FEARS - Casino Hunters (Book 2)

Part 1 - Camp

        "Where's the water?" Fernado asked, rubbing the back of his head as he opened the tent where Simon and Elena were. He sat up with Elena still on his bandaged chest, sleeping so soundly as he yawned, grabbing the water bottle and throwing it to him.

       "God, it's too damn early for this mano," he rubbed his eyes.

      "It ain't, get up, I'm preparing breakfast."

     He moved the girl on him gently, as Fernado continued walking to the other tent, "Amber, it's morning."

      She yawned, stretching her arm up, as she smacked her lips.

     "Is it--"

     "Beef jerky, eggs, high protein waffles."

     "I'm not even done--"

     "I also stopped by the nearest gas station to get you some apple juice."

     "Goddamn it Fernado."
       
       As he walked away from her tent he could see Simon walking with a bucket of toothbrush yawning with Elena holding his arm with her hair all messed up.

      He walked towards Ron's tent, and started shaking the corner of the tent.

     He got out looking angry, "what's that for?!"

     "It's the most efficient way."

     "What do you mean efficient?!"

      He switched again, staring blankly for a moment as he looked at Fernado again, "oh, is it morning?"

     "Yes it is."
      
      He started arranging his bed, as Fernado started to heat up the water at the campfire.

      As the sun started to rise the five of them ate together, by the fire as they chat together.

    "So, how long are we planning to stay here?" Simon asked as he ripped off a part of the jerky with his teeth.

    Elena sighed with a hand on her face, "well, we can't ever go back to June District," the guilt still haunts her, remembering the scream of her victim, as she hugged herself, "and I don't think you guys should stay here either... I don't know, I don't want you to be—"

    "We die as a team, we live as one," Amber said, as she added hot sauce to her meal, "and come on eat something, you, lover boy, can't you comfort her?"

    "He's doing that," She puffed her cheeks, as he pat her back, "it just..."

    "Hey mi Rosa, we'll get through this together, I know things may seem rough at the moment, but we get jobs every now and then."

    "It's not enough," she sighed, "I feel like I am losing hope, maybe I should turn myself in," she leaned her head forward.

    He kissed her cheek, and held her hand, "I am not going to lose you to that, I doubt they would just do that," he looked at her with a softened gaze lifting her cheek with a finger, "I want you to be here bebecita, you've done that for me, and the least I can do is protect you, okay?"

    She put her head on her legs, as he pat her head slowly, "won't you eat for me?"

    Amber sighed, "alright," she stood up, "I am going to head east. I'll go there by bus."

    Fernado watched as she walked, his eyes widened, "wait, what do you mean you are heading west?"

    "Fuck living in the middle of the desert," she replied as she placed the plate on the plastic table, "I'll head west, and then I'll call you guys up if I ever found any job worth taking that don't pose a risk to us."

    "Amber, are you planning to go there alone?" Elena asked with a worried tone, standing up and walking towards her sister. Though she hear worries of her younger sister, all she could do was shrug it off, "hey, listen, I played a part in this mess. So I'll take care of it."

    "I don't think you should go there alone," she replied.

    "I've went to competitions alone," she put a hand on her sister shoulder, "I'll be fine."

    "I'll go with her," Fernado said.

    "HUH?" Ron asked, the Ron with oversized sweaters.

    He turned to look at Ron, "yeah, I'll come with Amber, unless you want to come along."

    "Hey, hey," Simon raised his hands up, "listen, I got a car, if all of us want to go east, we all could just go there, together, sí?"

    Amber squinted at Simon, "with your injuries? I don't think so."
   
    "Ay, this is nothing," he told her, as he tried to flex his muscles, while holding back the pain with a slight tear in his eyes.

    "I think it's best if she goes with Fernado," Elena told Simon.

    "Rose?" He looked at his girlfriend in shock.

    "I trust that she'll find her way with Fernado," she replied, "until you recover at least, and we are both being head hunted at the current moment, at least she'll make sure the place is safer, she knows how to do that."

    "Don't worry, I'll call you guys up if I find the coast all clear," she said, "though Fernado, are you sure you want to come with me?"

    He nodded, walking up to her, "Ron, what about you?"
   
    Ron's eyes were all over the place, looking at Amber, and looking at Elena. Before he sighed, "I think I'll watch over in case there's an emergency here."

    "Great, you stay here, I trust you," she salute Ron, as she grabbed Fernado by his arm, "but are you three going to be fine without Fernado?"

    "Look, I can still cook something, just not as tasty as Fernado does it, okay? Boy's a cook."

    "Alright deal," she thumbs up, "Ron, you got any of those trackers and anti-trackers?"

    "I'll go grab them," he stood up, "just be careful you two, I don't know how the east going to be."

    Simon leaned back on his chair stretching his back, "also Fernado, tell me if there's any bar I could work in the east. Would be fucking awesome if I could."

    "Out of all jobs, a bar?" Elena giggled.

    "It's the one I like the most," he replied.

    "Just for reference, you owe me a favor."
  
    "What do you mean a favor? ¡Pensé que éramos hermanos!"

"I'll tell you when I need you to help."

"Fine," he sighed.