Gun Training

575 17 0
                                    

Maggie and I walked about a mile past the barrier and into the nearby woods.

"Since this is your first time learning about guns," she started, "I'll start with the basics." She held up the gun in her right hand, pointing it to the sky, "This, Ashley, is a Colt Model 773. It's full auto - it fires continuously when I pull the trigger - and weighs about 6 pounds."

She placed it on a tree trunk that looked like someone chopped it down, but then just left it there. She held up the gun strapped over her shoulder, "This is a Ruger Mini-14. It's semi-automatic - which basically means I have to pull the trigger every time to shoot - and weighs about 6 1/2 pounds."

She pointed to the gun in my hand, "What you're holding is a Galil MAR carbine. It has a bolt handle and top mounted rail. It's actually one of Hal's favorite guns."

"I see Hal carrying it around ever since his other gun got destroyed. Oh, wait, you weren't here for that." I said.

"No, I wasn't." Maggie took out an empty soda can and placed it on the fallen tree trunk then stood by me and showed me how to turn the safety on to semi-automatic. "Ok so now just put the gun up to your shoulder, take a stance, and look down the sights." I did as she told me. "Now," she continued, "Take a deep breath in and out then slowly pull back the trigger."

I took a quick breath and pulled down quickly on the trigger and the recoil hurt my shoulder and made me falter my stance. "Remember to take it slow, it's not a race." Maggie said.

Breath in, breath out. Simple. I closed my eyes and took two deep breaths before I opened them again. I aimed for the can and slowly pulled the trigger. A big BANG echoed through the trees. I looked at the can and it wasn't there anymore. I ran over to the tree trunk and thought it just fell on its own, but the I saw the hole that barely hit the bottom left.

"Nice!" Maggie exclaimed, "A few more days and you might just be on the line." I smiled and looked at the can lying on the dry grass. "I just might."

I kept staring at the can and then I saw it move. "Hey Maggie did you just see that?" I asked.

"No. What happened?"

"The can just moved, like shook or something." This time we both stared at it, both of us forcing our eyes not to blink.

We heard a thump and the can shook again. "You saw it that time right." I breathed.

Maggie nodded and we both looked up. "A Mech, get down!" Maggie whispered. We sat with our backs against the big tree trunk. She put her finger up to her mouth, "Shh." Then she whispered, "I think we attracted them with our gunfire. Dangit! I should've scouted the area first."

"What do we do?" I asked.

"Just stay here and be quiet."

I nodded and shrunk lower to the ground and held the Galil to my chest. I listened and heard the mech's footsteps. I counted them, one, two three, four, five six. I looked at Maggie and whispered, "Sounds like there's two Mechs." She nodded and I went back to listening.

Then they stopped. Rustling of grass and twigs. I looked to Maggie on my left then I looked to my right. "Ahhhh! Ashley!" Maggie screamed. I turned around and saw a skitter had her pinned. "Shoot it!" She yelled, holding it back with her hands. I held up my gun and looked down the sights. Just as I was about to shoot a second skitter jumped over the trunk and knocked me on the ground. The galil flew out of my hands and behind the skitter. I scrambled to my feet and looked around. The skitter was slowly closing in on me, and I saw the other gun, the Colt, and lunged for it. The skitter ran towards me and I instinctively closed my eyes and pulled the trigger three times. It was on top of me and I opened my eyes. The left side of his face had two holes in it and when I pushed him off of me I saw he had one in the chest. I didn't kill him but he would be dead soon. Oh Maggie! I remembered.

I turned and saw Maggie still wrestling the skitter. I looked into the sights and aimed for its head and sot five times. It went limp and Maggie pushed it off. She got up and dusted herself off. She grabbed her gun and I looked towards the Mechs. They weren't facing us, but they stood there on the dirt path. "They're facing the school." I said. We started walking back to the school, using the trees as cover. The ground shook again and we heard more Mech footsteps joining the first one and they all started walking down the path to the school. Maggie and I ran as fast as we could to warn Weaver and the others.

Somewhat the Beginning (A Falling Skies Fanfiction)Where stories live. Discover now