Chapter 2
Ava lowered the rifle slightly, breathing hard.
“Sergeant, I can correct—”
Before she finished, Harlan grabbed the rifle and yanked it out of her hands so hard her shoulder twisted.
The entire firing line went silent.
Ava’s fingers stayed frozen in the air for half a second, as if the weapon were still there.
Harlan held the rifle up like it was evidence of a crime.
“You’re wasting Army ammo.”
A few soldiers looked away.
A few smiled.
Ava swallowed.
Her cheeks burned, but she didn’t cry.
Harlan leaned closer.
“You know what I see, Reed?”
Ava stared straight ahead.
“I see another recruit who watched too many military movies and thought putting on a uniform made her dangerous.”
A soldier behind him snorted.
Harlan pointed toward the targets.
“This is a range. Not a photo shoot. Not a place for you to prove a point to whoever signed your transfer.”
Ava finally looked at him.
Her eyes were tired.
But they were not weak.
“I didn’t ask for special treatment.”
“No,” Harlan said. “You just showed up with sealed paperwork and a rifle score that makes no sense.”
Ava’s jaw tightened.
That was the first crack in the secret.
Her marksmanship record had been blacked out.
Not blank.
Blacked out.
And beside it, one line had remained visible.
REVIEW BY RANGE COMMAND ONLY.
May you like
That had been enough to make Harlan decide she needed to be knocked down.
Read Part 3 to find out why Lane Seven was never a fair test.
