Bounty of Freedom

Chapter 2: Midnight Memories

Travis and Derek continue to make their way to the apartment complex in which they reside. They both held their jackets close to them for the wind was whistling sharply and the gusts were as cold as death. They made sure to check that the envelopes that they collected were still hiding in their jackets.

When they got close to the apartment complex, it was as if the sky had ripped open and unleashed a waterfall on those who were walking through the streets. The rain was pounding the pavement like the drums of war and flashes of white illuminated the city. Derek and Travis got to the complex and quickly got inside, pulling their hoods back. They took out the envelopes of money and began to make their way upstairs. 

They get to their apartment, Derek unlocking the door and opening it, holding it open for Travis. Travis nodded in thanks and stepped inside, leaning against the wall and unlacing his boots. Derek shut the door and put the lock system in place. After the last lock clicked into place, Derek began to unlace his shoes. Travis put his by the door and walked through the foyer towards the kitchen. 

He grabs a metallic purple kettle and filled it with water. He places the kettle on the stove and turned on the stovetop, letting the kettle get hot enough for tea. He took off his jacket and adjusted his dark blue shirt. He put two mugs near the kettle and took out two Earl Grey teabags, placing one in each mug. 

Derek went into the kitchen and opened the fridge, pulling out left-over pasta for dinner. He looked around the kitchen. There were dishes all over the place and ingredients that were not put away. 

"Travis, we need to get this place cleaned up," Derek said. "We have no dishes for dinner tonight." 

"That's because my lazy ass won't clean up the kitchen," Travis retorted. "I need to do that before I get in the shower." 

"Might as well start now, lazy," Derek scoffed. 

Travis glared at Derek, brown eyes looking into Derek's blue ones. When the kettle began to whistle, Travis shut the stove off and took the kettle handle and lifted the kettle, pouring the hot water into the mugs. Derek heated up the pasta and set them down after the microwave was done heating up the food. 

Later on, after getting the kitchen cleaned up and getting cleaned up themselves, both Derek and Travis were in the living room, just laying there. Travis had a tablet in his hands. He was looking at it, a person on the screen. He was talking to his girlfriend Alicia, who was currently overseas for the air force. 

"I miss you so much, Travis," Alicia said over the screen. 

"I do too, sweetheart," Travis replied, smiling as his hair was dripping water from his shower. 

"I wish I wasn't overseas," she said. "so I can be by your side for eternity." 

"I know."

"But, South Africa needs me here," Alicia added. 

"If I didn't become a bounty hunter," Travis added back, "I would have joined the military in a heartbeat." 

Alicia nodded. She then looked up as someone gave her an order. 

"Well, I got to go," she said. She pressed her fingers to her lips and pressed them to her screen. "Love you, baby." 

Travis pressed his fingers to his lips and put them to the screen. "Love you too, Alicia." 

The connection cut off and Travis shut off the tablet. He placed the tablet onto his chest, looking up at the ceiling. His eyes filled with tears as he took a shaky breath. He put the tablet down and got up, stretching. 

"I'm going to get some fresh air," he said, walking towards the door to the balcony. 

"Ok," Derek replied as he laid down to go to sleep.

Travis walked out onto the balcony, leaning over the railing. He looked out onto the town, sighing. He then looked down, tears falling down his face. He then covered his mouth, sobbing silently. He just wanted to get enough money to go back home to South Africa to be close to his girlfriend when she gets discharged. He stayed outside, letting his emotions pour out of him. He stopped sobbing, looking up. His eyes were bloodshot from crying. He wiped his nose and eyes and took a long deep breath. 

He went back inside, seeing Derek asleep on the couch. They always took turns sleeping in the only bedroom that was in the apartment. Travis walked to the room, laying on the bed. He looked up at the ceiling, sighing. He continued to stare at the ceiling until his eyes became hypnotized with sleep. He slowly closed his eyes, curling up on his side.