3rd Blog - Now I am a professional.

So there I was, crouched low and waiting. Straining to control my breathing and slow my beating heart so that I could better hear the darkened world around. I knew my prey was elusive and I also knew he was close...very close.

Suddenly there was the snap of a dry branch, and the ravens above took wing, startled. I brought forth all of my focus, straining to hear once more the movement of my prey.

Somewhere in the darkness, I could sense him, moving like a shadow across a darkened plain...
This was going to be the end for one of us, our pattern of hunter and hunted would soon be concluded, with only one leaving intact.

Then, impact.

My shoulder felt numb as I flew through the air. He had snuck up behind me, and using the traditional croque-mallet-of-war had dealt me a vicious blow.

I hit the ground, tried to roll, but my shoulder could not support me. The pain promised in the deadly swift attack finally came through my deadened nerves, and I tasted death...

It tasted like chipotle.

Time slowed as I finally caught site of...him. Coming towards me, seemingly unconcerned as if the battle had already been concluded. I raised my one good arm, and slowly regained my feet.

Eyes locked...they say the eyes are the windows to the soul, well let me tell you, some mutherfucker had slashed his window screen, and climbed right in. His soul was laid bare, and I knew absolute horror.

His fingers twitched, and started to play a syncopated rhythm upon the shaft of his mallet...4/4, 3/4, 7/8...the bastard was trying to confuse me...trying to break me...

I could not let this happen. We began to circle each other, looking for a hole, a gap, in each others defenses, trying to create a mistake that would bring quick death. No aggressive movements were made, we both knew that to commit was to bring the end..

And then he spoke...

"Now is not the final time."

And then he was gone.