It's Me or You

*Warning: The following contains death and guns*

For years I have heard people say, vengeance is not the way to go. 

I disagree. 

It all started five years ago, when my best friend Amirs was shot and killed during one of our normal walks along the city…

The buildings loomed above us as we walked together, joking around like friends should.

Amir playfully pushed me, but I grabbed a hold of his hoodie before I could fall. 

“Let go, Dash. That’s cheating.” He complained, using my nickname. I had gotten it from running cross country. I was one of the fastest guys there. It did help that I have long legs. I laughed and let go of his hoodie, after I had gotten balanced again.

“It’s not my fault you're a lousy pusher, and I just happen to have fast reflexes.” I remarked. 

Amir glared at me for a moment and then we both burst out in laughter. 

“Good one, but I think you’re worse at pushing than I am, I got you to fall two times now. I am including that one, because you cheated.”

“You caught me off guard!” I complain.

“That sounds like a you problem, not a me problem.” He said, before running ahead.

Oh no you don’t, cheater!

I ran after him and was able to bring him to the ground on a soft patch of grass. He grunted as he pushed me off of him.

“And you call me a cheater. You’re not supposed to tackle me, Dash, this ain’t football.”

“I don’t play football. I run cross country. I’d think you’d learned by now that you can’t outrun me.” 

“That might be true, but heck I’m gonna try anyway.” He said, brushing himself off.

“Maybe one day you’ll catch up. For now, we’ll call this a tie.” 

Amir looked at me and smiled. “You're just afraid to admit I’m better than you.”

I roll my eyes at him and begin to walk again. Amir was soon at my side, again. 

I watched the crowd moving a few blocks ahead of us. The crowds were overwhelming, and we both agreed it’s better to keep our distances from the crowds. We have both heard the stories of what can happen in the crowds, people have lost their wallets, been beaten up and so much more. 

But the stories never warned me of what would happen to those who stayed out of the crowds…

While we were walking along the road, by ourselves. Everything took a turn for the worst. 

There was a loud BANG! that came from above, to me it drowned out the sounds of the city, but as I soon learned. Almost no one heard it. At that time, I was unaware of what it was. 

I would soon come to realize it was the sound of the sniper.

After the bang, Amir paused and collapsed. I rushed over to him and found he wasn’t breathing. 

Horror… That’s all I could fully remember.

I had grabbed a hold of his body and dragged him into a more concealed area and called 911.

…

Since then I had vowed to avenge his death, but I had one issue. There was no clue to who the killer was…

But I think I have finally found the killer. I found a man with a questionable past. His name? Peyton Zimmerman. A construction worker who lives in a run down apartment building. He had come from Norest, he moved here and had bought a sniper scope. 

I thought it was odd, a construction worker shouldn’t have any use for a sniper scope, there wasn’t even any hunting allowed near here. Plus it’s illegal to own a sniper here in the first place.

 I began to dig deeper and even asked a few people he worked with.

“He always acts like he’s hiding something.”

“Now that you say something, he does seem off.” Were some of the responses I got from people who know him.

That's all I needed to have my suspicions grow, so I went to the last thing I could, the city of Norest. Unsurprisingly, there were many crimes committed when Peyton lived there, but one thing stood out: a headline that read,

Hunter Strikes Again. Two More People Found Dead. 

As I read more into it, I found out, Hunter was an allusive mercenary, who killed twelve people in total, before vanishing, about the same time Peyton moved here.

If he is Hunter and I say his name. I’ll know, by the way he responds.

…

Now is my time to strike. I thought, looking up at the sky. 

I had followed my gut feeling, and somehow ended up here, on the roof of one of the tallest buildings in the city. 

The perfect spot to snipe someone.

I felt at peace, though the possibility of dying was real. The sounds of the busy city below were muffled by the soft wind, it was oddly calm being on top of the world.

There was a soft Creak as the door opened. But I couldn’t see who it was, the hood I wore to cover my face was also blocking my view. But I fought the urge to look over, aware that if I moved too soon, my cover would be blown, and I’d be dead before I could do anything.

