Defect - By Ryann Kerekes Page 0,30

ready, you’ll want to slowly squeeze back on the trigger. He takes a step back from me, leaves crunching under his feet as he backs up.

I curl my finger around the trigger and hold my breath. I squeeze, and the gun discharges with an ear-splitting bang, rocking me back on my heels. The gun blast is so loud; it’s like a crack of thunder through the quiet woods. An empty shell lies at my feet and the smell of burnt gun powder hangs in the air. I try to see where I’ve hit the log, but it looks just the same as before. “Did I hit it?”

Will shakes his head. “Usually you won’t the first time. You’ll try again.”

For some reason, even though I had wanted to try it, I don’t like the idea of having to fire the gun again. Immediately after I felt the gun go off, my heart filled with a panicky feeling I can’t explain. It pressed down on me, reminding me that what I was doing was designed to kill someone.

Will takes the gun from me and reloads it.

“Shouldn’t I learn how to do that part, too?” I ask.

He stops what he’s doing and passes it back to me. One side of his mouth twitches, and I can tell he likes that I asked this. “Slide open the chamber.” He hands me a bullet. “The rounded end goes forward.”

I place the bullet inside and let the gun snap closed. Knowing it’s loaded and the safety is still off makes my stomach tingly. I step into position, just wanting to get this over with as quickly as possible. Maybe if I hit the log this time, he’ll let me be done. I raise the gun and concentrate on the log through the sight. When I have it all lined up, I squeeze the trigger. My hit sends splinters flying from the log.

I can tell Will’s smiling before I even turn around. I am too. We stand there staring at each other for a few seconds before he breaks the silence. “Nicely done, Sterling.” He removes the gun from my hands, brushing his fingers against mine in the process.

Chapter 11

When I slip into the gym, I look like a drowned rat. I’m drenched in sweat, even though Will and I walked the last three miles when I couldn’t run anymore. I can hear feet scuffling from the pool room, though no sounds of splashing. As I head inside, the smell of the pool makes my throat close up. The memory of nearly drowning in it has not faded.

Kane is hosting a game of tug-o-war over the water. Teams stand on either side of the pool with a rope stretched taut between them. I shudder. What is it with him and ropes and water? I push my hair out of my face and try to be inconspicuous as I join the team that contains Sam and Sabrina. I know Kane spots me, but with Will standing just inside the doors, he lets my sudden entrance go unnoticed.

I picked the right team. We win the match and send the other team flying into the pool. I’m grateful. When I think about going in that pool again, the burn of the chlorine in my eyes and throat, I feel little pangs of fear.

I’m not sure Kane’s thought his training methods through though, because with half of the group soaking wet and dripping on the floor, he’s forced to release us early for dinner.

Will disappears, and Kane escorts us from the gym to the bunker. Sam comes up behind me and loops her arm through mine on the walk back. “Where were you today?”

I hold up my wrist. “Got my chip.”

“So you’re one of us now.” She nods thoughtfully, like she’s both happy and sad about this news.

I have the same feeling as her about this. “You lied to me, by the way.”

She looks over at me, raising one eyebrow.

I hold up my wrist again. “It hurt like a bitch.”

She laughs.

***

I head to my locker to grab a change of clothes, wanting to get to the showers before they are full with the girls who were just thrown in the pool. When I open my locker, the backpack I wore today has been placed inside, on top of my clothes. I pick it up and bury it at the bottom, underneath the stacks of t-shirts. I’m not sure why Will has given it to me, and wonder if it’s discovered, will