Jess Black, the Huntress of Hope County has been dormant under the weight of her past and the only thing she has to push forward is killing the Judge.
After all these years since the collapse, she has had nothing to live for except for what's been eating at her all her life. Until the Highwaymen showed and now her target has been the least of her concerns. Ever since they arrived it's been another constant battle for survival. Nothing will stop her from reaching her goal.
Silently walking through the woods, she stopped at the front of her cave where she had a campfire cooking some dinner for her. Another day with no sign of the Judge and only more Highwaymen.
For years none of the Highwaymen were able to kill her much less find her. Taking a swig of her water she was confident in her security.
"DROP YOUR WEAPONS!" A highwayman jumped out from under a ghillie suit with several more popping out.
"Hands in the air." Another highwayman called.
Jess was shocked but she didn't move, she just took another swig from her canteen. "Huh, so much for my traps."
"Hmm, maybe she didn't hear you." One of the highwaymen said.
"I didn't hear anything." Jess said, quietly pulling a nearby string. "Only thing I'm about to hear… is a pig squealing to death."
The highwaymen laughed then walked right next to the Huntress. "Oh she thinks she's got a sense of humor?"
"Nope. Just got traps laid everywhere." Jess smiled.
One of them scoffed. "Sure you do. I've been waiting a while for thi-" The Highwaymen couldn't respond in full when a few hidden arrows pierced him and a few others.
"Amateur." Another walked forward and dropped into a hidden pit with sharp spikes.
Jess then shot up from her chair slitting two other grunts throats with a hidden knife and then throwing it into another's head.
Wasting no time Jess reached into a hidden compartment pulling out a bow and a few arrows.
"Shit, guess I forgot what quiet means." Jess said to herself. The Highwaymen found her somehow. Either she slipped, she's losing to her own age, or these aren't the same Highwaymen as usual. Taking a closer look she noticed they seemed better equipped than the others but that won't stop her from killing them like the others she's killed.
The Huntress quickly cut down two more Highwaymen, they were dropping like flies. When the smoke cleared all of the Highwaymen at her camp were dead with Jess in the middle on her knees breathing heavily.
All of her traps were spent, and yet the silence doesn't put her at ease. Like they were waiting for them to be sprung. Leaving the victims as canon fodder.
Suddenly the huntress felt a painful sensation in the back of her shoulder. With not even a second to react Jess fell to the ground. She looked to her side to see her shoulder bleeding. Jess noticed one of the Highwaymen she thought she killed approaching her with an arrow wound from her hands.
The grunt was as rugged in the mud as she was, covered in mud and leaves. The final thing she saw from him was his stance among the corpses she's killed.
"You've been an absolute pain in my ass." The man flipped the gun and knocked her out with the handle. "Didn't think you'd let your…guard down."
The grunt pulled the arrow out and bandaged the wound quickly.
Not far from Prosperity Hunter along with a few other members of Prosperity have just won a small skirmish against Kreese's men. Kreese's men have been hitting them hard so a victory even a small one would help. The person leading this team was Hunter "Alright, everyone salvage their weapons and vehicles. We're gonna need everything we can get for the coming fight."
Everyone quickie got to work salvaging the Highwaymen's weapons, Hunter was gonna help but he heard a transmission coming from one of the corpse's radios. Hunter walked over to the corpse and picked up the radio.
"This is Alpha team."
"Report."
"I have bad news, I'm the only one left, the others got massacred."
"What?! Kreese isn't gonna like that."
"Don't blame me, this bitch you sent us to capture was more than we expected she was a fucking predator. I was almost killed too, one more inch and she would've done me in."
"At least you got that huntress bitch."
The moment Hunter heard the word 'Huntress' he was shocked, only one person he knows goes by the name Huntress and that's Jess, his mom.
"So what're we plannin on doing with this psycho?"
"Take her to that old convent. A crew will be by to pick her up first thing tomorrow afternoon. Till then you can have some fun with her, make her bleed but don't kill her or it will be your head."
"Ooh thank you!"
The conversation closed and Hunter was growling in anger. He gripped the radio so hard that he accidentally crushed it into pieces. However, he wasn't just furious he was also shocked, his mom has just been captured by the Highwaymen. What should he do?
Thinking about it part of him wanted to leave her to die but that would violate what he stands for. But how can he just do that, stick his neck out for the mom who abandoned him as a baby? If anything Jess deserves to suffer, but if he does that then everyone will be disappointed in him but he will be more disappointed in himself.
Grunting in frustration Hunter reluctantly decided that he needs to rescue her, but he can do it alone. Carmina and Ellie can't help because they are on a mission right now, Hurk and Gina are busy with Blade, Jerome is…
"Like Hell, I'm gonna get him involved in this matter! He's the last person to be in on this. This is my family."