Surprise. That’s what I needed to succeed, if I fail, I’ll die.

After a moment of eerie silence, I turned around to see him. 

He had blonde hair and was wearing all black clothes. A giant sniper laid at his side, and a dagger was hanging off his belt. But that sniper wasn’t just some random gun, it’s what killed Amir.

Anger gnawed at me, but I stayed where I was, clutching the knife that was hidden in my jacket. 

Wait. I told myself. Do you really want to kill a man? Even if he is a bad man, he is still human. Would it be worth it to get caught? Will someone seek revenge on me for killing him? I shook my head. He ruined my life and he’s a bad man. If I don’t kill him someone else will. 

I made up my mind as I stepped closer to him. Hunter loaded his sniper, seemingly unaware that I was right behind him. 

“Peyton, why?” I asked, as he adjusted the sniper's position. 

Peyton looked over at me, his eyes narrow. “Who the crap are you?” 

I smiled at the question. “I know who you really are.” I said instead of responding. 

Peyton raised an eyebrow but said nothing. 

“May I ask why you came here after leaving Norest, Hunter?” Peyton stared at me blankly. But he knew, we both did. I was right.

“So, you know who I am, Congratulations. Now who the crap are you and what the heck do you want?” He snapped after a moment of eerie silence.

I pulled down my hood and felt the wind touch my face. 

Hunter paled. “How in the world did you find me?”

“After all these years, you didn’t think I’d be paying you a visit for killing my friend?”

“I never meant to kill him. I was going for you.”

Now it was my turn to stare.

One thought ran through my head after what he said: Who in the world would want me dead?

“But why? Why are you doing this, Hunter?”

He laughed bitterly, “I have no choice. I do what I’m told and avoid being captured.” 

I eyed the sniper that still sat on the edge of the roof. But tried to focus on Hunter, hoping that he would forget it was there. 

“If you were after me then why haven't you killed me after all these years?” 

“You are a blind fool. I have tried, but I had to lose the sniper for a few years, the cops were starting to catch on. You started to stick to the crowds, I don’t think anyone told you, but it’s hard to kill someone and slip away, undetected in a crowd, there’s just too many eyes. I’ve always preferred to kill from far away, for that reason. No one can pinpoint the killer, if they never saw who it was. So, if I can’t snipe, I usually poison. I only go near my target if it’s the last thing that I can do.” 

I shook my head; this was all too much. After all this time thinking he intended to kill Amir, I had never even thought that the real target might have been me. I took a step closer to him, partly afraid for my life. What I had thought would be simply revenge had turned out to be more complicated than I was prepared for.

Hunter eyed me, his eyes searching for every bit of my face, his dark eyes cut through me as our gazes locked. 

That’s when I made my move.

I rushed at him, pulling out my knife. He moved out of the way and pulled out the dagger from his belt.

I knew right then I was out of my mind for trying to beat a man at the game he has been playing, (and winning) for years. 

Then I had an idea, it was risky, but it would work. I rushed for the sniper. Hunter cursed when he realized that the sniper was still there, but he didn't move for it. I was too fast.

I grabbed the gun and was surprised by how heavy it was. 

I am crazy to even think I can shoot him with this. I thought. But heck, I’m determined to make him pay.

I balanced the gun and aimed it at Hunter, my finger on the trigger. 

“You don’t want to pull that trigger. If you do, you know, you won’t be able to turn back.” 

I hesitated; he was right. I wouldn’t be able to turn back if I shot him. But he was a bad man, who wanted me dead. I was willing to risk it all…

I aimed it at his chest and pulled the trigger, I staggered as the gun fired. Glancing up I saw something flash across his face, a mix of fear and regret, before he collapsed, slowly blood began to surround his body.

It's over. I realized, looking down at Hunter's lifeless body.

I dropped the sniper, which hit the ground with a loud Thud, and made a run for it, aware that my life would be forever changed...