Catch-22: To Die Is To Live Hard

THE WORLD seems to be a better place to live in, but who is she kidding anyway? The world was silly for her to be able to survive. Consequently, some people, preferred to be called Scientist, has their own explanation about this. Even those great philosophers whose minds are too confused and curious about this world. A suitable example was the late yet still famous Herbert Spencer who once concluded – Survival of the Fittest – whereas the world act as the game board and human are the players.

            The world is just a big mess, just like this place. The edifice was deserted over a hundred years yet it was highly constructed due to its price which is worth a billion dollars - it shows the literal connotation of the expression "old but gold". Many investors and business capitalists tend to bid over this establishment. People, nowadays, kept on purchasing possessions. But why? To prove to others that they were wealthy enough? To ascertain and smash others’ faces that they can buy more properties than the latter? Oh, how stupid these people are!

            Her mission is just straightforward - to end those individuals who were voracious enough to rule this place - to own it - to include this place as one of their possessions. To think that there is no one and nothing is more influential than the damn and sinful funds they had - these people are ready to take crapshoots, to be a money's puppet - to be insatiable. But boy, they got it wrong. All wrong, Baby.

            There is one thing that is more powerful than their money - and that is her rifle. She’s been entangled in this frolicking, which happened to be her favorite one. It keeps her away from certitude and tends to concentrate on one thing; to eradicate.

            Preparing to take aim and reload; wearing hand gloves was first on the list, next was her favorite; the goggles - which she used to improve her vision more specifically at night. Then the last one was her rifle, used to aim with precision. Her procedure is uncomplicated, yet, she gives it ample time to familiarize herself - that's how she perfects her assignment.

            Positioning the rifle on its stand and focused on someone – the main target. Waiting for the cue, though she won't really need it, to aim. The target was wearing the usual attire of those so-called businessmen, a corporate attire. A white long sleeves top with a black tuxedo, and a black slack. And oh, do not forget the shiny black pair of shoes. Jeez, they’re all freaking me out. What an eyesore! She thought to herself while heaving a deep sigh.

            Nonchalantly waiting for the signal, a woman wearing the same attire as those businesswomen do, and her focus was cut off. So, this was the signal huh? She sneered as she shrugged.

            With an eye on the rifle’s scope, she follow every movement that the newly arrived woman was doing. Her hands were on the target’s arm, wrapped in it just like a snake. They were talking and smiling sweetly, making her grimace.  This is how the game starts.

            The woman looks directly at the sniper as if she can even see the sniper from where she was standing. Knowing that the sniper - whose position's quite distant -  can see her - the woman in corporate attire winks; which the sniper has seen through the scope of her rifle. Prepared to do her mission, the sniper placed her finger on the rifle’s trigger, and without a couple of seconds, the sniper aimed to fire.

            And without a blink, the main target was laying down with oozing blood from his head. Mission completed!

            As the sniper pinnacled her mission, she hastily got out of the establishment before the huge commotion build up. She abruptly drive her big bike, having her rifle inside its bag which was placed on her back. It became a habit; after doing a mission, she usually visits a coffee shop to wait for the breaking news and to take a sip on her favorite brewed coffee.

            Sitting on a not-so-far corner of the coffee shop, with freshly brewed coffee and a newly released newspaper, her attention was interrupted by the ting-ting-ting sound of the bell outside the shop’s door, a sign that someone was entering or going out. Soon enough, a familiar figure of a woman was walking in her direction, beaming. It was the lady earlier in that establishment. Smiling widely as she look at the sniper sternly and seated in front of the sniper. While the sniper, in her usual mood, just gave her a bored and evidently uninterested look.

            “Well done,” the woman said. Her smile never vanished as she kept her eyes on the sniper’s face.

            “Same to you,” the sniper responded, concentrating on the LED television. A smirk formed on the sniper’s lips as she hardly listen to the breaking news.

            It says that the most influential businessman was killed by an unrecognized sniper. The sensitive video appeared on the left corner of the television on how the said businessman died. The sniper chuckled.

            “Wow. So now, you are an unknown sniper. Fantastic!” snapped the woman in front of her; clapping her hands.

            “Cut it out, Ms. Grey,” she said. “I’d be going now. Tell your boss to send me the whole amount in my bank account. And do give this to your boss,” she, the sniper, gave an envelope to the latter. Inside it was a resignation letter for this will be her very last mission being and working as a sniper.

            “D'you really need to resign? I mean, you can always take leave if you want to,” the woman in corporate attire suggested. But the sniper was firm and proper to her decision-making.

            The sniper harshly respire as she growled like a wolf and cuss underneath her lungs, “Yes, I do need to quit. And please, just please, inform your boss not to include you in this kind of mission ever again. It was too dangerous,” sniper exclaim out, fuming mad as she looks at her straight from those green eyes.

            “Then stay. Don’t leave me alone in this world; in this mission,” the green-eyed lady beseeched the sniper, reaching out to her hands.