Family, that gave Hunter an idea, The Judge, he can help him. Wasting no time Hunter took one of the dead Highwayman's bikes and rode back to prosperity. Not even giving a word to the other.
Hunter charged through the gates of Prosperity and quickly looked around for the Judge and he saw him sitting down on a bench crafting arrows. He then ran to him but he was stopped by Hurk.
"Yo Hunter man, I was wondering if-" Hurk didn't even get to finish that sentence before hunter just pushed him out of the way.
Approaching Jake, he couldn't say his first word till he caught his breath.
"Okay?" The Judge pointed.
Hunter grabbed the Judge and dragged him away. "Come on, I need to tell you something."
Hunter lead the Judge into the main room where there were a few people.
"Everyone, get the hell out we're having a private conversation here, man to Judge."
With that everyone left not a moment sooner, and as they were alone Hunter brought the Judge to Kim's map table. Hunter then placed his finger on a very specific location. "Do you know this place?"
The Judge was confused as to what Hunter wanted but nodded.
"Good. Look, you don't know me very well and believe me I want to tell you more, but-" Hunter's words were halted when the Judge held his hand up.
"Know you… Enough… Hunter."
Hunter scoffed. "Not as close as you think, anyway, not long ago I picked up a transmission on the Highwaymen capturing a certain individual, at first it seemed like some random individual but… this woman is one I'm certain your very familiar with… The Huntress."
Judge just stood silent and stiff in his stance.
"... Huntress." Jake croaked in his voice.
"Yeah. Apparently, they are taking her to the old Eden's Gate Convent here. So I'm suggesting we go there and rescue her."
The Judge was puzzled not by the details of this mission but by Hunter's desire to rescue a complete stranger. Sure a lot of people the surviving residents of Hope County know the story about him and Jess Black, but it seems like Hunter has a different motive for wanting to rescue her. "What is this… woman… to you?"
Hunter said. "Nothing, but her skills will be useful to our cause."
"Why not… tell the others?" Jake asked.
"No time for that. Besides everyone else is busy so are you gonna help me or am I going alone?" Hunter put his foot down on the chat and looked at his father with glaring eyes that won't relieve any tension till he reaches this woman.
"I've seen that face before. The desire for truth, and justice, all only be extinguished in agony. I won't let this boy fall as I did."
"No… I go with you." The Judge said plainly.
"Then come on, we're leaving now." Hunter walked out with Jake close behind.
Using the bike Jake stole from the highwaymen, they attached a side seat for Jake to hop aboard. The two were on the road as Hunter rode as fast as he could to the old Eden's Convent.
"Eden's Convent, is that where you were, when…" Hunter trailed off as he already knew the answer.
"Yes." Jake answered, "Jess is there, these Locusts have her."
The Judge rubbed his right wrist as he squeezed his grip. He breathed out as memories of her rose from his buried psyche.
"Nick and Kim told me about you two.. Do you… Still care about her?" Hunter asked.
The Judge pondered the question, he wanted to say yes but he wasn't sure if that'd be the truth. He thought about it these past few days and realized that despite everything that's happened she still seems to be holding on to her grudge against the cult.
"I… Don't. Know." Jake struggled to answer. So much is rattling in Jake's mind. It's like Jake is wrestling between him and the Judge.
"Well… we're still a long way away from the Convent you should rest up." Hunter suggested.
"... No." Jake replied.
"What?" Hunter asked.
"Not again, won't lose her this time." Jake said firmly, "I've seen her a few times, once when I healed you in that bunker, and the last before Rush had passed."
Hunter didn't ask or say anything more, just kept his hand on the throttle and sped up.
Inside Eden's Convent, what was once a beacon of hope to the inevitable fires of God's judgment has been tarnished and hollowed out by these locusts known as Highwaymen. Inside what remained of the old convent the Huntress was being tortured by Highwaymen.
She has been beaten down more times than anyone can count in this very night alone and they lost count of how many times they've had their time with her.
"You think this can hurt me? You're wasting your time." Jess could barely speak loud enough for anyone to hear her. Her face was bloodied to a pulp. Her last remark was a combination of laughter and coughing up blood.
The rest of the highwaymen had their fill of brute force torture and left her to dry while they had some shots of moonshine and rations.
"Remind me why don't we kill this hillbilly bitch. She knows Jack shit about Prosperity or anything."
"Because Kreese ordered it you dumbass and we know better than to defy his orders."
"Oh please, that captain asshole took one of his eyes so he can't be that tough."
"Jackass, it was the twins that caused him to lose an eye. If they had just killed the captain there we'd have this place in our hands by now. Kreese is right, those twins are nothing but a couple of bitches sitting high on powers they didn't earn."
