Isla woke up to a loud knock on her bedroom door. The stiffness in her muscles instantly reminded her of what she had done last night-digging the grave, lifting the body, and burying the girl she had killed. Her hands trembled slightly at the memory.
The door opened before she could answer. Matteo stood in the doorway with his arms folded, his expression as unpredictable as ever.
"Wake up. Training starts now," he said simply.
There was no warmth in his voice, no compassion. Isla forced herself to sit up and rubbed her eyes. She had barely slept all night. Nightmares haunted her, the sound of Jessica's last breath and the feel of blood drying on her skin. But there was no time to show weakness.
She got up and followed Matteo through the cold, narrow hallway. The air in the facility still smelled of metal and wet concrete. Her stomach felt queasy, but she held it in.
They entered the training room. A large room with reinforced walls. Rafael was already there, standing in the center, watching several other students who were fighting fiercely. His piercing gaze fell on Isla as soon as she entered.
Matteo walked past Isla, picked up a pistol from the table and examined it briefly, then threw it at Isla. Reflexively, she caught it despite its unfamiliar weight in her hand.
"Today's lesson," Matteo said. "Your first kill was with a knife. Now, let's see how you handle this gun."
Matteo stood next to Isla, watching her with a calm expression. Meanwhile, Rafael just sat in the chair, not speaking, but waiting to see if Isla would fail or surprise everyone in the room.
"Point the gun, aim at the target and shoot," Matteo continued. "Simple. No hesitation. No second thoughts."
This room was filled with experienced people, men and women who had survived this violent world far longer than Isla had. They were assassins and fighters who had honed their skills to perfection. And in their midst, stood Isla, the new kid on the block, with her first gun in hand.
Keen eyes watched her, assessing her every move. Some of them crossed their arms, others wore skeptical expressions, while others smiled faintly, as if waiting for the moment when Isla would fail. No one spoke, but the atmosphere was heavy as if the air in the room was filled with expectation and doubt all at once.
Isla glanced at Matteo, but his expression gave no clue. Matteo only signaled Isla to come forward.
"Come," Matteo commanded.
Isla took a deep breath, stepped forward, and raised the gun. Her hand was steady at first, but then Jessica's face returned to her mind.
"Focus," Matteo admonished in a sharp tone.
Isla gripped the gun with both hands, trying to remember the instructions given earlier. She took a deep breath and her hands were still shaking slightly. The weapon felt heavier than she expected. This was not just a drill, but a test.
"Target ahead," Rafael's voice was calm but contained an undeniable firmness.
At the far end of the room, a target board stands tall with circles marking vital points. A mannequin head was also placed in one corner, mimicking the size of a real human head.
"Aim. Fire at the target," Rafael ordered.
Isla took a deep breath, trying to ignore the piercing gaze directed at her. She tightened her grip on the pistol grip, pointed the muzzle at the target, and squeezed the trigger.
Bang!
A popping sound echoed out, but the shot missed. There was no bullet mark in the center circle of the target. Some people raised their eyebrows, some chuckled mockingly. Isla bit her lip, not looking at them.
"Repeat," Rafael said without showing any reaction.
Isla adjusted her position, improving the grip of her hands. Once again, she took a breath, adjusted her focus, and pulled the trigger.
Bang!
The bullet hit the edge of the target this time, better than before, but still far from perfect. Whispering sounds could be heard around the room, but Isla refused to let herself be distracted.
"Do not hesitate." Matteo's voice suddenly sounded, not as loud as Rafael's, but piercing enough. "Guns are not for those who hesitate. When you point a gun at someone, you have to be sure you want to pull the trigger."
Isla swallowed. Matteo's words sounded like the harsh reality she had to accept. This was not just a shooting exercise. This was a lesson about conviction, about the decision to kill or not.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment to control her thoughts. Then, with a steadier hand, she raised the gun again. This time, she didn't just shoot at the target. She envisioned someone there who was her enemy, the one who had killed her father.
"You have to stop thinking like a human, Isla. A killer doesn't hesitate. A killer doesn't care. If you want revenge, you have to become something else entirely." Rafael raised his voice loudly amidst the crowd.
Bang!
The bullet struck right in the center of the target. The room was silent for a moment. The gazes that had previously underestimated her now turned a little more serious. No one spoke, but Isla knew they were looking at her differently this time. Rafael gave a small grin. Matteo only nodded slightly, barely visible.
Isla lowered the gun slowly, feeling her heart still pounding from her last shot. Her eyes stared straight ahead, at the target that now had a hole right in the center.
The room remained silent for a few seconds. There were no taunts, no skeptical whispers. There was only a changed gaze. They no longer saw her as a confused new kid. They began to see her as a potential threat.
"That's better," Rafael said.
"Reload the bullets. Fire ten times, no pauses, no misses." Matteo gave the order to Isla.
Isla swallowed, but she showed no hesitation on her face. She picked up a magazine from the table and inserted it into the gun with a faster movement than before, taking a deep breath. She knew this was not just another exercise. Matteo wanted to see if she was really improving or if she just happened to succeed.
Wasting no time, Isla raised the gun again. This time, her grip was steadier. She did not hear the sounds around her, only felt the rapid beating of her pulse in her ears. Her eyes were locked on the target.
Bang!
The first shot missed, just scratching the edge of the target. The next bullet hit the bottom of the target, far from the vital point. Whispers began to ring out around her, some people looking at each other with mocking expressions. Isla could feel their pressure as if waiting for her to fail.
Bang!
This time, the shot was closer to the center but still not perfect. Her hands were still shaking slightly, though she tried to hide it.
Bang!
The bullet struck the target's shoulder, better than before, but still not lethal. She repositioned herself, gripped the gun tighter, and took a deep breath.
Bang!
The shot was still not perfect, but this time it hit the center of the target, though not the heart.
"Stop! At least you have a little determination." Rafael grinned faintly then walked out of the room.