Hunter and Prey

Inside the room, I quickly searched for the switches. They were quite visible, a fact I couldn't ignore since this room served as the control center for monitoring the house. In front of me, a display of screens showed every corner of the place, every nook where I could find myself. The cameras, equipped with night vision, allowed me to observe everything happening in the darkness. The second floor was empty, but the echo of footsteps resonated on the stairs; five of them were coming up, their voices barely whispers in the gloom.

On the first floor, the situation was more alarming. Twelve people were distributed in different areas, each armed: some wielded rusty axes, others held shiny machetes that reflected the scant light entering through the windows, and a few carried pistols and shotguns, their gazes filled with a mix of determination and anxiety. However, there was something that made them vulnerable; they lacked protection, not wearing bulletproof vests, which showed they still didn't grasp the gravity of what they were facing. They were just teenagers, caught in a game that overwhelmed them.

As for me, my clothes were strangely durable. I didn't know how this outfit was created or what material it was made of, but when I tested its resistance with a small knife, I discovered it functioned like a bulletproof vest. The blade hadn't left a single mark, which was both a relief and a concern. I wondered where this garment had come from and whether it would provide the protection I needed in the imminent confrontation.

Suddenly, as I turned off the switch, the lights went out, plunging the room into complete darkness. The silence was deafening, interrupted only by the sound of my own heartbeat, which resonated like a drum in my ears. The real hunt had begun. With my weapon in hand, I stepped out of the room, feeling a mix of adrenaline and fear coursing through my veins. I knew I had to be quick and precise; I couldn't afford to hesitate.

Peeking out, I watched as the five boys approached, their shadows dancing on the walls. Two of them carried pistols, a third held an axe that seemed heavier than his body, and the other two wielded metal bats, ready to strike. Their faces were masks of determination, but behind that facade, I could see the fear they were trying to hide. It was the same fear I felt, but I knew I couldn't let it take over.

Taking a deep breath, I prepared to act. The tension in the air was palpable, an invisible thread that connected us in this deadly game. Every second felt like an eternity, and in my mind, the scenarios unfolded like a chessboard. I had to anticipate their movements, take advantage of their inexperience. They were hunters, but at that moment, I was the predator.

..

The darkness was my ally. With one last look over the threshold, I held my breath, every muscle in my body tense and ready. The footsteps of the five boys echoed closer, and the eerie silence turned into a drumming that pulsed in my ears. With adrenaline pumping through my veins, I stealthily moved toward the hallway, each step measured, every beat of my heart a reminder of what was at stake.

Peering cautiously, I saw their silhouettes outlined by the dim light filtering through the window. Two of them were checking their pistols, their faces displaying a mix of arrogance and a glimmer of fear. The boy with the axe nervously shifted his weapon, while the other two debated their strategy. They thought they were stronger, but in that moment, they were simply prey.

—I have to be quick—I thought, feeling the tension building in my chest.

With a fluid movement, I took my weapon. The grip felt familiar, a comfort amid the chaos. In an instant, I emerged from the shadows like a specter, determined to turn the darkness into my most powerful weapon.

—Hey!— shouted one of the boys, his surprise echoing in the air. —There he is!

Chaos erupted in an instant. I aimed and shot. The bullet sliced through the air, hitting one of the boys with the pistol in the shoulder. His agonizing scream resonated, a sound that froze my blood as he fell to the ground. I had no time to feel compassion; I had to move on.

Not giving them a chance to react, I quickly moved to the right. The boy with the axe, still stunned by the impact, turned toward me, but I was already in his face. With a swift motion, I disarmed him and pushed him back. The arrogant smile he had faded instantly.

—You're not fast enough—I murmured, feeling the adrenaline surge through every fiber of my being.

A second boy, now armed with a metal bat, swung a blow at me. I ducked at the last second, feeling the bat's breeze as it passed by, a whisper of death reminding me what was at stake. Without losing momentum, I rose and counterattacked, using the butt of my weapon to strike his side.

As he fell, I didn't hesitate. I quickly turned to the boy still standing, and with a precise movement, I shot again. The bullet pierced his chest, and the silence that followed was almost deafening. The dull thud of his body hitting the ground echoed like a bitter victory.

The boy with the axe tried to recover his weapon, but there was no turning back. With a fluid motion, I kicked his knee, making him fall. Without hesitation, I aimed and shot. Blood splattered the wall as his scream choked, an image that would be etched in my mind. They were just teenagers, but in that moment, I had to be the hunter.

The remaining two boys, terrified, looked around, searching for an escape. One of them tried to run toward the door, but I wouldn't allow it. I quickly assessed the situation. I moved forward, shooting without hesitation. The bullet struck the back of the one trying to escape. His body collapsed in the threshold, the last light of hope extinguished with him.

Only one was left. The last boy, petrified and trembling, clung to his bat as if his life depended on it. I could see the terror in his eyes, a vulnerability that I could barely recognize amid the storm raging within me. However, I couldn't hesitate. The hunt had begun, and I had to end it.

—What are you going to do, kid?— I murmured, slowly approaching.

The boy swallowed hard, his eyes filled with panic. He tried to back away, but the cold wall behind him reminded him that there was no escape. He raised the bat, trembling.

—No... I don't want to fight...— his voice cracked, but I couldn't give in.

With a swift motion, I snatched the bat from his hands and, without thinking, swung it. The blunt force of the impact on his face resonated in the room, and he fell to the ground, unconscious. However, that wasn't enough. I had to finish this.

I aimed directly at his head, feeling cold sweat running down my forehead. One last whisper, a moment of doubt, and I pulled the trigger. The explosion of the shot resonated, and his body jerked before lying still on the ground.

The darkness grew denser, and the silence that followed was almost deafening. I had annihilated the five, but deep down, I knew there would be a price to pay for this hunt. The echo of their screams joined the pounding of my heart, a dark melody that would follow me wherever I went.

I stood there, drenched in the heavy atmosphere of victory and guilt, knowing this was just the first of many battles in the war that awaited me.