The gunshots echoed deafeningly in the training room, piercing through the rubber targets. My fingers shook, as I touched the trigger of the shotgun. The shallow breathing of mine only got louder, and I tried shutting off the yellings around me.

Allie, this isn't your first time. You can do it. Just pull the trigger.

Finally, I did. The bullet flew, bell - like ringing reaching up to my ears. The target swung backwards before moving back to its original position and I dropped my gun.

"Not bad, Allie."

I turned, my body facing Jake. I wiped the sweat from my temple with the sleeve of my shirt and shrugged. "Kana and Chase would disagree."

"Well," He began, stepping down the tiny step and walking towards the target I shot. "The hit shoulder wouldn't stop the Infected from ripping you apart, but it would slow them down...so that's good!"

I looked at him bemused. His smile reached up to his eyes, revealing his dimples."You are not funny."

"Everyone would disagree."

He moved towards me, taking the gun out of my grip. He positioned his body, aligning it with mine. I could feel him breathing. It was steady, unbothered, confident. I took a good look at his face. His eyes were frozen on mine as he pointed the gun at the target. He raised his eyebrows in a challenging mock and pressed the trigger. Effortlessly, the bullet hit the head.

"That's how you do it."

I rolled my eyes. It was my turn to take the gun out of his hand. "I'm not good at shooting."

"Well, you need to learn because if you are going out there, it'll be essential to survive."

"I know that." I muttered, ignoring the feeling of dread that was bubbling in me.

I pointed the gun straight ahead. As I was about to shoot again, he put his hand on my shoulder. I froze, breath catching in my throat. The warmth of his hand was spreading through my silky white shirt. I lowered the weapon down, controlling my breathing.

"You are focusing too much," He commented. I could barely hear it. I focused on his hand, the weight of it, the weight that was spreading throughout my body. "You are overthinking it. Just shoot."

"I'm not overthinking it." I denied, shaking the feeling his warm hand gave me. I closed one of my eyes, waiting to shoot again.

"You are," Jake argued. I looked at the target, my heartbeat increasing. I tried to shut off Jake's words. "You won't be able to overthink when the Infected is about to attack you. You shoot, and you shoot until you are safe."

"I'm not overthinking it," I stood firmly, shaking my head. His hand dropped, and he took a couple of steps away. "You're wrong."

I released the grip on the trigger, and shot again. This time, the bullet barely hit the target. The scrape was at the bottom of the rubber dummy, the bullet on the floor. I gave out a frustrated sigh, brushing the hair out of my face. The dread I frantically pushed down started coming to the surface.

I was scared. Chase will make me go outside with him soon, and I had barely any fighting ability. Jake was right; before I even decided to shoot, the Infected would come at me.

"Am I wrong?" He asked, turning around. He was giving up, seeing that I wouldn't budge. I wondered whether I should let him leave.

I'll figure it out myself. With a couple of more training sessions, I'll be just like the others.

But that wasn't true. I was just lying to myself. I was here for a few days. For hours I was at this exact spot, holding the same weapon, firing at the same target. I haven't hit the head once.

I couldn't ask anyone for help. My trainer before wasn't my trainer anymore. She got a girl named Sara, who came a couple of days ago. Other trainers that were here had their own jobs, and plus who would waste their time on a girl that they never even talked to?

Chase was too busy with guiding the others that were going on the everyday runs with him. He would be out almost all day, and when he would come back, it would be too late. Either the curfew was up or he wasn't around and stayed in his dorm.

There was no way I was going to ask Kana either. She was around more than Chase but I was steering clear of her. She already knew I wasn't experienced. She didn't need to know how much.

As Jake started to leave, I called out. "Help me, then."

He stopped, but didn't turn around. I continued, "You're right. I spend too much time waiting. But I'll need to go out there someday, and I need to be ready. So, teach me how to do it."

He finally turned around, his eyes flickering in the light. "Why would I spend my time helping you?"

I wanted to say because we are friends, because that is what friends do, because I am clueless and you know what you are doing.

My pride was way too big to say that. "Just forget it, I'll manage."

"Hey, I was kidding," He exclaimed, breaking into a grin. "You really can't take a joke."

As much as I suppressed it, I gave in after a while. Jake was a person that you could not get mad at. Even in this world, he had a spark. He had a way of making people forget what was around them. To make them feel like they are something. That they value. That they are important.

He took a gun out of my hands, motioning his head to the exit. "I'll help you. Just not here."

I stopped at the metallic door, looking at Jake. "What are you doing?" I asked suspiciously. My green eyes narrowed at him as he roamed through his blue varsity jacket. "This door is restricted."

He finally took out the keypad, his eyes going up. I followed his suit, my eyes meeting the hidden camera on the ceiling. It was off.

"Just like I thought." He scanned the card, the door unlocking. He entered, holding the door for me.

I stayed in place. This door was at the far corner of floor 1. It was barely visible, I never even noticed it before. I was unsure where it was leading exactly. I didn't know if I wanted to find out either. Not with Jake at least.

His patience was running low as he paranoidly looked past me, checking if anyone was nearing. "Let's go before anyone sees us."

"How do you have the keycard?" I was confused how he got it. No one except the trainers, Commander or his trusted people had it.

"I stole it." He said simply, not seeming like he was going to elaborate. "Now, let's go."

My feet were glued to the pavement. The small voice in the back of my head advised me to not go. To go back to the training room and train myself.

"If I wanted to hurt you I would have done it already," He told me, realizing why I wasn't going. His tone made that voice in the back of my head instantly vanish as he looked at me with disappointment and dejection.

I stood there, regretting ever doubting him. I knew he wouldn't hurt me. He would be the last person in this complex to do it. I looked back, finally deciding. I closed the door behind us, walking up the metallic stairs.

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Hey guys, hope you enjoyed chapter 6!

The next chapter is already done, but I will be waiting a couple of days to post. This chapter would be much longer and I wouldn't necessarily end it here but that's only because I feel like shorter chapters are easier to read and more fun. Especially on Wattpad.

Please vote, comment and share this book because it helps a lot. Also any ideas, thoughts about characters, recommendations are always welcome. Thank you for reading!