"Whatever, doesn't change the fact we still have problems right now, now that one kid who shot down some of our men with just arrows like this bitch."
Jess took interest in what she just heard.
"I'd love to have that boy's head for my ride's hood ornament."
Jess started rumbling in her chains after hearing them talk about her son.
"If anything I'd like to see that Rye girl's head between my legs after I kill her myself, she shot down my best friend."
Despite the Huntress's injuries she let out a small laugh while coughing up a little blood, "You shits are all bark and no bite."
"Hey fuck you just say to us?"
"I'd watch your mouth bitch or we're gonna take your tongue next!"
"You're welcome to try but given my injuries, keeping this up will kill me. You'll be joining me if you take my tongue." Jess smiled at the Highwaymen's expense.
"Don't worry there will still be plenty to serve."
Outside the convent, Hunter and Jake surveyed the outside perimeter, "There are three footmen on the ground." Hunter whispered.
"I see two snipers on the roof." Jake sighted.
Shortly after a convoy arrived with reinforcements.
"And so many more in the outpost… Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all." Hunter realized. "I really need to start listening to people when they say that I shouldn't let personal matters cloud my judgment."
Taking another look at the outpost Hunter saw how defended it was and there were three alarm systems. Doing this won't be easy, but luckily Hunter has an idea. "OK, we know a truck will be coming for in the morning meaning we have to get her before then but come nightfall then there won't be as many guards. However, even the two of us and all our skills will need some help so I'll contact Carmina Ellie."
Pulling out his radio Hunter quietly contacted Carmina and Ellie. "Carmina do you read me?"
It took a moment but Hunter got a reply, "Hunter? Where are you? Ellie and I just came back to Prosperity and everyone says you left with the Judge somewhere without telling anyone where you were going."
"I know, look I need you both to meet us near the old Eden's Gate Convent in the Henbane. Remember the place?"
"You mean the place that's now an outpost for the Highwaymen yeah. Why? What are you doing there exactly."
"Just meet us here okay? And bring a medical kit."
"Alright, we'll grab a truck and get you there as soon as we can."
The transmission ended, and Hunter turned to the Judge. "Keep an eye out, I'm gonna rest my eyes for a bit."
"Very well." The Judge responded.
Hours passed as day shifted into the night. Now was the time to strike but Carmina and Ellie were nowhere in sight.
"Jeez. Where are they?" Hunter asked nobody in particular.
"Patience. They will be here soon."
Suddenly the two heard rustling in the bushed behind them and quickly aimed their bows ready for whatever was coming their way. A second later the source of the rustling revealed itself to be just Ellie and Carmina. Seeing they were in the clear the tow lowered their weapons.
"OK, now let's get started." Hunter declared.
However, Carmina stopped Hunter. "Wait, why exactly are you two here and why did you call us here?"
Seeing they wanted an explanation Hunter complied. "Fine. Look earlier today I received a transmission on Highwaymen frequency that they captured someone who's been ambushing their soldiers."
"Who?" Ellie asked.
"Some mysterious individual fighting their own war against the Highwaymen." Hunter explained, in a cryptic manner. "Look the bottom line is that this person is being held here and we need to rescue them. Can you help us?"
"Judge?" Ellie asked for his input.
"Help us." Jake answered.
"Alright, what's the plan?" Carmina asked.
"OK." Hunter then turned to the outpost. "It's night so most of the guards are asleep and the prisoner is being held in one of those cages. I'll move in and take out the alarms, the Judge will stay close and take out any Highwaymen we may run into and you two will stay behind and take out the sentries."
Carmina and Ellie agreed on their roles. Carmina pulled out a silencer for her AR-15 while Ellie did a check on her count of arrows.
Carmina checked her scope while switching to single shot, "I'm no sniper, but this'll have to do." Carmina snickered a little at her words.
"I have a full quiver." Ellie gave her group the rundown on her status.
"Good, now let's get this done." Hunter said.
With that, the team sprang into action. Hunter slithered down in the dark while clipping the wires of the security systems. The Judge remained close behind Hunter staying on guard for any sudden threats.
Ellie and Carmina remained behind to provide overwatch on the camp.
This was proving to be easy with minimal resistance but none of them are gonna push their luck given their most recent losses.
The Judge ripped the lock off the cage and lifted up the door to see the unconscious Jess Laying there tied up, beaten and unconscious. The sight made his heart pound against his chest. The woman who's been hunting him all this time was the woman he lost, and yet here she is. Beaten and bloodied like an unwanted toy.
A part of him wanted to finish the job, and let God sort her out in the next life, but he couldn't do it. Is it because of self-pity, or because this was Jess Black herself. The woman he used to call a friend.
