To Fall | Eric Coulter *DISCONTINUED*

4: Gun Training

It was the next day.

Morning passed by in a blink of an eye: eating breakfast with the same group of people and talking to Olan the rest of the morning. It was only that time when he reminded me that later this afternoon, starts the first day of training.

We all walked our way to the training room in silence, where heavy footsteps were the only ones echoing throughout the corridor.

Upon entering, we were surrounded by orange punching bags and aisles of elevated grounds. -probably for wrestling or so I thought.

We circled around Eric, who was leaning by a wooden table, "Dauntless!"

With his voice low and cold, he started, "Welcome to your first day of training. Being part of Dauntless is to pass the three parts of Dauntless training. Physical, Emotional, and Mental. First part of Physical training is how to fire a gun."

Everyone stood in silence, watching him intensely with determination flooding their eyes. I bit my lip.

No, I thought. I'm not supposed to be here. I'm not like these people.

"Now," Eric says smootly, interrupting my thoughts.

"Let's learn the basics. Grab a gun." He demanded, nodding his head towards the table before us. We all hurriedly pick up one.

"Now, follow my sta-"

"Uh, what does firing have to do with bravery?" I hear a yawn.

My gaze shifted to the boy across from me. I swallow the tension in my throat. Oh no.

Eric snapped him a look terrifyingly colder than ice. My breathing starts to feel uneasy. Why do I feel like I'm the one who asked?

With no hesitation, Eric snatched the gun off the boy's hand; pointing it towards his forhead smoothly. The tension got thicker as everyone heard the gun make a clicking sound.

The tiredness in the boy's eyes were gone, and so were the blood on his face. I watch him in horror as he stood there, unable to move.

Eric sneered, "what's your name?"

The boy swallowed, "T-Tom."

Eric smirked. He was enjoying this.
"Well, Tom," he grimaced.
"Wake up." He pushed the gun so it was touching Tom's forehead.
"You're holding a real gun, you imbecile. Act like it." He sneered once again, shoving the gun to Tom's chest.

Wide-eyed, Tom nodded. Poor Tom, probably will never forget this day for his entire life.

After listening to Eric's short lecture, we were given a chance to shoot. We went to our designated spots, I could barely see the target in the distance. My lips twitched, this is probably going to be hard.

No time was wasted when I realized everyone already started shooting.

My first shots were way off the target and left marks on the wall. I was not able to locate where the next few shots went.

I then hear clucking behind me. I stiffen, I feel his presence as I decide to continue shooting under pressure.

"You're doing it wrong." I lower my gun. With my jaw clenched, I turn my head back at him. He was closer than I thought I imagined it to be, our faces inches apart.

He looked straight into my eyes, obviously seeing the nervousness behind it. As for me, his eyes were nothing but darkness. No trace of emotion- just a dark void. As I notice myself staring, my heart started to race.

"Well, that's good to know." I said sarcastically, he shook his head. I bit my tongue, I can't believe I just said that.

He uses his foot to separate my feet in a specific distance. "As always, legs apart." He said with a bored expression. I nodded, looking at him with utter curiosity. How come he's only helping me?

He uses his hands to form the right position with my waist. I feel myself flinch at his rough touch.

"Turn a little bit to the left." He says, I follow.
"Now shoot." I did as he said, and shot the chest of the dummy in front of me. I stared at it, wide-eyed.

I turned my gaze to Eric, who was giving me a cocky smirk, "and that's how you successfully shoot a gun."

I noticed the attention we've recieved, everyone stopped shooting. I could feel the heat rising up my cheeks as I try to ignore it.

"Did I tell you to stop?" He said turning around to the group of teenagers, his voice colder than how he spoke to me moments ago. It didn't take more than a second when shots filled the silence once more.

○

It was dinner time when Joanna informed me to meet Four at his room.

Crap, I thought to myself. I was so overwhelmed by what happened yesterday that I have completely forgotten about visiting Four. Thank goodness she was able to walk there.

Dinner was quick. Nobody in the table talked much as they would, everyone was tired.

"Alright, Four's room," She said, motioning her hand towards the door behind her. "-and my room is just righr beside his. If you need anything, most likely something personal, you know where to go now." She winked. I nodded and thanked her as she left to go to her room.

I take a deep breath before knocking on his door with clammy hands. You have no idea how much I missed you.
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