Checkmate

Her

I make my way to the roof. Slowly. Mechanically.
I don't feel the steps or my weight on my feet.

I make my way to the roof. Slowly. Mechanically.
I think this way over and over again my mind narrating my actions.

I reach the roof and plant my feet taking a deep breathe. I look around and see nothing no one. Not possible I tell myself, maybe he's gone I think but she doesn't let me think that way.

It was a very close shot so it was from a very big gun with great precision. That would be heavy and hard to disassemble in the time it took me to get up there.

I hear the click and the zipper of a bag. I run towards it, the sound ripping through my eardrums.

I see him just standing from the ground, a clear shot to the throne room from where he stood.

He doesn't look like much, a young man maybe 20. His built is strong but he turns and runs when he sees me.

I break into a sprint behind him, running faster and faster while keeping my breath steady.
I tackle him and our body wrestle, toppling off the roof. We fall from one part of the roof to a ledge on the side and then finally onto the ground below us.

I turn our bodies and fall on him, cracking noises filling the air.

"Please please don't hurt me!" He puts his hands to his face but doesn't bother trying to get up.

I bring my foot down hard onto his rib case, I press down and hear a crack. He groans in pain and tries to move my foot away..no luck.

"Please I was only doing what they told me too!" Perfect exactly what I wanted to know.

I bring the gun up to his head and click off the safety. My palms sweat a bit and I feel nervous. I haven't done this in a while but that isn't what's keeping me from shooting him. It's Alessandro. His idea of me.

He cries and begs me to give him mercy, part me wants to let him go to find out where his friends are but she wants to pull the trigger.

She wants to kill him. Now.
I bring the gun down and shoot just missing his right knee.

He howls in pain and I can see people rushing outside. Michael stands at the front a worried look on his face. He looks down at my victim and relief fills his face.

"Take him away. Heal the wound. I'll need to have a talk with this one later" I demand from the crowd and watch two men in dark suits, each holding a small hand gun, grabs him by the arm and drags him inside.

I click the safety back on and hand Luke the gun back hilt first. He takes it and practically kisses it.

I feel an arm on my shoulder and turn to see Michael that same expression of worry and relief on his face.

"He's in surgery, I though you might want to know" I shake my head.

I would do what I always did when people I cared about got hurt. I turned it off, the noise the panic everything.

She comes back again and this time I let her.
"Thanks Michael see to it he's treated well" I gulp down my anxiety and turn away walking towards the gate.

"No don't do this Madeline!" Michael runs to catch up with me and walks backwards.

"Michael I can't! I need to let her!" I shake my head. I've stopped walking now but he stands in front of me ready to sprint.

"Madeline just go see him please..you can't let her win" he pauses waiting for a reaction but I don't give any. "You're all he has left"

At that I fall to the ground and hug my knees up to my chest. I burry my face in them, tears threatening to spill again.