His Vengeance

Chapter 19

*Above is a small scene from PLL(pretty little liars), where she uses a gun*

Nicole

The next morning, Sofia walked into my room just after lunch, and I was already filled with anticipation. It was time for my second part of training at the outdoor shooting range.

My body still ached from yesterday's karate session with Sienna, and to make matters worse, I hadn't gotten enough sleep last night. It was no surprise that I felt groggy and tired. I desperately wanted to put an end to these wretched nightmares, but I had no clue how to make them disappear. That's the thing about enduring a traumatic experience—it haunts you relentlessly, and right now, it was wreaking havoc in the midst of my chaotic life.

Initially, the nightmares jolted me awake in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat. But as the nights passed, they intensified.

What surprised me was that my screams during these nocturnal terrors didn't disturb anyone else in the house. I half-expected questions from my housemates about the disturbances, but no one seemed to have been affected by them. Perhaps they were used to such disturbances or were simply indifferent to my struggles.

Two days ago, Sofia had bought me some new clothes, which I appreciated since I disliked wearing her outfits. It wasn't that I hated them; I just preferred not to wear someone else's clothes. Unfortunately, I didn't have much choice in the matter.

I had already dressed in a black tank top and black skinny jeans, with my hair styled in a high ponytail. My new pair of high-heeled boots completed the look. Regardless of the occasion, high-heeled boots were a must for me. They were like my babies, and high heels were my backup plan, with sneakers as my last resort. Let's just say I had an obsession with less-than-fashionable shoes.

We stepped outside, and as the sunlight touched my skin for the first time in what felt like ages, I experienced an overwhelming sense of relaxation and rejuvenation. It was as if I had been under house arrest for years, though it had only been a few days.

Crossing the lawn, I finally took a moment to glance back and catch a glimpse of the mansion. It was an imposing structure, both from the outside and inside. The mansion was surrounded by iron gates, guarded by four bodyguards at the main entrance and several others positioned throughout the property. Numerous security cameras were strategically placed, monitoring every nook and cranny of the premises.

Unbeknownst to me, we had entered a vast open hall, leading to a long hallway that would take us to our destination.

Once we came to a stop, I noticed the expansive glass walls dividing cubicle after cubicles, all facing a large room ahead. The room was adorned with dummies and large flat boards sporting gigantic red circles in the middle. At the counter in front of the first cubicle, an assortment of guns—some of which I had never heard of before—were on display.

"Glad you're here early," a familiar deep voice said suddenly from behind us. I turned around and saw Shane and Jackson standing near the entryway.

Shane wore a pair of grey sweatpants and a white T-shirt, a departure from his usual suits. It always caught me off guard to see him in something different, highlighting just how handsome and attractive he was. Of course, I wouldn't let any of those emotions show on my face. It was a skill Uncle Matt had taught me, and now I had mastered the art of masking my true emotions and projecting false ones.

"So, what do you want me to do?" I finally asked, and he gestured toward the guns on the counter.

"Do what people do at shooting ranges. Aim and fire," he replied, his voice sending shivers down my spine. His eyes seemed darker than usual, and his perpetually cold expression never wavered for even a moment.

"Okay, then." I picked up the first gun within reach and loaded its bullets. Once ready, I put on the clear lens sunglasses designed for this environment and placed the earmuffs over my ears to protect them from the deafening sound of gunfire.

I cocked the gun, closed one eye, and took careful aim at the target, determined not to miss a shot. I started with the dummies sporting the prominent red dots on their fronts.

Two years ago, I would have been a nervous wreck just holding a gun, even for practice at the shooting range we frequented on weekends under Uncle Matt's insistence.

But look at me now—I could even hold it with one hand if it weren't for the weight of the current gun in my grasp. I squeezed the trigger, and the first bullet landed dead center on the red dot. Shifting my aim to the next dummy, I fired again, hitting it cleanly in the forehead. I then directed my attention to the large boards hanging on the wall, adorned with big red circles, and shot right through the center.

Target after target, I methodically fired my gun. For the final one, I aimed at the heart of the dummy, where the red dot was strategically placed. I regulated my breathing, shutting out the ringing in my ears caused by the bullets, and exhaled slowly. I stood still, focused on the target, and squeezed the trigger repeatedly.

By the time I emptied the gun, expending rounds on the last target, I lowered my arms and gazed at the conspicuous burning hole in the dummy's chest. A smile of satisfaction crept across my face as I removed the earmuffs and sunglasses, returning the gun to its original position. I then turned my attention back to the others and noticed Sofia staring at me in shock while Jackson clapped enthusiastically. As for Shane, his cold expression remained, but I caught a flicker of surprise and satisfaction that quickly vanished.

"Damn, Nicole! That was awesome. I had no idea you could handle a gun so skillfully. I'm genuinely surprised and impressed by what you just did," Jackson exclaimed, excitement evident in his voice. I smiled appreciatively at him.

"Thanks. All those shooting practices have paid off."

"I can hardly hit the target consistently in the right spot. My shots always end up near it, but wow, you really know your aim, girl!" Sofia exclaimed, clearly amazed. I shrugged nonchalantly.

"It's all about the aim." We all turned to look at Shane, who hadn't uttered a word to me yet. As he noticed our collective gaze fixated on him, he met my eyes briefly. 

"Well done, Parish," he said, then walked out of the room. I rolled my eyes discreetly after he turned his back. Jackson and Sofia sighed in annoyance.

"So much for compliments from him," Sofia grumbled.

"Hey, at least he said, 'Well done, Parish,' right? It's a start," Jackson chimed in, using air quotes to mimic Shane's words before he departed.

"I'm not bothered by it, guys. I never expected him to say, 'Congratulations, Nicole. You did exceptionally well today. Good job!'" I exclaimed, attempting to imitate Shane's deep voice, failing miserably.

"Well, we'll see what the next few days bring. Anyway, that's enough training for now. You did exceptionally well today and yesterday, and it's more than enough to prove to him that you're capable of anything," Sofia reassured me, her face glowing with happiness and excitement.

"So, what do I do now?" I asked, curious.

"Now, you wait for your first mission," Sofia replied, a twinkle in her eye.