Chapter 4 - Rock bottom

It wasn’t a strange thing to hear gunshots at night… I already got used to that when I was little. This time, however, was different… I could hear my mom was nervous throughout the day. We would leave the next day to go to safer grounds, and maybe that was what made my mother so nervous. I didn’t realize what was really going on… But that very same night, marked the end of my childhood… And the beginning of a life I vowed I would never to turn to… [br]
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That night, I woke up by the sounds of people screaming, and gunshots. Normally, that wouldn’t be something that surprised me, but the moment I heard it, I knew this was different. In just a fraction of a second, I knew what would happen. And I was terrified… I took cover underneath my blankets, clenching it, as if it would be the only thing that could prevent me from harm. Then a few moments later, my mom barged in my room… She looked terrified as well… Maybe even more then me… Then she closed the door behind her and locked it with the key… [br]
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Merete: Dakota…!! Quickly…!! Hide…!![br]
Dakota: M-Mom…?![br]
Merete: Hide…!! [br]
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I could already hear them running up the stairs. And I got under my bed as quickly as I could. They tried to open the door, but realized it was locked… So they shot the lock and the hinges and kicked the door down… I can still hear my mom, trying to plea and beg to them, but it got interrupted. They responded to her pleas by hitting her to the ground as I saw a few blood splatters on the wooden floor. And that’s when I last saw her face… A fraction of a moment to stare in her eyes… As if she wanted to say goodbye… She got picked up after that and got carried away to the hallway… And they just threw her down the stairs… I could hear her cry and yell… And just like that… She disappeared out of my life… I started to cry… A little whimper… A small tear… And all of a sudden, I saw a black posture of a face, down on his knees, turning a flashlight on and shining right in my face… In that short moment, I could see the look in his eyes… A soulless figure who’s eyes were only filled with hate… And I was stunned into submission while staring in those eyes for a short moment… It was something I never saw… And I didn’t understand… He pulled my hair and dragged me from underneath my bed. And then I got carried away as well… Out on the street where I saw a few dead bodies… And I got thrown in the back of a truck not long after that… I never saw my mom again… [br]
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For hours, I was crying in the truck while there were a few more kids… That’s where I first saw Iki… He was sitting next to me, but he wasn’t crying for some reason… We couldn’t speak that loud because a guard was at the back of the truck. Iki was trying to comfort me and everyone else who was within talkative range. But then, we started to notice something. Every once in a while, the truck stopped. A few guards asked the driver for papers and then one of them looked in the back of the truck to check. And every now and then, the guard in the back of the truck talked with the driver while the truck was moving… So Iki told me that we had to jump out of it along with a few others when he was not looking… And so we did… Five kids including me and Iki jumped out of the back of the truck when he wasn’t looking. It was a rough landing, I can tell you that… We didn’t escaped unharmed… One of them died when she hit her head against a rock and basically splattered her brains all over the ground… And so, the four of us escaped… We stayed together, knowing we’ve just entered the grown-ups world… But there was nothing that could prepare us for the things we witnessed and experienced over the years… [br]
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We received no compassion from them… They didn’t regret what they were doing nor showed remorse… They were so caught up in their own beliefs, convinced that they were doing the right thing, that they just didn’t see us as an individual. We weren’t the ones who exploited the poor… My father was fighting with the masses, which proves how devoted he was to his own people… But they considered all foreigners and colonists to be the “oppressor”… Since my mom was foreign, I was considered to be part of as well… [br]
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All throughout the night, I couldn’t rest peacefully. Every now and then, I fell asleep only to wake up a short moment later. For some reason, it was also very relaxing… I was staring at the nightsky whenever I was awake, and I could see that there wasn’t a single cloud covering up the stars. I could see them clearly while I heard the small waterfall… At some point, I didn’t fell asleep anymore… I was just thinking. Thinking about my mother… It’s been eighteen years since I last saw her… And there hasn’t been a single day that past by without thinking of her… I miss my father as well… But at least I knew what happened to him… And I didn’t know what happened with my mother… I gave up the search many years ago, but I always hope deep down inside of me that she’s still alive somewhere, away from all this… And if she’s still alive, would she still think about me…? I didn’t know… I was desperate to know for so many years, but it never got answered… Wherever she is, she’s better off then me… [br]
