CATaclysm

Chapter 23: My First Gun

Magi: Good morning Chars!

Dulce: G-Good morning Mr. Chars.

Amy: Well about damn time you wake up. *chuckles* Here take a seat, next to us. Breakfast is almost ready.

Everyone was greeting Charles with a big smile, well everyone except for Karina. She still had a thing against him for what happened in the desert. Besides that, things were looking good for the CAFE gang. Once Charles finished eating Martha approached him and placed a gun on the table. "Ever fired one of these?". Charles shook his head as he swallowed his last bite. Ever since he was small he has hated violence. The act of taking someone else's life was something he could not live with.

Martha: Alright here we are. Welcome to the training room.

Charles: Thanks but like I said before, I do not like guns.

Martha: *sighs* Listen, I know you are a good kid. But if you want to keep protecting those girls you will have to learn to use a gun. Those water guns of yours are not always going to work. Catgirls aren't the only threat we have to deal with. Understand?

As much as Charles hated the idea he could not deny the fact that Martha was right. Catgirls were not their only problem. They would need real weapons if they ever got jumped by a gang of bandits. Martha handed Charles a .44 magnum and helped him take the proper form.

Martha: Hold it tightly and get a good grip on it. Take a deep breath and focus on your target. Remember this gun is not a toy so expect some recoil.

Charles took a deep breath and aligned the gun to a pair of empty cans in the distance. His heart started to pound rapidly as he focused. His palms started to sweat, this really was his first time firing a real-life gun. BANG. Charles fired and he stumped back. Martha was right, the gun had some recoil to it.

Martha: Ahahaha! That's it, congrats on your first shot! How does it feel? What a rush, am I right?

Charles: Uh. *chuckles* Yeah. Was I able to land the shot then?

Martha: Not even close newbie! But that's fine you can practice all you want here at the range. There is plenty of ammunition.

Charles got back up and got ready to fire once more. This time he knew what type of recoil to expect from the handgun. BANG BANG. Two shots fired and two cans down. Charles was always a fast learner, Martha gave him a high five as a reward.

Martha: Well done Charles! I knew you could do it!

Charles: *scratches his cheek* Uh yea it wasn't that hard to learn.

Martha: Ahahah! That's what I like to hear! Come I want to show you something.

Martha took Charles up to the roof of the casino where they were able to see Las Vegas as a whole. Once a beautiful city, now a sand-filled burg.

Martha: Tell me Charles, have you ever gone on a "food raid"?

Charles: Yes, I've been on plenty. You want me to go on one?

Martha: Yes. We are running low on supplies. A group of fine gentlemen go out at every end of the month and do the food raids.

Charles: Sure I can go. It is the least I can do since you are offering us food and a roof under our heads.

Martha: That's the youth spirit I love to see! See, I knew bringing you guys was going to pay off.

They only spent a few minutes on the roof and they were already starting to sweat. Even though the city was now in ruins, Martha still enjoyed coming up here for the view.