It was midday and the heat was at it’s prime. The barren desert was covered by dry shrubs that burned in the inconspicious flame of heat. In the middle of that desert were more dried up plants. And in that seemingly uninhabited place lies something hidden, unbeknownst to even the most trained of eyes.

The dull wind brushed slightly against the girl’s face. She had been ready to shoot for exactly 17 hours now. Sydney McAdam waited as obediently as she could will herself. Her excitement was the only thing keeping her as close to sane as a soon-to-be-killer could be, but no amount of training could prepare her for such long hours of nothingness. The target should’ve drove by quite a while ago.

Sydney took her gaze from the sight of the sniper and glanced at her teacher/partner, Eve. Usually after being pronounced ‘ready,’ that person would then be partnered up with someone who was also ‘ready’; a side kick of sorts. But not Sydney. She felt like a replacement for Eve’s old partner, Tom, who just recently became MIA. Eve’s old partner was one of the greatest assassins of Eden, and being put in his shoes is something that Sydney is finding difficult to live up to.

Eve didn’t seem notice her stare. The woman had been very concentrated from the first minute - not even taking her sight off the road. Eve had been laying there, holding those binoculars in front of her eyes for 17 impressive hours.

Sydney turned back to her sight, trying to act like she was serious too. Using her remaining patience, she looked into the sight and checked the road once more. She slowly gazed the along the road, checking for any movement. When she couldn't find anything, the sweat or her brow had become very noticeable. Irritated, she started to notice how stuffy the air was inside the tarp she was lying under. Sydney was at the end of her patience.

I’m going to break down any second.

“Suck it up,” Even suddenly snapped. “Target’s coming.”

She jumped a little at her rigid tone. Eve was a very laid back person. Sydney wasn’t expecting that side of her to come out on an assignment, but the older woman’s tone sounded almost worried. She pushed it aside, that was the least important thing right now.

“Vehicle sighted. Wind, 2km North East. Temperature...”

Once again all those years of training began to take over. It was all instinct now. The information Eve spoke helps for the accuracy and perfection of the shot. In seconds Sydney was ready and locked on to the vehicle that she just realized was already in sight. It was like waking up in sudden realization you were sleeping. Slightly proud of herself, she waited for Eve’s call.

“Thirty seconds.”

She followed the beat up truck as it slowly moved across the road.

“Ten seconds.”

Ten seconds until the truck would be in position for the shot. I slowly sucked in a breath of air.

“Five... Four... Three... Two...”

The aim was steady and with no doubt, perfect. Sydney gripped the trigger.

“One.”

The sniper was fired. The sound of the bullet zipping through the air was almost bliss to her ears. Sydney watched the target’s head suddenly disappear. Another shot was made, and the driver’s head was gone too.

Sydney could smell the blood. She look up from the sight to the horizon of the setting sun and smiled.

A few moments passed before Sydney recalled that Eve was acting a little strangely.

--

Sydney looked up, and stared into the distance. The road the girl shot at was barely a thread from where they stood. She was impressed. A mile away, and she still made the shot.

"Is something wrong?" Sydney asked her.

Eve thought for a moment before shaking her head. The truth was probably to much for the young girl. She had just made her first kill, and looked to be very happy. But for some reason Eve felt slightly uncomfortable when she had looked at Sydney's smile. It was too pleased. Eve had expected her to break down, but this reaction was completely different from what she had expected.

The woman just sighed, happy that nothing bad had happened.

--

Eve lifted her binoculars and looked towards the road and lowered them. "I don't see anything moving, I think we're good. Let's go."

Pulling the tarp off, Sydney quickly disassembled the sniper and put it away. By the time she was done, Eve had the jeep ready. Sydney made her way to the dusty vehicle and got in.