Market

Cora walked out of the apartment complex, carrying the soldier's silenced pistol and the medallion. She looked at the medallion, seeing the image of a soldier carrying another soldier. She heard of humans carrying these things for good luck, a way to lead them into battle. She chuckled and slipped the medallion in her pocket, making her way deeper into the remains of New York City.

She made her way down Wall Street, where plants grew out of the cracks in the road, the buildings unmoving like totems in the winter sky. She walked past an abandoned newspaper stand that said:

Anomalies finally segregated

She took a left down Broadway and arrived at a giant door, which was surrounded by a wall made out of scrap, cars, and wood. She made her way to the door when she heard a rifle cock. She looked up to see a man with a rifle aimed at her. She recognized the man as Phil, one of the watchmen.

"Hey, Phil! Can you let me in?!" She shouted when he yelled back.

"What are you here for Cora?!" He asked.

"Business you dumb fuck!" She yelled. He stayed silent before a buzz echoed through the empty streets, then the door slowly opened to reveal a market, where hundreds of Anomalies walked the streets, carrying bags and pushing shopping carts. She walked in as the door swung shut, a giant board swung across the door. She stepped past people as she stopped at a stand where a man was playing a cup game with three children. He showed the kids the ball and then placed it under a cup that looked exactly the same as the other three. He started to move them around, his hands becoming a blur as the cups moved around. He stopped and Cora pointed at the end cup.

"The ball is in there," She said, then started to walk away as his jaw dropped.

"Dammit, Cora!" He said. She smiled and made her way down a alleyway, walking up to a door with a moth on the front. She knocked on the door three times before it opened a crack, someone looking at her.

"What's the code?" He asked. She flipped him off and he shut the door, opening it all the way to reveal a giant, wearing a faded tuxedo. She looked him dead in the eyes and walked past him. She walked into a room covered in velvet, red lights illuminating the place. She looked around to see a bunch of people, wearing tuxedos and body armor. There were waitresses walking around with short jeans and t-shirts, carrying cocktails and liquor. She took a cup of whiskey off of one of the trays and chugged it, setting the glass on a nearby table. She walked past the men, who whispered to each other. She listening to the music playing and she recognized it; Passive by A Perfect Circle. She nodded and walked through a doorway, which a waitress opened for her and made her way down a hallway, opening the door at the end. There, sitting at a desk, was a man in a pristine white coat with black shoes. He looked at her with red eyes, smiling.

"Ah, Cora," He said. She nodded at him, looking at the two guards who carried no weapons, but she knew how dangerous they were.

"Hello, Marcus," She said, noticing a glint in his eyes. He nodded at his two guards, who walked up to her. She slung her Winchester off of her shoulder and handed it to one of the guards. She then pulled out the silenced pistol and handed it to the other guard. She then took her wrist blades off and handed them to the guard and walked forward, her backpack still on her shoulder.

"Ah, ah, ah! Your backpack," He said. She sighed through her nose and gave the backpack to the guard, who set her stuff on a nearby table. They dug through her backpack when they pulled out the head of the soldier. The guard dropped it in fear as he backed away, the head landing on the floor with a squirt of blood. Marcus facepalmed and looked at Cora, who just shrugged.

"I forgot my prize was in there," She said. He sighed and pointed his hand at the head, the head floating off the ground and into his hand. He looked at it before he nodded.

"Albert 'Goliath' Macker. Good job, Cora. You get your bounty," He said, nodding at the guard, who grabbed a briefcase, giving it to her. She grabbed it and opened it, revealing another silenced pistol. Except, it was a Glock with a sight on it. She picked it up and looked down the sight, making sure it was accurate. She then grabbed the two clips in the suitcase and slipped them in her boots. She nodded at him when he called her over.

"I have another job for you, Cora," He said. She walked up to his desk and looked at him, interested. He pulled out a book, flipping through the pages before he stopped and pointed at a name.

"Jimmy 'Sleazy' Bojenkins?" She said, shocked. He nodded, smiling, when she shook her head in disapproval.

"You're out of your fucking mind," She said.

"Cora-" He started when she cut him off.

"You expect me to take down a guy with a fucking army?!" She yelled. He raised his hand, calming her down as he explained.

"This guy has one of the biggest bounties in the whole United States of fucking whatever is left. You kill him, bring me his head, and you get the bounty. Easy as that," He said. She shook her head, walking away.

"You're a waste of my time," She mumbled when he said something that caught her attention.

"You can get that house you want," He said. She stopped at the door, turning around to look at him.

"The cabin by the lake?" She asked. He nodded, smiling.

"Plus, enough bottled water and canned food to support a whole family for thirty years," He said, leaning back in the chair. She looked at him, then at the door. Then she sighed, letting go of the door handle.

"Where is he?" She asked. Marcus smiled and tossed her a phone. She caught it and opened the screen, seeing that the maps were opened, a location already typed in.

"Everyday, he broadcasts a signal to whatever survivors there are. His location is secret, but lucky for me, a little birdie told me that he's hanging out in a bunker on the outskirts of New York. Do what you do best, and then you'll get your bounty," He said, pulling out a bottle of rum, opening the top. She looked at him, then at the phone before she slipped it in her pocket. He took a swig and nodded at his guards, who gave her back the weapons and backpack. Then, she left, smiling brightly.