Suddenly the Judge heard a quiet groan, he looked to see her regaining consciousness, she opened her unswollen eye to see the Judge standing over her.
"You…" Jess croaked, "Motherfucker, I'm gonna kill you."
"Classic." Judge remarked. "Not…your…enemy Hunteress…Common foe."
"The only foe is you, and that bastard Father!" Jess started raising her voice.
The moment Jess insulted the Father the Judge began growling followed by his blood beginning to boil in anger.
"If you're here to kill me why don't you get it over with? Because if you don't I won't stop hunting you until you're just a corpse." Jess provoked the Judge.
The Judge pulled out his knife and aimed it at Jess's head ready to end her life. It's clear she hasn't let the past go.
"No," The Judge let out then directed the blade for her ropes, cutting them, "I will not kill you, you still have a purpose in this life… Jess."
"Fuck…you…" The huntress then passed out again from her injuries.
"She hasn't… changed at… all." The Judge said as he picked her up in his arms.
Just then Hunter ran over to see the Judge carrying her out of the cage. Hunter looked at her seeing the beaten state she was in.
"Is that her?" Hunter was at a loss for words.
The first thing Hunter wanted to do when he met Jess is punch her as hard as he could in her face, but seeing her in the shape she was in, all he feels is something awful, and its gnawing at him like cancer digging its way into his senses.
"Here. let me take her." Hunter offered to hold her, arms out.
"I have her, we must find shelter and quickly." Judge insisted.
Hunter looked to see Carmina and Ellie running to join them, "What the… Is that Jess?"
"Yes." The Judge replied.
"Wait, Hunter, why didn't you tell us?" Carmina asked.
Hunter grabbed Carmina and whispered something into her ear and her hurt expression turned to one of understanding. "Oh, right, that's why."
Jake looked at the two kids in curiosity as to what they were talking about, but remained silent.
"Umm… We need somewhere to go, now." Ellie stated.
"Agreed but Prosperity is too far away." Hunter pointed out.
Just then something fell out of Jess's pocket.
Hunter walked over to it picking it up then opened it up to look at it. On the paper is a map with a mark, only a few miles from their location.
"I think I found somewhere we can go for the night." Hunter said, holding up the map.
He showed the location on the map to his companions.
"I know this place." Jake said.
"Wonder why the Highwaymen didn't take this map. Probably wasn't worth anything to them." Hunter said to the others.
"One man's trash is another man's treasure." Carmina added.
"C'mon. There's bound to be more on the way." Ellie suggested.
"OK, we'll take my car." Carmina lead the group.
Arriving at the location on the map, the destination lead them to what seems to be a campsite. The whole area was littered with Highwaymen's corpses caught in traps.
"This must be Jess's camp." Ellie suggested.
"Wow Hunter, your mom really knows how to prepare." Carmina commented, looking at one of the dead Highwaymen that was ensnared in her traps.
Hunter nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we should watch where we step while we're here."
"You don't need to tell me twice." Carmina replied.
"Hold!" Jake halted the group. He surveyed the woods around them and noticed most of the traps and snares were sprung.
"Follow me, single file." Jake took the lead.
The kids followed Jake as ordered until they finally reached a cave.
Placing her on some sleeping bag laid on the ground, Hunter looked around the vicinity, "So this is where she was hiding…" Hunter looked around and found something hidden behind his mother's makeshift bed, it was an old baby photo of him.
"Coward." Hunter whispered as he threw the photo down.
Hunter walked away and just stepped over to the mouth of the cave. Knowing the remaining traps, he couldn't walk too far.
Jake looked around the cave and found something further in the cave. He shed some light from a nearby lighter beside Jess's sleeping form. Shining it closer he found a makeshift grave marker.
"RIP Jake Rook, a good deputy, and a real Peggy Slayer."
"I can barely remember those simpler times." Jake spoke to himself.
"Hey Judge… Judge…" Hunter trailed off as he noticed the Judge staring at something.
"Hello?" Jake responded deep in thought.
Hunter walked to see what the Judge was staring and his eyes widened at the sight.
"Peggy Slayer?"
"I wasn't always the Judge of New Eden." Jake consoled to Hunter.
Hunter nodded. "I know you were the Junior Deputy of Hope County… it must be kinda strange seeing your own grave. I mean as far as you're concerned Jake is dead and you prefer it that way."
"I don't know. I just realized… Ever since that day I met you and killed that bear I felt… I felt like I've alwys known you." Jake removed his mask, "You often remind me of who I once was and… I hate being reminded of that."
"Well that's… Kinda hurtful." Hunter admitted.
