Rebels

Pt. 16

Luca fired the gun, causing Jack to duck. His ears slightly throbbed from the echo of the noise, and when he opened his eyes, he could feel he was still intact. He stood upright, staring angrily at Luca. "You could've shot me!"

"That's the point." Luca said plainly.

Lyla stepped forward, clearing her throat and crossing her arms. "Think of Luca as the guard that could have killed you when you had escaped." Lyla then turned to her brother. "Aim this time."

Luca nodded grimly.

Jack knew he had no choice but to do as Lyla told. He focused on Luca, who seemed determined to surely hit and even kill Jack. Nonetheless, he closed his eyes. He imagined the moment even before of what Lyla had told him to do; the true soldier who had caused hatred. He remembered when he was caught, all of the money he had stolen lying sprawled out on the ground. That was in the city where everyone knew him; not of his so-called talent, but of his many captures.

He remembered the cold smirk on the soldier's face, just as the soldier knocked him unconscious, giving him a headache for days on end. When Jack opened his eyes, all he could see was Luca's once cocky stare turn cold and cruel.

Lyla, knowing that Jack was ready, nodded at Luca to begin. He wasted no time and pulled the trigger.

Jack ducked, then began to advance towards Luca. Luca fired again, the bullet lodging into Jack's leg. He winced, but didn't back down. He knew he had to see this through in order for it to stop. Luca fired again, only this time Jack could feel the bullet graze his shoulder. He backed off, suddenly feeling the wound in his leg. His knee collapsed, and he found himself kneeling on one leg while cradling his arm.

Luca stepped towards him, aiming the gun at his head. "You're dead." He said, as if he was disappointed.

"That's enough for today." Lyla said, stepping towards Luca and grasping the gun from his hand.

Luca sighed and held out an arm for Jack. He took it, and stood on his one good leg. "Please, do not force me to do that again. You do not understand how much it hurts." Jack said.

Out of the pure goodness of his heart, Luca wrapped his arm around Jack's shoulder and helped him up the stairs. Jack and Luca made their way to the countertop, where Jack slowly but surely hopped on top of it. Jack could feel his blood pounding within his leg as it continued to throb. "How is this considered as training?" Jack said between breaths, trying not to think of the bullet lodged in his muscle.

Lyla exited the bedroom and entered the kitchen, carrying what appeared to be a paper plate and a single pair of metal tweezers. Jack knew what was coming, and he began to squirm on the countertop.

"If this is going to happen at the palace, then we need to train you to be comfortable at the sight of a gun." Lyla answered, reaching into a cabinet behind Jack and pulling out a bottle of rubbing alcohol, in which Jack had not seen before when previously rummaging around for food.

Jack smirked through his pain. "No one can be comfortable at the sight of a gun."
He sucked in a breath, closing his eyes. He fought back the tears that were burning his eyes.

Without hesitation, Lyla poured a mouthful of the alcohol on Jack's leg. He couldn't help but let out a shout, for his wound hurt much more than he had expected. He had never been shot before, but he remembered he had once been shocked, his body having convulsed several times due to it. That was, once again, back in his old town. He remembered that the whole town was talking about how Jack had been caught again, and this time they had nearly killed him.

Lyla snapped Jack out of his thoughts. "Sorry. We should have gone a little easier for your first day of training."

No kidding, is what Jack was tempted to say. Instead, he only sighed. The pain was ever greater now, and he suddenly did not feel up to communicating with anyone. He was not enjoying his first time being shot.

Lyla noticed that Jack was not speaking. She could infer as to why, but she felt the silence was awkward. At least, for her it was. "Are you okay?"

Jack could not force a smile this time. "I couldn't be better." He squeezed his eyes shut once more. He did not want Lyla to see the tears that he was fighting.

Lyla grabbed the tweezers and examined his wound. "This will only hurt a little."

As if it doesn't already. "Just please get it over with." Jack pleaded.

Lyla blinked, then pressed both her fingers on the side of the wound. She could feel Jack squirm out of pain, but she had to continue. Slowly and steadily, she lowered the tweezers into his tissue. She tried her best not to think of the pain it must cause Jack, and she spread the tissue apart so she would be able to reach the bullet. She could see the glow of the bullet, and quickly she grabbed it, pinching it between the teasers. She raised the bullet out of Jack's leg and dropped both the tweezers and the bullet onto the paper plate.

As she glanced up at Jack, she couldn't help but feel bad for him. He was clenching the edge of the countertop with his fingers; his knuckles white. His teeth were shut together, bringing out the muscles in his jaw. He was breathing heavily through his nose, as the pain from Lyla stretching out his tissue sunk in.

"Guys, please, no more. I've had enough for today. Dodging a bullet is hard enough." Jack said, slowly swinging both of his legs on top of the counter. He winced as he stretched both of his legs flat, laying down completely on the table. "I'm not moving. I'm sorry- it's not just the bullet." Jack mumbled, staring at the ceiling. He had been exhausted ever since he left the ship of the dull captain. He had never really gotten proper food, and he and Arin had had to sleep in a freezing church overnight. He wouldn't be surprised if he had gotten himself sick.

"When was the last time you've eaten?" Lyla asked, crossing her arms.

"That is a very good question." Jack answered, not knowing the true answer himself. "The real question is, why is it so cold in here?"

Lyla and Luca both hadn't really considered it to be freezing in the house, especially since it was warm during the day. Although the night brought its wrath, usually the home didn't get too cold. Nevertheless, Lyla pretended Jack's comment was of nothing to be concerned, and she walked over to the bed. She ripped the blanket off of the bed and practically threw it on Jack. "I don't know where you were last night, but you know you can't sleep outside. The cold at night will basically kill you."

Jack only shrugged.

Lyla walked over to the bedroom and politely closed the door behind her. Luca sighed, knowing he'd be the one to sleep in the couch once again. He sluggishly walked over to it and removed the two bottles of rum off the couch, and set them on the floor beside it. Luca plopped down on the couch, closing his eyes. He knew there was a bed in the corner, but secretly he loved the couch more. It was his own sanctuary.