29. The Great Escape
A/N: So, there is a bit of debate on how to read the "hunterxhunter" organisation name. Some think it's pronounced "hunter hunter", and the "x" is silent. Others say it's pronounced "Hunter X Hunter". I've included it below as HunterxHunter, and you can pronounce it however you choose.
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"How bad is that head injury of yours?" Jason mocked openly. A short pause ensued before a few nervous chuckles from the crowd sounded. Violet crossed her arms as her lips twisted into a half-smirk. "The trick now will be locating this island."
"We could probably see about some maps," Dan suggested. "We already have a few older ones, but they're not legible."
"Hm. That's a start, at least. Thanks, Daniel." Jason continued, "Once we—"
"I don't know why you need a map," Violet chirped smugly. "Greed Island is a video game." She looked at her nails with indifference, then locked onto the hunters in the centre of the room with a wicked expression. Jason froze as he tried to process what the huntress had just revealed.
"I have it on good information. It's a place!" Lachlan shouted, tiring of the woman's interference.
Violet shrugged and held back a hiss from the pain the movement caused her injured body. "Maybe it's a map to the Island. All I know is only a few hundred copies were made, and each copy sells for near eight billion."
"What?" Mac exploded. "We cannot afford that much! For a video game?!" His look of disgust continued with a head shake and screwed frown.
"Do you know where this game will be?" Jason asked with a near snarl. His blazing blue orbs told Violet she would pay for springing this information on them in a group meeting. Not wanting to push her luck too much further, she opted to drop her over-confidence in place of caution.
Swallowing hard, the huntress answered, "There is an auction on September 6th, 'The Southernpiece Auction'. Several games will be there for bidding. However, the games are expected to sell for several billion over asking. It's ten million to gain entry into the event."
"How do you know any of this? What is your source?" Lachlan snapped, spitting as he allowed his voice to echo an octave higher than necessary.
"They have an organisation called HunterxHunter with professional hunters, not dissimilar to us," Violet explained calmly but never broke the fierce glaring match with Jason. "I have it on good authority from two pint-sized professional hunters. They're looking for the game themselves. On that note, they also told me it's a game made by these hunters for hunters."
As the two continued to battle across the room with looks alone, murmurs started among the other hunters present. Mumbles became a dull rumbling static in the background as tension built while Jason ignored his duties to force supremacy over the defiant woman in his sights. Mac lodged an elbow into the blue-eyed leader, alerting him to the growing situation of unrest filling the room.
"That's no issue," Jason boomed over the noise, still refusing to release Violet's eye contact. "We'll just wait for them to move it after the sale or go into the warehouse and grab it then."
"The game was made for hunters; thus, it must have some form of Nen involvement," Violet responded, angling her eyebrow deeper with further resolve. "Without that fighting ability, you'll be dead before you step foot out of this place."
"Do you know how to do it, Violet?" Sammy asked gently. "Could you teach us?"
Violet turned to look at the tech huntress, and her cheeks painted slightly. The huntress shook her head in slight shame. "Yes, I know it. It takes six months just to learn the basics. There wouldn't be enough time." Also, I've not mastered it myself.
"Where did you learn it?" Dan asked.
"Ah. I was lucky enough to find a hunter to teach me a few things. I survived because of it."
A soft clap resounded on Violet's left side. "That solves our problem," Sammy chirped proudly. "Violet will go retrieve the game and go to Greed Island when we find out the location. She can go retrieve the artefact for u—"
"No." Jason's voice boomed into the air with authority. "She hasn't been with the hunters in over a year and left before the portal event. She cannot be trusted alone."
"We don't really have much choice here, Jason," Dan pointed out. "She the only one that knows the skill."
"What if she teaches Jason and they go together?" Mac grinned with malice towards Violet, the shining, swollen lump on her lower jaw displayed prominently.
"That's actually an excellent idea, Mac." Jason's lips widened, and his tongue ran atop to wet them as much as prevent their further lengthening.
Violet's colour ran from her face to the point she resembled one of Hisoka's white fighting shirts. Tension filled her stomach as it dropped from her body into a bottomless pit. She swayed, and her breath came erratically as the huntress struggled for an out of this perfectly masked situation. Masked from the real reason he would be spending so much alone time with her. Any injuries taken would be explained as training. It was perfect for Jason.
Violet gasped and flinched in response to sudden skin contact as Dan's hand wrapped her forearm, steadying the panicked woman. "This won't work," the doctor assessed. "She's too injured yet and needs time to recover."
"True," Lachlan agreed. "However, she can still teach Jason. He can then teach a few of us, and we can go."
"That's an excellent idea, Lachlan," Jason states with finality. "We'll get started ri—"
A buzz interrupted the preverbal death sentence of the huntress. To add further misery, Jason revealed Violet's phone from his pocket. He eyed the screen as two more buzz notifications brought life to the device. Blue irises locked on the pale woman as the leader's lips curved deeply downwards.
