Consuming Fire

Chapter 13 - The Conclusion

As Hunter stood, his vision began to blur and his legs wobbled. He had lost too much blood. Feeling dizzy, he collapsed to the ground. Durk and County immediately ran to him. Durk lifted Hunter from the ground, while County called for an emergency helicopter. As Hunter saw Durk and County, he murmured, "It is... done... there will be no more... slaughterers... here." His voice was weak, and he could barely move his arms or legs, blood still flowing from his belly and shoulder wounds.

When the helicopter landed, they quickly transferred Hunter onto the stretcher. As he lay down, he glanced back at the building where he had fought Draven. As the helicopter took off, the soldiers on the ground pressed a button, and the building exploded.

Hunter watched the explosion, but the sound and sight were fading. Slowly, his eyes closed, and everything went black. Durk, to ensure Hunter was still alive, pressed his ear to Hunter's chest and listened. "How is he?" County asked.

"He's alive," Durk replied. The nurses and doctors aboard the helicopter began treating Hunter's wounds, administering fluids and stabilizing him as best they could. Hunter was then transported to a medical center, one of twenty-six branches scattered from Hunchback to Golden Island. These medical centers, small hospitals, were crucial to the islands near Antarctica.

While unconscious, Hunter dreamed of his mother. He found himself on a shore once more, lying on his mother's lap as she gazed out to sea. Hunter sat up, tears silently streaming down his face as he looked at the ocean. He tried to hide his tears from his mother but eventually embraced her.

"I love you, Mom," he said.

"I love you too, my son," she replied, taking a deep breath. "You don't have to avenge me for what they did. Taking revenge won't heal our wounds, you know that, right?"

Hunter, still crying, nodded. "But still, I'm proud of you. You saved so many lives, and now they're grateful for what you've done," she continued.

"I will miss you, Mom."

"You too, my darling. Don't worry, I'll wait for you in paradise, where we can be together forever."

"Love you, Mom."

"Love you too. It's time."

His mother gently pushed him away, and everything began to blur. She waved goodbye until everything went black, and Hunter returned to reality. He opened his eyes and found himself in the medical center, with Durk watching over him all night. It was dawn, and when Durk saw him awake, he exclaimed, "Ah! You're awake! Thank God, you came back."

Hunter, on the verge of tears, said, "I'm okay. Later, I'll bury my mom on the separate island. I need a boat later."

Durk nodded. "I know a man who can lend you a boat."

– – –

After a few days in the medical center, Hunter and Durk went to Hunter's old home, a small house deep in the jungle. Hunter saw the remnants of a campfire and a wild boar skin hanging on a nail. "This was my crafted hooded coat. I forgot to take it… anyway, here we go! Now I'll use it!" He put on the hooded coat and went inside the house. There, he found his deer-hide bag, picked it up, and slung it over his shoulder. Then, he retrieved a shovel and started digging behind the house.

"How deep?" Durk asked.

"Six feet," Hunter replied. After digging six feet, they finally found the coffin of Hunter's mother. "Ah! There she is!" Hunter said.

Durk and Hunter lifted the coffin out of the pit and placed it in the back of their truck. After refilling the pit, Hunter drove the shovel into the ground and they headed to borrow a boat.

Reaching Region 30 after many hours, Durk entered a barn and spoke to a man named Jasper. "Knock, knock!" Durk called out.

Jasper, in the middle of cutting wood, turned to face him. "Friend, long time no see!" He dropped his axe and fist-bumped Durk. "I haven't seen you in ages."

"Yeah, I'm here for Hunter. Helping him free the island," Durk said.

"Hunter? Who's he?" Jasper asked.

Durk beckoned Hunter inside. Hunter entered, wearing his boar-hide hooded coat. "This is Hunter," Durk said.

Jasper recognized him immediately. "Oh! Hunter! The infamous hunter from the jungle!" Jasper shook Hunter's hand. "My name is Jasper, nice to meet you, Hunter!"

"Nice to meet you too," Hunter replied.

"So, why are you guys here?" Jasper asked.

"We need your boat. We're going to Turtle Hill," Durk answered.

"Turtle Hill? That separated island? What for?"

"To bury his mother," Durk said.

"My condolences, Hunter... okay, let's go!" Jasper replied.

Behind the barn, they found a speed boat equipped with a turret machine gun. "Where did you get this gun?" Hunter asked.

"Oh, that? I stole it from the Private Executioners' arsenal," Jasper answered. They boarded the boat, and Jasper started the engine, heading toward Turtle Hill, a small island to the north.

They reached the island in less than an hour. Jasper helped them carry the coffin into the forest. Hunter asked them to stop near the shore, where they dug a six-foot pit. Jasper had a shovel on his boat, making the task easier. They placed the coffin in the pit, filled it with dirt and sand, and Jasper returned to the boat to wait.

Hunter crafted a wooden cross, watched by Durk. After finishing the cross, he took a deep breath and placed it with flowers at his mother's grave. His journey had come to an end.

He looked at the grave one last time, then turned to Durk. "Let's go." They returned to the boat.

Jasper greeted them. "Finally done? I hope you feel some relief now," he said to Hunter, who smiled in response.