Mon shouldn’t have cursed the moment the red laser pointed to his heart.

Mon also shouldn’t have made it very clear that he was the target by batting at the laser on his chest like a cat-gorilla.

Mon _also _shouldn’t have ducked behind the nearest body, which happened to be a fair looking lady in two inch high heels, immediately after.

Bam!

Mon wanted to cover his ears at the loud shot, like a bomb erupting in the middle of the crowded street.

The place seemed to radiate heat, everyone flashing and flailing like a tsunami, screams bursted as everyone pushed and shoved to get away from the bullet. Unfortunately for Mon, that included the two-inch high heeled lady.

Mom was left hunched on the ground, vulnerable and far too close to the bullet lodged into the concrete.

The red laser danced the cracked sidewalk and Mon scurried up, rushing with the crowd.

Blend in.

Blend in.

Blend in.

Nope!

He leaped out of the way just in time as another bullet struck.

“Far too close for comfort.” Mon muttered under his breath, scanning the rows of windows and windows.

The assassin had to be perched somewhere.

Bam!

God, why were buildings in this city so tall?

“There!” Mon yelled, the noise covering up his discovery.

At least ten floors up, third window out of twelve sat a figure dressed in all black. His mask of pointed like a bird and gun aimed… directly to Mon’s chest.

The streets were clear now, oh how quick did the people of Pollen flee at the sound of danger. Mon wasn’t sure if he should be glad civilians weren’t in harm or scared because now he was a target on a range. He could almost see red and white circles on his chest as the laser aligned. He twisted to the side as it shot.

He had to pull out the hard hat, didn’t he?

Mon barely had enough time to sigh as he dug through his backpack, which was only occupied by one thing, a thick, yellow hard hat.

He placed it on his head and almost like magic his day clothes faded. His jacked melted into dust and his T-shirt was replaced by a thin sheet of metal covered by matching yellow fabric. A green logo was pressed against his chest.

Mom looked utterly ridiculous, and he knew that, but apparently people love a good hero, no matter what bright, stupid outfit they were wearing.

He looked like a banana that wasn’t quite ripe.

Mom stomped his foot and the asphalt erupted like a volcano.

Hopefully he wouldn’t be charged.

He stepped on the platform which carried him up towards the tenth floor window like an elevator.

Shots fired beside him, but he could find a reason to care anymore.

“Stop that.” Mon told the sniper, grabbing the front of his gun and pulling it away from him. He felt like he was taking a toy from a toddler. That was probably because the suit increased his height by a foot, which was the only benefit it supplied when it came to looks:

The sniper fell back through the window, debating whether to fight the banana man or run.

“Yeah, you better run.” Mon said, watching the figure run down the stairs.

That’ll do it.

Bam!

Oh, of course.

Another one.

She tilts her head down, the red dot in the corner of her vision. Huffing, she looks back up, several building reflections bouncing into her eyes. There were to many spots her old friend could be at, and in her current state, it felt unwise to guess. A buzz from her phone pulls her attention down. Her fingers dancing on the green button from the call for only a moment before finally slamming down on it.
"Long time no see Katie," She stays quiet, her eyes still panning, searching for that infamous tiny reflection. "Oh c'mon, don't play so hard to get, that's never fun," "What do you want." "My, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning," She scoffs, but hides it with a cough when people start to look. The last thing she needs is more attention on her. "I wonder why," she mutters through gritted teeth. "Jack wasn't a big fan of the stunt you pulled yesterday." "Since when do you care what he thinks?" The woman on the other end pauses, and Katie revels in the few extra seconds that buys her. "I don't." She's about to make a snide remark when she finally closes in on the small light of the sniper rifle, her breath hitches. In an instant she breaks into a sprint, and the shouts of protest from her phone fade away as she dashes into the building mere seconds before the piercing sound of a gun firing rings. Most people duck, but she jets to the nearest stairwell and races up, determined to find the sniper before she could run away again. She reaches the floor she thinks is right, and moments after opening the door she is met with more gun shots. "Always trying to get cute Katie," the woman calls. "You still think I'm cute Sara?" she teases after finding a hiding spot, doing her best to rile up her opponent. Sara loudly scoffs, and it allows Katie to change her position. She reaches for her own gun and holds it close, anticipating where she might strike next. "Don't pull that on-" Katie seizes her opportunity when Sara walks right past her, and with a single bunch the large rifle goes flying. Sara recovers quickly though, and with a sweep of a leg Katie is knocked off her feet, her gun long out of her reach. She tries to recover, but Sara pounces on her, pining Katie's arms down with her knees. Katie struggles for a moment before accepting her fate, at the same time Sara pulls a small knife out of her many pockets. "What are you gonna do now?" she purrs while gentle placing the knife at Katie's neck. Despite her suboptimal predicament, Katie's eyes gleam with triumph. "The better question is what are you gonna do?"