"But when I saw that glare in your eyes today, back at camp. I knew where you were going. One bad day after going with what you're feeling and you'd end up in the same boat as me. I couldn't… I can't let that happen to you, and I don't know why I feel like this around you."
"Everything that's happened tonight, those Highwaymen bastards robbed me of everything I wanted tonight."
As they talked neither was aware that the Huntress was secretly reaching for a blade.
"I wanted to rescue her not because it was right." Hunter confessed.
"Why did you want to save her, Hunter?" Jake asked.
"I wanted to rescue her because I wanted to give her the same pain the highwaymen gave her. Sadly they beat me to it."
"Wha-" the Judge attempted to question but Hunter gasped.
"Look out!"
The Huntress charged at the Judge with a blade but Hunter put himself in front stopping her.
"Move it Hunter."
"No. You think you can tell me what to do?"
"Move!"
"Fuck you bitch! You can't tell me what to do after the shit you've done to me!"
Just then Ellie and Carmina came in with their weapons drawn on Jess. "Drop it!"
"Do what she says." Ellie ordered.
Finally, Hunter pulled out his knife that originally belonged to her and pointed it at her face. "You hurt my friends I'm gonna hurt you alot worse."
Jess lowered her stance and dropped the blade as she realized the situation. The Judge is with her son and so is Carmina. Along with someone else.
"He just saved your ass, Jess now drop the weapon and listen." Carmina shouted.
"Yeah." Hunter agreed then turned to his father "Judge, you may as well show her. Come on girls let's go out and get some air."
The teens left the cave leaving Jess and the Judge face-to-face with each other.
"Why would Hunter of all people be working you sick fuck?" Jess asked.
The Judge said nothing.
"Your Father is an absolute psychopath, I can't believe you are working for Prosperity."
Again The Judge said nothing just remained as still as a statue
"You and your sick Father killed a lot of people! Your fuckin' Cook took my family, why should you be any different than the rest of these fuckers." Jess coldly scorned the Judge.
For the third time in a row, the Judge did nothing but out of nowhere he just sighed heavily. He reached up to his hood lowering it to reveal his head, then reached for his mask undoing the strap and letting it fall from his face and onto the ground.
Jess was in absolute shock to the point she was frozen in her muscles by the revelation before her.
"J-J-J-Jake?" Jess stuttered.
Jess started slowly walking toward Jake until she was only an inch away from Jake, she slowly raised her hands to touch his face. This couldn't be real, Jake alive and serving Joseph Seed, after everything he's done for him?
Suddenly something unexpected happened Jess screamed in fury and delivered a punch directly into Jake's face. The impact from the punch was so hard that it sent Jake falling to the ground
"How could you?! How could you join that psycho?! HOW COULD YOU BECOME HIS LAPDOG?!" Jess yelled at the top of her lungs. The feeling in her throat didn't feel the same. She hasn't yelled this loud in years.
The Judge unfazed by Jess's punch or her loud words, sat up and stared at Jess with a calm demeanor. "I thought you were all dead, that psycho was all I had left." Jake answered.
"My uncle?" Jess asked.
Jake looked down at the ground to the memory of Dutch. "... Joseph… I'm sorry I didn't save him." Jake said coldly.
Jess's face broke at the words of her uncle's fate. After all these years, hearing the truth about her uncle shattered her to pieces.
"I can't believe this after everything we've been through together how could you join that murderer?" Jess asked.
The Judge couldn't help but laugh as she said the word 'murderer'.
"A murderer? He's a lot of things, and yet a murderer saved my life?" Jake laughed even harder. "You have no right to Judge him when you are worse than he could ever be."
"Me? He tortured, brainwashed, burned, and so many other things to these people!" Jess spat.
"And look at you, a sadistic bitch who took pleasure in killing peggies, at least they killed for a purpose but you killed them just for your pleasure. You're no better than him at all, I see that now." Jake put it bluntly. "At least he isn't that monster anymore."
Jess couldn't take any more of this so she quickly grabbed her knife and hurled it at Jake but it was quickly grabbed in mid-air by him and then thrown back on the ground.
"That… only proves my point."
"Jess! What the hell I thought you were past trying to kill him now?!" Carmina exclaimed as she and the others ran in.
"He's not Jake anymore just another brainless Zealot."
"And you think you're any better?" Hunter said. "You may have all the excuses to not be there for me, but it doesn't change the fact that everything you've been through has turned you into nothing but a FUCKING COWARD."
Hunter couldn't hold it anymore and just pummeled his mom in the face in spite of her injuries till his knuckles bled, "You are nothing! And I only saved you so I could say that to your face." He was about to resume another pummeling but Carmina and Ellie fought to get Hunter off of her.
