1 Just A Game?

Zac

It's just a game.

I chase after my target. Footsteps mixing into a cacophony of thunder, rain and panicked breathing. The forest around us was a perfect hiding place. No one around for miles and no paths to help navigate. The dense leaves served to hide any and all evidence anyone was ever there. That is if you weren't looking hard enough

It's just a game.

I tackle them to the ground, sinking into the slick mud, before unsheathing my blade.

"How'd you find me!" They ask struggling to free themselves from me and the slick earth beneath us. But, I'm hardly listening. I'm just going through the motions.

It's a game.

I jab my blade towards their heart and miss as they slam something into my head. Falling into the mud, ears ringing, my sight blurs and my blade falls from my hand into the mud. Taking this chance they force my head down into the mud. Or at least they try.

It's not a game.

Knocking them onto the ground, the stone leaves their hand and We look at each other. They realize they've lost their advantage and sprint into the forest. Leaves and twigs claw at my uniform as I hunt them down. The uniform that identifies me as a hunter. The uniform that makes this all legal.

This shouldn't be a game.

The sound of footsteps comes to halt as we reach clearing and standing in front of us is a huge wall. Even though their facing away from me I can tell their panicking. They turn around and as I get closer, I witness as the fear in their eyes, turns into desperation. They charge at me. swinging their fist towards me. I easily avoid it and trip them. As they fall face first into the mud, I leap on top of them once again and force their face into the mud. They struggle for air desperately. As I hold them down for what feels like hours is mere minutes. The struggling slows before ceasing entirely.

Slowly I get to my feet, exhausted and tired. And I walk away from the wall, knowing at some point I'll reach the road. At some point I'll get paid, and go home. And at some point, I'll end up doing this all over again.