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I could see the sun coming up… I feel it’s warmth embracing me as if I’m an old friend… I looked over to Nick, and he was still asleep… So I thought… “Why the hell not? For old time’s sake”… I walked over to the small waterfall and placed my weapons nearby as I got undressed. The water was always nice and warm and it just plunges on you. It tingles and makes you feel as if you’re reborn after you got out of it… [br]
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All night long, I couldn’t really sleep. I thought it was a bit cold. Still, when the sun finally showed up, it was nice. I had my eyes closed and bathed in the warmth of the sun. And when I slowly opened my eyes, I noticed Dakota wasn’t there… I didn’t see her backpack as well… She didn’t left me, did she? If she did, I’m so fracked… I sat upright to look around, and then all of a sudden, I saw her standing underneath the waterfall. I sighed in relief and got down again while I closed my eyes to slowly doze off in… a… relaxing sleep- wait… Was she naked?! … I peeked at her again… Indeed, she was naked… What the frack… Once I looked back at her, I forgot I why I was looking at her in the first place. Her back was facing me, and I could see she had huge scars across her entire body… I knew that already but… Seems she has a lot more… fracking hell… Her legs, her back, her arms… Even around her ankles… Why isn’t she telling me of what happened to her? Was it really that traumatising that she closed herself down…? She didn’t seem to have this problem with this Iki guy… Still… Underneath those scars she’s kinda pretty… What the hell am I saying?! I got Meagan! My chocolate snugglebunny! If she found out I was staring at Dakota’s butt… And legs… And every other female curve she has… But……… Snugglebunny isn’t here right now, is she…? One quick peek wouldn’t hurt anyone, I guess… Hey, I’m a guy, I can’t help it. Sue me. I blame puberty. At some point, she turned around and got dressed. I had a good view on her “goods”… ……… Shaven… Respect… How’d she do that in the wilderness anyway? With a machete and snail goo? Everything is so primitive… And I guess- Oh shoot, she’s coming back! Close your eyes and pretend to be asleep!! [br]
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When I got back, I noticed that Nick was still asleep. So I threw my backpack at him which didn’t really land softly on his head… [br]
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Nick: Ow!!! What the!! frack!! [br]
Dakota: Get up. We got a long day ahead of us. [br]
Nick: *fake yawn* What time is it? [br]
Dakota: Seven AM. Come on, move it. [br]
Nick: … *Sighs*[br]
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So I got up. I was already dressed and my pants was still cut open… Psh… What a waste… Those pants costs me 120 dinar… She could have taken my pants off if she wanted to get the bullet out of my leg. Speaking of which, it’s still hurting a bit. Walking still hurts… But as always, she didn’t seem to care. [br]
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I had no idea where we were going or what the plan was. Apparently, she seemed to know. We were following the road back to Sangala. And at some point, we noticed a car coming our way from a distance. And Dakota stood in front of it to let it stop. The driver however, wasn’t intending to stop. Instead, he accelerated, so Dakota took her assault rifle and shot through the window. And there was this big blood splatter on it. She jumped out of the way as the car just rolls past us until it finally stops. So we both ran towards the car and told me to drag the dead body out of the drivers seat while she aimed at the passenger. He got out of the car without too much resistance. Then she told me to drive, and well, I did… We’ve been driving for about half an hour now, and all this time we’ve been quiet… I just can’t believe she just killed an innocent person while she said she would never do that… [br]
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Nick: … You killed that guy… [br]
Dakota: I know… [br]
Nick: … He was innocent… [br]
Dakota: … He wasn’t. [br]
Nick: How would you know? [br]
Dakota: Look at the backseat. [br]
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I looked at the backseat and I could see the car was rigged with explosives… [br]
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Nick: HOLY shoot!! WHAT THE frack!! I’M DRIVING A frackING TIME BOMB HERE!!! [br]
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Dakota: … Suicide bombers. Hm. Figures. Well, their not uncommon. [br]
Nick: How the frack can you stay so fracking calm?!! [br]
Dakota: As long as you don’t bump into stuff, we’re safe. And besides, it’s the reason why I let you drive. [br]
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Nick: frack!! frack!!! This is fracking ridiculous!! [br]
Dakota: Calm down already, their not even activated. [br]
Nick: Yeah so?! That doesn’t make it alright! [br]
Dakota: Just shut up and watch the road. [br]
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Then it stayed silent for a long time again. I was scared shootless but hey, so far, we didn’t blow up. The longer I was driving, the more I relaxed… Of course there were still powerful explosives in the back of the car, but hey! I didn’t blew up yet! Psssh… shoot’s just getting weirder and weirder for me… So, like I said, it stayed silent for a long time again until I broke the silence once again… [br]