"Hunter, stop it!" Carmina struggled to keep Hunter off of the Huntress.
"Hunter… I'm…I'm…sorry." Jess coughed.
Through her pain and bruises, her emotion was weaved into her voice.
"I know, and I don't give a shit." Hunter spat.
Hunter shrugged Carmina and Ellie off and he just walked away. Carmina kneeled down to Jess and examined her wounds. "Don't worry these should heal up fine in a couple of weeks."
"I deserved that." Jess groaned.
"Yeah, you definitely did. What the hell were you thinking abandoning your own son?" Carmina asked.
"Hunter? He's your son?" Ellie whispered.
"Fuck off peggie!" Jess spat which rewarded her with a slap from Carmina.
"Don't call her that!" Carmina firmly growled, with a quick grip on her neck "Besides, you should treat her with more respect given that she's an adopted member of your family."
"What?" Jess was appalled as she asked.
"Oh the Judge raised me and since Hunter is your son that kind of makes him my brother which… I guess it also makes you my adopted mother." Ellie realized.
"Great." Jess breathed out then asked. "How did you find me?"
"Hunter… He caught word on the radio. A Huntress picking off Locust in the woods without being seen. Sounded familiar." Jake said, picking up his mask off of the ground and putting it back on his face.
"Why're you wearing that?" Jess asked
"Jake died, in his place… the Judge was born. Or at least I thought." The Judge said. "Either way I embraced the word of Joseph, and I accepted that everything he did was for the greater good."
"What?" Jess asked in dead silent shock.
The Judge turned to Jess looking her directly in the eye. "You…heard…me."
"You twisted Fuck, you turned your back on everyone!" Jess swore.
"That means nothing coming from you, you had the chance to help these people, yet what are you doing? Living in a cave hiding from everyone, you're no better than me?" The Judge replied, then turned walking away. "You know… when we met I saw something in you, but now… whatever it was I'm not seeing it anymore."
"A fucking coward." Hunter's words echoed in her mind. Her son, Hunter Rook was right.
"The boy, Hunter, I'm afraid he was right, you're a coward." Jake walked away.
Carmina and Ellie remained silent as the only man he loved and her son walked away from the cave. Jess laid stiff in her place while the revelation donned her in waves. Unlike the nuclear collapse all those years ago, her life wasn't destroyed then. Her life was destroyed here and now.
The rest of the night was silent for everyone. Hunter and Jake surveyed the vicinity to deactivate any remaining traps. Ellie and Carmina kept Jess company in silence as they were keeping the fire lit. Ellie came back with a few rabbits for roasting.
"Hope you're all hungry." Ellie smiled, holding out her catch.
Carmina came over to help her with her assortment, until Jess spoke up, "No, keep working on the fire, let me help her skin off the meat."
Jess limped over to Ellie's location and started helping, "Peggie or not
"Kim's sure gonna let us have it for staying the night out." Hunter said.
"Yeah, but I don't care." The Judge was honest, "In spite of the consequences, it's worth it. She survived all of this, after so long." He spoke not in love, but in admiration of her will to survive.
"I for one am not excited to receive another scolding." Carmina replied.
"Jess and I have the rabbits all skinned, who's hungry?" Ellie called.
Nobody said anything, just remained in silence as they went back to eat. "Ooook then." Ellie said nervously.
Jess took her meat and walked back into the cave meanwhile the Judge left in silence.
Their feast over the fire was silent amongst the teens. Jess sulked in her cave for the past half hour, Jake went out to the edge of the woods to practice his archery.
"Hunter you need to stop putting this off, you need to tell the Judge you're his son." Carmina stated.
"And what will that accomplish?" Hunter questioned. "Besides I have a father already Jerome. He's the man who raised me, taught me how to fight, hunt, drive, and he was there for me when I needed him. He's my father."
Carmina wanted to argue but it was kinda hard to argue with the truth after all she knew like everyone else here that 'father' is a title that's earned.
Ellie smirked a bit. "He's got you there Carmina."
"OK, but still I just feel like he should know, at least to get it out of the way. For closure if anything." Carmina said.
Hunter then shifted his head to look at the Huntress. "It'd be better coming from her than me."
"Then maybe you should tell her." Ellie suggested.
Hunter glanced into the cave where Jess was and the only thing going through his mind was to yell at her more. Yet somehow he found himself standing up and walking towards the cave.
Walking up to Jess while checking her wounds. She didn't even look at him when he approached.
"I won't justify what I did, I'll just say this, Jake doesn't know who he is to me. I never saw a point in telling him, and even if I did he probably wouldn't believe me. Would mean more coming from you." Hunter didn't wait for a response before turning to leave.
"Hunter wait!" Jess called to stop him.
