Too Broke For Afterlife

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Kennedy is wearing the same outfit as yesterday.

Back outside the train station she seems to be waiting for clients, her driver apparently didn't show up again.

"So why are we here?" I break the silence, watching the woman on the other side of the road.

She takes a drag from her cigarette and shakes out her hair.

"You told me you had approached her right after arriving in San Andy;" Clemens explains. "This led me to believe that your friends knew what you were doing and saw you driving away. We have no idea why Isabella left, our only theory is that she got impatient and wanted to find you. And the first person she'd consult, if she was to think logically, was Kennedy."

"I see."

The whole thing doesn't really make sense to me. I doubt Isa was looking for me, I had told them I'd come to the casino after all. She wouldn't just go yolo and leave on her own. (Do people still say yolo?)

But Clemens is right, we do not have any other theories. We need to at least try.

"Okay, you guys stay here and I'll go ask her about Isabella."

"Wait, I'll come with you." Walter grabs my arm and looks at me.

Ugh. "Fine. Let's go."

We cross the street, trying to not get hit by any of the racing cars.

Kennedy sees me approaching and this time I don't get ignored. She smiles.

"If that isn't Parker Jones. You're here to drive me?"

I'm about to answer when Walter whispers into my ear: "Remember, all NPCs are controlled by the Mayor. Don't give her too much information and try to hurry. Okay?"

"Yeah, yeah."

I shove him away and return my attention to Kennedy.

"No, I have to ask you something."

"You know that I don't help for free." She rolls her painted eyes and puts the cigarette back into her mouth.

"I can't drive you today, I'm in a hurry."

"Well, then-"

"Have you met a blonde woman? A bit shorter than me, big tits. Her name is Isabella." I look at her pleadingly.

Kennedy stares back. But she doesn't move.

She froze.

"Interesting," Walter comments. Then he lowers his voice once more so only I can hear him. "I think they are watching us right this second and messing with her code."

"Uh oh."

"Yeah."

I look over to my friends who are standing next to the train station. If we are being watched, it's only a matter of minutes until someone finds us.

"I have seen your friend." I quickly look back at Kennedy.

"You did?"

"Yes. But she didn't stay for long. She had to leave."

"Where did she go?"

Kennedy hesitates again. Then she smiles.

The corners of her mouth are pulled up but her eyes stay dead. The expression sends a shiver down my spine.

"The Government District."

My non-existant heart drops.

Right into the lion's den.

What was she thinking?

Was she even thinking?

Walter notices my shock and carefully pats my shoulder. 

"How do we get there?"

"You have to buy a pass at a citizen's office. You can find one in almost any city but not in San Andy. There's an information point down the street where they sell interactive maps. You'll need one of those."

"Okay. Anything else?"

Kennedy thinks for a second.

"No. Good luck."

But it sounds cynical. Whoever is behind her words does not want us to succeed.

I stare into her eyes once more, trying to find a glint of what'S going on behind the scenes but they are pitch black.

"Okay, let's go," I mumble.

We say goodbye to the hooker and walk back to our group.

Suddenly my legs feel really weak and my insides pull together.

"What did she say?" Nox looks at us eagerly. "Where is Isabella?"

"She planned to go to the Government District. But you need to get a pass to enter that world."

I'm thankful that Walter is summarizing the conversation. I'm not in the right mind to form any clear thoughts right now. 

What was Isa thinking? In what world is marching straight to your enemy on your own a good idea? Something is definitely wrong here.

She is in danger, even more than we are. I'm sure of that.

"Where do we get that pass?" Judy asks.

I have to do something.

"At the info point, let's go."

But nobody follows me. They look at each other.

"What?" I shout. "Come on, guys. We need to-"

"Parker, wait."

Walter calmly grabs my arm.

Okay what's happening right now? I stare at my supposed friends.

"Do you guys not want to save her?"

"We do but…" Walter sighs. "We had a talk. About you."

"About me?"

"Yes. The thing is-"

"Okay, listen." Nox interrupts Walter, too impatient with him beating around the bush.

"We will go look for Isabella but you won't come with us. You have proven to be mentally unstable and for what's ahead of us you need to be sane and focused."

I can't believe what I'm hearing.

Mentally unstable? ME? I'm literally the most stable one out of all!

Nobody gives less of a shit than I do.

Right?

"This is a joke, right? You're not just gonna leave me here." My voice is shaking with anger. 

"No, of course not," Judy interjects. 

"We thought maybe it's best if you take a little break while we handle this. Walter will come with you. Plus it's probably better if we split up. If one group gets caught, the other one can still rescue them."

"But we literally just reunited. I shot a guy and ran from the cops just to find Clemens and Nox. And now you're telling me that was all for nothing?"

Nox shakes her head. "It was not. We know a way to communicate. There's a world called Hiker's Dream, they have a restaurant with a blackboard where you can post notes. We'll make up codenames and once we've found Isabella we'll put up a note for you so you know where to find us."

I just stare at her.

"You can't be serious."

"Look out for Black Hunter. That's us. What name do you choose?"

I don't respond. I can't believe they are actually ostracizing me.

"Stop moping around! You're the one who was begging for a break earlier so now f*cking take it." 

I stare at Nox. "Are you shitting me? I obviously wasn't being serious! I thought I'm essential for this mission and now you're putting me onto the f*cking substitute's bench."

"Stop lying to yourself. You're a mess, you-"

"Nox." Walter nudges her side. 

She stares at him but then sighs. 

"Parker, you need a break. Use it to calm down and sort your thoughts. You can't really help us in this state. Okay?"

I look at my feet, examining the white trainers.

The amount of times I have been left without a choice lately really are starting to take a toll on me. Why even fight at this point?

"And where are Walter and I going?"

The man responds. "You can choose a world, as long as it has a citizen's office."

"Cool. Let's get a map then."

Without waiting for the others, I start walking down the road to where Kennedy had pointed.

"Hold up." Judy grabs my shoulder but I shake her off. 

"Parker-"

"If you don't manage to save her, I'll make your life hell."

<<<

On the train to wherever we are heading, I'm again leaning my head against the window. 

Clouds have formed around us and I'm wondering whether Heaven is really up in the sky.

"You okay?"

Walter hands me a paper cup filled with hot coffee. I don't feel like drinking it but the warmth is comforting in a way.

"Aren't you pissed at all that you have to play my nanny instead of going on epic adventures together with the others?"

The man thinks for a second but shakes his head.

"Nah. I volunteered to go with you."

"Why? Are you scared?"

Walter hesitates. I almost lose hope he'll answer that question. But then he does.

"I am. I'm terrified."

"Of?"

"Facing the truth."

"What truth?"

We pass another world. A highway runs parallel to us but we are way faster than any of the cars. 

I don't understand how people died, went to Heaven and the first thing they missed was dirty off-gas.

"I worked for the Mayor and put a lot of heart into my project. She lied to us and I'm scared to find out what my world is being used for."

I'm not used to candid moments like these. When facing vulnerability, my body forces me into a state where I have to choose between fight or flight. Right now I can't do either.

I gaze at Walter out of the corner of my eye. Then I look back outside the window.

"Maybe we can check out your world when we've got some time."

Walter shakes his head.. "I have a feeling that we don't have a choice here."