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Nick: So eh… What’s the plan? [br]
Dakota: We’re gonna see Iki… Ask him about his informant, and if he really is that reliable… [br]
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Nick: … I’m confused. Yesterday, he send us to-[br]
Dakota: You’re not that bright, are you? Think. Every fracking retard could understand what’s happening right now. [br]
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Nick: … [br]
Dakota: *sighs* [br]
Nick: Sangala is still a long way. Care to explain? [br]
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Dakota: … Iki had an informant saying that Serina, the lioness we were supposed to kill, was no good. So he sent us after her. When I arrived, she was already dead and some ICA agent, who turns out to be McMillan’s brother, was waiting for me. Apparently, he wants to blackmail me to set up others, bust their asses and cut half of my hit-fee. So, if he really is McMillan’s brother, means that he won’t be so easily taken out. ICA agents have the nasty habit of not being alone in the field. Also, he would pose a threat to us if he sides with McMillan. He would have access to the locations, dates, names, and all he’ll have to do is to ring his ICA buddies to arrest them, while he cuts himself a nice piece on the deal his brother makes… [br]
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Nick: How would you know if the ICA agent really is his brother? [br]
Dakota: I don’t. Just because he’s a panther doesn’t mean he’s McMillan’s brother. [br]
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Nick: … Maybe he’s bluffing. Maybe he’s not a real ICA agent. You cant know for sure. [br]
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Dakota: Which is up to us to find out. [br]
Nick: Us? [br]
Dakota: … Me. [br]
Nick: Damn right. [br]
Dakota: … [br]
Nick: You know… [br]
Dakota: … What? [br]
Nick: I always use a strategy when selling stock shares… [br]
Dakota: … Stock shares?! [br]
Nick: … Stock shares… Basically… Whenever I’m buying or selling stocks on HRIBC I wait for the right moment… I wait for the others to sell… And when a stock is sold, the prices of it are lower then the initial bid… Timing is crucial when it comes to that… Wait for the right moment… Buy stocks like a motherfracker… And when it reaches it’s peak… Sell everything… That way, you can make well up to 150% profit… You see where I wanna go? [br]
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Dakota: … You mean, selling weapons? [br]
Nick: Like you said, it’s booming business… And it will eventually lead to the people you’re looking for while getting a lot of profit… [br]
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Dakota: Uh-huh… And how the hell do you plan to do that? Selling stocks isn’t the same as weapons. [br]
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Nick: Every investment starts off small… [br]
Dakota: So? How the hell do you plan to get the weapons? [br]
Nick: By having a lot of patience… [br]
Dakota: … You’re crazy, you know that? [br]
Nick: *shrugs* [br]
Dakota: Take a left here. [br]
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Nick: … [br]
Dakota: … You’re really serious about this, don’t you? [br]
Nick: *shrugs* Just an idea, I mean… It would only have advantages. [br]
Dakota: Name one. [br]
Nick: Well, first off, you got Iki on you’re side who’s practising the same business. Second, you’ll be able to have a lot of money… Third, the people you’re looking for would eventually show up in front of you… Four, you can buy protection. [br]
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Dakota: Unless their not loyal, like Iki’s informant. [br]
Nick: Like you said, loyalty has a price. [br]
Dakota: … True. Speaking of diamonds, I do have those- … Oh no… frack…!! [br]
Nick: What? [br]
Dakota: … That son of a dog took my diamonds… [br]
Nick: Who? [br]
Dakota: … That fracking ICA agent. [br]
Nick: Meh, don’t worry. We’ll get around. [br]
Dakota: … You sound confident. [br]
Nick: Yeah, I mean, think about it. You on the rampage with an assault rifle like a squirrel on fracking steroids, Iki with his “expert” knowledge of guns, suppliers and selling them to the right people, and me as a… [br]
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Dakota: … As? [br]
Nick: Consultant. [br]
Dakota: … Consultant? [br]
Nick: … Yeah. The first moments I see an executive, I know straight away if a deal is gonna be made or not. I gained a lot of important clients for my company that way. Manipulating is one way, but it’s about the little things that break the ice. [br]
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Dakota: Uh-huh… Right. What about the other things? [br]
Nick: What other things? [br]
Dakota: Defending yourself. Shooting people and actually hit them. [br]
Nick: So? Teach me how! [br]
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Dakota: … Go frack yourself. Last time you tried to shoot, it almost costs you you’re dick. [br]
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Nick: Give that a rest already… [br]
Dakota: … No. *chuckles* [br]
Nick: *sighs* [br]
Dakota: Still, I gotta admit. It’s a plan. Seems plausible. Especially now that we hit rock bottom. [br]
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Nick: Speak for yourself. I didn’t hit rock bottom. [br]
