20 Minutes Earlier –
A heavy roar of an engine continuously sounds. The bulky weight of tires run over dried out branches and leaves.
"Ouch, can you drive more carefully, do you want to hurt the little girl," Nero shouts out whilst at the back of the truck with Maya.
"Shut it," Jonathan responds, "I am losing track of where they went; I don't see any more footsteps."
Nero tightens the seat belt on Maya and quickly gives her a warm smile before moving to the front of the truck. "Wait, stop the truck for a second," he demands.
"For what! I don't have time for this!" Jonathan screams out aggressively whilst hitting the steering wheel.
A silent sob starts to turn into a screeching cry at the back of the truck.
Nero quickly snaps his neck and looks back, "Oh no Maya, its fine, don't worry, he's just a little hangry, that's all" Nero softly whispers with the same warm smile he had earlier. He turns his gaze back to Jonathan and places his hand onto his shoulder whilst squeezing it tightly, "See what you are doing - you are making the little girl cry you idiot, just stop the truck!"
Immediately as the heavy armored truck halts, Nero jumps out of the passenger seat and closes his eyes whilst inhaling and exhaling deeply.
"What are you doing?" Jonathan asks with a tinge of held back frustration in his voice.
"I have hunted the Skulldem for a long-long time, not only for the Motherland, but for other nations who want them gone, so I know a thing or two about their tactics," Nero replies. "They went north-west," he says whilst pointing towards an area where the dried-out leaves and branches get less and less.
Nero jumps back into the truck and without him even closing the door, Jonathan accelerates north-west.
11 Minutes Earlier –
"Aaah shit!" Jonathan mutters under his breath.
"Looks like we're gonna have to go on foot from here going," Nero says in a suggestive tone whilst unbuckling Maya from her seat belt.
As Jonathan gets out and jumps down onto the ground, he kicks the bulky tires of the heavy armored truck. "Stupid truck!" he says whilst continuously kicking the tires.
"Don't blame my truck, it's the mud its too thick," Nero abruptly says whilst hoisting Maya onto his back.
Right before Nero takes another step, Maya taps on the back seat window multiple times.
"What is it Mimi?" Nero asks.
Maya says nothing but points at the back seat window of the truck.
"Speak to me Mimi, what is it?" Nero enquires once again.
"You know what, don't even say anything, I remember," he says whilst opening the door to the back seat.
Nero bends down and grabs Maya's damaged teddy bear. As soon as Nero hands it to Maya, a stretching smile glides across her entire face.
"That's the first of many smiles for you Mimi - I love seeing you smile," Nero says whilst hoisting Maya onto his back once again.
3 Minutes Earlier –
"I wanted to ask you something on the way here," Nero says whilst walking side by side with Jonathan through thick mud.
"What?" Jonathan replies, his gaze so intense whilst looking straight ahead.
"Have you… did you think about what you will do… if you can't find your friend or brother; whatever he is to you?" Nero asks.
"That's not a damn option!" Jonathan responds. "Jacob is gone; Truth can't leave me too!" he repeatedly mumbles.
"I ask this because I was once like you before I became a militia hunter. I had so many connections and bonds; a girl I knew since I was a little boy who later became my girlfriend, was violated right in front of me and her soon to be parents' in-law when our village was raided. What crushed me even more is that she told me a week before our village got raided that we had a baby on the way. I was so scared, because of how young we were and how my parents would see that I distanced myself from her – and the first time I had seen her in a week is the last time I saw her," Nero rambles, his voice beginning to shake and his eyes starting to glisten.
"If I knew that was the last time or the last thing I would see of her, I would've rather chosen the path of insults and damnation of my parents and the entire village, but it was too late – all who I loved gone, poof, just like that. In a way, I became a militia hunter as a penance for being a coward, but I came to like the way of living as a lone wolf. Just think about it, worst case we can't find your brother, leave the Motherland, there is nothing for you there."
After Nero stops talking, Jonathan begins to slow down,
"Shh! Do you hear that?" he turns his head to ask Nero with a tear drop gliding down his right cheek.
