Dead Before She Cared

"Pull the trigger, Gemma! Now!"

Valerie's roar whipped through the air, snapping like a barbed whip right against my eardrums.

It was the hottest day on record in North America. Ground temperatures reached 113 degrees Fahrenheit. The scorching heat and the burning smell of hot concrete nearly suffocated me.

I had been standing in the blistering sun for three whole hours. My clothes were soaked with sweat.

My hands shook as I held the heavy handgun. Fifteen yards away, a small white rabbit was tied to the target, trembling in fear.

I had a severe congenital heart defect and extreme blood phobia. But to prove to the family elders that she had no weaknesses and was completely unbiased, Valerie—our Underboss—dragged me straight into the family live-fire training field.

"How long are you going to shake? You can't even kill a freaking rabbit. You're embarrassingly weak!" Valerie marched up behind me. She shoved her cold gun barrel hard against the back of my head. "If I don't see blood today, you're not walking out of here alive!"

My instinct to obey her wiped out my mind.

Tears filled my red eyes. Driven by Valerie's crazy pressure, I closed my eyes in despair and pulled the trigger.

BANG!

The heavy recoil jolted pain straight up my arms. The sound of a bullet ripping through flesh echoed sharply.

The metallic smell of blood rushed at me.

I opened my eyes. The sight of spreading crimson made my eyes widen in panic.

My blood phobia exploded instantly!

My vision flashed black and white. It felt like an invisible hand squeezed my heart, driving sharp pain through my entire body.

My knees gave out. I hit the burning concrete hard. The heavy pistol slammed onto the ground with a loud clatter.

I opened my mouth wide. I gasped like a fish out of water, but no air came in.

I wanted to scream for help, but I couldn't make a sound.

The crowd stirred. Chloe, the intern medic for the training team, stepped forward in her high heels. She looked down at me. Pure malice and jealousy flashed in her eyes.

She lazily pulled out an instrument and tapped me once. She didn't even check the vitals monitor. Disgusted, she dusted off her hands and stood up, shouting to Valerie with confidence:

"Underboss, my medical diagnosis shows her vitals are totally fine. Her numbers are completely stable."

Chloe turned around. Her voice was just loud enough for every watching family member to hear clearly. "She's just too soft-hearted to kill a rabbit. She's faking it to get out of shooting duty."

"I knew it. The Young Lady is spoiled. She can't handle real action."

"Faking dead over a rabbit? It's a complete disgrace to the family."

The people loyal to the elders whispered back and forth. Bitter mocks echoed around me.

Hearing the words "faking it," Valerie's dark face twisted instantly.

When I was little, she held me tight. She swore I'd never have to worry. If I didn't want to do something, she'd never force me.

So I was never afraid to be weak. I knew Mom had my back.

But now, in front of all these gang spies, my weakness felt like a slap right across her face.

"Gemma! How did I raise such a weak, spineless coward!"

Valerie rushed forward, her eyes burning with rage. She kicked me hard in the shoulder!

The impact sent me sliding half a yard across the hot concrete.

"The medic said you're fine! You're faking it over a damn rabbit!"

Valerie caught up in two quick steps. She stood over me and barked her command:

"Get up! You're finishing this target drill today—even if it kills you!"