I proceed slowly, sharpening my senses. I can hear my breath wavering. I turn the lights on in every room as I pass by. After checking a few of them, the light in the main corridor suddenly goes off. I can even hear the sound of the switch clicking somewhere behind me. That must be him!

Panicked I turn around and point my gun in the dark. I hold my breath, waiting.

Nothing happens.

I grab a flashlight and point with it in front of me, the faint light doesn't even reach the end of the corridor. But you can tell my hands are shaking, by how the stream of light moves around.

I walk backwards step by step, my eyes and gun still fixed in the depths of the dark corridor. There should be another switch here somewhere... I hold the flashlight with my teeth, then extend my free hand to touch the wall. The first thing I feel is a door. I move tad faster and feel another door. And finally a switch. I turn the lights on.

The corridor in front of me is empty. I sigh with relief as I put the flashlight away, then wipe the sweat off of my forehead.

I turn around to check the space behind me, and it's empty as well. Seriously what kind of games are you playing with me, you damn tin can...?

And then I feel an impact, as if a wrecking ball would slam me from behind, which sends me flying few feet away. Seriously, if I hadn't my bulletproof vest on, my spine would probably snap in half.

I roll on the floor and groan. I look up as I crouch up clumsily, and I see a pair of deep black lifeless eyes looking down at me.

You fucking-...!

Luckily I didn't drop my gun, I was still gripping tight to it, but the moment I pointed it at Eight, he was already in front of me. He kicks my arm, the gun flies off in the air. Before it hits the ground, Eight grabs my arm and pulls me up, then he does that move with throwing me over his shoulder and slamms me to the ground. I groan again and wince. I can hear the gun hitting the floor just now. It all happens so fast, I had no time to react. I open my eyes and see Eight with his leg raised, ready to crush my ribs. I don't want to stick around to see if my bulletproof vest will hold the impact or not, I immediately roll off to the side, hearing a loud smash behind. When I get to my feet, I see a crack in the floor where I was lying a few seconds ago.

Just how much power did they stuff in those hellish machines???

"Fuck, what's wrong with you!?"

Eight just looks at me with his ever so indifferent face, and I'm already out of breath. Partially from the shock and partially from the pain.

Damn, what to do?

"S-... System scan!"

I shout in hope that Eight will react to the command and he'll stop moving for a moment. That will buy me enough time to pick the gun up from the floor and pack some lead between his eyes.

He doesn't react to it though, he makes a fighting stance instead.

Well fuck.

I grind my teeth and grab the telescopic stun baton at my belt. I expand it, and put the power to max. I can hear the sound of electricity crackling through the bar. Eight just stands there, waiting.

If I try to take him head on, I won't have a chance. But maybe his calculating brain can be tricked in a way...

I make a move as if I'm about to charge at him - I hunch forward a bit. In the same time Eight reacts to it and charges at me. I step to the side instead of forward, and make him trip over my leg. The barstard manages to keep his balance avoiding to fall over, but his stumbling gives me enough time to turn around and slam the charged baton into his back.

The zapped android twitches and shakes as the violent, crackling electricity runs through it's body. I turn the baton off and Eight falls to his knees. Without wasting time, I run over to the gun, grab it and aim at the doll.

I seriously hoped that the electric shock will be powerful enough to fry his circuits beyond repair, but alas he stands up. He twitches every now and then, but he's still operational. He turns around, and looks at me, his eyes cold as always.

"Don't move!" I shout.

Of course he doesn't react. He calmly raises his right arm towards me and forms a fist. A click is to hear and a blade extends from a crack opening along his arm.

Normally I would shake my head in disbelief, if someone would try to stand a chance with a knife against a gun, but this doll shouldn't be underestimated.

I stay alert and focus. I'm aiming at his head right now, but I have a feeling he'll dodge the bullet somehow. Or maybe even slice it in half with his blade. Maybe it's better to just immobilize him... I lick my dry lips as I glance at his left knee. Maybe, just maybe...

I fire at the knee. The doll though moves exactly at the moment when I pull the trigger, and dodges the bullet. Before I can aim and pull the trigger again, he's right in front of me, swinging with the blade directly at my throat. I instinctively lean back, enough to avoid the blade. It only cuts the surface of the bulletproof vest. Our height difference was convenient for once. When I make a step back, he slamms his left fist in my guts.

This bitch can pack a punch, I feel it right through my vest. I lose my breath and bend forward. Something flashes to my left, and with the corner of my eye I can see the blade moving straight at me.

I close my eyes and I feel a sharp pain going through my cheek. I don't know if his aim sucked, but that was a close call. A bit lower and I'd be a head shorter.

I step back as he swings again. This time it was a wide swing, forming an opening. Just enough for me to shoot!

I aim at his face, ignoring my pain. I am about to pull the trigger.

And it's just for a moment, but I see it. I see it between the heart beats.

His face and his pose...

A shot.

I miss.

The bullet misses by an inch away to the right from his face, crushes the odd head gear he was wearing, and it buries itself in the wall behind him. It all felt like happening in slow motion.

And he's still standing in this pose, which creeps me out...

His eyes are closed. But not shut tight, as if expecting an impact. Just... closed as if you'd go to sleep. The face peaceful. His arms spread wide, as if ready to embrace. Embrace what...?

This...

This is the pose of someone accepting death.

Peaceful... and vulnerable.

I just stare.

It caught me so off guard, I can't move. I can feel the blood from my cheek making a trail on my skin. My hand is trembling slightly, still extended towards him, with the off aim.

We're both frozen in time. It's only a moment, but it feels like hours.

Finally he opens his eyes. He looks surprised that he's still standing. So he can make different expressions after all.

Our eyes meet. We both seem pretty perplexed by what just happened.

Shit gets real...

He's pissed.

His face twists in anger, and a shiver runs through my spine. I never saw him having a strong emotion like this.

He charges at me with his blade. I move out of the way and cover my face with the gun, expecting a swing at my head, but he just... charges at the wall behind me. I hear the blade hitting against the wall. But not just once. He slashes it again and again.

I blink.

It looks like he's blinded by fury, and takes it out on the surroundings... did I damage him even more?

And then I realize that the cuts aren't at random... they form letters. Sloppy and crooked, but those are definitely letters...!

And then he stops slashing, and hunches forward as if he'd tire himself out. Then he turns around slowly, still looking displeased, and I look at the whole picture in front of me. I whisper the words "written" on the wall.

                    K I L L M E