Alec was never cut out for this. What, a 20 something year old man wasting his years away in this pointless war for what? No one told him it would be like this.

He wanted to be a hero. He wanted to protect his country. He wanted to be brave. He wanted to be good.

Alec wasn’t a fighter. He wasn’t a killer. He’d never even held a gun before he joined. This merciless war tore him apart until Alec no longer existed. Just a soldier now.

In war, it’s a dog eat dog world. In war, you can’t care. You can’t think, just do.

It was like time slowed down. The soldier only had seconds to wonder what that light shining in his eye was for a moment. Until he saw the big, red dot aimed at his heart.

Alec had only seconds.

BANG!

Richard knew he made his shot as he saw the other sniper from across the building topple over the ledge of the roof and plummet. He exhaled slowly and stood up, slinging his sniper over his shoulder as he exited the scene, a job well done.

Poor bloke. It’s a kill or be killed world, Richard thought to himself.

Shit. That was the first thought through Alanna’s head as she looked down to see the dot on her chest. The second thought was how? No one new her here but she didn’t have time to wonder yet.

It was a strange thing, to be singled out in the middle of a bustling city. Sure enough, though, the red dot appeared on Micah's chest, proving that not even the crowds of people can provide the anonymity he was so desperate for. He just needed a half second to make his move. He needed a small opening to get himself out. Except it was hard to focus on anything other than the red dot on his chest and the hoards of people rushing into him and past him.

It was a mindfuck, that's for sure. Who in the crowd was working with the Sniper? Scanning faces for any sign of recognition was overwhelming when there were hundreds of them. Scanning buildings for any sign of where the Sniper may be was pointless when he was surrounded by skyscrapers as far as the eye can see.

It was supposed to be a quick job for some fast cash. This certainly wasn't of the job description. Even with rushed document signings and whispers behind closed doors, never in his wildest dream did he think this was was where he would be all these months later.

The worst part was Micah really thought he had him beat this time. He thought he had done enough to get a step ahead for long enough to disappear. The worst part was that Micah had gotten his hopes up.

But it was no use. The Sniper has found him and he feared he would never know peace again.

Y/n stares at the red dot on their chest in slight shock, watching it steadily move across their collar bone. Taking a deep breath, they stare towards the source of the laser with a stoic expression. While dark, Y/n could somewhat make out the silhouette of the sniper. They were on top of a balcony not too far from them, and they wore all black clothing that would've let them completely blend into the environment if it wasn't for the ambience of the street lights. It was the perfect place for a clean shot.

With a shaky breath, y/n steeled their nerves and closed their eyes. Whoever this was knows who they are. It doesn't matter who's behind this, only that you make it out alive. If they truly know who they're dealing with, they won't do anything at all. There's a good chance this is a bluff, but if it isn't...

With one final breath, y/n opens their eyes with a blank face. They raised their hand to their head and placed one finger on the middle of their forehead, mouthing out one word:

"Shoot."

Do it. Take the shot. I knew it was over. I saw the red dot. Have I lived a good life? I think not. So go ahead. Shoot. Let me rot.

