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[i]“Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster... for when you gaze long into the abyss. The abyss gazes also into you.”- ― Friedrich Nietzsche[/i]

The city shook. Streets were crammed with people and cars, all bunched together in a claustrophobic mess. The frantic voices of the confused all tangled together, becoming one worried shrike that drifted throughout every walkway and back alley. 

Chessa and Kyle scurried along a pavement, trying their best to keep out of the way of the disorderly mob of people that jumbled on by. No passer-by had drawn any attention to the fact that Kyle was holding a shotgun, which did little to calm Chessa’s nerves. 

Up ahead a bedraggled looking man, garbed scruffily, was trying desperately to get the attention of anyone who was willing to listen, but so far his attempts were proving to be unfruitful. Kyle tried his best to pass unnoticed, but the man caught his eye, and came bounding over to the both of them. 

“Please, you gotta help me, man!” He shrieked “My girl’s giving birth and I can’t get through to the hospital.” He waved a blackberry hysterically in Kyle’s face, the phone displaying the same message that they’d become accustomed to seeing these past few minutes. 

“I’m sorry, but we can’t help you.” Kyle bowed his head and tried to move on by, but the man frantically grabbed at his collar, pulling him tightly towards him. 

“I’m beggin’ you, man!” There was a shaky quality to his voice now, as though he were about to cry. 

“There’s really nothing we can do for you.” Kyle said firmly. Chessa could see his muscles tensing. 

“You can’t just leave me like this, man!” He cried, getting right up in Kyle’s face. 

“I’m sorry, but this really isn’t our problem.” Kyle barged passed him, gesturing for Chessa to follow him. 

However, the man persisted, rushing after them both, and tightly grabbing hold of Kyle’s shoulder. 

“Please, man-“ 

“Get the fuck off of me!” barked Kyle, giving the man a sharp shove, sending him sprawling backwards onto the pavement. 

A few passers-by turned to look at them, but otherwise they remained generally unnoticed by the confused mob. 

The man scrambled back onto his feet, staring daggers at the both of them. “What the fuck sort of shitty people are you?!” He demanded, pulling himself up to his full height. 

“The kind who are gunna make your life really fucking brief if you don’t get out of our faces.” Chessa said, out of nowhere, calling on a confidence she didn’t know that she had inside her. 

The man looked stunned, but then he took a sudden lunge at her, something hysterical and rabid flashing in his eyes. 

[i]kiLL[/i] 

Before he could reach her, she snatched the shotgun out of Kyle’s hands, and blew a gapping whole straight through his chest, his body erupting in a fantastical spray of dark red. He fell to the floor in a crumpled heap, a bloody stain on the ground. 

[b]”SHE FUCKING SHOT HIM!”[/b] People were certainly taking noticed of them now, screaming and rushing about the place. The mob quickly dispersed, panic-stricken onlookers rushing off in this way and that, leaving Chessa and Kyle alone on the pavement. 

She turned to face her brother, stunned by her own actions. 

“I’m so sorry, I don’t know what-“He raised a hand to her lip, silencing her. 

“Better him than us.” He stated, matter-of-factly. 

Kyle took the gun back from her, and they continued on their journey.