The training center was near empty by the time Dani I parted ways. I saw this as my chance to go shoot for a while, since I didn’t get much time yesterday with Brunelle and quite frankly, I was itching for some familiar territory. Not to mention, there was something I wanted to try out.
“Last minute training, eh?” the same trainer from yesterday said when she saw me come over, “Something like that.” I scooped up a bow and a quiver of arrows, “There’s a simulator over here right?” “I don’t think you’re ready for that.” she replied, “I beg to differ.” “Suit yourself, kid. Simulator is in that room.” she said, nodding to a closed off area beside the range.
Perfect.
The room was silent, dark. It almost reminded me of the abandoned building I used to run through back home.
“Not yet.” I called to the trainer outside the glass wall, her hand just reaching the control panel to turn the simulator on. She folded her arms and leaned against the panel. I dropped the quiver and bow to the floor and stretched my legs quickly, then began jogging along the perimeter of the room.
After a lap I began interrogating the tic-tac I learned this morning at the parkour station, starting low and building up my height as my pace increased. It felt easy, natural.
I snatched up the bow and slung the quiver over my back and continued the run, following the same routine I did without the bow and quiver. I started low and moved up the wall as I ran faster, remembering to twist my hips and spin the way the trainer showed me this morning.
Then came the bow. As I pushed off the wall I twisted my body and drew the string back, releasing it without the arrow.
“Get used to the feel of it before bringing in the arrow.” Marathon told me the first time I ever used a bow. The same thing I told Six yesterday.
I went through the motions again, and again, and again. My adrenaline beginning to pump and that intoxicating burn starting to take my muscles.
“Practice makes perfect. Do it again.” I heard Marathon say.
“Again.”
I slipped an arrow from the quiver and took off, pushing off the wall and letting it fire.
“Again.”
I pulled one out mid-run, just before I hit the wall and loaded it.
“Again.” I heard Styx’s voice command.
My hand was in the quiver as I twisted my body coming off of the wall, the arrow soaring into the glass wall and ricocheting off.
And still I kept practicing. I had no idea how much time had passed or how much of it I had left in the day.
I picked up the fallen arrows and poked my head outside the glass door, the trainer wearing a slight smirk, “Now you can turn it on.” I said as I closed the door and twirled an arrow casually in my hand, taking off immediately when I saw the first orange figure appear.
----
“Hey, uh, thanks for the tip earlier.” I said to Atari when I got back to the apartment later that night. He looked up from the console in his hands, “You can thank this.” he said motioning to the device. I squinted my eyes slightly to make out the words on the cartridge in the back of the console, “Figures.” I said rolling my eyes and forcing a laugh, “Tell me I was wrong.” he replied with the first honest laugh I’ve heard this guy make.
“You weren’t.” I said, “Talk to me then.” he said, pointing to the cushioned seat opposite of him. This was weird. “Are we having a little meeting?!” Genesis exclaimed as she came bouncing into the room, “Just some guy talk.” Atari replied, “About?” she questioned, “Video games.” “I love games! Which one?”
Who knew his obsession would become more of a help than a burden.
