April 29, 2032
The monsters that had visited Elena that night visited her in her dreams. She woke up with a jolt letting out a gasp looking around in panic. Someone grabbed her hands and she fought hard before realizing who they belonged to.
"Elena, calm down, it's me," said Doctor Zhirkov shaking her gently and letting go when she had calmed down. "You've been passed out for a while and…"
The events of last night hit Elena hard. The blood. The smell. The fear. The leers on those men's faces.
Soft. So, so, so soft.
Elena burst into tears covering her face as Doctor Zhirkov patted her on the back. He did not say anything until he had gotten over her bout of crying.
"They tried to… they tried to… I had no choice. They would've…"
"I understand," said Doctor Zhirkov. "Those were vile men who deserved far worse than what you did to them. But I'm afraid the others won't see it that way."
"What do you mean?"
"They're calling you a murderer. They would've killed you already if not for the fact that you were under Billy's protection. But Billy's patience runs thin. He is already giving up pursuit of your friend, Michael and if that happens then I'm afraid you will not be safe."
"But I… I…"
Elena could not finish. She started crying again.
***
April 29, 2032
Michael slowly and painfully opened his eyes. Through his dazed eyes, he saw darkness all around save for the dim lightbulb that hung above. Where am I? What's going on? As he regained consciousness, he realized that his body was tied together by a long, thick rope.
He was in a shed and realized it was one of the abandoned sheds that had stood on the edge of the fields. There was a crispiness in the air along with the wet smell of the fields outside. The rain had stopped since Michael could not hear its pattering anymore. The after-effects could be felt in the air. Through the old, wooden boards of the shed, Michael could see faint lines of dawn's sunlight creeping through.
Michael's head hurt. He could feel a sharp throbbing at the temple of his head. He wanted to hold his head but could not do so with his hands tied up. Then suddenly everything came flooding to him. The journey with Rose, the ambush, him killing someone. I killed someone. A human. I hadn't wanted to!
But you did, said a voice inside him.
Wilson! Michael realized that he had seen him. He had knocked him out. Rose! Was she alive? He still remembered the look that she had given him and wept. She would not look at him the same way again. It was over between them.
The shed door creaked open and sure enough it was Wilson. Michael saw the bottle of water in his hand and realized how thirsty he was. His throat was dry and felt like sandpaper as he gulped.
"I know what you are," said Wilson coming up to him and sitting on a bale of hay. "I know you're a respawner. You lied to me."
Michael did not say anything. He felt ashamed and kept his gaze down.
"And yet," continued Wilson. "You saved my life. You saved my daughter's life. I saw what you did. They were going to kill my girl."
Michael felt a surge of hope flood through him when he heard that. He hoped that his daughter felt the same way.
"What does… Rose… think about me?" he asked awkwardly and saw a flare of annoyance appear on Wilson's face. His expression calmed though as he took a deep breath and he shook his head. Michael understood. It was over between them.
Yeah, thought so.
But Michael had more pressing issues to resolve. He was trapped here in the mercy of his boss and even if he somehow escaped he would have to free his friends. Elena. She was out there trapped going through god knew what. He had prolonged the task and kept it out of his
mind with his romantic encounters with Rose. But that was all behind him now. He had to come back to the real world. He had to focus on what mattered and not what he wanted.
"What's your deal, Michael?" asked Wilson. "Or if that really is your real name? Tell me, the truth this time. You've helped me more than anyone else out there and I truly am grateful for that. So, tell me the truth and maybe I could help you out in return."
Michael sighed. He nodded, asked for a drink of water which Wilson gladly let him, then told him his story. He told him how he had suddenly gained conscious with absolutely no idea about his past, how he had been found by his friend and let inside the city, about him working in the mines until the respawner at Peak City had fled his prison and wreaked havoc on the city, how he had killed the respawner in self-defence and fled with the prisoners now held at Billy's prison. Michael hoped that if he told the truth to Wilson then he might spare him or help him at the very least. Wilson was a big man and maybe he could use his power to at least save his friends. Wilson listened patiently and Michael watched as his stern expression had softened to one of understanding and compassion as the story went on.
Wilson did not say anything when Michael was done. He had his head lowered as he thought, his magnificent cowboy hat blocking his eyes preventing Michael from reading his thoughts. He finally looked up with a smile.
"You saved my life. You saved my daughter's life. You saved the lives of everyone at the Peak City," said Wilson and Michael felt hope flood into him. Maybe there is a chance! Maybe he might let me go.
"But…" He continued. Michael's hope faded. "But, you're a respawner. And the law expects me to turn you in. Everyone knows who you are now. The whole town's looking for you and keeping you here is a very very risky move."
Michael opened his mouth to protest but Wilson continued. "The law did not give me justice however. My son's love's death still remains unavenged. He did not get his justice. Cole, who killed her, who tried to kill me, remains untouched by the law. Billy won't care about it. All this stuff about business rivalry is petty to him. That is why I give you an offer."
"Give me my justice," continued Wilson his voice rising with emotion, looking hard into Michael's eye. "Kill him. Kill him and I will help you with your friends. I will help you escape and I will make sure they are set free. Billy won't have much use for them within the week and if I implore him enough, he will set them free. I know you are inexperienced which is why I will provide you with help. I have hired an… associate you could say, who will help you with bringing justice to my family. They have been wronged."
Michael sighed. More killing. I don't want to kill again.
Wilson grabbed Michael's head and propped it upwards looking deep into his eyes. "My daughter is in danger too. They will come for her next, I know it. Won't you do what's right now? Your friends, my family, we all need you. Won't you do this for us?"
He owed it to Wilson for the help he had received here in the Freeland. He owed it to Rose who had given him a brief yet unforgettable time – and he had promised her after all though it didn't quite matter anymore. He owed it to Elena too who lay trapped in a prison rotting
away in a cell. He could help them all. Kill two birds with one stone. But he had to kill… he didn't want to kill.
Michael realized then that this was all his life was going to be. He had a power and with that power he had a responsibility. Which meant killing… which meant there was no escaping it.
Michael sighed and looked into Wilson's eyes and nodded.