The First Shot Novels & Stories

“Oh, we don’t need to take you tonight. We just need you to understand. Every step you take puts more blood on your hands. Yours. Your friends’. That little trinket around your neck? It’s already chosen by your side.” Roman let out a growl that shook the night. Kael’s knife flashed in the dark. Janie swore under her breath. And then the first shot rang out. The bullet clipped the rusted side of a train car near Roman’s head, spraying sparks. Everything snapped into chaos. Wolves lunged forward, steel clanged against steel, claws shredded air.

He hesitated, and that moment was all it took. The crack of a single shot split the air. I didn’t know who fired first. All I knew was that the world stopped moving.

For a moment, she couldn’t breathe. She had faced danger before, but this—this was different. Now she wasn’t in control. She was helpless. Hazel closed her eyes tightly, fighting the fear that crawled up her spine. For one terrifying second, she thought, This is it. Maybe they wouldn’t make it out alive. Maybe this was how it ended. And then— A gunshot shattered the air. Francisco fired the first shot, his movements smooth and controlled. Another shot followed. Then an explosion. A deafening blast that rattled the car.

It was a perfect shot. “Do you want to try?” He asked me, stepping backward so I would move forward. “Sure.” I made sure my headphones were stable on my head before lifting the gun. I focused my hands in the direction of the bullseye and made the shot. The force of the shot had me stumbling back, but I didn’t fall. I looked to see if I missed it. I did. It would have been weird if I didn’t. It was my first time shooting a gun after all.

This was the first time I’d ever taken a gun with trembling hands. “Just shoot. Don’t hesitate,” Alexei said. I drew a breath and aimed the gun at his shoulder. If this really could trigger his memories, then so be it. My finger tightened on the trigger once. On the second pull, there was no turning back. BANG!

He raised the gun slightly. “I was special forces.” The men hesitated. Just for a second. But it was enough. The First Shot The sound of the gunshot shattered the night. Victor fired first. One of the guards dropped instantly. Everything exploded into chaos. More shots rang out. Glass shattered somewhere behind us. Someone shouted. “Take them!” My father grabbed my arm. “Down!” We ducked behind a stack of crates as bullets slammed into the wood above us. My heart pounded so violently I thought I might pass out.

“Just like I always do.” Cross shrugs. “I gave you time to see the truth, but you're too damned stupid. Just like Ralph.” The first gunshot rings out, and for a split second, I don’t know where it came from. Then Antonio grunts, stumbling back as blood blooms across his shoulder. Everything explodes as his men return fire. “Down!” Trent shouts. I fire without thinking. My gun bucks in my hand. One man goes down and another stumble back from me as the air fills with shouting and muzzle flashes.

So I quickly grabbed the pistol and somehow pulled the trigger without thinking about it twice. I would say I got lucky. Because I'd never fired a gun in my entire life, and my first shot at it was not premeditated, and so… was expected to come off as sloppy. But it delivered a clean strike through the big man’s wide jaw straight to his face. I fired again, another impulsive move of my finger in shock. And his blood splashed in my face as his head exploded. I could feel my loud and thunderous heartbeat hammering all the way to my ribcage as he fell backwards and crumbled against my legs, a deadweight. Literally.

Alejandro could feel it this was the moment. Then, without warning, the first shot rang out. The world exploded into chaos. Alejandro’s heart raced as he dove behind a tree, the sound of gunfire filling the air. Aria was beside him, her body pressed close, her hand gripping his tightly as they scrambled for cover. The exchange of gunfire was deafening, the crack of bullets slicing through the air like thunder.

she sobbed, her voice lost in the frenzy. BANG! A gunshot ripped through the corner, deafening, the curtain billowing as screams erupted—Lauren’s, Priya’s, Melissa’s, blending into a piercing wail. Lauren froze, her heart stopping, her vision swimming. Who was shot? Tom, her rock? Dan, her tormentor? The girls stood rooted, their screams fading to shocked silence.