A killer's conscience....

[Rajeev Singh]

With his one eye watching the movement of his quarry through the magnified vision of the telescopic sight - mounted on his heavy sniper-rifle - his mind was not as focused as a killer's should have been.

The would-be victim, a middle-aged man, who walked at a leisurely gait with a young daughter seemed to be a target too tame for an assassin of his caliber.

The man's caring hand on the girl's shoulder, her jolly facial expression and the innocent tranquility in the air formed an idyllic setting which he, a murderous spoilsport, was about to interrupt with a fatal  movement of his trigger-finger.

Remorse had never bothered him ever before but the present scenario had brought back some old memories that he had buried along with his humanity.

He was  a widower whose only daughter, of about the same age as the girl in question, had been brutally violated and dumped in a deserted street, already a corpse, to leave him alone, uncared-for and seething with a rage that was directed against whole mankind.

His mentor had realized his potential and had taught him to channelize and mould his rage to become an assassin par excellence ; an assassin whose fingers had now turned to butter as he watched the duo get inside the safety of their house, leaving him deprived of his murderous instinct but having gained a fragment of his long-lost humanity.

[Rajeev Singh]

People have buoyed my spirits. I will certainly continue with the story.

[Joey Delgado]

Great story. Needs more. I'm with Kristine on this one. Delving into the psyche is an admirable undertaking, but you have the skill to pull it off. Contine with this story, i implore.

[Rajeev Singh]

Thanks for the appreciation Kristine.

[Kristine_ES]

i hope you continue writing this piece. sometimes we lose the larger emotion of the piece when it's compressed into six.   excellent story.

[Rajeev Singh]

I wanted to continue writing this piece to bring out his anguish in a more detailed way but was cut short by the limit of six sentences.

[Jadie Jones]

i loved this detail: his mind was not as focused as a killer's should have been. you kept me guessing as to what decision your character was going to make. i am relieved at his choice. well done.

[Ron. Lavalette]

That's it; he's done, I think.  Once you decide not to fire the first time, you' re pretty much finished.  Good for him.