We Rule the World

VIII

Month Five, Year One

10:48AM

The cackling of gunfire echoed through the mountainside scaring off any animal that would have been close-by but it was due to this practicing that the group was becoming better shots as Malcom Lovecraft drilled them. They had been doing this since they got their first load of guns, at least once a week they came out to this deserted part of the interstate and practised.

In the line was the ever-ready Michael, the reserved Liam, the spiky-haired Wolfgang, the sporty Anthony, the best-friend Nate, the hunter Hugh, the metal-head Christopher & Silas all with a machinegun in hand that had been set to fire single shots, their targets were mannequins that were littered with bullet holes and behind them were empty glass bottles that had been broken into a million shards over.

Silas wasn't a bad shot if this was any indication, he just took a little longer than he should have which would probably be tempting fate or destiny (whoever deals with that crap) but when he was heading out and prospecting he usually took a few extra clips just so that he could take pot shots to improve himself.

Quickly learning and surpassing most of them was Hugh, even though he didn't like to use guns opting for his bow most times but he was one of the best shooters in the group, next to Malcom.

The worst out of the group was Christopher who wasn't able to stop his breathing for the moment when he squeezed the trigger and often the bullet wouldn't go where he was aiming. He used to preach about being a pacifist but the second that he made eye contact with the crates full of guns he changed his tune fast, he still kept on making those jokes which seemed more like insults and always aimed at Silas for some reason but Silas hadn't done anything about it since he was too busy preparing everything for his Trading Post that was going to open soon.

Aiming down the spine of the machinegun, through the holographic sight Silas stopped his breathing and took the shoot which connected with the plastic head tearing through the left eye and sending the mannequin tumble apart. A smile swept over his face before a hunkering for something to eat hit him.

Returning to his Suburban, Silas took out the earbuds that dragged out a months' worth of ear wax he'd been neglecting before grabbing one of the healthy sandwiches that Effy had made for him, ignoring the bland and unappetising taste he and wasted no time in devouring with a few bites. Following Silas over to his Suburban Hugh opened up the back door so that he could grab out his water and do away with his thirst.

'You do realise that you just put us all to shame, right?' Silas Chapman.

'I know... Kind of why I did it.' Hugh Daya.

Laughing the two moved around to the boot of the car which was opened as five other machineguns lay on a blue sheet, it was placing the machine guns back after unloading them and putting the magazines to the side that they leant on the side of the car.

'Blair, Birdy and Josh will be coming out next time, right?' Silas Chapman.

'Yeah they had a shift today.' Hugh Daya.

Josh was like Blair, Reye, Liam and Birdy meaning that he took a hard-line when it came to the usage of these firearms, then there were the people like Michael, Chris and Anthony who wanted to use the firearms constantly and carry more than just the pistols they were given, the last group were those that toed the line between the two groups which was Nate, Wolfgang and Hugh who seen the necessity of the guns but also were willing to restrict the usage of firearms as much as possible.

Joining the two, Michael took a place next to them sitting on the downed boot of the Suburban still with his machinegun in hand. Since the inception of this group Michael had been a pain in Silas's side for one reason or another but since their stand off a few weeks ago with the guns he had been keeping himself in check which meant nobody else had to come down on Michael. Leaning against the car as Michael sat there was an awkward silence, Hugh wanted to speak to Silas but not if Michael was nearby and Michael wanted to speak to Silas but not if Hugh was nearby. Noticing this Silas wondered if this was a problem that was going to grow into something that he should nip in the butt now. Unable to hold his tongue any longer though Michael moved so he was facing Silas, gaining both of their attention as he finally spoke.