Hunter stopped but didn't look back. "What?"
"I promise I'll make things. I owe you for the last sixteen years I've been gone." Jess stood firm in her words.
"Are you saying that because of this forced confrontation or because you're being sincere?" Hunter asked.
"Because you punched sixteen years of regret into my face." Jess replied.
"If that's a joke I'm not laughing." Hunter scolded.
"Wasn't asking you to laugh." Jess cemented her words. She went back into the cave and started packing her gear.
Hunter rolled his eyes and said. "Whatever." Then left the cave.
The next morning came fast, Carmina drove towards Prosperity, with Hunter in the front. Ellie was stuck with Jess and the Judge in the center of the backseat.
"This feels awkward." Ellie thought to herself.
The drive between the old Eden's Convent and Prosperity was quiet, and for sure uncomfortable.
For Hunter the silence in the drive was driving him to boil on the inside. Every fiber inside him kept him from going enraged in the car.
After the long drive, everyone stood in front of the gates waiting for the guards to open them. As they did Hunter whispered to Carmina. "You parents are gonna give us hell for this."
"I know." Carmina responded, "And to be honest, I don't care this time." Carmina said turned to the gates to Prosperity opened with Kim, Nick, and Jerome came out with disappointed looks written on their faces.
Hunter was the first to step forward, and walked up to Jerome, who carried a furious look. "Fuck this." Hunter just walked passed the adults.
A cold stare with no form of comfort. Jerome saw that face before, but not from Hunter. Looking up at the rest, he saw the Judge in the back with an old familiar face. Jess Black the legendary Huntress of Hope county very wounded.
Jerome raced over to meet the two, as well as a few other familiar faces. Suddenly out of nowhere, Jess collapsed to the ground.
"Dear God." Jerome then ran over to the judge and helped the woman he was holding.
"Jess?" Nick and Kim asked in shock.
Kim looked at the two girls. "We are going to talk about this later but for now take her to the infirmary and have Selene take a look at her."
"Okay, Kim." Ellie responded, but Carmina remained silent.
Carmina and Ellie followed Jess to her mother's instructions. Selene was waiting just outside her clinic, and having a quick smoke, "Oh hey Carmina, want a hit?"
Carmina slapped the pot from her hand. "No, we have a woman injured here, but maybe later."
Selene groaned. "OK, OK bring her in."
Everyone waited outside: Kim, Nick, Jerome, Hurk, Sharky, Carmina, and Jerome. All except Hunter, who was nowhere to be found.
After an hour Selene came out.
"How is she?" Jerome asked.
"She'll be fine old man don't worry. But whoever did those stitches did terribly like very bad and not to mention she has a serious concussion. I patched her up well but she needs sleep." Selene explained as she flicked away her last stub.
"What about Marcus?" Jerome asked.
"Still in a coma, I mean I still don't even know how he's still alive. The guy must be very lucky, anyway if you wanna see her she's stable." Selene explained then walked away from her clinic to go check on her garden.
Jerome turned to the girls. "You two go find Hunter I'm gonna stay here with Jess."
"Make that two."
The three looked to see Grace, "I was surprised to hear that y'all found Jess. I've suspected she survived this fallout but still. She was a hard person to be around, but she was my friend too."
"She was, c'mon." Jerome offered his arm to help Grace inside the clinic.
Grace accepted Jerome's arm and they walked inside.
Arrow after arrow Hunter fired every shot at the target always hitting the center. Right now after everything that's happened in a few hours a target dummy is a welcome activity.
"Jeez, I'd hate to be on your bad side." Ellie said.
Hunter quickly snapped his gaze over to who just said that.
"You got something to say, say it." Hunter replied.
"Hunter, don't be like that to her." Carmina defended Ellie.
Hunter loaded another arrow into his bow. "Sorry just got alot on my mind."
Carmina nodded in understanding. "I have no doubt about that. Do you need anything from us? Water, a snack?"
"No… Just, I just need. I just need to process everything. I just saw my parents together after all these years, and I don't know how to understand what just happened yesterday. Was this like a sign or just some wired coincidence?" Hunter asked.
"My guess, it's both." Ellie suggested. "God works in mysterious ways."
Hunter and Carmina looked at her when she said those words, "What? Jerome taught me that."
"True enough." Hunter replied.
"Maybe its time, Hunter. Maybe the best way to heal from all of this is to patch things up with your mom." Carmina suggested.
Hunter scoffed at Carmina's suggestion. "I have nothing to heal, she's the one who opened this rift so it's not my job to fix it. So no."
"I won't suggest any further, Hunter, but just know what you're feeling isn't going to make anything better." Carmina and Ellie left Hunter with those words to process in his emotional state.
