Manhunt

Author's note: This story is composed entirely in Haiku.

We stand tall and grim

We do not believe the scene

Her soul has gone out

She speaks and is heard

We press questions that she hates

No secrets can be

She confesses his sins

She cannot excuse anymore

We all knew long ago

The marks told us too

Some were hidden some were not

We knew what to ask

We now know for sure

We ponder our final move

The Hunt consumes us

We divide ourselves

Our Prey will hide and evade

We cover more ground

There's no justice here

No judge or jury presides

Swift vengeance will do

This town is too wild

Would a ruler be better?

Or will he hunt us?

I prowl in the night

I move to an ancient home

Does our Prey hide here?

Our Prey grew up here

His Forebearers remain here

Is our Quarry here?

There is no help here

The Old Folk have seen him not

He is seen rarely

Do they tell the truth?

Would they give up their own Brood?

My gaze asks questions

They claim no knowledge

They do not know anything

This made little sense

I press and question

Repeat and elaborate

How they know nothing?

They surrendered

Their child was not welcome here

They argued so much

That's unsurprising

But what refuge did he have?

What other shelter?

I go and leave be

I wander and walk away

A quick illusion

I return unseen

Passing through shadowy lanes

To see I must look

Animal movement

I change angle for angle

The windows reveal

I look and have seen

The Hunt has now finished here

I must prowl new lands

I wander and think

I walk slow and consider

My thoughts search the night

My thoughts guild thither

I wander but am not lost

I approach new grounds

A house of liquor

A place for drowning sorrows

He is here sometimes

I enter, and sit down

I order nothing and ask

Have they seen my Prey?

They say not tonight

They can pass a message on

They ask for my name

Lie, I give nothing

Two common names are enough

I can leave no trace

I depart and think

The Hunt has ground to a halt

My sorrow begins

A solemn tune plays

Another Hunter hails me

I raise my device

He speaks and is heard

Our voices pierced the night

Our Hunt has gone well

Our Prey is brazen

He remains at the locale

The deed was done there

It is his castle

His first and final refuge

His turf and kingdom

The Hunters must come

The Voice is there still unseen

We will soon strike

I must move quickly

I run with my longest stride

I do not slow down

I consider first

The Target may see Hunters

He may fly and flee

I slow my pace down

I cannot risk being seen

I move with more care

Down uncommon path

I approach from far behind

I remain unseen

I walk naturally

If seen, I am simply lost

Lost in the late night

I look and listen

I have come late to the kill

Hunters have knocked

Our quarry will flee

It is as I had foreseen

His window opens

I look and see him

He moves and tumbles outside

I walk steadily

He knows not my name

He looks and considers me

He acts natural

He moves towards me

He ignores the sound upfront

Hunters breaking in

I lay hand on hilt

My blade will not betray me

My gun is too loud

He passes, I turn

I give into the Bloodlust

I strike from behind

One forearm grips him

The other is for Horrors

I hold his neck still

He grows very angry

Predator has become prey

His rage hides his fear

Skin on metal blade

Sinews separate apart

I feel warm sputter

He struggles away

He is free and turns to me

He grips his wound

His hands turn red

His life-pipes have sprung a leak

He is a deadman

I gaze steadily

I am now indifferent

I do not stop him

We stop and we stare

After all time, we have met

We knew this would come

He runs, his only chance

Hunters now see me and ask

Where is our Quarry?

I speak and show proof

We already fought and won

We must bury the dead

We move slower now

We move together and look

Night hides our party

Prey leaves many clues

Red on ground, the noise of dog

Barking hails his flight

Into the woods now

House of medicine beyond

His only chance now

We see him fallen

His strength has gone from him first

We watch his dying

As the glacier melts

As the flower fades slowly

Life left his body

We watch his resting

The Villain has departed

Only flesh remains

Time to go to work

Our party obtains the tools

A grave must be dug

No need to carry

He remains where he had fell

We dig beside him

We consider blood

The trail begins and it ends

Clues pointing to us

I walk to a creek

I wash bright red from my hands

My face cleansed too

My role is over

I was insignificant

In this play of life

No one speaks of it

The secret remains for few

Nothing needs done now

No one has asked

No one seeks to avenge him

Best it remain so

Fear strikes me at times

So many people have a clue

Will they all be quiet?

The Old Folks saw me

Will they learn his grisly fate?

Do they even care?

Can I trust Hunters?

Not as noble as they think

Will on each other

Cannot dwell on that

We all have more roles to play

In this act of life

There will be others

Sins will consume so many

Man lives for the Hunt

The Hunt consumes many

Live by it and die by it

That is fate and curse