Dookie

As I prepare to kill off my main character in later chapters I begin to wonder, how am I going to do it in a fantastically magical way which will enthrall my readers. Why not ask those people over at Writing forums for their opinions.

I shall set the scene. A room of no description so far, two men, the protagonist - Abruzzi and the antagonist - Freeman. Both armed with a gun. Abruzzi must die, but how would you do it? I believe it's obvious he is going to get shot, it needs to be elegant though.

I have my own thoughts on how this is going to go down, I just wanted to hear yours.

Ruben

Well, nothing form the earlier part in the story which could be referenced to?

Ilan Bouchard

Have him get shot by a musket in the arm, and let him die from an infection in the ensuing weeks.

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KyleColorado

Why is it obvious? Unless you're engaging in bad writing, it shouldn't be obvious. There's nothing worse than first-time reading, and knowing what's going to happen at a crucial scene. Don't you agree?

As for how it goes down.. a suggestion of mine would be to drop out the "whos who" of the struggle.. make it all seem like it would from the eyes of a person in the dark with flashes of light.. so they can't tell who's doing what.. and when someone gets shot... lead them to believe that Freeman was shot.. until the reader has already accepted that fact, and moved on.. then drop the bomb that Abruzzi lay dead.

Ruben

Isn't that more overused then a New-Mexican twat?

KyleColorado

I have yet to encounter it in anything I've read. Maybe it is overused, and I'm not aware of it.. Either way, it remains a suggestion.

Dookie

Nice nice nice, I like that idea Kyle Colorado.
A musket Ilan, this story is set in the future don't you know.
Well there is going to be a flashback at this stage Ruben, Freeman used to be Abruzzi's partner and flashbacks have been leading to this final flashback which reveal that fact.

Ilan Bouchard

But if it's not a musket, it won't fester as well...

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Ruthless comments encouraged!

Dookie

Because of you I actually come to find myself thrown ideas around about a festering wound.

suzakugaiden

The flash from Freeman's gun triggers a seizure in Abruzzi, which in turn causes a fatal heart attack somehow.

FrankBlissett

Not neccessarily...

The blood drains from Abruzzi's face as he hears the "click" - no more bullets.

With his fright turning to a smile, Freeman calmly raises his gun.

-Frank

edit: You don't even need to "show" the fatal shot - just move on the the next chapter, where the pro. is now dead.

eMb

Abruzzi shoots the antagonist, is about to leave the room, and is shot in the back of the head by the protagonist as he loses his strength completely.

A_MacLaren

'A flash of bitter light and a sudden pain like light so bright it nearly wasn't there. And then there was a sinking feeling that had nothing to do with the slug in his stomach or the black gore that slipped too quickly from the wound, and darkness that faded and was final.'

Too much?

Just make it devastating. A man has died, and I assume he's lost. There's something inconcievable about death, so I would use imagery that doesn't really make any sense. Read some Emily Dickinson.

Anarkos

I think both should end up disarmed and Abruzzi should be beaten to death or otherwise killed in an entirely irrelevant fashion.

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Wilderness

Perhaps he doesnt die from the bullet wound...but from some other cause...
only I don't know what...

Lani

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"The pain?"
"Yer," she replied, "all the struggles, the agony. I want to feel it, too."

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