either. You can easily take him on, but make it quick." Dash continued.
Wilson nodded, still on the disc.
"Dash, I've been willing to ask. How do you know all these people so well?" Wilson asked.
Dash kept quiet for a little while before answering the question.
"Because, it is one of the many things that dad made me memorise - the detailed information of all medium to large scale bounty hunters."
Wilson paused.
"And you memorised all of them?"
"Yup!" Dash answered, a hint of pride audible in his voice. Wilson blinked.
"You are very scary. You are the second scariest person I have ever met!" He said. The first was his own mother. She was a real nightmare when angry.