A/N: Thanks for all the reviews and faves/follows! I'm happy so many people like it ;-;

Sara and I followed Erika out of the "girls' headquarters" to a gated elevator. She looked back at me with sly smile, pressing the down button. "You ever handled a gun before?"

I blinked in confusion. "Of course I haven't. Why would I need to?"

"Maybe your daddy taught you," She shrugged. "Its not unusual."

"He wasn't a gun expert." I noticed Sara was looking at me with an unreadable expression. What did she want me to say—that I was excited to start my terrorist training?

When we got in the elevator, Erika explained that we were going to the weapons lab and shooting range. She was going to show me a few of the guns that I would be able to work with.

"Did someone train you too?" I asked as the elevator stopped.

"I already had experience," She waved me to continue following her. "Bane liked that. He promoted me instantly."

I had to hold back the laugh that wanted to escape my lips. I couldn't believe that people here had the mindset of this being a day-to-day office job, with promotions and bosses and actual training. It was all bullshit; they had to know that, right?

We approached a room that was clad in metal—desks, chairs, cabinets…everything. Erika walked up to drawer that was pulled out. My eyes widened at the amount of guns that were lying on it. Then I started to wonder just how many weapons filled each cabinet... How did they get all of that? I wanted to ask, but I bit my tongue as Erika started to examine the guns.

"This is a semi-automatic," She picked it up. "Small and easy to handle. It'll be the first one you use. Then you move up to assault rifles."

I couldn't help but to stare at it with hesitation—how could she be so nonchalant about this? I looked to Sara, who was quiet the entire time. She was completely calm.

"Am I—am I supposed to kill someone with this? Is that what you want me to do?"

"If its necessary, yes." Erika shrugged as if it wasn't a huge deal.

"Have you killed someone?"

She began to answer, but paused. I noticed her and Sara exchanging a brief look. I looked between the two, starting to feel a bit uncomfortable. It was bad enough that I had to adapt to a situation that I couldn't get out of…but to feel completely out of place in the presence of strangers was just unsettling. I was starting to think that Sara's little talk about easily fitting in was a lie to make me feel better. There was no way that every girl that was forced into this army suddenly felt at ease because of bunch of other girls were there too. I didn't feel that way at all.

"I did once," Erika finally said. "It wasn't supposed to happen and that's all I say about it."

Before I could even react, she grabbed my hand and handed me the gun.

"Let's get started."

She walked out of the weapons lab, leaving me and Sara alone. I bit my lip, starting to follow her until Sara reached out to touch my shoulder. She gave me what looked like a smile of pity. I had no idea how to respond to her, so I just looked away and followed Erika to the shooting range. She was standing at the booth at the very end, arms crossed and leaning against the wall. I couldn't help but to walk as slow as possible with the gun in my hand; it felt so foreign and heavy in my hands.

"Make yourself comfortable with it," She told me as I approached her. "You control it, it doesn't control you."

"I don't think I'm made to fire one of these things," I looked at the paper target at the end of the room. "It doesn't feel right."

"It never feels right the first time. But you get used to it—or make yourself used to it."

She pushed herself off of the wall and walked closer to me. "Its really simple, actually. All you do is cock the gun back," She pointed to a little lever. "That's the hammer—pull that all the way back, and you're ready."

I did as she said and looked at her for approval. She nodded, and then reached for two pairs of earmuffs on the floor. "To protect your hearing. You'll still be able to hear me, though." She put them over my ears and did the same for her.

"Any more tips?" I asked.

She pointed to the target. "Its all you here. Aim at the head, make sure you're steady, then fire."

She backed up as I raised the gun. I tried to position the gun at the red circle of the head, I had no idea if it was right or not. I could feel sweat beading on my forehead as I shifted the gun left and right slightly, trying to determine which looked the most accurate. I knew Erika was waiting; hell, even I was waiting for myself. Without thinking, I closed my eyes and fired. I felt myself move back from shock. I lowered the gun, anxious to see my result.

I'd just hardly grazed the right shoulder. Nowhere near the head. I turned to look at Erika with an apologetic face, but she just smiled.

"Good job for a first timer."

"I didn't hit the body at all."

"But you're adapting to the gun. As soon as you're comfortable with it, you'll be able to steady yourself better." She waved at the target. "Keep shooting, we got all day."

0000

Hours passed by, and we were still in the range. Erika examined every shot I made, making comments on how I could improve but always remembering to tell me that I was doing a good job. I would be lying if I said I starting to feel comfortable around the gun, but at least it didn't feel completely unknown to me.

I'd forgotten that Sara was still there until she went to the upper level to get us each an apple. As she handed it to me, I tried to recall the last time I ate. My stomach suddenly started to hurt as I thought about it.

"How long have I been here?" I asked, taking a huge bite from the apple.

Erika looked to Sara for the same answer. "Almost four days."

"And this is all I've had to eat?"

She started to laugh. "We'll get more food after you're finished practicing."

"I think she's done for the day," Erika chimed in. "She did a great job for her first time."

I rolled my eyes, trying not to grin. "You're just saying that."

"I'm serious! And if you keep practicing, you'll be even better. Then you'll get promoted."

"I don't care about that. It's not even a real promotion."

"Its still an achievement."

"To what? A bigger gun? A more dangerous mission? Getting closer to that terrorist—"

"Vera," Sara cut me off, resting her hand on my leg. I looked away from her, letting out a small sigh. Erika gave me a sympathetic smile, as if she knew how I was feeling right now. Did she? Had she ever felt the same hatred that I just can't seem to let go of towards him? Part of me wanted to believe it; there had to be someone else who could relate to me. I wasn't the crazy one here.

I tossed the apple core back and forth between my hands, immersed in my own thoughts. I didn't realize that the elevator was lowering to the basement level until I heard footsteps walking over to us. Erika perked up in her seat; I stared at her in confusion, wondering who it could—

"Resting on the job?"

I should've known; it was so obvious. Erika's former laidback, carefree posture changed to that of a statue. She was absolutely still, her eyes focused on him. He stood in front of our booth where the each of us sat in our chairs. I noticed Sara and Erika looking at him; I kept my sight to the concrete floor. But I knew his attention was on me. Fantastic.

"We're actually done for the day, sir." Erika replied. Her voice sounded mechanic and emotionless. Unnatural, just like his. "Vera was excellent."

I shot Erika a glare—my first day was far from excellent. How could she lie to him like that? It was silent again. He was waiting for me to respond to him. I slowly turned my head to look up at him. Just as I thought, he was glaring at me. I didn't know what to say to him—I didn't want to say anything to him. I jumped in my seat when Erika wrapped her arm around my shoulder. I didn't suspect her to do that, especially considering her serious demeanor around him.

"Didn't you have a good day?" She asked me, a small smile on her lips.

"Yeah," I was still staring at him as I answered. "I had a good day."

I could sense that amusement in his eyes again.

"Then you can join the rest of us on an outside mission tomorrow."

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