The smell of blood and sweat is becoming way too familiar to me. Mr. Sergei wakes me up long before the sun rises every morning to train. By late afternoon, I can barely walk. This morning, however he doesn't wake me up. In the afternoon, he says he wants to teach me something different. We walk along the beach together. Mr. Sergei is carrying a large bag over his shoulder and keeps looking over his shoulder to make sure it stays closed, as if he is afraid someone will see what's inside. Yeah, what even is in there? How bad could it be? My mind goes back to that evening in the basement, the manacled man, bleeding to death on the floor. Oh my god, is he going to make me kill someone? I shudder at the thought. At the same time, however, I can feel something inside of me, a little desire that wants to feel what it's like to kill. What it's like to feel a weapon in my hands, ripping through the chest of another. Hearing their scream and loving every second of it. A small smile spread across my lips. Just as soon as those thoughts appeared, they leave my head. How could I think like that? What's wrong with me?
My question of how bad could it be? is answered when Mr. Sergei opens up the bag and pulls out a gun. "Do you know how to use this?" He asks me. I shake my head, telling him no. He puts it in my hand, helping me hold it properly. I allow myself a few seconds to look at the rifle in my hand and then feeling takes over. I step to the edge of the cliff we walked to and look into the scope. My eyes widen. I can see a whole new world, where I am predator and—wait, there's something missing. Who's my prey? A hunger burns inside my eyes. Now I can see why Mr. Sergei kills. I can feel myself spiraling deeper and deeper into a part of me that I never wanted to meet. The ugly, bruised, scarred part that no one sees, probably for the better. In the scope, I scan the ground below the cliff for any unsuspecting people and jolt when I see one. My whole body feels electrified as I prepare to shoot. And as soon as the feeling came, it goes as I feel Mr. Sergei's hand on my shoulder, pulling me back into reality, out of my thoughts. "Alexei…? Are you there?" He asks, concerned. I nod my head yes. "You zoned out for a minute. Focus," he tells me. "You're here. In Florida. On a cliff. With me. The sun is setting. Come back, Alexei. Control yourself and don't let the hunger take you like it took me."