CROSSHAIRS || Book One

CROSSHAIRS || Chapter One

The sounds of gunshots littered the air as I took aim at the monster lurking in the shadows below me. This creature shot out of the way of my bullets as I dodged it's counterattack of shadow magic blasts.

"Damn!" I exclaimed as I dodged yet another attack. I quickly ducked behind a brick wall and reloaded my rifle. As I turned back around to take aim at the shade, the crosshairs symbol appeared and I used the magic to lock onto my target and shoot. With a bang the shade turned into a sort of dust and faded away on the wind. I stood up and whipped away the sweat on my forehead and turned to jump down from my perch on the roof of a tall brick building.

My dark colored hair blew in the wind behind me, but, was mostly masked by the darkness of the night. I stared ahead and put my night vision glasses on as I walked along the roof of a shorter building. I kept my senses peaked as I moved down the roofs. Listening and watching carefully in case of an attack by a shade or even some other type of monster. Knowing very well that they are more likely to appear at night as they lurk under the cover of darkness. The cities of Cressa are different at night with no one on the streets, on their porches, or in their yards. Basically, there's nobody outside after the sunsets as many know that to be out is basically a death wish.

"I wonder why shades are so few in this town," I muttered to myself as I stopped at the edge of the rooftop, staring out at the cemetery that was just beyond a very old wrought iron fence and gate. In truth I wasn't sure what shades exactly are - well, besides bloodthirsty and monstrous murderers. But, where they came from and what they are is a mystery to me. Yet, I'll continue to hunt down and kill them - there's no way that any of them that I come across will remain alive, err, or at least remain existing in this world.

"Hah!" I let out a sudden and short laugh as I realized that I was talking to myself yet again. I turned my back to the cemetery and left for another rooftop across from these so I could head in a different direction before continuing my personal yet aloud conversation to myself.

"Why is that such a common occurrence for me when I am out on the hunt?"  Yet no one answered and no one will - I always hunted alone and that wouldn't change. I kept walking around the village, occasionally shooting down Shades when I come across them, but most of the night remained dull and even a little bit boring. Eventually the sun was starting to rise and I knew I had to get ready for school. And it happened to be my last year in high school, I knew I needed to get good grades.

Yet every night I still headed out to hunt down shades - something else that won't change. I climbed into my bedroom through my open window and dressed up into my uniform before grabbing my school bag and heading down for breakfast. My aunt stood at the stove with some bacon and eggs being cooked as my uncle sat at the dining room table sipping a cup of coffee and reading the newspaper. I let out a sigh and went over to give my aunt a hug good morning and grab my play of food.

"Still being old fashion  eh uncle Apollo?" I said as sat down next to him in my seat and began eating. Without even looking up from his newspaper, he gave me a grunt and continued on reading. I shook my head slightly and finished my food before heading over to the front door. Slipping on my shoes, I picked up my school bag, and then turned over to my aunt and uncle.

"I'm off to school!" I called out with a slight wave before putting my hand on the door handle and calling back. "See ya later!"

As I ran down the streets on my way to school, I couldn't help but feel a little nervousness as I had a sneaking feeling that something is going to happen to me soon - something that is going to be life changing. But, I had no real reason to feel like that, so I tried to just shrug it off. About halfway down my block I ran into one of my friends, Cassiopeia Nova, she gave me a smile and came up to run beside me.

"Hey Astra!" She said cheerfully as she kept up my quick pace. I gave her smile back and greeted her as well. We walked for a while before we reached the bus station. It was then that we parted ways as she had boarding school and I go to public school, so she headed to her school's private bus and I hopped on the city bus. As her bus pulled away, I noticed her waving at me as they drove by. I gave a wave back and then proceeded to board my bus. I sat down in an empty seat and settled in for the ride to the closest bus stop to my school.

I stared out of the window as the bus pulled down the street and as I passed by a dark alleyway, a pair of red glowing eyes caught my attention and I instantly knew what it was.

"Dammit!" I exclaimed loudly which alarmed the boy sitting next to me. I immediately shot him a glance before looking back out the window at the alley and I noticed that red eyes had disappeared from my view. I felt a feeling of dread and even a little fear as I stared out the window in complete disbelief. A single thought crossed my mind as I turned to stare at my lap instead of the window.

"What the hell is a shade doing out this early?!"