Follow Your Target

ReAnna Pierce

(glass shatters on the hardwood floor)

“Hello?!”

(Silence)

“Is someone there?!”

(Shifting squeak of wooden boards)

Anna quickly darts for her bed, dives to the floor, and lifts the bed skirt. She reaches into the abys of darkness under the bed. The cool metal brushes her fingertips, she tightly grasps the item and removes it from its resting place.

Anna charges the weapon, (chick chick)

 

Confidence floods her body, her training begins to tighten her muscles, she readies her stance against the wall that braces the doorway. From this angle she can view movements down the narrow hallway. She decides to give a final warning.

“GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!!”

The deafening silence resonates from the darkness of the hallway. 

***

“Daddy, please can we go home now? I’m cold.” Little Anna pleads.

“I know baby, but this is important. You must focus, don’t let the cold distract you. Now…Aim.”

Anna shivers as she leans over the log, the sleeves of her puffy white coat indent the fresh powder of the snow that blankets their cover. Her nose runs parallel to the barrel of the rifle and she stares down the shaft through the tiny iron circle, prepared to line the tiny post with the breast of the buck.

Patients…breath… the faint plumes of breath expel from her lips.

“Here we go Anna…”

A strong broad rack appears from the tree line, followed by a black nose and sandy brown fur. Cautiously he scans the clearing; Anna quietly holds her position; his stride is confident as he slowly brings himself out from behind the brush. His hooves leaving impressions in the fresh powdery snow, with every pulse of his chest the small smoke-like clouds leave his nostrils.

“Follow your target.”

Anna carefully guides the site, keeping focus on his chest; soft brown fur, lightly dusted by the fallen snow. She takes in a single breath as he approaches full exposure. 

(Click) 

The bullet passes through the suppressor (chew), the bullet pierces his body and is startled. He darts back into the brush in attempt to flee.

“Very good.” Her father says with pride. “Now let’s go make sure he isn’t suffering.”

 Anna’s father instructs her to leave her weapon and only takes a large knife. The steel glistens in the sun as he loosens it from the sheath and returns it to his belt side. The set out in the direction of the buck’s tracks, well impressed in the fresh snow. Miscellaneous sized droplets of crimson leave their indentation along the track. It isn’t long before they reach the deer. His body had slowly weakened till he collapsed too the frozen earth. His breathing was exasperated, and his eyes were full of terror upon our arrival. Anna and her father moved cautiously towards their kill; they did their best not to torment the injured animal. Anna’s father knelt along the animal’s spine, and motioned Anna to join him.

Anna’s immediate instinct was to reach out; his pelt was rugged but soft to the touch, her hand rose up and down with is breathing, heartbeat was fast and labored.

“We need to help him Anna.” Her father states.

He removes the large blade from its holster and holds it to Anna’s hands. Her pulse begins to quicken with the rhythm of the deer’s. Lifting her hand from the deer’s body she takes hold of the rubberized handle. 

“Where do I…” she asks.

“Here baby, I’ll show you.”

Her father notices her struggling and aids her by cupping his hands around her grip and thrusts the glistening metal into the deer. The breathing stops, and the eyes lose their fear; Anna and her father remove the knife and set it beside them in the snow. 

“You did a great job Anna. I am so very proud of you.”

Anna smiles at her father, joy filled tears begin to pool at the base of her eyes. She embraces her father as they set along side her first kill. The winter wind stings their faces and the snow begins to melt beneath them; but they do not stir, just a few more moments in this beautiful memory between a father and a daughter. 

***

Anna’s eyes remain transfixed on the dark hallow of the hall, waiting for the slightest shift in the darkness. Her stomach begins to ache with wonder and fear of the unknown and decides to investigate the lower level of the home. Perhaps the intruder headed her demand. Cautiously she begins down the hallway, scanning and clearing her path. As she rounds the banister of the staircase, she notices the reflection of moonlight on the hardwood floor. Warning her that her front door is in fact open to the elements. The brisk winter air brushes her feet as she descends the carpeted steps. Her senses are enflamed, fear almost gets the better of her. She prepares to round the corner and take the final step, trigger finger at the ready.

Her naked feet hit the cold hard wood and she swings the barrel in the direction of the living room. The sudden scurry of small shadow darts around the couch, Anna’s finger is pressed down at the ready, but hesitates. What in the world? She wonders. Curiosity slowly drowns the fear, her heart still fueled by adrenaline. Slowly she kneels to the floor and sets her weapon beside her, not certain that she should need it.

What could this be? It moved to quickly to make out; it was small, perhaps an animal… but what type of animal? Now down on her hands and knees she slowly transitions onto the floral area carpet. Moving slowly so she doesn’t spook the creature and activate its defense. Anna peers around to the back of the couch and is relieved to see soft brown fur and with white dots all huddled into a tight shivering bundle. Rabbit like ears pinned to the neck and head buried into the underbelly. 

Adrenaline levels decrease and Anna is overwhelmed with relief. All that fuss was over this little critter; a fawn.