Chapter 4

The Fall

She was almost a grown woman, she didn't need me. We kept on walking until I heard a snap. I turned and saw a tree trunk come flying towards us. Someone tackled me to the ground and then ran off. Stakes began hitting the ground around me.

"Shit!"

Everyone was running around, trying to get away.

"Help!"

My eyes went wide.

"Valentina!?"

I ran as fast as I possibly could toward her cries. I threw down my gun and slid forward. I grabbed her arms and pulled her up.

"Come on!"

When she was safe I grabbed my gun and stood up.

"Twelve o 'clock! A hundred and ten meters!" she said.

"Take him! Take him!"

"I don't have to."

"You will do what I-"

"I literally don't have to you idiot!"

I grabbed her rifle and looked through the scope. She was right. I turned back but she was gone.

"Goddamnit! You're just like her!"

"What the fuck are you screaming at?" Cuchillo asked me.

They all stood there staring at me.

"Nothing."

I kept walking and they followed again.

Valentina's POV

Royce had my rifle and I was forced to make up for its loss. I'd learned how to make a bow from scratch a long time ago. I did the very best I could and then tested it. I pulled back on the string and let an arrow fly. I heard a scream and my eyes widened. I ran forward but stayed hidden. Stans was looking at the hole in his jumpsuit. I covered my hand to keep from laughing and then ran back.

"SORRY!" I shouted.

I heard him start swearing at me and I rolled my eyes.

Royce's POV

I looked at the hole and smirked.

"You think this is funny?"

"A little."

"Yeah, yeah. If you don't think she's your kid by now…."

I shoved him aside and kept walking. She was more dangerous than I thought. I smiled a bit, I felt kind of proud. We came to an opening in the trees and my eyes went wide. I stopped at the edge of the cliff and looked up.

"We're gonna need a new plan." I said.

"How the fuck did we get here?" Edwin asked.

I shook my head and blinked a few times to make sure it was real.

"Let's go back. Try and think of something else."

They all just followed silently.

Damnit Valentina where are you!?

Valentina's POV

I saw the sky and knew we were all screwed.

"God have mercy on us all." I whispered.

I turned and started to jump from tree to tree. It seemed safer to stay off the ground, for now at least. Something went flying past me and I hugged the tree. I held my breath and waited. Nothing came and I let out a breath of relief. I heard barks and gunfire soon after. I looked over and went that way. The group was fighting dog like beasts. I shot one and then threw a knife in to one going towards Hanzo. He looked up and I nodded.

"Help!"

That was Edwin's voice. I took an arrow and fired at the creature jumping at him. It fell dead and I pointed to the tree. He nodded and ran up. I wanted to save the ammunition for my gun. I saw two running for Royce. My eyes widened and I tore one of the feathers out of one. I took a deep breath and let the arrows go. Both of them fell dead next to Royce. He jumped a bit. I fired again and then I heard a whistle. I frowned and looked around. The beasts ran off and I narrowed my eyes. I looked at Edwin and held my finger to my lips. He sighed but nodded. I watched the others for a minute.

"We're being hunted." Royce said.

I sighed and closed my eyes.

"They sent the dogs in first. Just like you would if you were stalking boar, or shooting quail…"

"Well what about Valentina? Do you think she knows this? Hell is she even alive?" Stans asked.

"Why?"

Everyone looked frustrated. I rolled my eyes and then went in the direction those beasts had gone. Something had to be holding their leashes.

Royce's POV

There were two dead beasts next to me. Both with arrows in them. I looked around but I knew I wouldn't find her.

"Seventeen fucking years old! How does she do all this!?"

"The Driscoll Bounty Hunter. Even I've heard of her." Stans said.

"What?"

"She's caught loads of cons. A lot of the cells in San Quinton are full because of her. I thought she'd be older and less good looking. I've heard she's been doing this since she was fifteen."

"She catch you?" I asked.

"No."

I looked at the arrows again.

You did a damn good job Esperanza.

Valentina's POV

I made it to the camp first. I did NOT like what I saw. Carcasses hanging everywhere, bones and human remains scattered around.

"Santa Maria…"

I walked further in until I heard a leaf crunch. I immediately stopped and slowly drew an arrow. I quickly turned and found the group there.

"Goddamnit! I could've killed you." I hissed.

"I doubt that."

I narrowed my eyes at my father. He challenged me with a stare.

"She's your kid dipshit! You've seen what she can do! For the love of god look at her!" Stans said.

"That's right father. You can't deny it anymore. I'm your daughter."

Again, he only stared at me.

"I don't care if you love me or not, or if you want to even admit I'm your kid. But you can't change the fact that we share the same blood. I mean come on, I have your eyes and attitude. You're a real idiot if you're still denying I'm yours."

"Don't talk to me like that!" he snapped.

I raised my brows.

"Already getting into the parenting business? I'll speak any way I like. You weren't there when I said my first word or when I learned to talk. You have no parental rights over me. Mama was the one who asked me to find you. She wanted to see you one last time. I was close too, but then I had this terrible feeling. When I went back she was on her deathbed. The last thing she said was your name. I'll never understand why she loved you so much. You're a selfish man with no heart." I snapped.

I could see the anger in his eyes.

Royce's POV

I could deny it anymore. She was mine.

"Your mother had a temper too."

Really? That's the first thing you say to her?!

She raised her brows.

"Really? That's the first thing you say to me?"

She shook her head and walked further into the camp.

"Nice move dipshit."

I hit the convict and then followed my kid. It felt strange calling her my kid. Of all the things that could have happened, I had to find out I had a daughter. A fucking teenaged daughter! Child or adolescent I could have handled, but a seventeen year old?! I took a deep breath and kept walking.

"You're fucked man."

I growled.

"Valentina come back here!" I hissed.

She didn't listen of course. She'd stopped at the very front of the camp. She was staring at something. I walked up to her and then saw what she was staring at.

"What the fuck?"

She growled at me but I ignored her. She had a very strange and worrisome look on her face. I quietly backed away and found a safe hiding spot. I watched Nikolai poke the thing on the totem and it roared. My eyes went wide when I saw it.

"Jesus Christ…."

"We have leave! Ahora! Vamanos! Vamanos!"

I heard screams and I saw out African friend up in the air. Spears going through his body. I jumped out and started to shoot. I could see them, but only for a few seconds at a time. Then I saw the eyes.

"RUN! RUN!" I shouted.

I saw a blue energy blast go shooting at Nikolai. I watched Valentina go back for him, almost getting hit in the process. It made nearly stop beating but she grabbed him and pulled him away. I let off a few more rounds before running. Valentina was running in front of me, then she vanished. I soon found out way. I shouted as I started falling down a steep hill. I heard Valentine scream and she fell off a cliff. I rolled off and I saw her maneuver her body so she could dive into the water instead of smacking down onto it. I wasn't as lucky. I hit the water hard and I couldn't move. I heard more people crash into the water and I couldn't breathe, I was in too much pain to move. I closed my eyes. This was probably it for me.

I'm sorry Esperanza.

I saw a light and opened my eyes. Someone was reaching for me.

Esperanza.