Regrets

Beggin'

1976

John's eyes widened. "You're gonna do what now?!" he practically yelled.

"Look," Alexandra began, "I've already found a course and a few people to help me become a bail bondsmen and a bounty hunter. One of those guys is also a mercenary, and I told him I was interested in mercenary work on the side."

"My little sister is not going to be a mercenary, no less, a bounty hunter!"

"You're a mercenary! And it's not your decision, John! I'm turning twenty-five this fall, I'm an adult- it's my life! It's my decision!"

"Then why'd you even ask me what I'd say?"

"I was tryin' to ease you into the idea."

John gave her a questioning look. "Ease me into the idea?" he nearly yelled, "How the hell did you expect to do that?"

"I don't know!" Alexandra yelled back, "I don't know, alright?!"

The two siblings sat silently in the car. John just stared ahead of him as he drove, keeping his focus on the road ahead of him. Alexandra had her arms crossed over her chest, her head facing outside of the window as she stared out at the moving scenery. The two siblings both had expressions of anger mixed with annoyance, their facial features resembling one another, due to the fact that their genetic facial structure had come from both parents, and not more so one parent than the other; their facial features were box a mix from their mother and their deceased father. Neither looked at the other, and neither said a word to the other.

"Why do you wanna do this?" John asked in a calm voice, after a five minute silence.

Alexandra shrugged lightly. "Cause I wanna help people," she answered, "This is one of the only ways in today's culture for a woman to get involved."

"Even if you did start this up, you still wouldn't get the proper respect."

"I know. That's why I'd work harder, to gain respect from men in the same profession... would you respect me?"

John thought for a moment. "Based off your personality and hunting skills from when we were kids," he began, "Yeah, I'd respect you."

"Then let me do this, John," Alexandra said in a quiet tone, and looked at her older brother with pleading eyes, "Let me help people, so they don't have to go through what I went through."

I get it now, John thought. It all made sense to him now. Alexandra wanted to do this so others didn't go through what she did. This was all she could in a similar, or even completely different situation. She wanted to help to get rid of those who had a plan of some sort to hurt innocent people and take away the lives of those same innocent people. She wanted to get rid of those who didn't deserve to live and couldn't be trusted and was a threat to the entire world, both civilians and people in uniform.

But at the same time, Alexandra wanted to give those who did deserve a second chance, that second chance that they needed.

"Please, John," Alexandra pleaded, "I know I can do this."

"Fine," John sighed, defeated, "But only cause I do mercenary work, too."

She perked up a bit. "Does that mean you'll help me since I'm not in the military and you were?"

"Only cause I don't trust no one else. You'll learn that you'll have to be careful who you trust, especially in that world."

"Thank you, John," Alexandra smiled.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," John grumbled, "But I'm still not fond of your decision!"

"When have you ever been?"