1 Minutes Earlier –
"There they are," Jonathan whispers whilst staring at Vince and Alana from within the trees.
Now-
Nero begins to place Maya softly onto the ground, "Ok, let me handle this, you take care of Maya," he says whilst looking at Jonathan.
"What do you mean? Why can't I handle this?!" Jonathan says in a straining whisper.
"Um… because you will mess it up and get us killed," Nero responds. "I will be right back, or I will be dead, so just wait here," he says whilst crouching and creeping closer to the roaring waterfall ahead of them.
Grind, Grind, Grind!
"Who is there?" Alana screams out.
Ah shit. Does she have super hearing or something? How can she hear the rocks over this loud waterfall? Nero thinks to himself whilst slowly moving away from the tree and revealing himself.
"Please don't yell, I've come in peace and I mean no harm." Nero says.
"Who are you?" Alana screams out whilst covering her chest and moving behind Vince.
Nero continues to step closer to the waterfall.
"Stay back!" Vince yells out.
"Ok, ok. But I need to talk to the person in charge of the Skulldem… which I am guessing Milan," Nero says whilst his hands are up in the air.
"Why do you need to speak with Milan, how do you even know him?" Alana mutters.
"Sorry… are you asking me about the most wanted man in the world that is hunted down by nations?" Nero asks, his voice cutting through the noise of the waterfall into the cave.
-
Meanwhile, inside the camp, Providence erratically burst off an olive-green mattress on the cave ground, his eyes begin to quickly roll back, leaving just a white milky base.
"Oldman!" Providence yells out, "There are unwanted people here."
Milan, Boz, Malik, Estrella and Oldman immediately start running towards Providence.
"Where are they?" Milan asks.
"I can see them right now, one is talking to two of the new people – he looks like a militia hunter," Providence replies.
Boz walks up to Milan and gets close to his ear, "They must've tailed you and followed us here," he whispers.
"Yes, I know Boz!" Milan mumbles stringently whilst turning his gaze back to Providence. "Then I am guessing that Core soldier is with a little girl, where is he?" he questions.
"He is… in the bushes within the trees," Providence responds.
Milan turns to Malik and Boz, "Malik, go out the entrance we came from and flank that Core soldier. Boz, go get the militia hunter. Both of you bring them to me, I need to ask them questions," he says.
"Hold up both of you, don't bring them inside the cave, we don't want them to see our people," Oldman demands.
As Boz and Malik nod their heads, they sprint and jump out of the waterfall entry of the cave.
-
"Why is he taking so long," Jonathan whispers to himself as he looks at Nero; who has his arms raised.
Maya begins tapping Jonathan rapidly for his attention, but Jonathan keeps his gaze completely glued to Nero.
Maya taps once again. "What is it Maya," Jonathan whispers with a harsh tone.
As Jonathan begins to finally pan his gaze behind him, he turns into the sight of a pistol pointed right onto his forehead.
"I need you and the little girl to come with me," Malik softly says.
-
"Look, you don't have to be scared of me, just let Milan know I need to talk to him," Nero states.
"Well, it's your lucky day isn't it. I remember you from the bridge when you and the other militia hunters pulled up. No matter," Boz says whilst slowly walking out of a small exit within the cave. "You two, get in," he says whilst pointing into the cave, his gaze pointed towards Vince and Alana.
"But… I don't have my clothes," Alana retorts.
"Here," Boz says whilst looking away and tossing two rugged grey towels towards Vince and Alana.
As Alana and Vince frantically run out of the little waterfall and wrap themselves in their rugged grey towels, Jonathan walks out of the trees with Maya in his arms whilst Malik points his pistol to his back.
"You should've let me handle this," Jonathan aggressively whispers whilst walking to the side of Nero.
"Shut your mouth and don't get us killed," Nero replies.
Boz begins his walk towards the two, "Now that everyone is here, please follow me," he says with a slight cold tone.
With Malik behind and Boz in front, they lead Nero, Jonathan and Maya to the outskirts of the cave.
Nero begins to walk closer to Boz, "You said your name is Boz right… I just want you to know, the incident from the bridge was nothing personal – I was just doing the job I was hired to do," he softly whispers.
