Determination

???: Ciara...

Who..? I hear someone call my name lovingly. I turn to look at the person but...

???: Ciara, do you think that I'll win tomorrow?

What..? It's a tall, fair 19 year old boy whose face appears blurred to me, we are in what looks like a gym. This voice is so familiar, but at the same time so... distant.

Who is he? And what does he mean? What's going on? I'm about to ask him something when the scenery changes to a dark bedroom. For some reason, we're both on the bed at first and then he gets off.

???: I'm sorry for this, and about your clothes... You can wear this. It's already dark outside, I'll walk you home.

He says in an emotionless voice and tosses a jacket at me. Somehow, I feel terribly afraid of him as though something horrible had just happened. Tears start rolling down my cheeks and I feel a stabbing pain in my heart.

Why? What happened? And just who is this person? He starts to walk further and further away from me. This doesn't feel like a dream! I need to know more! I need to know what all this means!! I jerk up from the bed and reach my hand out to him.

Ciara: Wait!

At the very moment, my eyes fling open and I realise that I'm sitting up on my bed, stretching my hand out into the air and all of that was only a dream. This... That was so strange. What did it mean? Whatever it was, it felt so real, as if I had really been in that situation.

I hold my head in my hands. I have no memory of all that happening, then why did I dream about that? It doesn't make sense. Just as I'm trying to sort out my thoughts, the bathroom door opens and out steps Momo already dressed in her uniform.

Momo: Did you have a nightmare again?

... I must've yelled out to that boy really loudly just now.

Ciara: Yeah..

Momo: You've been having a lot of those recently, you should talk to the twins about it.

The twins, they're psychologists, aren't they. It could help. Speaking of the nightmares, all of the ones I have are either from my past memories or of the things I fear, unlike this one. Does that mean that I might've forgotten something?

However, I remember all of the things from the past, I can place every event on the timeline. Everything falls into place so, who was that boy from my dream?

Momo takes my temperature and notices that I've gotten rid of my fever. She tells me to get ready soon and leaves the room. I sit there, on bed, still and trying to figure it out. Am I thinking too much or was it really just a dream...?

Later that day...

I finally get a hold of Doris and get him to help me train after the lectures. Unfortunately, the subject he chose to refine me in was...

*Click*

Ciara:.....

Doris: Are you going to shoot or not?!

Ciara:...!!!

... Target Shooting. Like always, I'm unable to keep my hands from trembling. He yells at me for wasting his time. He heaves disappointed sigh and walks towards me.

Doris: Keep your hands steady, aim and fire away.

He teaches me to use the gun in my hand and I try to aim once more. Please, don't shake again..! However...

Ciara:.....

I prevent my hands from shaking, but face a different problem this time; for whatever reason, I'm just not able to pull trigger. Do I... still have that fear?

Doris: That's it.

Huh? Doris comments in an extremely irked tone.

Doris: If you can't get yourself to do something as simple as this, then you've wasted your time coming here.

Ciara:..!

Wasted my time... Mom, Dad, is he right? It's been 5 years, but I still haven't got any information about that day. Will I be able to bring you justice or is this all a wasted effort?

Doris: This is pointless. Return the gun to the counter and go to your dorm, there's no need to loaf around here if this all you're going to do.

He turns around, clearly annoyed, and starts walking towards the exit. Wait, does this mean that I'm on my own now? I reflect on his words. Pointless... No, this is anything but pointless!!

I came here with a reason and I will achieve it, whether he helps me or not! I'm going to discover and show everyone what the NDIA is hiding! I turn my body back to face the target. I lift my gun again, aim and...

*BANG!!!*

Doris:!!!

A sharp noise echoes throughout the room, ringing in my ears just like 5 years ago. Only this time, things are different, it was me who shot the gun, not at two loving parents, but at a target. I should make my intentions clear to Doris.

I lower the gun at look at him with determined eyes.

Ciara: Since the time I entered the NDIA, I promised myself that I won't quit, no matter what. I don't care care about the challenges I might face, I will graduate and become a detective.

His half visible eyes widen slightly and surprise shows over his face. I guess he didn't expect that from, well, me. His eyes flit over to ther target for a moment before turning back to me. He shows me an impressed smile.

Doris: Very well.

Ciara: Huh?

Doris: You hit the wrong spot this time, next time, we'll aim for the red mark. Until then, nighty-night.

He turns around and continues his way outside. Hit the wrong spot? I turn my head to look at the target. Ah, the bullet touch the outermost region, it's at least on the target though. That's still far from the mark I was supposed to hit.

Wait, he said "we'll try to aim for the red mark next time"! That means that he's still going to help me! I'm overcome with joy and pump my fist in the air with a victory jump.

Ciara: YES!!

With his help, I'll be one of the top students in no time! I return the gun and walk back to the dorm with a spring in my step...