Chapter 43: Jesper the Hunter

Chapter 43: Jesper the Hunter
The red eyes opened slow. He starts to blink twice, his eyes searching. He stays motionless, listening. Everything was eerily silent. Something has disturbed his slumber. The next moment he heard someone tripping over a garbage can. He starts moving his body into readiness.

“Shit,” he heard the man cursed.

Jesper already stood his full height, using the alley’s shadows as his cover. After some time, he noticed the man well-dressed was entering the alley. The way he was moving it was clear he was searching for someone.

“I will give a thousand dollars to the person who can tell me where I can find Emerson Strange,” he stood where he was.

Jesper stays motionless. He has learned early, the alley rats were always near, watchful and listening. What puzzles him, who was Emerson Strange? Could it be the lawyer? Why does he have family he wasn’t aware off?

“What you want with her?” the alley rat seems to crawl from within the wall.

“Don’t ask questions, just tell me where I should go. I have the money right here.” The well-dressed man removed the money from his wallet holding it in the air.

“You plan on hurting the gal?”

“It’s my business. Now give me the information.” The man starts to demand.

Jesper stayed still, his eyes blinking. As he stood watching and waiting, the sudden image of a woman lost, angry and afraid flashes through his mind. The longer he looks it start to dawn on him he somehow has a blind spot in his recollections.

“Where do I find Emerson Strange?” the man asked in a now authorize voice.

Jesper wait also curious for the answer. Again, the brief flashing of a premonition yet to happen. Now, there were fragmented images of blood streaming down a faceless face.

“Who was she? Emerson Jesper…”

“What happened? Did this man abused her…”

“Why was he looking for her?”

The reflection in the distorted mirror makes fury rising within him. He has the need to find the hidden face within his fragmented memory.

“I know where she is?” the alley rat said stepping forward.

“Where,” the well-dressed man asked waving the money in front of the dirty man.

“She has a place in the CBD,” the alley rat grabbed the money. His joy quickly turned into fear, looking into the barrel of the pointed gun.

“I want an address,”

“The first alley past the garbage cans.” The man said quickly.

“That’s not an address, idiot.” The man scowled.

“That’s the place. We live on the street and in alleys. That’s out homes.”

“If I should come back, I am going to kill you.” The money was thrown into his face. The man watches the alley rat quickly gathers the scattered money. Just before he turns to leave, he notices more people coming forward. He just now has the instinct to leave.

Jesper slipped out of the alley but making sure no one noticed him following the man. He was walking quickly towards a waiting vehicle. The driver quickly opened the back door. The moment the man was seated he hurry to get behind the wheel.

“Who are you?” He starts to move swiftly using the backstreets to reach the CBD faster. He nearly runs into the vehicle about to park near a corner shop. He slipped into the shadows, watching and waiting. The window of the vehicle rolled down. Jesper now have a clear view of the man. He was handsome in that spoilt rich look. It was clear money was easy in his hand. The driver gets out standing in waiting.

“What now, sir?’ he asked politely.

“I need to blend.” He said matter of fact.

“I have brought the clothes, sir.”

Jesper stood watching as he transformed from being rich into looking clean yet approachable. The man slipped from the back of the vehicle entering the nearest entrance into the long alley.

The woman with the flashing green eyes stood motionless. She senses the presence of one of her kind of people. She carefully found the nearest shadow now making it her holding spot while her eyes searched around her.

The cool alley breeze washes over heated skin. After a moment, she discovered there was two of them, but it was the second man lurking in the shadows that puzzles her. She senses something from him but it was like he was concealing himself.

On impulse she suddenly starts walking purposefully towards the end of the corner. Faceless alley rats hurried seemingly about but in truth there was rhythm to everything happening. She was completely focused on looking behind her, the hand suddenly gripping tightly around her neck startled her into shock awareness. She looked into his burning red eyes.

“Who are you?” Jesper asked keeping her immobile in his grip.

“You are…hurting me,” she whispered tightly.

“Are you Emerson Jesper?” he asked through gritted teeth. He watches her shook her head. But he knows she was lying. Looking into her eyes, he realized she was shielding herself from within.

“Let her go,” the man said behind Jesper. He recognized the voice.

“This isn’t your concern,” he said matter of fact, as his fingers tightened around the woman’s neck.

“I am not telling you again. Let go of the woman.” The click of a gun readied now makes him looking into her green eyes. There was no fear in her eyes but suddenly a look of challenge. The moment he let go of her; her reaction was fast. She stormed them both. They moved aside, looking at each other before chasing her. The woman was already around the corner out of sight.

Jesper looks up against the building. He sniffs the air, his eyes searching the sky. There was no sign of the birds which worries him. They are his beacon of truth. He finished with his study of the wall, reaching for the ladder that only reached half way. He jumped into the air grabbing hold of it. With a bit of trouble, he managed to reach the roof. Now in full speed he starts running. Once he reached the other end he jumped onto the ground, crouching a moment as his eyes searched the area. He found her just ahead. She seemed to be waiting for him.

The attack was so silent. He didn’t hear the person approached. The object strikes him behind the neck forcing him onto the ground. Through blurry eyes he saw the woman slowly approached him. She now kneels beside him.

“Who are you?” she asked softly.

“Jesper,” he said.

“Why are you following me?”

“Are we family?” his voice slurred.

“What do you mean?” She grabbed hold of his hair pulling his face in her direction.

“I am Jesper Strange,”

“Jesper the hunter. You should know who you are chasing. The other man, who is he?” her eyes searched around but didn’t notice him yet.

“I don’t know,”

“Get up,” she stood and moved away from him. “You are going to hunt him for me. Once he is caught bring him to my place.” She quickly turns and disappeared into the shadows.