A Lesson in Mortality

 

As the shots rang out amidst the cold, damp air, all I could do was gasp for breath. Cling to what little my lungs could hold, with what little strength they still contained. My crimson essence drip-drip-dripped onto the stark tile, a blemish upon the pure and perfect porcelain.

A stain to be wiped away, like me.

It was the first night I ever saw the stars. I mean, I had glanced before. Saw twinkles faintly in the distance. But this was the first time I really, truly saw their beauty. On these cold, wet tiles as my blood seeped between the cracks. He was closer now, but it didn't matter. Not then. Not now. He held a chill in his gaze, eyes weighing down on me like anvils, finger curled around the trigger. I needed to run.

As my challenged, desperate breaths grew more ragged, my vision more blurred, my thoughts seemed to only become clearer. My legs moved on autopilot, shots whizzing past my ear and my thigh and my chest and fuck,that one grazed my leg. My body kept fighting, but inside I knew this was the end, and there was no stopping it. Death was fast approaching.

I slid into an alley, but not quickly enough. He tailed me. Never ran. Just a leisurely stroll to him, wasn't it? Just another job. Just another head.

I got myself up, wincing as the pain of my injured leg travelled up my side. I stumbled, and the moment my hand had slammed into a tin container, a bullet severed a finger.

Stupid mistake.

Not like the movies. I didn't get to tell someone to get closer, so I could impart some kind of final wisdom on them. No grand standoff. Just a stupid, stupid mistake. Death was fast approaching.

Another through the stomach. 

And the shoulder.

I was practically gurgling my own blood by then. I took the opportunity to spit some of it onto the bastard's boot. He broke my foot for that. 

He raised his hand, the slide of the gun clicking as it came back, taking aim.

One more click, and then a boom.

Death was fast approaching.