Vigilante

It was a dark and dangerous game, a twisted form of justice that ruled the state of Texas. With overcrowded prisons and rampant crime, desperate lawmakers gave their blessing to a controversial punishment: 72 hours to survive the hunt of one man, the lethal and calculating C Lloyd Gates. Known as the vigilante executioner, Gates was both feared and revered, a secret operative who brought terror to criminals and victims alike. He was a killer to some, an arbiter of justice to others, but his presence alone struck fear into the hearts of all. No one knew when or where he would strike next, and no one had made it past the 72 hours. Some loved him for his merciless actions, but most despised him for his brutal methods. Yet every case unfolded differently. And through it all, one thing was certain - justice would be carried out.
The courthouse clock's mechanical tick became a countdown in the minds of the sentenced, each second audible in the sudden silence after the judge's gavel fell.
Gates' boots hit pavement with the steady rhythm of inevitability, an unhurried pace that closed distance no matter how fast his targets ran.
Police scanners crackled with coded references and careful silence about the Arbiter's movements, officers knowing better than to broadcast what the state pretended didn't exist.