Chapter 3.3

Emily stopped in front of a pedestrian crossing, waiting for the signal to change when the roaring of an engine passed by her. Looking up she only saw a motorcycle, already a few blocks away, and she recognized the man riding it.

Huh. Wonder where he's off to in such a hurry, she thought.

Jason eyed Emily through the rearview camera, which was wirelessly connected to the HUD of his helmet. He noticed Emily long before she did and checked her surroundings to see if there were any threats before speeding away. He felt that it was pointless to stop and chat, so Jason ignored her when he found a lack of danger around her.

In a few minutes, Jason passed the Sumps and entered the Slums. Originally, it was one of Sanctuary's first construction site, however, the development stalled when it was discovered that buildings were below the expected safety standards. Eventually, the construction and development of the entire area were abandoned but the areas that had been finished already were rented out to those who were less fortunate while numerous gangs moved in to enforce what little power they had.

Jason stopped near the outskirts of a warehouse, the sole building that was in better condition than those around it. Studying its defenses, Jason found about four guards on both exits and hidden cameras observing both.

Hmm, so this is the place, he thought. Just like the intel the that was in the cripple's phone.

"Ava, blind the cameras and intercept any alarms," Jason smiled ferociously as he sneaked towards the sentries, knife in hand.

Two sentries were standing on each side of the door while the other two were chatting and looking ahead. Jason silently climbed the building from a blindspot, jumped and landed beside the two guards in front of the entrance. Before either could react Jason threw the knife towards the guard on the left.

The knife slashed into the man's throat, piercing his carotid and effectively silencing him. The gun, strapped to his shoulder, fell from his hands which he raised to clutch his throat in an attempt the curb the bleeding. Jason launched sideways and grabbed the guard on the right from behind. As they struggled, Jason used his left arm to chokehold him, then aimed the guard's gun and shot the two forward sentries in the chest as they turned around. Finally, he snapped the neck of the man in his grip.

They heard the gunfire, Jason thought as

he quickly grabbed a gun and hid in the shadows next to the door and, sure enough, hurried footsteps approached his location.

The door was flung open and Jason pistol whipped then grabbed the first grunt using him as a shield while shooting those still inside. As four of the men collapsed from the gunshot wounds, the surviving five started shooting back at Jason but instead killed his human shield. Jason shot the three furthest men first, then quickly threw the body he was holding at the nearest grunt. After that, he quickly approached the two remaining survivors and shot one point-blank at the head after twisting his arm. He judo flipped the last one and double tapped the trigger, this time shooting at the chest and then the head.

That's fourteen, he thought. Still, there's the leader and the another four sentries left.

He then activated his ability and jumped onto the overhead beams, crouching into the shadows. Five minutes later, a man with a cap and gold chains scuttled out of a shipping container and was joined by the four sentries that were guarding the second entrance. They quickly formed up, each sentry guarding a point while Gold chain was in the center.

Idiots. With you being so close to each other how can you effectively use those rifles and shotguns in close range combat? Nah, on second thought, I won't get close and personal. These idiots are easy pickings, Jason mulled as he watched them with a sardonic smile.

Silently jumping from beam to beam, Jason positioned himself right above them before emptying an entire clip at them. The four sentries were hit immediately. Meanwhile, Gold chain screamed and kneeled to the ground, his hands covering his ears. Jason landed softly next to him and punched gold chain, sending him flying backward. Before he could pick himself up, Jason jumped and slammed a foot onto his chest.

"You're a small crowd, nowhere near a real gang. So, that means you work for someone else. Who?" Jason asked grimly.

"Fuck you," Gold chain wheezed. "I ain't telling you jackshit."

"Well, if that's how you want to play it," Jason replied slowly before kicking him in the ribs, cracking and fracturing a few of them. "You know, I have a method. A torture technique that hasn't failed me yet. I'd rather not use it, so tell me what I want to know."

Jason kneeled and aimed the gun at Gold chain and threatened him. Gold chain said nothing. Instead, he tried feebly to spit at Jason but failed.

"Alright. Have it your way,"

Jason said grimly, though his smile said otherwise.

He turned the gun to Gold chain's right knee and kept shooting until the bullets pierced right through the knee, destroying the ligaments and cartilage. Then, he grabbed Gold chain's foot and thrust it upwards. Sickening crunches mixed with Gold chain's screams echoed across the warehouse while his leg was completely bent upwards in a 90° angle. Finally, the pain was too much and he fainted.

"Told you," muttered Jason as he twisted, then tore the leg off, waking Gold chain up, who began howling in pain again. "Oh shush, shh, shh shush. See this? It's an anesthetic, it'll keep the pain away. Tell me what I want to know, and I'll give it to you. Pinky swear."

Jason held an injector up and waved it in front of Gold chain's face. With his face covered in tears and snot, Gold chain nodded and opened his mouth to speak but a single pair of footsteps were heard echoing on the concrete floor.

"Well, what'd you know," said Jason, pretending to be shocked, then raised his gun to gold chain's head, his cold face full of killing intent. "You were too late."