A/N:

Ello lads and lasses, looks like I have a new update xd.

So yes, another late update for me at least since I like to do daily updates xd. I have been busy with my gaming life with that I mean ranking up in specific games xd, so I had no time to write since I went full time again with that but I got fucking bored again so here we are xd.

Enough, enjoy ze story.

Chapter Twenty-One: A Bounty Not Worth Collecting

(Harper's P.O.V)

Once we got into Demsey's house most of the gang rested up a bit well expect for Cami who chatted with Demsey. They seem really acquainted with each other since how close they are with each other.

Demsey on the other hand was shy as hell, I mean he told me he was well a quiet kid at school and never had any friends besides me so he thanked me for that same time he is shy when it comes to talking to girls so Cami instantly tried at least to boost his self-confidence.

He actually reminded me of me basically, except he was not bullied in school he was well different.

But I got out of that state when I needed to stand up for myself back when I was with Wilderbeast. So, I started to they quote "Man Up Haddock!" and well that's what happened to me. I manned up and as time went by I started to regret manning up since it costed many innocent lives who wanted to survive like us and I regretted every single thing I have done.

The nightmares come but not that often since drinking helps coping with that. But I needed to stop, I knew I have been drinking too much and chances are I might die and I wanted to die ever since that day because of the guilt but now I have Alek and I don't want to leave her.

And maybe we can have a normal life again since only North and South America have been affected by the disease and sooner or later maybe Mala might get some help to get away from this and start a new I guess.

I can just imagine me and Alek in an apartment with maybe two kids living a normal life after everything we have endured for the last five years. Chances are I might tell them that as a story wouldn't that be something.

"Harper, you still there?" Alek giggled

I snapped out of my thoughts looking at Alek with a smile, I just pulled her closer since she just laid on my shoulder. By now the gang went to the firing range Demsey kept to test his guns, I'm sure they would love to get some of his hardware for sure.

"Yeah zoned out for a bit you know." I chuckled.

"What were you thinking about?" She asked.

I sighed. "I was just thinking well if we can still well have a normal life after this." I told her

"Not sure about that merc, since this is pretty normal to us." She retorted smiling.

I smiled back, "I mean like can we well have a normal life like what we use too you know, go back to school, go to college and all that. Settle down have a family." I told here.

She stared at me, but it was actually awkward since she didn't respond for two minutes. She opened her mouth but no words came out. She exhaled before talking. "Are you saying you want to have a family with me?"

I instantly went red, one since I'm embarrassed for that and two well it's been my dream to have a life with Alek.

"Well I mean, n-o I mean yes well not really I mean you know I want you have a life with you I mean I care for you oh Gods why." I groaned since I stuttered too much.

She just shook her head before pulling me into a kiss, I just melted to it before smiling back as we came back for air.

"First of all, merc I care for you, second of all I want to have a life with you. If that's still possible." She spoke out.

I just smiled before settling back to the couch.

Then we heard loud knocking on Demsey's door, me and Demsey instantly looked at each other before we told the others to get behind the couch. Demsey tossed me a handgun before he had his own placing it behind his back before slowly opening the door with me behind him just in case.

Demsey opened the door before I heard him sighing but instantly he was pushed in. I looked at the him to see it was Edward, one of Demsey's couriers when he delivers guns. He was breathing hard before confronting the both of us.

"Boss we have a problem, some folks outside are stirring up trouble finding you specially Drake." Edward informed.

We both gave each other worrying looks before he continued. "Look their the folks from Manhattan you know those guys who took over most of the city. Look they have serious firepower boss same goes for their numbers. I counted at least thirteen, one of them had a metal arm."

I instantly had wide eyes before Demsey noticed it, he nodded before going to the back. I on the other hand started to panic with the others just looking at me but Alek just approached me before stopping me at my place forcing me to look at her.

"Harper, what was that? Harper look at me." She said softly

I just stared at the ground hard, this is all my fault. I should leave while I have a chance. They don't deserve this, Alek doesn't deserve this.

Demsey came back have a duffle bag with I guess all the weapons he grabbed from his storage. He placed it on the dining table opening the bag and spilling the contents.

"Everybody load up, we have serious trouble in our hands." Demsey informed picking up a TAR 21 and cocking it.

Everybody else did the same thing picking up a rifle from the bag. Here it is Harper you can leave now and stop this or risk everybody's lives for your safety.

"Guys stop." I announced.

Everybody stopped looking at me. I sighed.

"Look you guys can't be involved any longer, just get back to Berk. Demsey you get them back to Berk." I said pointing at him.

Instantly Alek rejected. "There is no way I'm leaving you Harper, I already promised you that I'm not leaving your side."

I groaned, stubborn had to be in her traits. "Look Alek there is now way in hell that I'm letting you come with me. You can still have a life." I started.

"Yeah and you can't?!" She retorted.

"I choice this life!" I snapped back.

Everybody in the room went quiet, Alek just stared at me with wide eyes. "I choice this life." I chocked out.

"Alek listen, I want to be with you I really want to but you being safe is a price I'm willing to pay. Even if I don't see you ever again, you're safe that's good enough for me." I told her softly.

She approached me grabbing my hand and entwining it with hers. "Harper, you didn't want to be this. Yet you became him, but I know that you are here now and you are regretting it. But you can change that, second chances come and go and this is your second chance. Don't lose it." She told me smiling softly

I just looked at her smiling before pulling her into a kiss.

