3 Day Hunt

2

The streets were quiet tonight, as if the entire City's population had suddenly disappeared. No cars, no pedestrians, not even a rodent. Strange how the Lawless District, one of the most populated districts of the city, would find itself so empty and barren on a night like this. Perhaps they knew about Issei's issue and thought to avoid him. Nah, that'd be stupid.
   Pulling out his phone, Issei checked the time once again. Eleven thirty. Almost three hours now since the bounty had found itself atop his head and began to nest there. Annoyingly enough, he didn't even know the size of the prize that awaited the lucky individual who could managed to bag him in the end. The only indication Issei received regarding his new bounty was a collection of thugs shouting "Der e is, wiv got da bownty now bois". Needless to say it was quite disturbing.
   Reaching round to his back, Issei felt the newest addition to his hole ridden jacket, gusts of wind throwing it around. The wound on his back seems to have scabbed over, tissue and skin likely knitting itself back together. Hurts like hell though, no chance he'll avoid getting a scar now.
   Flipping through contacts on his device, Issei tapped and swiped, deeming a majority of them obsolete in this situation. After minutes of searching, Issei found what he was looking for and softly pressed down on the touchscreen.
   Brrrrr, the phone's vibrations rippling through Issei's bone structure, making it's way to his teeth and lightly chattering them. With major technological developments, it's a wonder why communication devices even vibrate anymore.
   5 seconds went by. Then 10, then 15 and eventually 25 before a voice emanated from the device's speakers.
   "Hello," came the flat, cold and arrogantly posh voice, like a noble had died after dying once already, "who is this?"
   "Darwood, it's Issei," he said, words flowing quickly out of his mouth, already out there before his brain had finished forming sentences, "listen, I'm in deep shit right now, you know anything about a bounty I've got right now?"
   Up ahead, Issei heard laughter and metal striking concrete. Swords and bats, wielded by more "bounty hunters" no doubt. Slinking round into a tight alley, Issei continued towards his destination, on a slightly different route however.
   For a moment, the voice on the other side of the connection hummed seductively, a feminine aura spiking areas of activity in Issei's brain but hardly distracting him.
   "I may know a thing or two about this 'bounty' you call it," Darwood replied, her voice travelling smoothly and softly through the connection, "but it will cost you. What are you willing to give up?"
   "Hannah, I don't have any time for this, the whole City is literally after me for all I know," Issei replied sharply, frustration evident in his voice, "tell me why I'm being hunted, tell me who put this bounty on me and tell who is going to go after me."
   Turning out of the alley, Issei passed an apartment block, the one where that Olive kid lived. He'd probably be almost asleep at this time and would be lazy enough to ignore all of Issei's calls. Useless degenerate.
   A sigh came from Darwood as she regained her composure. Issei could hear faint clicking and tapping coming from Darwood's side of the connection, probably looking up information that could help him.
   "On the date of January the 3rd, Marcus Roubem assigned a Bounty to one Issei Myllinova, a mercenary who occasionally visits the 'Mercenaries Guild,'" Hannah said, a hint of disdain coupled with those final words, "the challenge is to kill the target, who has been accused of stealing the Chaos Emerald, before the Security Network has to get involved, in 3 days time."
   More clicks could be heard on Hannah's end of the connection, obviously scrubbing through information of the web page.
   "Upon completion of the objective, 2,300 Ruby Gem chips will be given to the bounty hunter who brings the finger of the target," Hannah said, a snarky tone clearly evident in her voice. Even through the device, Issei could see her grinning like an idiot.
   "My, I wonder what you could've done to anger someone in such a high position," she said, giggling as she spoke, "maybe you weren't as mentally stable as I thought."
   "Hannah," warned Issei, his patience wearing thin. Stopping as he detected the hearty laughter of mercenaries higher on the street, Issei took refuge in a nearby alley.
   Hiding within the damp confines of passageway, Issei pressed his back against the wall, Hannah sighing once more as her chance at fun was shut down. Steadying his breathing so he won't be heard, a group of 4 bounty hunters passed by him, completely oblivious to his presence.
   It was only when Issei had begun walking again that Hannah finally gave him useful information.
   "Go to the Job Center and get a table," she said, her voice full of purpose now, "take as many shortcuts as you can and avoid fighting. And do try to get there in one piece. A severe lack of arms won't help anyone."
   And with a muted click, Hannah cut the connection. Probably going to grab her purse or something.
   Placing the mobile phone back in his jacket pocket, Issei felt round to his back once more, feeling the swollen muscle underneath the scab. Still hurt like hell, but at least it was healing.
   The journey to the mercenaries guild would typically take no time at all considering Issei's position in the Lawless district, but thanks to the heightened level of threat that journey would take much longer than usual.
    Issei was just turning a corner into a side street when the brick wall to the right of him exploded, dust filling his vision and survival instinct throwing him back round the corner. More sections of the wall exploded, followed by the super-sonic bang of a hand gun loosing off shots.