            “I need to, Ms. Grey. Someone needs me. I need to live my life anew,” The sniper named Blanche responded as she remove the lady's hand from hers. She need to leave her profession as it was a promise that needed to be granted by the sniper. She swore to herself that this mission would be the last.

            “But I also need you, Blanche. I need you,” she said. Holding the envelope tightly causing it to be crumpled, eyes are teary.

            “Aerith,” the sniper sighed. “You’re old enough to take good care of yourself. Just make sure you don’t get in any trouble or else, I’ll force you to leave this kind of job. Mark it,” she added in a calm yet full of authority voice.

            “Couldn’t I make you change your mind? I’m afraid I can’t do this on my own,” Aerith was insistent yet she couldn’t do anything about the sniper’s decision. She has to live her own life. No, she does not have to but she needs to.

            “There. There. Make me proud. You existed without me in your life then you can live without me in your life also, Aerith.” A tap on Aerith's shoulder was given to her by the sniper. “Just convey to your boss not to put everything up on your shoulder cause if he do, I will be the one who will kill him,” as the sniper spilled those words, she acted as if she was shooting something while her hand was formed like a gun.

            The girl named Aerith chuckled as she stared at the latter, “As if you can do it to my Dad. Remember, you’ve still worked for him,” she said, smirking triumphantly.

            Blanche rolled her eyes and heave a deep sigh. “Alright, alright. I won’t kill your Dad, just promise me to---”

            “Take care of myself, alright. You should go, she must be waiting for you all along. And please regard me to her,” she said cutting off Blanche as she smiled sadly.

            She smile but her smile didn’t even reach her own eyes, it was like she was just faking it. Blanche gather her things and stood up, “I’m sorry if I need to leave you all alone this time, Aerith. Remember that I've always loved you.” Sniper murmured as she walk near Aerith and kiss her on her forehead.

            “Enough of this drama. C’mon, let’s leave this place together.” Aerith headed fast to the shop’s door. The sniper just shrugged and was about to walk but her full attention was diverted to her phone that is currently ringing.

            Hurriedly, she answered the phone call as she saw the caller ID that flashed on the screen. As soon as she placed the phone on her ears, a loud explosion and continuous sound of a firing gun was the only thing that she could hear.

            “Blanche, help me!” a low yet squeaking voice said on the other line followed by several gunshots.

SWEAT was all over her face once the call has ended, she can even feel her face turn pale, it was as if she had joined a marathon. Droplets of sweat were making their way down to her cheeks from her forehead. The feeling of uneasiness started to bolt in - heartbeat started to echo as nervousness kicked in her system.

            “Blanche, what makes you--- wait, what happened to you?” shocked and concerned look was plastered on Aerith’s face. She was confused and at the same time, concerned with Blanche.

            The latter explained what happened. Aerith insisted to come with the sniper. Blanche never had the opportunity to refuse the offer because she knew clearly that she badly need a helping hand - and Aerith will be a big help in this kind of situation.

            “Whoever messed up with me should be killed by me,” Blanche said, determination was written on her face as she set up her revolver and pistol. Not bothered by her surrounding, she continue was she was doing, until Aerith interrupted her.

            “Guess that destiny didn’t want you to live your life anew, Blanche. Welcome back!” She kid, however, Blanche did not even answer back as she was already preoccupied with preparing her belongings.

           "Take your car with you, Aerith," Blanche commanded. "This might be a bloody battle," she added, igniting her bike's engine.

           Seeing Blanche exhibits her unusual dark aura, Aerith did not bother to argue but instead, she just nodded and inform the latter that she'll be following her.

           "For Pete's sake, keep that person safe," Blanche repeatedly whisper to herself as she wore her full-faced helmet and positioned herself on her bike. She revolved her throttle several times and was discharged on her way as fast as she can for her to arrive at their destination at the right time.

           Blanche keeps her focus on her way, totally not minding if she exceeds the speed limit - in which she thinks that she can deal it later, what is important right at this moment is for her to arrive as fast as she can on that location. There's no time to waste, if she wants that person safe, she needs to be there, on time!

           "Blanche, slow down!" She heard Aerith shout on her earpiece, she look at her back abruptly and return her attention in front. "We need to be there in time, Aerith! I don't need to slow down, any minute that we waste on driving, feels like a minute of hell inside!" she angst, and revolve her throttle even more. Now she's driving almost a couple of hundred kilometers per hour.

           "Look out!" Aerith shrieked on the other line, as Blanche almost hit the construction signs in the entrance of the bridge that they're supposed to drive to. Luckily, Blanche, had herself composed enough to reeve her bike abruptly and make her way towards the arches not minding the danger waiting for her once she lost counterweight on her bike. 

           While making her way down to the arches that she drove in back to the road, Blanche detects some tiny oscillating currents on her radio communication device attached to her helmet. "Alpha 01, Alpha 01, this is Bravo 01, what's your twenty? Over."