[ShortFiction] The Sniper and the Librarian

I saw this prompt over at BeKindRewrite and thought it was too awesome to pass up. It's just a short little piece, so I hope you enjoy!



The sniper took in a deep breath. His trigger finger trembled. He couldn’t do it. This much the librarian could see.


“Shoot!” shouted the librarian as she stood up from her chair in the hotel room.

“I can’t… I just can’t,” he said, keeping his eyes on the target.


“Why not? I hired you because you were supposed to be the best.” The librarian’s eyes shot through him.


The sniper glanced away from the target and looked at her. “I am, but this… This isn’t right.”

“I thought your types weren’t supposed to care about morals. Isn’t that part of the deal.” She picked up her purse.

“I’ve never had to shoot a child before.” The sniper turned his gaze back towards the window.


“But I need that book," replied the librarian, now rummaging through her purse.


“Can’t you get it some other way?”


“I tried, but she’s too attached to it.” She found what she was looking for.


“Well, you’re going to have to try something else then.”

“Fine, I will," replied the librarian, taking it out of the purse. She walked to the sniper and shot a blast of electricity through his neck with her taser.

"No one gets by with overdue books on my watch." She pushed the sniper over and positioned herself next to the rifle. The librarian abhorred no such feelings for tardiness. Books were meant to be back at the library two weeks after check-out, not three. She would see to it that they would learn that. After fitting her eye into the scope, she searched for the child.

"I've got you in my sights, now," she said as soon as she found him. She drew in a deep breath. Never in her life had she done such a thing, but one must make the impossible possible when the desperate times call for it. The librarian let out her breath as she pulled the trigger, but nothing happened.
The sniper began to reanimate, though still in a stupor. She would try again. Breath in, breath out, trigger. Nothing.

"You know, I programmed that rifle not to shoot innocents," said the sniper.

"What am I supposed to do about the book now?" she asked, still staring at the child through the scope.

"You can stay here if you want to, but I'm going to go."

The sniper packed up his belongings as the librarian peered out the window. She didn't even hear the door shut as the sniper left the room. She was too busy concocting up a new book-retrieval mission.