Thundering sounds of stairs our shoes created as we were moving echoed throughout. This stairway was long, but narrow. Jake was leading the way, as I followed right behind. My eyes looked around. There wasn't much to look at though. The only entity that I noticed was the wall structure around us. It was built of solid rock, white shimmering crystals embedded; much different than any other wall in Ground Zero. I wondered why.

I was unsure till what floor these staircases were leading to, nor why Jake would want to train someplace else.

We didn't talk as we moved, and the silence was somehow uncomfortable. He always talked. Even if the thing he was talking about didn't make sense. Now, he was concentrated, looking straight ahead, unbothered if I was even following him.

I debated whether I should start a conversation. But what was there to say anyways? What was there to talk about? The Infected? People dying? How he ended up here? Is his family even alive?

Those conversations were what surrounded us. They were what everyone spoke about. You couldn't talk about anything else because there wasn't anything else to talk about. Not anymore. I hated the idea of being left with only that. Infected. Sickness. Death. Grief. So I didn't bother talking about it at all.

"We're here." His voice broke the silence, briskly fading away.

He forced the door open, grinding metallic whistle welcoming us. My feet froze and I felt like I was being pushed down. It was like I was in a quicksand and the more I tried to bring myself back to reality the deeper I went down.

I scrambled up the last two stairs, moving to the edge of the building. I felt like I couldn't breathe. My heart was beating against my ribcage, mercilessly punching, punching, punching. I gripped the railing, steading myself. I breathed in the fresh air, and the realization still didn't seem real.

Fresh air.

Summer breeze.

Rays of sunlight hitting my skin.

Outside. We were outside.

There was no possible way. I haven't been outside since my family and I arrived at the Miracles on June 14th. For 32 days I haven't stepped foot in the real world.

Even though I was aware I was going to go soon with the trainers, it still felt unreal. I wasn't prepared for this. This would be the last place I thought Jake would bring me to.

I turned around, as Jake straightened himself from leaning against the closed door. He had a radiant smile on his face, that was glowing under the sun.

"I knew you would like it."

His body was next to me, looking at the two valleys. We gazed at the sun as it set, closing down behind them. I wanted to reach out to it. To bring my hand towards it and pull it as close to me as possible. To never let it go.

I looked at Jake. I noticed longing behind his gray orbs and he didn't appear like him anymore. The Jake that everybody likes. The Jake that smiles through everything. The Jake that isn't bothered by what happened, by what is happening.

Instead, he looked like one of us. Broken. Damaged. Hopeless enough to never believe he could be repaired.

I found my hand traveling to touch his. Tenderly, I put mine on his, blood rushing up to my ears. I felt hot for reasons I couldn't explain. He snapped his head in my direction, tensing.

I felt like he was about to say something but I beat him through, "I don't think this is where I'll learn to shoot."

He gave out a chuckle, pointing down. I followed his hand, my eyes resting on the Infected. The reality rushed back, slamming into me.

Of course. The infected are always going to be here. Always.

"Oh," I muttered, disappointment washing over me. I haven't seen the dead in awhile. Ever since Miracles. Seeing them brought memories I always pushed deep down and locked shut.

The dead didn't change. No matter how much has passed, I will always remember them. In the broad daylight, or in the pitch black darkness, I would remember their yellow, crooked teeth, bloody flesh dripping down their chins, their eyes bloodshot red, milky white surrounding the orbs. Completely lifeless.

The Infected below us were staggering, dragging their bodies against the pavement. Their decaying skin was covered in tattered clothing. My ears were filled with their groans of hunger, as they slammed, trying to get past the gates.

"They can't get past those gates," Jake informed, passing me the shotgun. "If you really want to learn, hitting the live target is best. So, It's actually the best spot for me to teach you to shoot."

I didn't argue because he was right. I had to be prepared for the real danger and that was them. This was the perfect practice.

I pointed the gun, taking in Jake's words from before.

Just shoot. Don't overthink. Shoot until you're safe.

I fired the first bullet hitting one of the Infected in their leg. It seemed like it didn't even affect it. Its hands kept on trying to get past the protective wall.

I moved to the next target, not bothering to look at Jake. I already knew it would be something between dissatisfaction and disappointment.

I couldn't resist though, as my hands waited to shoot the dead, my eyes glanced at him. Instead of finding hopelessness for me, he was patiently waiting for me to shoot, awaiting the perfect shot.

This made it even harder for me. I didn't want to fail. He believed in me. Hell, he was probably the only person in this complex that did. I didn't want to fail him.

Finally, he moved behind me, extending his arm to the top of the gun. I felt tingles flowing through my arms as he put his hand on mine. I felt foggy, a mist covering my eyes so I couldn't think clearly.

What was happening to me?

"Just follow my lead," his voice soft, breathless and just perfect.

He moved our hands to the Infected that was staggering to reach the gate. His grip on me and the gun was secure, strong and I never felt more safe than now.

He looked at me and nodded, indicating for me to pull the trigger. My fingers were shaking, my heart was roaring in my chest and all I could think about was Jake being so close to me.

His warm skin touching mine, his hand keeping me steady. I didn't have to think about shooting the dead because I couldn't think about it. I couldn't think about anything else.

I pulled the trigger, awaiting. The bulled pushed through the air, and the Infected I aimed for silently dropped to the ground. I took a good look at it, expecting that it might get up and continue its way to the gate.

It didn't. It was unmoving.

I turned around to Jake, a beaming smile on my face. For the first time in a long time I felt genuinely happy.

His expression matched mine and I felt the urge to hug him. To thank him for this, because it meant so much to me. I didn't. Instinctively, I took three steps away.

"I did it." I said it, the three words foreign to my tongue.

"You did it, Allie."

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Chapter 7 is here guys! Felt like updating as a New Year's Eve gift.

How did you like it? Any thoughts, ideas, recommendations?

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