"Sure, almost ripping my head off with your sniper isn't personal at all," Boz responds sarcastically.
"Both of your faces are familiar; you are the ones who took Alana aren't you?" Jonathan inquires.
"Shut up and move it!" Malik shouts with a slight nudge of his pistol to Jonathans back.
"Woah, Malik be careful, he's holding a little girl," Milan's resonating voice states.
As they all begin to squint their eyes to look through the darkness of the night, there Milan stands, leaning back on a tree with Meumeu on his right shoulder, his left leg propped up on a towering tree and his arms crossed over. Oldman, who stands in front of him begins to speak, "Hello gentlemen, we heard you were looking to speak with us."
"Sorry, which one of them is Milan? Because I doubt it's the Oldman," Jonathan blurts out.
"Watch your mouth, Core soldier" Milan softly retorts.
Nero begins to walk closer towards Milan and Oldman, "I do apologize for his attitude, he means no disrespect. We are not here to cause trouble to you and your people, we just have a deal in mind we feel would benefit all of us greatly," he says.
Oldman turns his gaze back to Milan and nods his head a few times at a slow pace.
"You have a minute," Milan replies, his face void of any expression.
"Jonathan's friend; or brother, has been stashed somewhere in the Motherland, for what reason we don't know. At first, we thought he would be with the army who you just fought at your previous camp. But I thought about it, he saw something he shouldn't have seen and he's going to get punished for it, at least that's what I think from how the Motherland operates. We need help, we can't get him back alone, especially with Maya tagging along," Nero says with a quickened rhythm.
Silence engulfs the area for a few seconds and all that can be heard are crickets and the distant noise of the waterfalls.
"What makes you think we care about your situation when it has nothing to do with us," Milan sneers.
"I knew would you say something like that, but I know things that could pique your interest. I am a militia hunter, and I know all about the Meraki holders of the Skulldem – but sometimes what you need is someone who is grounded, no power, but just a specialty. Help us save his friend, and you will have a sniper," Nero claims.
Milan gets his back off the tree and begins walking slowly towards Nero, "That's all? Is that what you thought would pique our interest? I don't even know you, are you supposed to be one of the best snipers in the world?" Milan says whilst laughing hysterically.
"Ask your boy," Nero retorts whilst pointing towards Boz.
Boz's eye twitches, "He sniped one of our boys on the bridge from a long distance when we were bringing the package back to the camp," he mutters.
"Call him Vince – he's not a package anymore," Milan claims.
Out of the entrance of the cave, Estrella begins to walk out with Esmeralda, whose arm is wrapped around her for support.
"Milan, listen to what Esmeralda has to say," Estrella says, "Say it…" she demands whilst looking at Esmeralda
"This guy I was in the ascendentary with, his name is Silas, he's a good guy. If we go, we can save him too," Esmeralda softly mumbles.
Boz and Malik glance at each other. "She's right Milan, this is our chance to get him back before we move further away from the Motherland. It's been eleven years since we left him – we need to get him back," Boz interjects in a harsh voice.
Milan quickly turns around and faces the tree, "We didn't leave him…!" he shouts whilst frantically biting his fingernails.
"Maybe they are right Milan, think about it, you could absolve yourself of past guilt, get back the boy that got away, you could even leave damage when you sneak into the Motherland," Oldman whispers into Milan's ear.
Whilst this is going on, Nero grabs his cross necklace out of his pocket and kisses it, "Final thing, you didn't let me finish talking. I know you have the boy with Emperor's Meraki; I don't know if your goal is to train him and make him control the Abyss, but I will let you know now that it won't work. You need to get ahold of the Gospels, from what I know, there are four of them spread out across the world, and supposedly a rumor among the militia hunters is that… one is at the Motherland."
Milan slowly contorts his body to face Nero, "You've got my attention," he says.
END OF CHAPTER
THEORIES MERAKI – WHAT ARE THE NATIONS IN THIS WORLD HIDING, WHAT ARE THE GOSPELS WHICH NERO TALKS ABOUT?
NEXT CHAPTER – TBD