Chapter Text
“Group discount at the new shooting range,” the bold print read, followed by a tagline: “Where Precision Meets Power.”
You found the coupon tucked to your door, coming home from work one evening. Weird, because you never had interest in guns nor shooting one.
“Must be from watching that movie trailer earlier at lunchbreak for a new action film… I swear algorithms these days are too scary” you thought, taking the coupon and left it on your kitchen counter only to be forgotten. But after days of your friends spamming the group chat with “Let’s do something different this weekend,” you caved and offered to use that coupon you had.
You examined the logo on the coupon – a stylized crosshair overlaying a trigger silhouette, and within the crosshair’s center is a subtle iris design in two tones: blue and brown.
“On point and classy.” as you took a sip of your morning coffee. Designing corporate logos and websites as a career has made you more critical of things like these. And somehow there’s something about this new establishment that’s… interesting.
“I suppose stepping out of my comfort zone would do me something good. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?” You convinced yourself.
You and your three girl friends since high school walked towards the sleek-looking building. A few expensive cars were on the parking lot.
“Whoa… is that a Bugatti?” Ari exclaimed at a car passing in front of them.
“This looks like an exclusive club for the rich kids than some shooting range. Are you sure we’re in the right place?” Jenn asked as she scanned more parked luxury cars.
“Who cares? Let’s check it out!” Risa excitedly said fixing her bangs, as they stopped in front of the doorway.
“I just followed the address via GPS. I mean if we’re in the wrong place then we can just—" you glanced again on the coupon, then your phone.
Just then a tall clean-cut guy came out and greeted them:
“Good afternoon, ladies! Welcome to “Trigger Point” he flashed a boyish smile that your friends were enamored almost immediately.
“Ahh, we got this discount coupon some weeks back and I’m not sure if it’s still valid though.” You spilled and handed the coupon over to the guy in black uniform.
“Of course, I can check that for you Miss. Please come inside and have a seat ladies.” he ushered them inside to sit on a dark plush leather lounge before leaving for the reception table a few meters away.
After a few moments, the pretty and polished lady receptionist came over to them and shortly two gentlemen in black polo bearing the club’s insignia followed.
“Welcome to the club, ladies. These will be your instructors for this afternoon: Mark and James. They will be guiding you during your time here. Have fun!” she explained.
The four of you followed the two instructors as they led your group to a climate-controlled room which smelled faintly of fresh paper targets and gun oil. They both explained the basic rules of safely handling guns and after a quick Q & A, you were all given eye and ear protection.
A black Glock 19 handgun was on the counter for each booth, looking like a prop in an action movie.
Your friends excitedly took selfies as you went two by two while guided closely by your instructors. Ari and Risa went first and were semi-screaming each time they fired their guns and missing their targets almost completely which elicited chuckles from the instructors.
Next were you and Jenn – Jenn, although a lot braver than the others, went first but still missed most of her targets.
“First time?” The instructor asked with a grin. James looked like your age, or maybe a year older. His colored hairstyle mimicking that of a pop idol.
You nodded returning a small smile, adjusting your ear protection. “A total noob.”
He grinned and guided you to the booth. “Feet shoulder-width apart. Relax your grip but keep control. Eyes focused on front sight, and it’s okay to have the target a bit blurry. Breathe out as you pull the trigger.”
Your friends were squealing in the next booths, taking selfies with their pistols like tourists at a museum. Typical.
You paid no heed to them and focused on the target. One deep breath. One squeeze.
BANG!
The recoil jerked your arms, but when the target came back, the red circle had a neat hole near the center.
The instructor blinked, then grinned. “Beginner’s luck? Try again.”
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Each shot landed close to the bullseye. Your friends were too busy laughing at their own off-center hits to notice you were on fire.
Then James clapped, “Impressive one Miss… How about thirty more rounds for your friends? On the house.”
You raised a brow. “Why?”
“Call it a promo for good shooters.” His grin was a little too polished.
Ari, Jenn and Risa happily cheered and were now hounding Mark to go for another round.
Then James ushered you to another room and excused himself for a while. He returned with a different gun in hand: an IWI Galil ACE rifle.
“Since you were able to nail the beginner’s handgun well, let’s go a notch higher with this.” He led you to another booth. You eyed the dangerous looking beast.
“This…this is something used by soldiers, right?” You stammered peering apprehensively at James who is now giving you a somewhat challenging look. He nodded.
“Yes, used by police officers and military. So, wanna give it a go?” You hesitated and remembered a documentary saying the recoil of this kind of firearms can be quite robust and you doubt your body can handle it.
“I… don’t think I could handle this one yet James. This is too… advanced.” You answered but James offered a genuine smile and assured you.
“Don’t worry. I am quite confident that you can do this, and I’ll be supporting you to lessen the recoil’s impact. Just one or two shots.” You paused for a moment but James now positioned himself behind you, corrected your stance and aim on a metal paddle 5 meters away.
“Right, now take a deep breath and plant your feet firmly. Don’t be scared.” He encouraged.
BANG BANG
Your hands were still trembling slightly from the Galil’s brutal recoil. James clapped your back, grinning like he just hit the jackpot.
“Good job!” as he helped put the rifle down on the metal counter.
“For a newbie, you’ve got some serious instincts. Most clients I had would miss the whole damn target their first try. And you… you clipped the paddle.”
You laughed it off, though a bit shaky. “Yep, and it nearly made a hole in my shoulder in the process.”
“But you could go far with some training, we have experienced instructors.” he pressed, then lowered his voice almost dramatically. “As a matter of fact—”
Then the door opens with a soft click.
Your ears sounded odd after taking off the ear protection earlier, but you picked up that subtle sound. Perhaps it was the hush that followed or how James’ expression changed – his smirk replaced with a look that’s deferential.
You turned and the world narrows to a single figure.