Evey was sneaking glances at Ford. He had a tight grip on the steering wheel and had his other arm out the window of the truck. Neither of them said a word as Ford drove around the town. Evey's knee was bouncing as she looked around for any Infected, but the streets were bare.

Ford pulled up to a baseball park. The truck shook when Ford drove over the sidewalk and into the field. Evey braced herself against the dashboard. Driving off-road did not seem natural to her. Nothing about this new world felt normal. He made it to the middle of the field, between two baseball diamonds, and parked.

"We're going to shoot here?" Evey asked.

"Yes," he said.

Ford opened the door and stepped out of the truck. Evey closed her eyes and let out a few deep breaths to try and ease the tension in her chest. The faint sound of Lila's screaming rang in her head. She had to do this. Josie and Joey couldn't die because she could not protect them.

"Coming?"

Evey jumped at Ford's voice. He had his arm on the top of the truck and was leaning in toward Evey's open window. She opened her eyes and looked over at him. He raised a brow and Evey swallowed past the lump in her throat. She took note of the stubble that was growing across Ford's chin. His blue eyes sparkled in the sunshine. She had never noticed before how his nose was crooked like it had been broken multiple times. Ford cleared his throat because Evey stared at his features.

"Ready?" he asked.

Evey nodded. He stepped back and she opened the truck door. Ford went around to the back of the truck. Evey crossed her arms over her chest as she followed. He opened the cab and pulled out one of the bags. He unzipped it to reveal an assortment of guns. He pulled a few out that Evey could not identify. He grabbed another bag and pulled out a couple of pop cans.

"Why the cola?" Evey asked.

"It's a target," Ford said.

"Where are you going to place them?"

Ford looked around the park before walking toward a tree. He picked up the end of the picnic table and dragged it to the middle of the field. He walked to the truck. Without saying a word, he grabbed three cans of pop and headed back to the table.

Evey took a step toward the guns. She had never seen a weapon like that up close before. She had only seen them in action movies. She stretched her hand out and grazed her fingers along the barrel of the gun.

"Hands off." Ford grabbed Evey's elbow and pulled her arm away. "I don't need you getting hurt."

"I am not a child," she said.

"Listen like an adult then."

Evey scowled and Ford let go. He grabbed one of the guns before walking away. He did not say anything, but Evey assumed that she was supposed to follow. He stopped in the middle of the field. He pointed his gun toward the cans. He fired twice and knocked one of the cans off of the table. Evey's heart was pounding at the sound of the loud bang. Her hands trembled from the thought of knowing she was going to learn to kill.

Ford lowered the gun and looked over at Evey to see her face had grown pale. Her hands were balled into fists to try and hide her tremor.

I worked in the ER, dammit, Evey thought. Be that badass nurse that you know.

"No?" Ford asked, the corner of his lips twitching into a smile. "We can go back."

"How do I fire it?" she asked.

Ford sighed. He kept the gun aimed at the ground and passed it over to Evey.

"Keep your finger away from the trigger," he said.

Evey nodded as she took the gun. It was cold and heavier than she anticipated. She let out a slow breath to stop herself from shaking. She keep her finger away from the trigger and pointed it at the grass.

"Left or right?" Ford asked.

"What?" Evey asked. She assumed he was talking about which can she should shoot.

"Left or right-handed?" Ford asked.

"Right."

"Hold it with your right hand. Aim at the pop."

Evey held the gun in her right hand and held the gun up. She locked her elbow to keep her arm straight. She focused on her breathing to stop the end of the gun from wavering.

"Steady with your left," Ford said.

Evey raised her left hand and held it under the gun to support her hold.

"Stand so you're solid," he said.

"Solid?" Evey asked.

"Yes."

"I don't know what that means."

Evey was so focused on staring at the two cans to see Ford come up behind her. She gasped when Ford shoved his foot between her feet and pushed her foot to the side. She was standing with her feet shoulder length apart. He nudged her heel forward so that her foot was slightly in front.

Ford reached around Evey. He pressed his hard chest against her back. He held her right arm so that it was straight and he grabbed her left elbow so that it was slightly bent. Evey bit down hard on her lip. His lips were inches away from her ear. His warm breath blew across her ear. Her stomach twisted as her heart was beating faster.

Ford was a murderer. He killed her Mother and Steven. How could she allow such closeness between the two of them? She reminded herself that it was only because he was showing her how to kill. He was showing her how to keep the twins safe.

"Solid," Ford said. "Understand?"

"Mhm." Evey was afraid to speak and have her voice come out in a squeak.

"Aim at a can."

Ford moved their arms so that Evey was pointing directly at a can.

"Put your finger on the trigger," he said.

Evey placed her finger on the trigger. With one slight move she would fire a bullet.

"Deep breath and then hold it," he said.

"Why?" she asked.

"Keeps you calm. Also, important to follow through. Don't let go of the trigger right away or relax."

Evey nodded. Her heart was hammering in her chest and she could hear it pounding in her ears. This was it.

"Pull the trigger," Ford said softly.

Evey took in a deep breath and held it before squeezing the trigger.

The gun fired earlier than she expected. She let out a yelp as she rocked back on her heels and into Ford's chest. She had grown used to the sound of gunfire the past few days, but she was not prepared for the deafening ring from firing. She struggled to keep her finger on the trigger as she wanted to drop the gun. Ford holding her arms helped her keep her position.

She missed the can. Ford let out a slight chuckle.

"You should stick to the knife," Ford said.

That can't happen, Evey thought.

There was no way she could keep Josie, Joey, and herself safe with only a knife. She needed to learn how to shoot.

Evey closed one eye to better her aim. She breathed deeply and then pulled the trigger again. She missed the can, so she fired again.

It was another miss.

She swore and Ford laughed again. She held her breath and prayed before shooting the can. The bullet pierced the can and pop sprayed while it fell into the grass.

A large smile grew across Evey's face. She had done it. She fired her first successful shot. She was going to be able to keep the kids safe. She would be able to kill any Infected that may attack them once the soldiers abandon them because the twins would slow them down.

"Not bad," Ford said. "Could be a fluke."

Evey switched her aim so that she was pointing the gun toward the last can. She closed her eye, the gun feeling more familiar in her hands, and fired. The can was knocked off of the picnic table.

Ford groaned. Evey furrowed her brows, thinking that Ford would have been happy she had good aim. Ford moved her arms down so that the gun was facing toward the grass. He went back to the truck. She looked over her shoulder to see him coming back with a box of bullets.

"Learn to reload and then we'll go back," he said.

"Can't I practice more?" Evey asked.

"Can't waste bullets."

"That's okay. I'll get plenty of practice on Infected."

Ford glared at Evey. She could not stop smiling. The rush of adrenaline was still pumping through her veins.

"Which gun do I get?" Evey asked.

"None," he said.

"I need a gun."

"No you don't."

"What if I need to save your ass again?"

Ford puffed out his chest as he narrowed his eyes. Evey looked down at the gun that was in her hands. She let go of it with one hand and held her palm out.

"Give me the bullets," Evey said.

"Fuck, you're annoying," Ford said. He rolled his eyes and let out a huff of breath. "Fine. You better not hurt yourself."

He stormed over to the picnic table. Evey followed him and sat down as Ford taught him everything she needed to know about the gun.