A couple days later, I'm standing on the cliff from before, holding the same rifle in my hand. How did I get myself into this? My hand is shaking as I position my fingers and arms properly. "Alexei, aim for the top of that tree," Mr. Sergei tells me. I stare into the scope, feeling the same sensation as before come over me. However, before I fall too deep into the feeling, I pull away and take deep breaths. In and out. You're okay now, I reassure myself. Mr. Sergei's here. He's going to help you overcome this, I gulp and resume aiming for my target. It feels so natural to be in this state, like I was born this way. I would actually like it if it weren't for the fact that I could actually kill someone like this.
BANG! I hear the gunshot and look up to see if I hit the target. I can't see it, but Mr. Sergei smiles. What happened? I think. Did I hit it? "Alexei, you really do have a gift," He tells me. "You hit the target dead center," Satisfaction fills me, taking the place of that feral hunger for blood. Maybe this really was a positive change.
"Okay, Alexei. I think that's enough practice for today. You're doing great," Mr. Sergei says. I give him back the rifle and we walk down the cliff again, back to the house. The sun hasn't set yet, so I go into town to look for Matthias. Where is he? I wonder, looking through the streets. I see someone out of the corner of my eye, turning to look and realizing that it's him. I begin to call out to him, "Matthias—" but realize that this isn't a moment for me to see. Jiara is next to him and they're holding hands. I feel as if I'm invading their privacy. Well, I probably am. That familiar jealousy settles in my chest as I watch them talking and laughing together. I try to picture myself in Matthias's place, but I can't. That life wasn't made for you, my head tells me. You could never have that. I shake the thoughts out of my head and walk away from them, beginning the trek back to Mr. Sergei's house.
"Seems like you're always in a mood lately, Alexei," Somehow, Mr. Sergei always manages to speak exactly what's on my mind. It scares me a bit. "I'm fine," I answer, cutting him off. "On another note, school starts in a few days. You're going, whether you like it or not." I groan. "I can't homeschool you anymore. The material is getting too advanced for me to get away with it. Even killers need to get an education." This sucks, I think. Hopefully Matthias and Vance are gonna be there. That's the only benefit I can think of.