The Ascent, excerpt

These are first words I have presently in this story that will part of Horror Bent II.

Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.

Vishnu in the Bhagavad-Gita

His breathing deepened as he became immersed deeper into the dream. The plaza extended below his perch high above and the crowd was beginning to mingle. Over to the side the TV cameras were getting set up on their tripods for broadcasting the speech. It was a perfect sky, only a few puffy clouds were marring the bright blue sky.

I check the magazine and slide it into place until I hear the satisfactory click that tells me it’s locked in place. Shoving the bolt home I pull it back out a nudge to make sure a round is in the chamber and that it’s ready. Sighting down the barrel I make sure I have clear sight of the grandstand. There's the limousine coming up the street now! Only a few minutes more and I’ll be able to take him out and finish up this job! Know he isn’t expecting anything to happen here. Boy am I ever going to change his mind!

Damn, there's a slight air movement coming from my left that I’ll need to take that into consideration and adjust my aim accordingly. Just nudge the muzzle a little to the left and it should compensate for the windage. When you’re 1,500 meters away it’s so damned easy to miss the shot. I’ve never missed before but there’s always a first time for everything I guess. But I’m not going to miss this one…

Don’t hurry, never hurry! Remember, squeeze the trigger slowly and try not to jerk the weapon. Come on, control your breathing John. Ah, there he is now getting out of the car! Time to make sure I’m absolutely 100% ready. The stock feels good seated against my shoulder. He's walking to the podium now with his speech in hand. Oh yes! I need to let him get a few minutes into his speech. My eyes sweep the audience as I search for threats, things that might try to stop me but they never will. I’ve double checked everything. My finger is sitting on the trigger. I’m ready to pull it...

Click!

The disturbing sound in his ear jerked him out of his dream and he woke up sweating like always when he had these types of dreams. His heart palpitated within his chest as the sound filled his ears. It was sometimes much worse when his dreams took him back to what had happened back in Afghanistan during the war. So many targets were sighted and so many were killed. Unfortunately, he would be revisited by those he was ordered to kill despite his seeing the Army Psychiatrists. I wonder when the ghosts will go away for good. I’m so tired of them sharing my life.