The Hunter and the Hunted

The Hunter and the Hunted

I was at a black tie dinner. One of those fancy rich parties that I can find some entertainment at. Rich people are often the best place to find arguments. I am a green peace activist. I love to disgrace the assholes that have heads on their walls. I had made my way through the main gathering room, and was up on the balcony-ish upstairs area. The band had stopped playing and now a piano was the only music heard. The usual sounds of a lavish pompous ass party were more dominate, but I could still make out a remix of O Fortuna being played. I got tired of the present company and looked around the room for some new and more entertaining victim to get in an argument with. That was the only reason I was here after all. I hate rich people and find them a plague on the world. So I used my ears to ear a rather nice comment that got my feet itching. It was by the man at the end of the bar on the first level. He had just said that he was going on a business trip to Africa that would involve a rifle, if you take my meaning. I turned to look and a smile ripped my mouth open as I found my target on the marble floor. He personified everything I hate. He had slightly gray hair, with a pipe in his mouth and ugly suit. This was going to be fun, I could tell. I made haste to my new fund prey promptly. The chandelier was glinting off the shiny bar as I went down the steps. I stepped right in and said
"So going on a safari? Gonna do some hunting? I bet you've gone before haven't you." He of course was not exactly used to this kind of butting in, but he didn't seem to think too much of it. His silver eyes were already glinting with the thought of a good blood hunt. And he proved me right as always when he said,
"Oh yes! I plan to get some good stalking in and maybe an Elephant or two as well. There is nothing as exhilarating as a good hunt! Stalking your prey for hours and then getting that clean kill shot, what a rush!" At this point I wouldn't be surprised if he was getting high on the memories of slaughter and destruction.
"And I suppose you think it's perfectly natural to hunt as well right?" I said trying to keep it sounding like I loved it as much as he.
"Of course! There is nothing in the world more natural then to kill an animal for survival for food, and for fun. It's a law of nature to die. It happens in time and in nature whether it be a human killing an animal or a simple bug killing another bug, it happens." I was sick of this already. This guy was definitely going to get the big finally of the night. I was sick of this party anyway I thought.
"I suppose your right. Killing is nature. I mean look at gangs and murderers, they kill all the time. Its truly a curse we have laws against murder isn't it? Why I'd love to hunt me a good human. I'd love to do it right now!" I am! I thought to myself.
"Now see here mister that is a completely different idea. I would never condone the act of killing another human! That is a crime for a reason. And now that I see you truly don't like hunting, and are most likely one of those blasted activist, I have a question for you. Have you ever actually hunted? Because there is a level of relationship between a hunter and his prey that you tree hugging hippies could never understand and still be against hunting."
"Why no I can't say I've had the "pleasure" of slaughtering an animal in cold blood. But perhaps you're right; I could never understand what you're saying until I've tried it."
"Exactly mate! I'm glad you're sensible enough to realize that. There is hope for you yet."
"However I'm wondering if you have ever been in the place of the animal. To know what it feels like to be hunted."
"Why how preposterous! They never know you're coming so they wouldn't even see it coming. That's the point of a good stalk."
"I see." I said as I reached for that lump in my back pocket. "Well then lets try it shall we?" He didn't have time to respond before my gun was to his head. The metal streak seemed to catch the attention of everyone at the party like a screaming baby. There was utter silence it seemed as the clock stopped. A second was now a minute. The one shot gun was just off of his temple. He was a bit taller then me so it was a prefect angle upwards in my opinion. When the gun reached right between his eyes I pulled the trigger and the sound deafened me from the silence I had seemed to have grown accustomed to. His expression was blank and yet terrified. The room was now certainly aware of the situation.