"Not to ruin the moment but we have bounty hunters on us!" Sam interrupted

We both stopped before nodding. I went to the back looking at the guns on the racks. I instantly looked at my favorite before taking it from the rack.

"Harper AK mags are at the right." Demsey told me.

"What gun is that?" Frank asked.

"Oh this, it's a AK-PDW. Tactical version of the AK over all light and has decent accuracy and firepower. I answered looking at the chest to see AK mags followed by a drum magazine. I smiled placing it all the magazines on my vest followed by placing the drum in my pack.

I went back to see everybody geared up. "Edward, you get the gang to the cars, I'll be behind you guys. I'll deal with Drago, buy you all some time." I said.

I knew Alek was going to retort so I beated her to it. "No Alek you stick with gang, me and Demsey will buy you guys some time, just drive around and get to Keelson street. Park near the Burger King, we'll be there." I said.

She nodded before Edward opened the door behind letting the gang out. We both nodded to Edward before he went out shutting the door.

"Well Demsey any regrets?" I asked cocking my gun.

"I didn't ask Cami to be my girlfriend." He grinned.

I rolled my eyes. "You guys just met and you're already asking her to be your girlfriend?" I teased

"Harper, shut up." He said back.

I just chuckled before opening the door followed by Demsey who locked it again as we went to the square of the makeshift town.

Once we got here we hid in an alleyway before we noticed there was a service ladder leading up the roof.

We got up the roof but I heard a Scottish like accent yelling where I am. "For the last time! Where is Drake! We'll pay a decent amount to anyone who has information!"

"Garret." I sneered before peaking to see Viktor and Garret in the middle with some of their goons behind him, then I saw them. My old friends or should I say enemies, with Drago behind them as they made a wall around him.

I pulled out my Springfield cocking the bolt looking at the scope. But Demsey grabbed him hand pulling it towards him. "Don't do anything stupid!" He hissed.

I pulled back my hand before looking at the scope aiming it at Drago's head. But he instantly looked directly at me grinning madly. He pointed his one good arm at me, his men instantly opened fire on our position before I pulled the trigger killing one of them instead.

Not soon after everybody in the town instead fired at them forcing them to take cover behind the ruins of the building. They were mostly raiders and other hired guns firing back.

I smiled before we went back down running around the buildings taking a shortcut to the exit of the town. But we heard yelling before we looked back to see Viktor's men along with Garret behind them before they opened fire at us.

Demsey went through his pack pulling out a smoke grenade pulling the pin, shaking it a few times before tossing it behind us. I heard the smoke pop as we ran making a right towards the exit.

But we heard footsteps behind us as we ran before we took cover behind a wrecked car just near the entrance. Few seconds passed before Viktor's mercenaries came in, most of them holding standard issue American gear with their shirt and pants being civilian. Most of them ditched their helmets which made me smile.

I looked at Demsey which he nodded before we came out of cover opening fire at them. They panicked as three of them got hit falling down limp as the rest of them fell back blind firing in the process.

Demsey took this time a grenade pulling the pin letting it cook for at least three seconds before tossing it to where they hid cover. We heard them shout grenade but it exploded before we ran out this time outside the city ruins. But we heard screeching as we saw freaks running towards us, most them tripping since they were too fast. They kept on ran towards us as we ran.

They screeched harder before we both stopped opening fire at them before we ran again. But they were to many as we ran, Demsey pulled out another grenade cooking it at his hand before dropping it on the ground.

We looked back to see it exploded but some of them managed to survive running at us.

"Fuck!" Demsey swore as we ran faster than before. We stopped again opening fire but most of our shots missed. We reloaded as we ran dropping the mags in the process.

We stopped again but this time I didn't hip fire instead I got placed the butt of the rifle at my shoulder before opening fire killing the ones at front as they ran. The ones behind tripped trying to get some momentum going they tried to get up rapidly before Demsey opened fire at them killing them instantly. We heard more screeches all around before we ran towards the Burger King where the gang waited.

We got there to see Sam on the turret along with the gang on the seats chatting or talking while Edward has a smoke break. He instantly saw us as Demsey waved to get in.

Edward instantly threw his cigar on the ground before hoping in the drivers. The gang looked at our direction before they had their eyes wide, we looked behind to see another horde just behind us.

"Sam don't just stand their shoot!" I yelled instantly getting out of his shocked state, he pulled the trigger but nothing happened. We were still far away from them but almost near. Maybe two minutes depending if we don't get mauled alive.

"Cock it you moron!" Demsey yelled.

He nodded cocking the turret before he opened fire killing the freaks chasing us. But there were still more, is it Black Friday since there to many of them. We both ran behind the Humvee jumping at the back before we yelled for them to drive.

All three cars drove away, far away from the freaks as they tried to catch up.

Back at Sinners Peak, the gun fight came to a halt since Drago and Viktor lost most of their men including the reinforcements.

Garret came back with scorch marks all over him as four men behind were covered in scorch marks and blood.

"I take it he got away little brother." Viktor said calmly

"Ay, bastard threw a grenade at the right time." Garret sneered.

"Well Drago, we got them on the run where do you think they're going?" Viktor asked calmly

Drago just gave a glare at the brothers before walking away with his cape draping behind him.