The Purge

“There is no teacher but the enemy… only the enemy shows you where you are weak. Only the enemy tells you where he is strong. And the rules of the game are what you can do to him and what you can stop him from doing to you. I am your enemy from now on. From now on I am your teacher.”

Orson Scott Card; Ender’s Game

“Are you sure you can teach me how to shoot?” Blondie said. She’s been a sick parasite ever since we left for shooting range. She kept on pestering me about this; she kept on asking me about that. My head buzzed with anxiety. The thought that Bri allowed Athren to train the neophytes still haunted me like shadows coming into life.

“Are you sure you’re not twelve?” I threw a question back at her and she flinched. It’s obvious it pisses her off to have her size criticized. She narrowed her eyes at me but I kept my eyes on the gun as I inserted the magazine. I raised it up to her eye level. Standing up like this, she’s a perky midget. Her head aligned with my under arm.

“This is strictly for adult use only.”

She scoffed at me. “You’re not an adult too. So, clearly, you can’t use that gun.”

I gritted my teeth as I raised the gun up to target level. I clicked the safety switch on with my thumb. I turned to look at her before discharging the gun. She cringed from the impact which brought a smirk up my face.

“Oops. What were you saying again, little girl?”

She twitched her lips to the side. She leaned on the table where the other unloaded gun lay in peace. She took the gun in her hand and weighed it as if it was a piece of jewelry.

“That’s not how you hold a gun.” I mocked and she pointed the gun straight at her target. Me.

“Is this how you hold a gun?” she cocked a challenging eyebrow at me.

I glowered at her. She rolled her eyes at me as she lowered the gun.

I took the gun from her and I pulled out its magazine. “You have to check the gun first if it’s loaded.” I said as I slid the loaded magazine in its place. “Pulling the trigger activates the firing pin. In that case, it discharges the weapon causing it to fire.”

I looked back at her. She had her eyes glued at the gun. When she saw me looking, she pursed her lips shut. I wave her over to stand in front of me. She went over and I stood behind her. I guided her hands on the gun. I raised our arms on the position I did earlier.

“Hold your weapon in the firing-ready position.”

Now with both hands, I guided her hands on the gun’s handle. Her breathing started to take some pace.

“Grip the gun only with your middle and ring finger. The pinky should only rest on the gun but it should not be used to grip.” I said and she nodded. “Don’t use your thumb either.” I squeezed her hands. “Grip tighter.” She did. She leaned forward, probably to get a better view of the target. She watched the target with fervent eyes, determined to fire on my signal.

“Now, fire when you’re—.”

She pulled the trigger before I could even peel myself off of her and the impact made her flinch. The bullet targeted the wall and since she’s too short and her head was the same level as my nose, I was not fast enough to move away and let her loose. The back of her head hit my nose. I did not see it coming. I stepped away from her immediately.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” she shouted, still holding the gun. I moved her hand someplace else so the gun would face a different direction other than my knee.

“Again.” I said firmly as I placed a hand on my nose. I was glad to know it wasn’t bleeding.

She bit her lower lip as she raised the gun to the direction of the target. Her hand shook from the pressure she was exerting on the gun.

“You’re in ballpark. Relax your grip a bit.” I said as I guided her hands on the grip of the gun once again. “Steady the gun with your other hand.” I squeezed her hands tightly to make sure she knew and understood my instructions. “Make sure both thumbs are clear of the slide.” I separated her legs with mine. “Stand in the proper firing stance.” She was so short I almost had my lower lip brush her upper earlobe as I leaned down to her. “Fix the gun on the target. Control your breathing.”

She relaxed on my hold and then she released that breath out of her control.

“Fire when you’re ready.” I whispered to her.

BAM! Shouted the gun at the walls. She hit the target in the head.

I moved away, smiling. She took off her safety glasses.

“I did it!” she leaped and clapped her hands in zeal. She raised her hand for a high-five.

Well, she had been a persistent and diligent student so I responded to her high-five. She grinned widely that I thought she would actually split her face into half.

“That was really cool! We should do it again!” she exclaimed.

I raised my eyebrows at her. “I like the spirit.” I smirked at her. “Have you used a gun before?”

She shook her head. “No. Throwing sharp knives is my specialty. That’s a warning by the way.”

I chuckled. “Fair warning, Blondie.”

“I’m Halley.” She corrected.

I offered my hand for a hand shake. “Nice meeting you, Halley. I’m Conleth.”

She shook my hand with a wide set grin on her face. In that instance, I could feel the air changing. Maybe she’s not that perky after all. She can do more than just damage a dummy in the head.