The City - PewdieCry

11: Gun Practice

 I anxiously watched from a table in the corner as all my soldiers began putting their dishes away, stretching and talking of sleep. Everyone needed to hurry up and go to sleep so that I had a chance to slip out again. I was going to talk to Pewds, but it was a hard to just leave without a reason. I could always say that I was going out and checking borders rather quickly, due to Michael and his scheme against John, but that would require a quick return and I didn't plan on that.

Michael.

His stupid plot against John almost caused a full-on gang war on the territory we swore to keep neutral and have for more than 50 years. John had been cut the short straw, as my mother would say, and Michael had made sure to point all evidence against him. I was thankful that instead I had managed to target him, find out his true motives, and to pin him down. It didn't stop me from almost putting a bullet through his head, though.

There was simply one thing that prevented me from pulling the trigger that night. Despite the fact that everyone already assumed I was crazy and was terrified of me when I pulled a weapon out of any sorts, I hadn't taken into thought until it was almost too late what the casualties would have been. I brought more younger and lower ranked soldiers than anything else. If I was to shoot not only a leader, but a leader on neutral grounds and if I had killed him, chaos would have ensued for sure. There would be no back exit for me, they would have to exile or execute me for the good of the gang. I couldn't risk it.

Not only that, but it would cause everyone else to begin fighting as well. Everything and anything that was a problem would be brought up and the other gangs would have joined as well. Not only would my soldiers be in danger and without back up, but we were the smallest group there. I left most members at home just in case, and those I brought never would have returned home to talk about how I played peacekeeper and made me appear more justified than I actually had been. I willingly pulled the gun with every intention to kill, I wanted that bullet to go through Michael's head, but I refused to let it. My gang was on the line at that point, no risk was worth it.

Pewds would have been amidst that chaos as well.

I shivered at the thought of him going down with the rest of my gang, and nearly attacked Wilson as he walked up from behind, brushing my shoulder as to gain my attention. I flinched, standing up and pulling a knife, swinging it around before realizing that it was indeed the old man. He caught my wrist, standing and staring into my eyes through my mask as he grinned at me. I flushed beet red, apologizing and sitting back at my seat as he joined me, guffawing audibly. He wiped tears from his eyes, and noticed the state I was in, his face growing serious.

"Well, I'm assuming that the Grouping from last night is still troubling you."

"I wanted to kill him." I responded curtly, watching as Matt went to the elevator and was followed by a crowd of younger soldiers, mainly girls. "I wanted to pull the trigger so badly. All the younger soldiers there talked about my actions like they serve justice, as if it were a good thing I nearly broke the one truce that has managed to stand for so long."

"Well, look at it this way, Cry." Wilson said, and I glanced over at him as he began explaining things to me with hand movements. "Through that time, when you got angry and your actions became not your own but a slave to your emotions, you still found logic. You took the time to realize that your own group would be in trouble if you did that, and there would be consequences far larger than you could handle. You recognized your own mistakes, and made them into something better, and instead used them to handle the situation. I think you did a good thing rather than not." I looked at Wilson, giving a half hearted smile before hanging my head. He pat me on the back as I stared at the table. "Go for a walk." I lifted my head and looked at him; he grinned. "You need some fresh air, and you look like you're dying to get out of here. Go."