Dakota: … Yet. You’ll will if you hang out long enough with us. [br]
Nick: *shrugs* I don’t really have a choice, do I? [br]
Dakota: … Hm… No, not really, no. *smiles* [br]
Nick: … [br]
Dakota: Not that I really enjoy you’re presence though. [br]
Nick: Ah… I was waiting when the insult was coming. [br]
Dakota: I got plenty more if you wanna hear it. [br]
Nick: Maybe in half an hour. [br]
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It stayed silent for a moment again. The closer we got to Sangala, the more it seemed as if I was driving in thick black smog… Once I got over the hill, I noticed huge thick smoke was floating up on the other end of town… [br]
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Dakota: Oh no… Oh ho, no, no, no, no… Noooooo…[br]
Nick: What, what’s wrong? [br]
Dakota: Go, go, go, go, go!! Step on it!! [br]
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Well it was pretty obvious that there was a fire in the distance. I saw fires everywhere, sometimes small ones, and sometimes bigger ones. So what would make this one any more different? She seemed to freak out, so I just obeyed. I floored this sucker. Almost pushed the throttle through the bottom. She directed me where to go, and I almost hit a goat. Took a right at some sort of an intersection, and almost dodged a chicken. Almost. That chicken is probably as flat as a motherfracking pancake. My first kill here. Whooooo… Not long after that, we reached the warehouse… Aaaaaaaaaaaaand… It was on fire… Like… really, really bad… Dakota jumped out of the car before I stopped, and I just followed her… [br]
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Dakota: IKI!!! IKI, WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!! IKI!!![br]
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We ran around the building, yelling for Iki but we had no response… After trying for a while, she gave up… She kicked a dumpster out of frustration and looked as if she was about to cry her eyes out, but then all of a sudden… [br]
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Dumpster: OW!!! What the frack!!! You got me!! YOU GOT ME!!! I’m coming out!! I’ll cooperate!! Just don’t fracking kill me!!! [br]
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Dakota/Nick: … [br]
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And then, slowly, the lid opened up and this big cloud of smoke escaped… First there was one hand up… Then the other which held a joint… And then the rest of Iki’s body, firmly closing his eyes… Dakota and I just stared at him… At some point, he opens one eye… [br]
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Iki: Dakota!! [br]
Dakota: Iki… The hell happened…? [br]
Iki: The hell happened?!! Th-They came for me!! They fracking came for me!! [br]
Dakota: Who…? [br]
Iki: I don’t frackING know, man!! They blew up my beautiful grocery store!! Something that took so many years!! I knew it!! I fracking knew it!!! I lost everything!! frack!!! [br]
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In Iki’s anger rage, he was moving around in the dumpster until it finally tumbled over. Iki falls down face first, but he quickly recovers and throws his stickie away. He dusts himself off and looked at us… [br]
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Iki: *sighs* [br]
Dakota: … How reliable was that informant of yours…? [br]
Iki: I don’t know… They came for me, I’m sure about that… The moment I first heard the gunshots, I ran away as quickly as I could and hid in this dumpster while my guys tried to fend them off… And well… I mean… Look… “Big Devil” is there… “Little Devil” is over there… “Big little Devil” is over there… … “Little Big Devil” there… “Big Pimpin’ Mack Daddy G” is- [br]
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Dakota: Yeah I get it. Their all dead. [br]
Iki: Even Omar is dead… [br]
Nick: Who? [br]
Iki: Omar’s mah dog. I can yell and curse at him as much I like, which is part of my therapy. And now fracker’s dead. … fracking country matters… [br]
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Dakota: You see what I mean with “Hitting rock bottom”? [br]
Nick: … Yeah… [br]
Iki: Rock fracking bottom… Back to square one… [br]
Dakota: When did it happen…? [br]
Iki: Few hours ago… *sighs*[br]
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Nick: … So now what…? [br]
Dakota/Iki: … [br]
Nick: I mean… No weapons, no shelter, no money… No-[br]
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Then all of a sudden, we heard a very loud explosion… As soon as we turned around, we noticed our car exploded… [br]
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Iki: … No transportation… [br]
Nick: What the frack?!! [br]
Dakota: Hm. Guess it was timed. [br]
Nick: You fracking made me drive that thing!! [br]
Dakota: So? You’re not driving now, are you? [br]
Nick: … True. [br]
Iki: … *whimpers* [br]
Dakota: … What’s wrong? [br]
Iki: *sobs* They killed my dog, man… [br]
Dakota/Nick: … [br]
Iki: *sobs* They killed my dog…! My little poochie…! My little poochiemoochiecootchiepooshie… [br]
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Dakota: … You don’t have a dog… [br]
Iki: Oh yeah, I forgot, hehe. [br]
Dakota/Nick: … [br]
Iki: I’m hungry, how about you guys? [br]
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Like I said… Rock bottom… It’s inevitable to reach rock bottom when you’re hanging out with us… [br]

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