The assailant and Debra are shocked when Dean suddenly cries out. It doesn’t take long for them to notice the wound on his back. “Gunshot wound,” the assailant points out, “likely a sniper bullet given the distance.” Debra becomes terrified. She knows it is obvious someone is watching them. The assailant notices her fear. He has flashbacks of Ava. Even in a time like this, he wants to see her again. He gets it together and tells Debra to so they can help Dean. He takes off his mantle and rounds it around Dean’s back and ties it around his shoulder. He then leans him over his shoulder. They keep moving and don’t plan to stop. The border is still clear in their sights. The hired man gets up and starts to pursue them. Dean’s bleeding has stopped thanks to the mantle but he is still unable to move on his own. The 3 are slowed down due to him having to be carried. Dean thanks them both for helping him so quickly. The assailant nods in response while Debra responds with, “You’re welcome.” They keep moving in as efficient of a pace as they can. Though they are moving towards it, it feels as if the border is getting further from them the further they move. The hired man gets to the sandy hill. He lines up a shot on Debra and calls out to them, “Don’t move anymore or I will put a bullet through the woman’s skull.” They comply since they feel like they don’t have any other choice. He keeps the shot on her until he has fully approached them. Dean painstakingly asks him to let them go. “You know I can’t do that Dean. Not for free.” The assailant realizes what he wants. The Huntsman will pay the same amount if they return a betrayer dead or alive. Money truly was all this was about. His sanity just couldn’t handle the fact that he actually had a challenge. The assailant does what he feels he must. “You can take me back and get the money for my capture,” he tells him. Debra tries to object but the hired man stops her. “Glad you’re finally getting it. I will accept that.” The assailant nods and thanks him. “The other 2 may go free in exchange for your compliance.” Debra is unhappy with this outcome but knows both their minds have been made up. “Let’s start our journey back now, it’s gonna be a long one,” the hired man says as he forms a smile.ThEven the assailant didn’t want this outcome. They were so close. Too close for him to give up. “How about a duel in competition for my freedom?” The hired man smiles and laughs more than he ever had before. He wasn’t as stupid as the assailant was hoping he’d be. “You can turn me in dead or alive. I win, I go free. You win, you get bragging rights of killing one of the best Huntsman and get the same reward you would have.” The hired man smiles excitedly. He accepts the duel. They each grab their revolvers that they had hidden in their pants. They turn off the safety. They step 15 feet away from each other. “On the count of 3!” they both agreeingly say. Debra and Dean watch in worry and fear. The assailant and the hired man both appear calm. Neither have a worried emotion or look on their face. They both say 1 together. Pause. They say 2 together. They simultaneously fire at each other. 2 gunshots are fired. The hired man falls dead immediately. The assailant was quicker. He is happy and relieved. He looks over to Debra and Dean and smiles. He notices a scared look on their face. He feels something drip down from his chest to his stomach. He himself fills with fear when he sees it is blood. He slowly falls to the ground. Debra and Dean rush over to him, with Dean falling a few times. The assailant smiles. “You won’t be hunted anymore,” he tells them. “They’ll find me and him dead and they’ll be satisfied with me gone,” he weakfully but cheerfully tells them. Both are unable to hold back their tears. They feel they will be lost without him. Dean comforts Debra. The assailant puts on a serious face and looks over to Dean. “I don’t care if you’re the injured one, you take good care of her. You owe me that.” Dean lightly smirks and nods in agreeance. He signals Debra to come closer and so she does. He can’t speak before Debra hugs him and kisses him. He uses whatever energy he has left to embrace her back. She backs away to look him in the eyes. “You’re going to see Ava again,” she says comfortingly. He smiles and tears up. “Yes. I am.” He looks at the 2 in hope rather than worry. “You guys get across there. Get somewhere safe. Stay together. Keep each other safe. Especially you Dean.” Dean smirks and the 2 nod. They do so with no further questioning. Debra mouths ‘I love you” before leaving him. He mouths it back as he smiles. He looks into the clouds and hears a young girl’s voice call out to him. “Hi daddy!” she says. He smiles one last time as he watches the 2 cross the border into the horizon.