7. Bullseye!
1184 Words
"You want ME to play that?" We stood infront of the very first game, with me obviously being the farthest away.
Sapheme laughed as she eased herself out of her bent forward position after picking up the arrow and bow. She then walked towards me, red eyes swarming with amusement. "Yes, it is the easiest one in my opinion." She outstretched the arm holding the arrow, a broad smile on her lips that always seemed to be present no matter the situation.
"I'm not playing." I finalized with a shake of my head, "you go ahead and I'll gladly do the watching."
She shoved the arrow to my chest, forcing me to grab unto it. I tensed, feeling a sudden chill embracing my palms.
"Even if you lose, there is nothing wrong that. Once you're determined, overtime I'm sure you'll be able to shoot down at least half of these men." She insisted.
I paused. That's a very good point, but either way, I won't be making a fool of myself infront of her, especially since she thinks so highly of me. I've been doing it all my life --making a fool of myself that is-- it's time I stopped, don't you think?
"I don't know how to shoot an arrow." I weakly objected for the second time, a frustrated frown climbing unto my face.
"I can teach y-"
I shook my head once again, outstretching the arrow back to her, "I'm good." I told her, my words instantly planting a frown across her lips. She made no move to take it, so I bent down, placing it carefully on the floor before pulling myself back up.
Her eyes darted down to glance at it, then back at me, the corners of her lips unusually downturned. "You humans know how to shoot guns, right? Why don't you play the second game instead? It's the most thrilling." She tried again and I narrowed my eyes at her in response, my mind searching for possible reasons as to why she was adamant on getting me to play.
There were only two that came to mind...she either wanted to see me lose just so she could gossip with the others...or she's just always this freaking bothersome.
"No." I crossed my arm over my chest, my resolute gaze unfaltering.
"If you miss the first three shots, then you can stop playing." She bargained, her lips puckered and her red orbs pleading to me.
I ruffled the back of my head in uncertainty. Sapheme leaned closer, shoving her pitiful face into my line of vision in an attempt to urge me to agree. I stepped back a bit when she got a bit too close to invading my personal space. The hurt shimmered in her eyes, but just like last time, it was gone as quick as it came.
I sighed, guilt-ridden. "Fine, but I'm quitting after three shots."
She nodded frantically, an excited smile forming on her lips. She was totally going against my first impression of her. Her figure was excessively larger than mine, and she was probably even taller than me as well, anyone would think she'd have a personality like Gylador's...but she was nothing like that.
Reluctantly, I allowed my feet to slowly take me over to the gun that seemed to glisten in the light, looking very similar to an untouched trophy that had been locked away for as long as it existed. My fingers hesitantly went down, latching unto it before lifting it off the floor.
Without even sparing me time to analyze my weapon's features, the men immediately started relocating to different spots in the room, scattering so that three lines of five were on each side (each men being four feet away from each other). Then suddenly, the three who were closest to my supposed teammate, took off, running towards him. I instantly panicked.
With shoulders tensed and hands shaking, I extended my right leg behind me and placed my index finger just a little bit ahead of the trigger, while my right hand moved to hold the pistol grip. I aimed, and slowly, my finger inched closer. I squeezing my eyes shut a second before I pulled the trigger, the firepower almost shoving me a step back.
When I pulled my eyes open, all three men were still on the run, meaning...I missed.
"Stop!" Sapheme shouted from behind me. At first, I stiffened, thinking that she was talking to me, but I realized that that wasn't the case when the men running towards my team mate, stopped in their tracks. Moments later, Sapheme's fingers invaded my vision, gripping the gun and effectively stopping it from shaking. "Sire, the dead cannot feel pain. You do not need to worry for their safety."
I nodded at her words, my lips parting to release a breath of air. It's not that I wasn't an expert at shooting, in fact, I was. I could shoot anything whether near or far...except...people. I've been a police for a while, but I've never shot a criminal before. I tend to let my emotions devour me whole whenever I'm shooting because I hate the thought of having to shoot actual people when the reason I joined was to protect...that alone throws me off.
But these humans were not alive, they were dead. Sapheme was right, I didn't need to worry over anything.
She stepped to the side and I aimed once more, bottom lip drawn between my teeth and eyebrows pulled together in concentration. Just as the man on the right made the move to resume running, I pulled the trigger. The bullet surged across the room and landed right in the centre of his forehead, stopping him in his tracks. Surprisingly, blood didn't gush from the hole formed in his head, he just fell back against the ground, unmoving. That was enough to have me thinking of them as objects and not humans.
In time, I began shooting freely, each shot piercing through their foreheads. After those three had been taken down, around five rushed forward, then another five. Without much effort, I shot them all in the head, prompting another five into action. My gaze shifted from one target to the other along with my aim and before long, they were all lying unmoving on the ground and my team mate was standing over on the opposite side.
I dropped my hands to my side and brought my left foot back in line with the other as I stood straighter, grinning like a Cheshire Cat. I felt marvellous to have won unexpectedly, but Sapheme seemed to be way more elated than I was.
"Bravo, sire! I did not expect that!"
I rolled my eyes as my grin faltered. "You didn't expect me to be victorious? Thanks for ruining the good mood."
She smiled. "Well, I think it's about time we head to the dining hall, although I cannot stop you if you want to try out the other games as well."
I immediately dropped the gun, wheeled around and headed straight for the door. "I'll pass."
- Writer