Hisoka...
"As I was saying," Jason continued while pocketing the device. "We'll get started on that right after the meeting. I'll handle the rest of her recovery needs while she teaches me what we need to know."
Slumped back against the corner of the room, Violet lowered her head as the rest of the hunters agreed; even Sammy nodded enthusiastically. I want to go back to the hotel. Hisoka... I don't know how to get out. I may have to break my word.
Non-stop scenarios and actions ran through the blonde fighter's sharp mind throughout the rest of the meeting. Despite the discussion on the artefact, where it could be found, and anything else, Violet could only try and find a way out. Time was working quickly against her, and the prospects didn't seem favourable, let alone escaping with Sammy in tow.
Before Violet realised, there was shuffling and speaking around her as the meeting finished. "Stay here," Dan instructed the injured woman as he stepped across the room to engage a few other people in conversation.
Thuds sounded as shoes vibrated against the creaking floor, catching Violet's attention. Sammy walked off towards one of the four exit doors that lined the room's inner wall. They sat an equal distance from one another, all leading to the same long corridor connecting the buildings. Failing to heed Dan's words, the stubborn huntress stepped off the desk gingerly and followed in her friend's shadow. Stiff muscles slowed her progress, but not the determination.
"Sammy, wait."
"Violet!" Sammy rushed back down the hallway, fretting with hands raised in a stop motion and large eyes as she watched her love interest struggle out of the room. "Stay there until we know where you'll be going. I'll come back and help you."
Braced against the window sill to catch her breath, Violet hunched over against an exterior wall on the fourth floor's long corridor, across from the first door to the meeting room. There were large windows lining the hallway for several feet. The view overlooked a rooftop and not much else as the other buildings surrounding their hideout blocked the rest of the night sky. Small gaps allowed the occasional ray of moonlight to shine through as the storm clouds cleared in the sky, making way for the early morning hours of September 5th.
Once Sammy was by her side again, Violet asked, "I missed what they were saying about the artefact. Do you know anything?"
The way the olive eyes sparkled to life made the blonde smile fondly. "Oh, yes! I'm the one that found it," Sammy exclaimed proudly. "I put together information and the specs. I couldn't have done it without Jason's help, though. He's been so supportive and helpful. Then his team did several missions. He didn't complain once if there was a failed mission and just said it was all part of collecting facts."
Sammy turned and rested her back against the window ledge, matching Violet's posture. "I don't know about him, Sammy."
"I know he frightened you yesterday, and after what happened the night my sister died... it left you two with some issues. However, things are different now, Violet," The black-haired woman's locks shone in the fading moonlight and flickering illumination of the hallway. She looked up to the fighting ceiling blub. "We're alive and together because of him. I'm sure you noticed only the hunters were present tonight. But we are caring for more than a hundred people. Some are just civilians. We're all alive because of Jason. He does his best to support us."
"I got that, but Sammy..."
Tasselled black locks swayed back and forth with Sammy's shaking head. "No, Violet. You don't get the enormous pressure he's under. You helping him will make all the difference."
"Sammy, please, just listen," Violet huffed, exasperated. "I get he's helped you. But I don't trust him. Have you ever considered leaving? Maybe working in a big group is hurting more than helping?"
"Absolutely not, Violet." Sammy frowned before softening her expression. "You're tired and hurt. You're not thinking clearly. You're with us now and back with your family. No one is leaving. Jason and his friends will help you like they have the rest. Oh, stay here. I do need to speak to him."
"Ah!" Violet reached out for Sammy as she bolted down the hallway waving for Jason's attention, which she successfully caught. "Dammit..." She watched helplessly as the tech huntress spoke to their leader before they walked further down the hallway and disappeared from her sight.
Shit. How do I get her to leave with me? She's so star struck with him. Is it some weird Stockholm syndrome?
The sound of a chuckle resounded as Dan approached. "You'll find most of them are like that here. Jason fans." He rested his hip against the window sill on Violet's left side. She turned to face out the window, leaning over to rest her elbows on the rotting wood.
"You're with him and yet you do nothing but poke the beehive when it comes to criticising the man's actions."
Dan sighed and crossed his arms as he looked at the pale woman. "Yes, I'm working with Jason. I'm part of the American hunters. There are eight of us among them," he admitted. "I have to take care of them, but don't think we don't see the disgusting nature in him. Particularly the way he treats the young women. The ones among the non-hunters, specifically."
The man looked out the window without changing his position as Violet widened her eyes as the meaning behind his words connected. "You..."
He shook his head to silence the huntress.
"We know what happens with those women who cannot fight back," Dan's frown deepened. "But we're also aware of what happens to hunters stepping out of line. There is a hierarchy, and we're not at the top, but not the bottom either. The women with us haven't been hurt because two are with their husbands and one is older than me."
