Chapter 2
Briggs gave a cold laugh.
“I’ve seen enough.”
Emily’s fingers tightened around her rifle.
For a second, the old fear came back.
Week one, when Briggs stood inches from her face and told her she was a mistake.
Week five, when her scores mysteriously vanished from the board.
Yesterday, when someone slipped a failed mark into her file before she had even fired.
But fear had never stopped her.
It had only taught her how to breathe through pain.
Behind her, Private Mason Reed whispered, “Carter, don’t let him get in your head.”
Briggs snapped his eyes toward him.
“Quiet.”
Emily heard none of it now.
She raised her rifle.
Smooth.
Quiet.
Controlled.
The entire range fell silent.
Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
Emily looked downrange.
But she was not only seeing the target.
She was seeing her father’s hands guiding hers when she was twelve.
“Never fire angry, Em,” he used to say. “The rifle doesn’t care about your pain. It only listens to your control.”
The command was given.
Emily exhaled.
A gunshot cracked across the range.
Sharp.
Clean.
Violent enough to make several soldiers flinch.
But everyone’s attention did not go to the target.
It went to Sergeant Briggs.
His smile disappeared.
His eyes widened.
For the first time in twelve weeks, the man had no insult ready.
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“Impossible...” he whispered.
Read Part 3 to find out what Briggs saw that made him panic.