I was a waitress working a high end party. I hate these types of things, but they pay well. I was serving cocktails and other drinks, to the party members. I had seen him when he first walked in the door. I remember him because of the simple fact he looked out of place somehow. I think it was his eyes; they seemed so deep and kind, not like the bastards who usually attend these things. He seemed to talk to a lot of people who would walk away from him with red faces. I got the opportunity to serve him when he called for a drink. I remember the order well because it proved me right about him. He had asked for green tea in a Champaign glass like all the others had. I was forbidden from not trying to serve the drinks requested, as part of being hired, so I said okay and went to find the caterer to find out what to do. He told me he'd send someone to get some and that I should tell him to please wait for awhile as it would take a long time to get and prepare. I did this, and was again proved he wasn't a regular to these parties by his attitude. When I tell someone their order is going to take awhile at these kinds of things they either get mad or ignore me completely. He however laughed quite loud and said he was surprised I had actually tried to get the order fulfilled. I told him that I wasn't allowed to forget an order, and he laughed harder and said something I didn't understand at the time. He said quite simply he admired my spirit. I had other orders to get done so I just said thank you and left. But later when his tea was ready and I got to give it to him I over heard one of his conversations.
"... And so it died, alone cold and bloody. The poor thing was no less then you are I. Trying to provide for its children back at its nest, and some hunter shot the thing 6 times. Each one only a wound that left it to bleed to death. But I think you have an excellent point, they are just animals after all. Nothing valuable at all." The guy he was talking to was red faced with a look of shame and guilt. I finally understood why this guy was so different. He really was out of place here, but somehow it fit him as well. I gave him his drink and he thanked me for going out of my way. I said it was my pleasure and that there was more if he wanted a refill. He simply laughed again and I left. Not much later I saw him going down the stairs and looking quite happy. It wasn't exactly a good happy though. It was an "I was hungry and now found food" happy. I was busy delivering drinks but it wasn't long before my attention was back on him. This time however I was frightened. It happened so fast yet it was all slow motion. He had yelled out
"Well lets see shall WE!?" and at the same time pulled what looked like a gun out of his back pocket. I couldn't figure out what he was planning for some reason. He seemed so gentle before. But the gun was more visible now, and the whole party was on him. Then like thunder in the mountains that terrifying sound rang out, and the party screamed and ran for the doors and exits. I was seemingly paralyzed. As utter chaos ensued around me and I was bumped and shoved I couldn't take my eyes off him and the gun and the entrails of smoke coming from the end. The two seemed froze in time. The other man was as still as a statue for what seemed an eternity. Then my senses finally came back and I realized... there was no blood.


I was a normal guy at a party in my honor. Or at least so I thought. I remember having a good time until I had said something to a colleague of mine had asked about my newest business trip to Africa where I planned on doing some hunting. The events that happened over the next ten minutes greatly affected my life. A young man came and sort of just intruded on my conversation asking about the trip and wanting to know if I was going to do any hunting. I thought of how silly it was to ask because no business would ever actually work in Africa. I also noted his slightly rude interruption but overlooked both and answered that I of course was going hunting. And he seemed slightly mad yet calmed and reserved. He then asked if I found hunting a natural thing. Of course at the time my answer was yes, and I told him so. He then said how it was indeed and that murder is such a good thing, no matter what species and seemed to condone murder of humans too. I admit this was disturbing and slightly intimidating but it also showed that he wasn't exactly a pro-hunter person, and I decided to give him my mind on how he could never understand if he had never actually done the act of stalking and killing a prey. He surprised me by saying that I was right in saying he could never understand without doing the act. I thought how there may hope for him and every other non hunter yet. But then he asked me if I knew how it would feel if the tables were turned. Of course I didn't know what he was talking about so I said no and that the point of a good stalk is to leave your prey without knowledge they are being hunted. To strike without them ever seeing you coming. I turned to my drink as I finished my sentence and took a sip. He then reached behind him as he said,
"I see, well lets try it then shall WE!?" and my eyes were back on him in time to see him draw gun like a flash from his pocket and directly to my face. I remember it all moved so slowly. Like a frost had slowed everyone's ability to move their normal speed but that the clock was still right. I remember the feeling so well as he aimed the gun to my head. I was terrified; there is no other word that describes it as well as that. I also remember his eyes. They had changed from the man I was speaking to earlier to that of something indescribable. It was like a wolf that trusted no one. Yet there more to it; like a deep hatred. It was a penetrating look that shattered everything in my mind like glass. I remember taking the longest breath and hoping it wasn't my last. I'm not sure half of me even realized what was going on though. I just know as the gun lowered slightly and stopped between my eyes I swear I saw a smile on his face. Not a large smile, but the corner of his mouth elevated slightly. It may seem weird but that was the scariest part of the whole situation. Then came the sound of his finger pulling on the trigger. Willing it to come back with it and end everything. It didn't hesitate of course and soon the trigger was moving away from me to send me off. I can remember wishing it wouldn't but fate was against me. Before I knew it there was a bang and I felt my whole life slip away in a flash. The sound made me lose control of my body, if I had any left, and I was overcome by fear and paralyzed to the point. Not so much as to not to lose control of my bodily functions though. I remember waiting forever for death and the feeling of it. But all that came was a ringing in my ears. Even though my eyes had been open I reopened them as you do when you've been daydreaming and saw the smoke the gun was casting out. The room was empty except for me and him and a waitress. Then all of a sudden time returned. Like a spell being lifted. And without moving any other part of his body the man looked my directly in the eyes and said,
"How does it feel to be prey?" I feel to my knees and the tears from fear and sorrow welled up and drove down my cheeks. Him and the waitress just stood still as statues for a while longer. He then dropped the gun and looked at her, then left. She went after him and left me alone. I was crying like a baby now. What kind of monster was I? What had I done for fun all these years? How many times had I caused the same fear I had just experienced? After a few more hours the cops came and asked what happened. I of course had to defend the man who had woke me up so before they found it I hid the gun so they couldn't catch him. I never have heard or seen him again but I'm glad for what happened that night. After hiding the gun I swore to never again take up arms against another. To that I have kept my word.

END