"That doesn't mean if we cause problems we won't all find ourselves on the receiving end," Dan looked darkly towards Violet. "A sharp pinenut like you would understand. I think you'd have made a great honourary American hunter. You lie well. Everyone is convinced you're exhausted and in too much pain to move." He grinned at her knowingly. Violet responded with paled features as worry about revealing her true condition struck.
"We work with him and show loyalty, that doesn't mean it's real," Dan reassured. "You won't get anywhere with Sammy. She kisses the ground he walks on. It would take a lot to convince her."
Violet looked out the window again. She couldn't deny she had come to that conclusion. She wanted to help Sammy, very much, but she had to put herself first. I have a promise to keep, and I want to help her and the American hunters, but I just don't think I can.
"Look. Most things we have no control over in life. You've gotten this far as a hunter; you gotta know that much. But, even if ya can't change the big things, the parts you do have control over can mean the world," Dan informed as Violet looked at him with knitted brows. "Take, for example; I cannot risk the life of the people counting on me here. But if I could give a woman, who shouldn't have to go through something so horrific a chance. Well, why wouldn't I do that? She has far too much fire and strength and shouldn't be having her roots snuffed out yet."
Dan turned to look at Violet with brown eyes sparkling in the moonlight. "I couldn't make a big change. But maybe I could offer an opportunity. A bit of head start. Then she could take charge and maybe, just maybe, that opportunity would save her."
A sly grin formed on the doctor's face. "Information, like say, that if you raced down this rooftop and took a right turn, then five steps over there is a hidden ledge you drop onto at the edge of the building. From there, you could take the fire escape on the next building, get to their roof and move across, then to the left before descending into the alleyways."
"Do what you can to change what you're able to. Don't worry about the things or people you cannot change; focus on what you do have control of. Hear me?"
Violet tilted her head to the side slightly. She nodded slowly. I think I get what he's saying in theory. However... "Your people will be hurt if you help me. You can't..."
Dan raised a hand. "I never said anything about you. No way will I put my people in harm's way. Like I said before, we're with Jason. Beyond the occasional slip-up, we've earned his trust. Just like the man six foot behind ya and the one standing by the door we just left."
Violet opened her mouth to respond when screaming and the sound of furniture painfully screeched across the floor resounded from the meeting room. The pair turned to face the sounds of people fighting. Screaming was becoming more intense and angry. The grey-haired man by the door gave Dan a knowing look and nodded before returning to the room to deal with the situation.
He quickly re-emerged with fresh blood running from a small wound over his eye. "Doc! Your people are in the middle of a fight! Break them up!"
Dan frowned. "I can't. Jason wants my eyes on the girl at all times."
"Fine!" He signalled to the man at the end of the hall to follow him. The brown-haired, muscular, and square-jawed hunter entered through the door closest to him.
"Dan, what's—"
"Dan, get in here! It's out of control!" The voice of the grey-haired middle-aged hunter was heard bellowing with strain. It was obvious he was in the middle of the brawl trying, unsuccessfully, to break it up. Screaming, cursing, and anger reverberated loudly even within the hallway. When the sound of shattering glass erupted, so too did the hunter's desperation. "Dan! The girl's injured. She won't get far! Get in here!"
Striding toward the open door, Dan gave one look back to Violet with raised eyebrows, then pointedly looked at the window behind her before returning his gaze to her hazel eyes. He softened his expression with a smile, offered a quick wink, then disappeared into the room.
Violet spun so fast her brain seemed to continue the motion causing a moment of vertigo. She clawed on top of the deep window sill, and the wood whined in threat to give out under her weight. Never leaving the time for that to happen, she quickly twisted the window handle and pushed out forcing her great escape hatch open. Lurching out into the cold early morning air, the huntress dashed across the gravel roof and down to the pitch black of the right side of the building where Dan had said the ledge stood.
No light reached the area leaving a normal person defenceless. Violet had activated Zetsu and wasn't able to enhance her eyes. It wasn't a necessary need for the woman. A physical feature that often gave her an advantage in hunting creatures of the night activated immediately. Cones, cells to register colour in the eyes shut down making way for the rods that determined black and white. The reflective membrane at the back of her eye went to work, giving perfect white, black, and grey vision. Spotting the ledge she jumped down to it without losing more than a few seconds.
Just as Dan had promised, the hatch ladder was a moderate jump across the alleyway sitting seductively ready to receive Violet. Propelled to the air on adrenaline's drive to escape, her hands connected with the ladder, and she ascended to the next building. The huntress followed the path the doctor had laid out in their final chat, racing for an escape path in the labyrinth of the Yorknew slums.
"Violet!" Jason's scream bellowed from the rooftops through the night air and thickened around her as his bloodlust saturated and drove the woman faster into the maze.
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The hunt is on! Hisoka seems a bit upset! At this point in the story, he's just found out Chrollo had his nen sealed by Kurapika.
How will Violet get away from Jason?
Thanks for all your lovely comments, votes and reads! Keep them coming; I love every one of them!
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