I was never much of a runner. PE had always been my least favorite class. My high school teacher used to force us into running a mile nearly every single week, and would punish us with an extra lap if we ever dared to slow down. I was the one she punished the most. I had always been the slowest in my class. I've never been really into athletics, having grown up with my face practically engraved in a book. I especially despised running. I was horrible at it, and I wouldn't run for anything. However, now, I was running with more speed and passion than I've ever had in my entire life. I dashed through the dark, twisting corridors and sprinted through the narrow hallways of the labyrinth. I probably would've beaten the world record or something with the speed that I was running with as of now. What motivated, you may ask? Pure, utter, complete fear. It coursed through my veins and blinded me, shutting everything else from my mind other than just running as fast as I could. No matter how out of breath I was, no matter the cuts and scratches on my legs, no matter the fact that I had just witnessed two of my close friends get shot down, I had to keep running. Whatever I did, I couldn't let "it" catch me. It—the sniper—he had always been watching me. I never was aware of it, and it horrified me to the core. The fact that he had always known where I was, knew when I was vulnerable, always been there. Observing. Calculating. And now, all of his patience and time had finally paid off. He had caught me off guard, when I was the most vulnerable, and managed to corner me into this labyrinth of twisting hallways and intersections. Now, he was somewhere in here with me. He could be around any corner, could be hiding behind any wall. Each turn that I made, each route I decided to follow, I half-expected him to jump out and shoot me. But I couldn't think about that. I couldn't afford to think about that. All I had to do was focus on running. Running, and getting out. I would think about everything later, what to do later, about my friends later. As of now, all I needed to do was get out. I ran and ran and ran and ran. After what seemed like ages, after my legs began to slow down automatically, after most of my adrenaline faded away and my mind cleared up, after I realized just how out of breath I was, I finally it. Light. It shone from a bright green neon sign which read "exit". I nearly collapsed from joy. Hope and desperation filled me to the brim. It was in the end of the hallway. I had made it. I would be able to escape. I would be safe, at last!

I just had to make it to the end of the hallway, and I would be free. I would run to the nearest police department, and I would tell them everything that happened. I would return to my parents, and I would cry to them about everything. I would go back to high school, and this time, I would never complain about having to run ever again in PE.

I sprinted with all my might towards the exit door. With each nearing step, with each inhale, my hope just grew. I had almost reached the exit when suddenly, I froze in my tracks.

A red dot. Directly on my chest. Everything seemed to still, every inch of hope I had seemed to die and wither away. Trembling slightly, I looked up— and to my absolute pure horror—I saw it. The sniper. He stood on the walls of the labyrinth, with his gun aimed down directly at me, his finger on the trigger.

My skin pales with dread. After years of running, They have finally caught up to me. All The Sniper has to do is pull the trigger and I die. There is no way I can dodge in time. I scan the crowds of people.

What was it that led me here? What has made me so careless that I walk straight into a trap and ultimately die? Maybe it was the hope that I could help others like me. Save them. Protect them.

But now it would be all over in a millisecond. All I can think of is how I’ve failed. All I can hear are the screams. All I can see is a masked figure striding towards me. All I can taste is the blood in my mouth, my cut must’ve opened again. All I can feel is the unmistakable feeling of fear. All I can smell is the stench of Death.

They have finally caught up to me. I see the figure’s scary white and blood red smile. The smile that has been haunting my dreams. He pulls the trigger and I fall. Fall to the hard gray pavement. The sun shines mercilessly down on me.

My life flashes before me in painful bursts of colour. A boy’s playful smile, my mother’s tired, kind eyes. My father yelling at me. The tears I cried a year ago when my love was murdered in front of me. I have lived a life full of fear, hatred and anger.

But no more. A smile plays across my lips as a white light begins to engulf me. In a way, I have won.

One move and it’s over.

All he’s done is move.

Run, climbed, swam, hiked, you name it.

He’s tired of running now.

He opens his arms inviting the bullet, but instead he’s swarmed by a group of armed militia and tackled to the ground.

Tears run down his face as he looks up to the sky for forgiveness.

But there are some crimes even Mother Nature cannot forgive.