First Impressions: Shoot Me from the Forest

She ran. It was all she could do. Run. She ducked under low hanging branches and jumped over fallen tree trunks, dodging around overgrown bushes before pressing herself up against large rocks every time she heard footsteps behind her. Cradling the gun in her hands, she wiped the sweat off her forehead before continuing to run.

Breathing heavily, she slowed down once more, collapsing unceremoniously behind a large mass of mangroves. Making sure the gun was still safely in her grasp, she sunk back into the shadows, peering out from behind them to see if anyone had followed her.

Sighing in relief, she heard her heartbeat slow down and her breathing return to its regular pattern. Resting her chin against her knees, she closed her eyes and rested. It had been a long three hours of running for her. Three long hours. Falling into unconsciousness, a black pit of nothing, she slept.

---

Her ears instantly picked up footsteps and she was wide awake in seconds. Looking around at her surroundings with wide eyes, she tightened her grip around the gun. Getting up slowly, she crept back further into the shadows of the mangroves, thankful for the camouflage uniform the navy insisted be worn by all the sailors and officers.

Placing a hand over her mouth to muffle her breathing, she slowly stood up, peering over the bushes to see if a body belonged to the footsteps. Her eyes widened, feeling a gasp reach her lips. Biting down hard on her tongue, she stepped back, accidentally stepping on a twig.

"I found you," a voice whispered in her ear.

She froze, but instantly melted as she felt the person's hot breath against her ear. Turning slowly, green crashed with blue and a smirk made its way onto his face.

"Well?" she asked.

He raised an eyebrow, stepping closer and bridging the small gap between them.

It was her turn to smirk. "Come on, shoot me – or are you too scared?"

He brought his hand from behind his back and pressed the matching gun he held to her side. It was cold and hard against her, causing her to lean in closer to the man who would take her life. His scent was still the same as she remembered and so was the broadness of his chest. She looked him in the eye and repeated the question.

He responded swiftly, pushing her against the tree before leaning in and slowly pressing his lips to hers. Her lips were soft against his and his tasted like the salt found in every ocean and sea they crossed. It was brief, perhaps too brief for each person's liking. Pulling back, he whispered against her ear.

"I won."

He pulled the trigger and she felt a dull, hard object push through her clothes and skin. She felt a slight dampness from where the object hit her. She had been hit and her life had been taken, she was out.

A loud siren sounded somewhere from above and Mike looked down at Kate's slightly swollen lips. Cocking his head to the side he smiled, laughing slightly as paint dripped from her side. She returned and she leaned her head back against the tree.

"You see... you didn't win... I did. You just couldn't stay away."