Shoot Me: I’ll write a drabble about my character shooting yours or vise versa.
Despite its reputation, the freelance contract killing industry had its extended slumps. Taking any job, no matter the target and no matter the client became her only method to battle boredom and although the sentimentality of jilted lovers made the girl uncomfortable, business was business and if her trigger finger had its itches scratched, she wasn’t about to complain. Her new contract however, well… it had its share of complications. A young woman meekly requested a meeting, offering false name, a story of a cheating boyfriend and a desire for bloody retribution. Common themes but, face to face, something about the client seemed far removed from how she had earlier presented herself: she was confident, almost intimidatingly so and her small but impressive entourage gave the air of power she seemed unwilling to address. Worse still, her young actor target was known to the killer and the picture of a unfaithful dirtbag was uncharacteristic of the timid and sweet young man she had met. Regardless, she shrugged off her misgivings and accepted the job. Business is business.
A hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach lingered uncomfortably as she shadowed the surprisingly unguarded Kinuta through the darkened city streets, her own head bowed and a long, black wig covering her blonde waves. Ample opportunity to take the shot had come and gone but her finger froze on the trigger each time she poised her pistol for action, subtly hidden under her folded arms. She was nervous, shaky and her frustration was peaking as she narrowed her gaze on the back of his head, repeating the of ‘it’s just a job’ under her breath. With a mumbled curse, she quickened her pace and passed him, squeezing the trigger and feeling the brunt of the recoil against her hand: she had aimed poorly and erratically but, as she ducked into a side street, a groan and the thump of his mass hitting the pavement assured her that she had at least hit her target.
The girl forced a smile as she hid, expectantly waiting for a wave of satisfaction and relief but after a minute of watching him limply writhe in pain, it didn’t come. Tearing her focus away, the hollowness inside her pulsated with something else, the familiarity of guilt that was rarely but powerfully felt. Louise Radev had made a mistake. With another muttered curse, she moved to her feet and disposed of the wig and her weapon. Hesitantly, she moved from her cover and approached where Kinuta lay, kneeling beside his form as she slid off her jacket. Instead of his stomach, the round had hit him in the ribs. Blood? Much. Punctured lung? Possibly. But he was saveable. His head snapped in her direction when she firmly pressed the balled up garment to the wound and, in spite of herself, she met his gaze. He was regaining his awareness which the killer took as a positive sign but the appreciative expression forced her to glance away.
“Louise?” Ignoring his question, she retrieved her cell phone. “Mm… what’s the number for an ambulance here?”