The next morning, bright and early, April led Michael outside to the fences behind the house and set up some soda cans on one section for him to shoot.
"Keep the gun in front of you," instructed April after she passed him a Smith & Wesson handgun.
April placed Michael's hands on the gun so he held it the way she'd been taught to by her father.
"Keep it pointing straight ahead of you and aim for the center can."
Michael did exactly that and then pulled the trigger.
Pain shot up his shoulder as a bullet exited the muzzle, missing the target can by three inches.
"I didn't tell you to shoot yet!" yelled April.
Michael winced. "Sorry?"
April rolled her eyes and exhaled loudly. "You were too tense. Relax. Aim. Fire."
Michael took it a deep breathe through his nostrils and let it out slowly by his mouth, and waited until he felt his muscles loosen before raising the gun to point at the can again.
"Get the gun in the same line of view as the can then do it when you have it," Michael heard April say from behind him.
Michael shifted in place then fired. He was surprised to see the can fly off the fence into the long grass on the inside of the pasture.
April waited for Michael to flip on the safety and lower the gun before going to inspect his work.
After she'd picked it up out of the grass and examined it she showed it to Michael.
There was a bullet hole in the center.
"Impressive," April told him, smiling.
Michael smiled back, feeling accomplished for the first time in a long time. It felt good to do something right for once.
When April returned to his side Michael shot off a few more rounds, hitting three more cans off their resting places. The hits weren't dead center but April said they were good shots.
"Pretty good for a novice," she added.
Michael shrugged it off. "I learn fast."
April bent over and lifted a rifle off the ground. "Let's see how you handle the big gun."
She passed it to him and Michael awkwardly placed the gun on his shoulder.
"Don't do that," ordered April. "It's supposed to rest tightly to your shoulder, in less of course, you want a dislocated one."
Michael grimaced. "Of course not."
He fixed his position so that he was holding the rifle properly and took his shot.
The can he'd been aiming for dropped to the ground a few yards beyond the fence and Michael widened his eyes.
"Some power in it," he mumbled.
April giggled. "Yeah, but you won't be using it for the hunt. I don't have a rifle that shoots silver bullets."
Michael fired again, the last can standing on the fence flying off like the rest.
He then pointed the rifle to the dirt below him and fumbled to find the safety which he clicked on.
When that was done Michael dropped the gun to the ground and helped April set up new cans that had been contained in a black garbage bag.
After they finished April sighed. "I think you'll be fine practicing alone, right?"
"Why?" questioned Michael. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to interview some of the victims' families," April said.
Michael frowned. "Only if you're back before sunset."
"I will be," promised April.
Michael nodded. "Alright, as long as you have something you can leave, I'm all set."
As if to prove his point he picked up the handgun and after releasing the safety fired it at one of the replacement cans which promptly joined the old cans.
"Okay, I'll be back for supper." April waved as she backed away.
Michael returned the gesture and twisted in his spot to shoot the gun again. He loved the sound the can made when it fell.
Nice.
Michael was pleased with himself, and he couldn't wait to use the gun on the black dog. It would feel great to kill something evil, to do what he was created to do.
Michael spent the rest of the day practicing, only taking a break to eat a sandwich at dinnertime.
When he stopped it was because April had arrived back home and was approaching him from behind.
"You going to come inside for supper?" she asked. "Or am I going to have to pry the 'toy' out of your hands."
Michael grinned. "No, you don't."
He passed April her guns and threw the fallen cans quickly back into the garbage bag before heading inside with her on his heels.
They ate each a piece of steak, throwing a third to Toby, who gobbled it up gleefully, leaving only the bone which he would chew on later.
After the meal April and Michael discussed the information she'd collected over the course of the day.
"It seems the black dog is sticking to houses on the north side of Havre," April began. "It attacks people who wonder near the edge of the forest. It hides in the woods."
Michael shook his head to let her know he was listening.
"Since you picked up shooting fast…," April paused. "I thought we could hunt the thing down tonight."
"Sure," agreed Michael.
April smiled. "Alright then, I'll clean the guns and then we can head out."
A/N: I hope I got the basics of shooting right. I've never fired a gun in my life, only seen it on TV lol. So if there's any mistakes forgive me.