War To Come

Chapter 7- Disappointment

For the next few days of Hell week we were targeted by Beyer. We had extra running to do, longer sets of whatever we were doing, we didn't get as many breaks as the other teams, but whatever Beyer did to make us fail, he was only making us better.

The more and more Beyer pushed us the better we got. We went from getting fourth and lower to almost getting first in every training we had been put through since our encounter. Beyer was always watching my team, specifically me.

Beyer probably had a new found hatred for me. I was the one he always yelled at during training which I got used to. I held back my comments knowing I'll hurt my team even more if I do.

It was three o'clock in the morning and we hadn't slept at all since Hell week had started. I was getting tired as well as some other trainees. Since the argument many people had dropped out. Due to the numbers being lower there had to be people switched into different groups. There were now twelve teams. At least one member from every team was gone, except mine. My team was still the original ten.

We were jogging in the sand following Beyer to our next training location. He hadn't told us much, but then again when does he.

We arrive at our location. I look and see targets and guns. There was a huge wall behind and to the sides of the targets to catch the bullets.

"Each member of your team has five shots. You have one chance to hit the target, specifically the forehead, stomach, left and right arm, and the actual face." Beyer announces hands behind back

Turner is the first to go. He grabs the weapon provided, a Beretta M9 pistol. He successfully hits every target. Next goes Samuel who also hits his target. Trainee after trainee in my group successfully shot every target perfectly. I was next.

I reload the gun, having the gun face down range the entire time. I got in my stance to take my shot. I pull the trigger. I look. I had missed the center of the forehead by an inch. I, Tara Jenkins, who had been training for this exact test, had missed. I look through the sights again and see that it's off. I shoot my last five shots. I make the rest, but my team stares at at me shocked.

They were just as shocked as I was.

I stood there while the other teams finished their rounds. We didn't finish in last but we didn't finish in first. We finished in second, because of me.

"It's okay. Shake it off Jenkins." I hear Turner whisper in my ear.

We're dismissed for lunch. Then I hear, "Jenkins."

I turn to the authoritative voice. It's Beyer... great. I walk towards him my team waiting for me.

"Go." I tell them. They reluctantly leave.

"Yes sir." I say confidently.

"Follow me." He says with hard eyes.

I do as he says following him to the gun range we just did our mission at. He goes to the station my team was at and picks up the gun.

"You were too confident on your first shot. You didn't take into account that the sights were messed up on the gun. We did that on purpose."

I listen. I don't ask questions.

"You noticed it before your second shot, but mistakes like that in the field will get you killed."

"I know." I don't say sir. He doesn't call me out on it because he knows I'm disappointed in myself.

"You're a strong trainee. The strongest I've seen. Your group is strong too. Y'all keep each other together." Beyer says.