Since the last writing exercise was so popular I figure why not have another one? This time the exercise will let you practice your ability to foreshadow later events in the story. The idea is simple we start with a seed scene and work backwards. The scenes that are contributed should in some way tie into a previous entry. People can write as many scenes as they want the only limitation is that you can't submit two entries in a row. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The shot echoed through the chamber striking the cloaked figure and splitting the harlequin mask in half. A trickle of blood rolled down his cheek from his sinister sneer. “She was right. It should have been you.” He said before falling backwards through the open window. A single shaft of moonlight broke through the clouds illuminating the stain glass image of a rose, causing a smile to spread across his face before being consumed by the darkness of the abyss.

_"You've nowhere else to run to." I panted. It wasn't a threat. It wasn't a burst of anger. There simply wasn't enough anger left in me for that. And the gun in my hand felt heavy. Too heavy. And still the trigger drew my finger.

My arm raised of its own accord, the black eye of the barrel facing the black hole in his mask. An eye for an eye.

_"You've nowhere else to run to."

This time, I didn't pant. It felt good telling him that. It felt good catcing my breath, taking my time, slowly. Looking at him, outlined by the lights of the city coming through the colored glass panel, I thought that that Harlequin figure reminded me of the clowns who gave me nightmares, as a kid. I have never been easy with those showing so much of their smiles. It always made me think that they hid something behind their cracked faces. That was why I had chosen to dress as a harlequin on Halloween, even though it seemed stupid to most.

He danced two sidesteps, and stopped short as a bullet hit one inch from his toes.

_"You've nowhere else to run to."

Now, the memories of Alison, of her torn body, of her blood staining the hem of her dress, came back to me. They hit me like a truckload, with the cold certainty of what was to come.

_"Indeed. Nowhere else. But I bet you'll see me forever, even though I'll be nowhere close."
_"You'll be nowhere at all, Jack."

His head tilted to the side, the frozen smile unnerving me further if possible, and something flashed in his right hand.

_"Time to say good bye." he said, taking a step forward.

My arm went up. My finger squeezed.