Chapter Unknown: The Bullet and the Leaves
By: Zelga Lim Li

Summary:
He never regretted anything. But because of his actions, John knew that he will always watch his back from now on. But then Winston gave him a piece of hope. And despite his hesitance to accept it and escape his fate, the legendary hitman will prove to everyone that no one messes with The Boogeyman and gets away with it.

Chapter 1

"By the way, John," Winston muttered to the doomed man that stands before him after dismissing the people surrounding them.

A man who continues to endure the life he was trying to leave behind.

"There's this place that I think will be a good place to start over. To heal and think things thorough," With an added thought, he gave a marker to John who took it hesitantly without even looking if it the same medallion Santino used with their oath.

Good.

"However, finding the place itself will prove to be difficult as it only allows those who she thinks is worthy..."

"I think you are mistaken," The excommunicado's voice remain calm despite the verdict he received minutes ago that impresses the Manager though the other hid it expertly from John's observant eyes.

The blood from that days event continues to drip from his hand coating his dogs fur. Frowning slightly, John wiped his bloodied hands over his pants to avoid getting his dog dirty. He is still not sure what name he would give him. "I am neither that or anything else."

With a tired sigh, he added in a wistful voice, "I'm supposed to be retired for fucks sake."

"It is indeed unfortunate that you were forced back against your will and then here we are right now," Winston added sadly. From the death of John's wife, the dog left by the said woman, Viggo and his son's craziness with Santino's betrayal. Oh right, let us not forget that damn car.

The man still has these wounds from his earlier battle. But as an old saying goes, a wounded beast is far more dangerous than any animal that tries to devour it. The Continental's Manager will not wonder if all of these people who are brave enough (or even foolish enough) to even try and take John Wick's life will still breathe before this day ends.

"Well then," John straightened and held his hand towards Winston. Despite everything that has happened, he regards the older man as a colleague worthy of his respect. Just like Marcus. At the thought of his old friend, John's tainted heart saddened greatly.

"Thanks for everything," The infamous Boogeyman said and with a pause, he added his next works threateningly. He is an assassin afterall and he always makes an impression no matter what. "Before I forgot…" Winston raised one brow questioningly. "Tell them… Tell them all… Whoever comes, whoever it is… I'll kill them. I'll kill them all."

Winston smirk grew. "Of course you will."

John left with a nod followed by his faithful canine companion.

And after one last call to begin the hunt, Winston regretfully looked at the retreating back of the man he still hopes to see someday.

It will be such a waste if he dies today.

He just hope that John will be able to find that place.

.

.

.

"I don't like this," Charon whispered as he drove the car back the hotel. Winston turned and glances slightly at him. "Not liking everything at all, Sir."

With a weary shrug, Winston crosses his legs and looks outside to watch the busy streets of New York as the car passes by the city.

"Neither am I. But you know the rules."

"It was him that broke the rules first, that ungrateful…"

"Careful Charon," Winston cautioned, "I might think that you favor him among the rest…"

"So are you, Sir," Charon answered back knowingly with a patronizing look Winston knew his Conceirge always wear whenever facing a guest. "You did gave him the courtesy no one else has. And that 'information'."

"Ah," The Manager nodded sagely. "Perhaps it is indeed a great loss if such a gifted man like him will be eaten alive by this harsh world we lived in."

With a stiff nod, Charon opened the car door and let his boss walk in front of him after handling the keys to the valet as they both headed towards the hotel.

"Do you think he will find it?" Charon asks as he stood beside his post to resume his duties.

"That place?"

With a mysterious smile, Winston looked at his employee one more time and turned to walk into his office placing a hand on his suit pocket feeling the marker John and that blasted man used. The thing that started this chase.

John already knew the importance of these markers and because of that, he never noticed the new additions he placed on the medallion before their meeting.

As he sat on his chair to finish some documents, he saw a glimpse of the largest painting decorating his wall above the fireplace.

It was a place he knew by heart.

A safe haven.

A very beautiful place surrounded by the largest trees no other place has giving those who lost their path a chance to find their way back and a home to those who got nowhere else to go.

A place perfect for someone like Jonathan.

"Sir?" Charon's voice from the speaker disturbs his silent musings. "There's an incoming message in line four." The older man looked at his intercom finally noticing the blinking LEDs.

"Thank you, I'll take it from here," Winston frowned slightly when he heard his most trusted employee pause. "Is there something else?"

"It's a coded message, Sir," Coughing to hide his excitement, Charon added in a hush tone. "It's from 'her'."

"I see," The Continental's Manager hummed interestingly and thanked the man. Tapping his manicured fingers slightly while reading the codes his caller left behind, Winston's smile grew wider startling the room service attendant that brought his liquor and laughed out loud after finishing the entire message.

"Seems like you've found yourself a new admirer, my dear boy."

Chuckling to himself, Winston finally relaxes his shoulders and stood in front of the painting. Raising his goblet towards the Village Hidden among the Leaves, the Manager took a sip and finally allowing his worry to wash away now that she decided to join the fray.

"I'm sure the two of you together will take the world by storm…" With a predatory smile that'll definitely scare his enemies, Winston of Continental couldn't wait for the revolution to begin.

"Believe it!"

Author's notes:
After watching the HBO release the other night, a previous snippet from my previous idea came back with a vengeance. Won't be a long story though. Unless another thought came in mind. So yeah.