An Eye For An Eye

There I was...

Overpowered with emotions. The feelings of pain, hurt and regret creeping up on me like a predator right before the fatal attack. Have you ever felt so helpless that everything began to move at an excruciatingly slow pace? That everything, even the world around you, was frozen? Have you ever felt so drowned within your own miseries and dejection that, at times, you just wished to be swept away by the tormenting tides that crashed hard against your brain? Have you ever felt trapped? Have you ever felt alone in a crowded room?

Well I have.

The sweet chirping of the birds fell to a deathly silent. The air pushed at my body, driving me closer to the edge. When I looked in the mirror, I no longer saw the girl that I used to be. My emerald green eyes, once soft and sparkling with excitement, have become nothing more than lustreless shadows, icy and tired from the years of suffering. The smile that once was fixed to my face -disappeared- lost in the past where everything was so much simpler. In fact, if I didn't stare hard at the lonely girl fighting at the glass (desperate to escape) then I'd probably wouldn't have recognised myself. This monster that I saw is what I had become.

Disgusted at my reflection, I turned away. The wind was taunting at me to "give up?" The pounding response of my heart resonated in my hollow head as the darkness within me emerged to the surface. The stench of sweat mixed with the sickly smell of wood on fire, burned my nose. Every waking moment of my existence, I had been reminded of how I was a mistake, how I shouldn't even be here. How life would be better without me.

"You're pathetic!"

"Why don't you just kill yourself?"

"You're a waste of space!"

Their words had cut deep into my skin, leaving scars that would never seem to fade. I tried to ignore them, forget their spiteful words. Yet, despite my efforts, I couldn't seem to shake their haunting words. I could not help but believe them. I just wished they would have attacked me. I mean, the bashing from their fists would have been much better than the mental torture I went through every day. I was not able to free myself from the prison that my mind had been locked in. I was trapped in a dark dungeon where no one could hear my muffled screams. I desperately craved for someone to save me from my head, my own thoughts. Every day I plastered on a smile, pretending everything was okay. Telling myself; that this was what life is about.

"Just hide behind the laughter and smile through the pain." That's what he always said.

I miss him.

I... I just wished it didn't have to come down to this. I hoped I didn't have to do what I did. I just wished they could've ended my pathetic excuse for a life sooner, when they had the chance. Now it is too late to undo past mistakes.

I glanced down at my hand, lost in a sea of red. I glared at the metal gun. The trigger felt oddly comfortable in my hands. The sunlight bounced off the metal of the gun, hypnotising me in its murderous whispers. I could feel the power surging into me.

I don't expect you to understand. The rush, the exhilaration. The adrenaline coursing through your veins when you look deep into their pleading eyes. That thrilling moment between the hunter and the victim, seeing them realize the true extent of your power. Watching them plead and beg for their life. I can easily spare their life. Let them return to their family, to their friends. Let them live for another day.

But, to kill them...

Well, that is just something different. I'd be stealing their life, taking their breath away. Removing their existence from this world and all that with a click of a gun. To have such control is empowering.

This was power.

I snapped back. There I was, surrounded by my tormentors. All of them scattered on the floor like a scene after a battle. The vacant look in their judgmental eyes, staring into the distance. Their faces, full of horror. Afraid of what I had become. What they had drove me to do. Rotting corpses; the clean air tainted with its horrible stench. Their lifeless bodies were lying there. The blood surrounding the holes the bullets -my bullets- made had turned from red to black. It's funny how a bullet can float through the air, piercing anything without consideration. How a single shell can steal a life. Leaving nothing behind. I had observed their chest slowly flutter up and down until it stopped. The wheezing sound which escaped their lips ended. The universe was mourning their deaths whilst leaving me drenched, head to toe.

You'd probably think that I was twisted if I told you that I have no remorse. To be honest, I'm glad that I shot them. I'm glad that I watched them die.

"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth..." Isn't that what the bible says?

Well, for all the times that I died inside and for every hurtful word which stalked my brain. Their life would pay the price.

This was my revenge...

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Hey guys, so this was a short story I wrote years ago for English. I thought I'd share it with you all. I'd love to know what you think of this short story so leave a comment or vote or share. I hope you enjoyed it! Thank you for reading. - R x