Chapter 11

Anna closed the door behind her as she entered her apartment after her daily ritual of going to visit the local bar for breakfast every morning. Life had finally gained some semblance of normalcy and routine once the whole affair of the Bounty Hunter was over. She thought that whole episode to be over as she had finally found closure.

Of course, the Bounty Hunter knew her real name but she didn’t think he would bother with her. From what she had heard on the forums, he had his own share of problems to deal with now. Like being wanted for a huge bounty by one of the topmost guilds in the region.

Anna went to her kitchen to put down some supplies she had bought before she had to head out again. She had recently joined another guild and even went on the occasional dungeon runs with her preferred group. She might not like that new aspect of her new life, sure, but a lady had to eat to survive.

Anna had just taken a gulp of water from the bottle on the counter when a voice scared the life out of her.

“Hello, Anna.”

Anna could only sputter and cough as the water went down the wrong pipe and she struggled to catch her breath. When she managed to gain control of her faculties, she asked the voice in a fearful tone, “Who are you? And how did you enter my apartment?”

The voice was quick to reply, dripping with mock sadness, “That question hurts me, Anna, it really does. Why do people keep asking who I am even after having met me? Do I make that less of an impression? I must admit, I had always thought that I was a remarkable man, you know, hard to forget and all.”

Anna felt her breath leaving her as she said, her voice wavering, “The Bounty Hunter!”

The now identified Bounty Hunter released a gleeful laugh. “Indeed. I am glad you didn’t forget me, Anna. That would not have been good news for what looks to be a long-lasting relationship.”

Anna was perplexed and frightened for her life. “What do you want? I thought that our business was finished. Don’t take this the wrong way but I really don’t want anything to do with you. Please leave.”

And that’s when she caught her first glimpse of the man. The enigma that the whole world was seemingly looking for.

“I don’t want to brag, Anna, but congratulations are in order. You are the only person in the world who knows what I look like. You should be proud of yourself.”

Despite the situation, Anna couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “Forgive me but I am too busy feeling terrified for any feelings of pride to well up within me.”

“Sorry if I make you feel that way.”

“What do you want? You have a got a large price tag on your head, you know. What’s stopping me from collecting?”

The Bounty Hunter let out a chuckle at that as if he found the absurdity of that threat amusing. “You could. But you won’t. And the fact of the matter is, you simply can’t.”

“As for what I want. This whole situation has made me realize that I need to recruit some people to work for me. You are my first port of call.”

Anna could only shake her head in vehemence as she said, “No, I won’t join you. I don’t care what you do. I won’t be complicit in any murder.”

All she received in response was an unnerving stare before he replied, “Ah, but you don’t really have a choice here, do you, dear Anna? Don’t forget what happens when another knows your name.”

Anna felt herself slump in defeat as she murmured, “So that’s it then. You will force me to be in your servitude. In the end, you are just the same as the guys I tasked you to kill.”

The Bounty Hunter replied with a stern note, “Forced servitude? I am afraid that you haven’t quite got the measure of me yet, Anna. With time, it will come, I am sure. No, I prefer to operate with finesse.”

“What I am offering you is an incentive. While my knowing your name will make you loyal to me first and foremost, you will want to work for me of your own volition. Don’t worry, any work you do for me, I will be the one taking responsibility.”

Anna shook her head once again as she said, “There’s nothing that will make me work for you voluntarily.”

“Again you underestimate me. Who said anything about something from this world? Think bigger, Anna. I will get you the thing you want most. The one person who you still can’t get over.”

The implications of those words shook Anna to her very core. “What are you talking about?”

The Bounty Hunter leaned in as he replied, “Your fiancé. I am giving you a chance to get your old life back, which was so cruelly snatched away from you by the machinations of the system.”

Anna couldn’t believe what she heard was correct. “You are lying. He ... he is dead.” Those words had opened up old wounds and Anna found her eyes watering once again as she thought about her dead lover.

The Bounty Hunter didn’t stop just because his audience was crying. He needed to get his message across after all.

“Yes, you are quite correct. He is dead. For now. Believe me when I say this. The state of death of any individual in this system is not as permanent as we would like. Think about everything we have already witnessed since the dawn of the new order. Do you really think resurrection is such a tall order?”

“No, that’s not possible. Death is the natural order of things. No one can interfere with it, not even this system we live in. And you. Your words are only for enticing me to do your bidding. I don’t believe you. These are just like the words of the devil. Tempting but false.”

“How naïve. Let’s get one thing straight, for I don’t like misunderstandings to fester between co-workers.”, he ignored the squawk of protest from Anna as he continued, “My words aren’t of the devil. I am the devil! And I deliver on my promises.”

“And I promise you, by the end of this conversation, you will be a participant in my team. So should I force you or shall you join of your own free will?”

Anna could only release a despondent sigh as she said, “You make it sound as if I have a genuine choice. When there is no other path for me but to join you. Pity though, I was enjoying myself at my current guild.”

“Well Anna, you don’t have to revoke your membership to your current guild. Consider yourself a freelancer when you are working for me. At least, for the time being. I am not forming my own guild after all. Too much hassle, you know.”

“Now that you have agreed to join me, our first adventure awaits us.”

“Wait, what adventure?”

“Anna, do keep up. I have signed us up to join a team for a dungeon run.”

Anna was perplexed. “I didn’t sign up for anything.”

All she got in response was a wave. “Don’t worry. I did that part for both of us. After all, I was quite confident in my ability to get you to join me.”

Anna could only roll her eyes at that before receiving the shock of her life as the young boy in front of her turned into a pre-pubescent kid right before her eyes. And just like that, she was reminded that this man was beyond her plane of ability and strength in all ways possible.

“Whaaa ... what is that? How did you do that?”

All she was an impish grin from the child in front of her as he said, voice full of childish innocence, “Well, you haven’t seen anything yet. Hang around with me enough and you will witness things that others might just consider a figment of someone’s imagination.”