Chapter 62: Training

**BACK AT THE BUNKER...**

"I ran back to the Bay. I got on a boat and came to the island. I really wanted to try and start over again but the memories, the pain, and the trauma... it was all just too much. So, I chose to take my own life. I decided that I could never be at peace no matter where I hid so it would be better to just stop hiding altogether."

Peter watched her speak about the ordeal with Sebastian and he could tell that it almost broke her spirit that day.

"Did you ever consider his offer?" Peter asked her.

"His offer? About not turning him in for killing my family and friends, marrying him and living happily ever after? You mean, that offer?"

"Sorry, it was a stupid question," Peter said apologetically.

"No, it's not. I did consider it. With Seb's lifeless body lying in front of me, I considered a lot. I thought about going with Addicus and doing what he wanted, all while imagining how I'd kill him when his guard was down. I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I'm not as twisted as he is. So, I ran away again and chose suicide because I was a weakling," Sharon said in defeat.

"You're not weak, Sharon," Peter walked over to her and embraced her, "You're not weak at all, quite the opposite. You're the strongest woman I've ever met and we will get through this, I promise."

They shared a kiss that served as the glue that bonded their souls together even more than it was bonded.

"I don't want to run away anymore, Peter. I'm tired," Sharon said to him with a tear in her eye.

"Then, we'll fight. We'll fight him together. But if we're going to fight him, then you'll have to learn how to use this," Peter said to her and raised a pistol.

Sharon stared at the weapon and tried to take it from Peter.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" Peter asked and pulled the gun away from her looming hands.

"We could gather evidence against him and get him arrested. He'd spend the rest of his life in prison and you'd have no one's blood on your hands."

"Prison isn't an option for a man like Addicus. He needs to die! That's the only way I'll ever be free of him. I learned that the hard way," Sharon said with ice in her eyes.

"Then, we have work to do," Peter said.

"Indeed!"

And with that, Peter began training her in the art of combat. Nothing too advanced though, just a few fighting techniques and although she wanted to learn how to use a gun, Peter didn't think she was ready for it just yet.

While Sharon trained with Peter, JJ assembled some recruits into Addicus' army. A war was brewing and both sides were getting prepared for it.

.

.

.

"I need you to lift me over your shoulder and throw me to the ground," Peter told Sharon inside the bunker.

"What?" Sharon wasn't sure if she heard right.

"You heard me. Do it!" Peter said again.

"How do you expect me to pick you up and throw you over my shoulder?"

"There's a technique that I want to show you," Peter said and closed the distance between them, "It's all about using your opponent's motion and momentum against them. When a much larger person comes at you, you stand your ground and when they get close, place your bottom into their hips, bend over, squat, and lift, while pulling their arm forward. You should be able to hold them on your hips and then roll them off of your hip," Peter explained.

"I don't think I'm strong enough to do that, Peter," Sharon said.

"You don't have to be so strong. You just have to be quick," Peter said and demonstrated the move to her.

They practised it for hours but Sharon couldn't flip him no matter how hard she tried. She was starting to get frustrated.

"I can't do it!" She said angrily and walked away from Peter.

"Don't worry, dear, you'll get it eventually," Peter said optimistically.

"Why are you even teaching me this? When am I ever going to need this?" Sharon asked frustratedly.

"It's important," Peter said.

"No, Peter! This is important," she said and picked up one of his guns, "You should be teaching me how to use this."

"Sharon, be careful with that." Peter walked up to her and took away the gun.

"You know I have to learn how to use it. You said so yourself,"

"I know, Sharon, I know. But.., " Peter said with a sigh.

"But what?"

"If you learn how to use this, you cannot unlearn it. And when you pull this trigger and shoot someone, you cannot undo it. This instrument is one of death. It brings nothing but pain and suffering. Are you sure that this is what you want?"

Sharon hesitated before she answered.

"It's not what I want, Peter. It's what I need. Addicus is my problem and I dragged you into it. I have to do my part and this is the only way how."

"Ok! Ok, let's do it," Peter said and looked around the bunker, "but we're going to need a much wider space."

Outside the bunker, Peter placed a bunch of objects at a distance so he could teach Sharon how to aim and shoot.

As he walked back to her, he began explaining how to use a gun.

"Ok, first of all! You have to treat every firearm as if it is always loaded. Keep your finger off the trigger unless you are ready to shoot. Do not point a gun at anything you are not willing to destroy. Keep the firearm pointed toward the target or a safe backstop at all times. Do you understand?"

Sharon nodded and Peter continued.

"You also need to know how to reload a gun. With the thumb of the firing hand, press the magazine release, which is usually a button or small lever on the grip just behind the trigger on the left-hand side of the gun. The magazine may drop out of the grip or may require you to pull it free, depending on the model of the firearm. This one, however, drops out," he said and demonstrated.

"Grab a loaded magazine by the narrow front edge; The side the bullets face. Place your index finger at the top of the front edge. This will help you guide the magazine. Insert the magazine into the gun by first placing the back of the magazine against the back of the hole at the bottom of the grip. Then, push it in firmly upward until you hear a click."

Peter did as he said and the gun made a clicking sound which caused Sharon to flinch.

"Are you okay?" Peter asked after he noticed her discomfort.

"I'm fine. Go on," Sharon said.

Peter gave her a puzzling look and continued explaining.

"Pull downward on the magazine to ensure that it is fully seated. Place your non-firing hand over the top of the slide, grasp, pull back sharply until it stops, and release. The slide will snap forward, cambering a round from the loaded magazine. The firearm is now loaded and ready to fire," Peter finished.

"Did you get all that?"

"Yes I did," Sharon said enthusiastically.

"Are you ready to give it a try and aim for the targets?"

Sharon stared at the objects in the distance, then, at the gun.

"Yes, I am," And with that, she took her position in front of the targets and aimed at them.