Making Bank

Loose Ends

The group commandeers a civilian vehicle and drives off towards Safehaven Lake.

An hour later, they arrive, pulling up to Clarence's rustic lakeside cabin. Clarence is outside on a rocking chair, enjoying the view of the lake.

"Ah, you must be here to kill me," Clarence said. "Do you care to hear and old man explain himself? Or would it make you feel better to just shoot me?"

"We trusted you," Alex says. "Why'd you try to kill us?"

Clarence sighs. "The truth is, I don't believe that the police of Peace City are doing enough to stop the crime going on. The gang violence doesn't end, and they don't care. That's why I've been selling everyone weapons. I figure that if everybody kills each other, the violence will finally come to an end. I'm just an old man who wants some rest, but I guess that's too much to ask for in Peace City."

"You tried to kill us," Lamar says, a tear coming to his eye. "I ain't forgiving you for that."

"Lamar, let's just leave him, he just wanted the violence to end," Alex says.

"By causing more violence? He's delusional," Naomi yells.

"Exactly," Lamar says. "He killed your buddy Juno, and you're just gonna let him walk away?"

"Juno was an old friend, and honestly, I'd prefer Clarence make it out of this rather than anyone else here," Alex says.

"I understand," Lamar says. He raises his weapon at Alex. "I'm sorry that you feel that way Alex, and I'm sorry that this is how it has to end."

Clarence stands up, draws a revolver, and fires it into Lamar's chest. Lamar is knocked to the ground by the force of he bullet. Naomi turns and fires at Clarence, hitting him in the shoulder, knocking him into his chair, and then fires again, hitting his head. Naomi turns to point her gun at Alex.

"Please, Alex, lets both just walk away and never speak to each other again. It doesn't have to end with everyone dead," Naomi pleads.

"You're right," Alex says. "It was nice knowing you, Naomi."

"It was nice knowing you too, Alex. Stay out of trouble." Naomi checks on Lamar, checking his neck for a pulse. She sighs, and turns around to walk away.

Alex takes aim at the back of her head. He fires a single bullet, and Naomi falls to her knees. She face-plants into the ground. Her body twitches, then all movement ceases.

Alex takes a step back, taking in the sight before him. All of his friends, dead. He feels almost relieved. Nobody telling him what to do, no pressure to be a criminal any longer. It was only for a short while, but it's broken him beyond repair. Killing a tyrant in the criminal world felt good in the moment, but he's got more than one life weighing down on him.

He lets out a heavy sigh, and walks back to the stolen vehicle. He contemplates leaving Peace City for good. It's brought him nothing but pain and hardship. Alex decides that the best thing he can do in a situation like this is to bail. He heads back to Peace City with the intention to grab everything he can and head west, hopefully meeting someone who will help him along the way.

Epilogue

Alex prepares for a long drive back to Peace City by taking a leak on a nearby tree. He hears coughing near the lake. He zips up his pants and investigates the sound. Lamar is sitting up, wiping blood from his mouth. He winces in pain from every movement he makes. Lamar notices Alex coming and frantically searches for his gun. He wraps his hand around it, but Alex quickly stomps on it and kicks his gun away.

"This is all your fault, Lamar. I never asked for any of this. You made me a part of your gang, and never gave me a choice," Alex says.

"So what, you gonna finish me off? You gonna put me down like a dog?" Lamar goes into a fit of violent coughing.

"I'm not going to give you the pleasure of a quick death. You can do it yourself." Alex drops his gun and kicks it to the side. He walks back to the vehicle and starts the ignition. A bullet flies through the window, nearly missing his head. He looks at Lamar. Lamar points his gun at Alex, and fires again. The bullet ricochets off the car and flies into the air. Alex drives off towards Peace City, leaving Lamar to die.

Alex drives down the highway, and approaches a bridge that allows him into city limits. He notices a roadblock up ahead. Police officers have their guns pointed at Alex, who comes to a stop. He looks behind him, beginning to reverse, but officers form a roadblock behind him.

"Exit your vehicle with your hands up!" The officer says through a megaphone. Alex opens the door, puts his arms up, and exits the car. "Great. Now walk towards us for me, but no sudden movements." Alex slowly paces towards them. Eventually, he reaches the roadblock. "Awesome. Stop where you are," the officer looks at one of his fellow officers. "Johnson!" An officer tosses a handgun next to Alex's feet.

"Are you going to read me my rights?" Alex asks.

"No, I don't think so. Pick up the gun." Alex bends over to grab the gun. "Shit! He's got a weapon! Open fire!"

At once, several officers unload their weapons into Alex's chest. He spits up a large mass of blood before falling to his knees. He collapses onto his back, and blood quickly accumulates underneath him. His world fades to black.

The officers drive off, leaving him on the road.