Two Idiots and a Deathwish

[Kuzuru]

Inside the hotel room a family reunion took place. Sam exclaimed as her brothers stepped inside, but her face quickly soured as the two bounty hunters followed. Maxx hugged her as Mallory walked over and cut the ziptie that bound her. Parker’s brow furrowed and he walked over to his sister.

He asked, “these two didn’t fuck with you, did they sis?”

What he was implying was obvious.

“We didn’t fuck with your sister,” Charlie answered, “we’re God-damned professionals, not some sleezeball headhunters.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” Sam muttered.

Charlie opened his mouth, but Mallory interrupted him, “we should get going, it’ll probably take a while before any L.E.O.s show up, but I’d rather not sit around and wait for them.”

Parker nodded and Charlie huffed.

It didn’t take long for the two hunters to gather their gear, but it was enough time for the Graves family to get reacquainted and share their mother’s betrayal. Mallory handed the pink-haired girl her taser, which she snatched from his hand. He then ushered the kids and Charlie outside, did one last combover for any leftovers, and then stepped outside. Outside Charlie had already set to work scavenging weapons and ammunition off the corpses. Mallory turned in his room keys, or rather left them on the counter since the attendant was absent. By the time they were ready to go it had been just under a half hour and sirens were beginning to appear in the distance. They stuffed their newly acquired assets under their jackets and followed the kids deeper into the slums of Tier 6.

--

The Graves children led the two hunters to the south end of Ameara’s compound. They posted up across the street in the dilapitated shell of an old OmDonald’s. The telltale beams of flashlights danced around the compound as guards made their nightly rounds. Parker noticed an increase in security, but said nothing. He nodded towards Maxx who began to fish inside the pockets of his hoodie. The youngest child produced a set of green-tinted goggles. Parker took them, flicked a switch on the side, and held them up to his eyes. With a low-pitched whine the goggles offered him a perfect, albeit green-shifted, view of Ameara’s base. He passed the goggles to the two hunters and pointed off into the darkness.

“Che, see that set of bushes against the wall there?” Parker asked, guiding Mallory’s gaze.

“Yeah,” Mal answered and handed his partner the goggles.

“Behind them is a basement window that leads to the old boiler room, mom--Ameara, told her boys to board it up,” he said, pausing for a moment to collect his words, but the jackoffs forgot to do it and the bushes make sure no one remembers it’s there. So we’ll go one at a time, Maxx first, then myself, You two, with Sammy bringing up the rear. That’ll put us right below Ameara’s room.”

Without another word they passed the goggles off to Samintha, who strapped them to her head. She revealed her taser and stood ready to shock the ever-living Underverse out of anyone that happened upon them. Maxx bolted from his hiding soot and bounded off into the darkness. His small frame did well to avoid the roving beams of light and after a few minutes Sam nodded to Parker.

“He’s in,” she said.

Next up was Parker. The boy tightened his bandanna and shoelaces before sprinting across the street. Charles yawned and fought back the urge to spark up a cigar. Mallory kept his eyes on Sam, waiting for her signal. When it was his turn he moved at a low crouch, not sprinting, but rather embodying the mantra -- “slow is smooth, smooth is fast.” He kept his eyes pinned to the patroling guards. Once or twice a stray beam of light whipped near him, but none of them caught sight of the intruder.

Sam glanced at Charles and asked, “when you… when you find my mom, what are you going to do?”

Charles grunted and answered, “the fuck you think I’m gonna do girlie?”

Sam turned away and said, “it’s just, she’s not that bad of a person y’know? She gets these headaches, I think it’s cause of those screws in her head, but sometimes she gets real distant and cold, and, and I know she loves us, but sometimes it’s real hard for her to think straight. Just, I don’t know, please don’t kill her.”

Charlie said nothing and turned his attention in the direction of the bushes. Sam opened her mouth but let the words die on her tongue. Mallory had already made his way inside, and after a few seconds Sam finally gave the all clear to Charlie. The hunter took one last look at her, grunted, and then disappeared into the darkness. Sam sniffled, raised her goggles, and wiped her eyes.