Hunter processed their words carefully but he believed he made a good point, he pulled another arrow out of his quiver and fired it from his bow hitting the target dead on.
In the infirmary Jerome and Grace were talking to the wounded Jess Black, this is something they didn't expect to happen. Jess Black the Huntress ending up in Prosperity. She was in bad shape when the Judge and teens brought her in but Selene did a good job of patching her up, but she was still in quite an amount of pain. Grace couldn't see anything but she could hear her groans from all the pain she's suffered last night.
"Geez, you sound like you've been fucked up Jess." Grace nodded.
Jess sat up, her bloodied and shredded clothes were removed earlier replaces with a pair of shorts and a tank top, and her wounds were cleaned and bandaged better.
"At least you look better than when I last saw you." Jerome tried to ease in with small talk.
"Thanks. Don't worry these new guys are nothing. Peggies gave me worse than this during the Eden's Gate war."
"So I take it you found out?" Jerome asked.
Jess remained silent for a moment about what Jerome was implying.
"Yeah, I still can't believe it. I can't believe Jake joined that asshole willingly." Jess said.
"Jess. Did he not tell you?" Jerome asked for confirmation if she knew how Jake became the Judge.
"Only he thinks I'm no better than that twisted fucking father!" Jess kept a strong face just like she always did back in the days.
Jerome and Grace exchanged glances unsure of how to respond to that.
"Jess you might wanna get comfortable this story is gonna take some time." Grace prepared.
After a long story Jess couldn't believe all that happened to Jake: Being trapped in a bunker for five years in a bunker with Joseph, and how much both of them changed over these years.
"That fucker Joseph, we should've killed him on the spot." Those final memories of the bombs dropping scattered through her mind like ants. The last time she saw Jake Rook, and not the Judge.
"We all changed after that day, Jess." Jerome answered.
"Yeah, I should've realized it sooner, it took my son's anger to make me realize that." Jess explained.
"Your Son?" Grace questioned.
Jess didn't realize how long she's been gone, she's slipping in her age.
"You have a son?" Grace said incredulously.
"That's another story you should probably know about, Grace." Jerome said.
"There's no easy way to explain this easy so I'll just go straight to the point." Jess took a deep breath, "Hunter, he's my son. When the bombs dropped I left him with Jerome to take care of him in my place."
Grace, one of the coolest and most collected people angrily grabbed the wounded Huntress and yelled angrily. "How could you abandon your own son like that?!"
"C'mon Grace… Me? A mom? After all the shit I've been through, you think you can see me as a mom?"
"Bullshit, I think you wouldn't be a perfect mom but maybe you'd have been a good mom. We take care of our own here in Hope County not abandon them. What gave you the idea to do that to your only infant son?" Grace demanded to know.
Jess caught her breath, for once she let an ounce of her guts spill. A single tear formed down her cheek, and shortly a few more as she began to crack open her barriers.
"I…just… couldn't raise a child." Jess said.
"Wait… How did Hunter even find you anyway?" Jerome asked, trying to ease the tension.
"Hunter told me he intercepted a Highwayman radio telling him of my capture." Jess explained.
"Damn, I swear every time I hope that boy learns his lesson about rushing into missions but no he doesn't." Jerome growled in frustration with Hunter's arrogance. "Maybe God is bringing all three of you together."
"I'm begging you Grace just don't tell this to anyone." Jess practically begged which was something she's ever done in her life.
Grace groaned. "I'll stay quiet on this for now but if you don't fess up I'm gonna tell everyone about this secret. Not because you're being irresponsible and a disappointment for hiding this. But because you should never have hidden this in the first place."
Seeing as how Grace wasn't gonna stay quiet on this Jess complied.
Away from all the drama, the Judge went to his usual spot, the roof of Prosperity. It was a place where he could get away from everything and just relax and think. Right now the Judge sat down, mask off just enjoying the view the roof offered and contemplating everything.
"What are you planning God? You bring me Jess, and this boy has a grudge against her." The Judge murmured.
Alot is happening and its getting harder for the Judge to keep track of it all. Seems like there's something going on that he cannot comprehend.
Taking a look down he saw Hunter training with a bow, more just to let off steam from today. What happened was still a mystery to him, but luckily one that will sort itself out.
Suddenly the judge heard Kim calling out to everyone, meaning its time to work on the next phase of their revolution against the Locusts. It's nice to have a moment to relax but now it's time to get back to work. This war is almost over all Prosperity and New Eden needs one final push.
With that, the Judge went over to his mask and picked it up putting it back on over his face. The Judge then climbed down to meet others in the main room to discuss the next step in winning this war.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, this was a real difficult one. So leave a review and tell me what you think.