I overslept. Then, I shower, only to discover that someone used up every last ounce of the shampoo! Can this day get any worse?
Morgan shut her journal in a hurry and shoved it in her bag. She stopped by the fridge to see if there was anything quick she could grab. Her eyes fell on the container of cinnamon coffee cake muffins, clearly marked with Libby‘s name.
She opened it, and took the last one, enjoying it that much more when her eyes fell on the note Libby had left, held to the fridge with a frog magnet:
Who keeps eating my muffins? Seriously. There is one left, and if it’s gone when I wake up, someone will be in BIG trouble. Not kidding.
- Libby.
Morgan made sure to leave crumbs behind in the empty muffin box. Then, she left her own note on the magnetized pad of paper, underneath the grocery list Legend had started and Libby had added to. Now, it read:
Milk
Bread
Peanut Butter
Count Chocula
Éclairs!
Someone used the last of the damn shampoo and didn’t replace it. I had to use Christian’s.
SHAMPOO.
Morgan looked at her watch and hurried out the door. She hated 8 AM classes - her friends were smart to schedule their days to start at a decent hour.
--
Jess got up when Morgan left. It was the way Thursdays always went. When the door closed, she got up, woke Christian and they started their day, being sure not to wake up Legend, Emily, or Libby - though Christian was allowed to go in quietly and kiss them good morning, if he promised not to wake them up.
Routine was something Jess thrived on, and depended on to keep herself sane. She always knew where everyone she loved was and what they were doing. Sometimes Legend got after her about it, but she knew the reason for it, too. She knew Jess was left by her own mom as a toddler, and that her dad disowned her when she got pregnant. Jess had to know where everybody was, so that if they ever left her, at least she would know.
Getting a banana for herself while she put the coffee on, Jess poured Christian a bowl of Lucky Charms and went to the refrigerator for milk. She stopped short, scanning the grocery list.
“Uh-oh, no milk and no shampoo…” Jess said, hoping to lift Christian’s grouchy mood with an unplanned trip to the store.
His eyes lit up, “Maybe, we’ll be the first ones to go shopping this whole day at that store!” he exclaimed, lowering his voice when he was reminded.
“Maybe,” Jess allowed, smiling. “Come on, hop down and get your coat and your boots. We need to hurry.”
In the lot, her eyes fell on Coby’s beautiful black car and warmth spread through her. She could never believe it when she saw it there, parked and waiting for her day after day. Checking her pocket, she found the keys as if there by magic, and urged Christian into his car seat, reminding him to buckle up.
The trip was quick, but it was worth it, to see Christian happily trotting through the aisles in his Spiderman pajamas, winter coat and boots.
“You know?” he said looking up at her. “Shopping is really great in the morning.”
Reaching down, she ruffled his hair and laughed.
Driving back, she fell into easy conversation, while Christian balanced the grocery bag on his lap, feeling very strong and important with the heavy milk.
“Legend’s picking you up today, because Mom has to work, okay?” Jess glanced in the rearview mirror, fighting guilt and found herself smiling as her son held onto the single bag of groceries, his little arms stretched all the way around it.
“Yup!” he agreed. He liked Legend - especially when she taught him cool things like skipping and how to tell what was a normal rock, and what was buried treasure.
The rest of the morning went by too quickly, and Jess scribbled a note hurriedly, being sure to print in all capital letters so that Christian could attempt to read it when he got home. Glancing at the grocery list, she crossed off shampoo and milk.
Jess dropped Christian off five minutes late, giving him a kiss, and making him laugh by telling him that Morgan had used his shampoo, because the grown-up shampoo ran out.
“Now, she’ll smell like oranges!” he exclaimed, as he ran off to join the other kids.
Jess laughed, shaking her head, and broke into a run to make it to class on time.
--
Morgan slipped into the study room quietly, getting down to work. She was the first one there, and didn’t mind. She turned on her I-Pod to block out the noise everyone usually made when they came in, and opened her book to take notes. No more studying menus when she should be studying for real stuff.
Over the sound of the Dave Mathews Band in her ears, Morgan still heard her friends’ arrival, though she chose to ignore it. She had two tests to think about.
The lights went out and her head snapped up.
The window in the room gave enough light that she could see that they there had been a Code Red without her knowledge. Buddy was there, and the lights were off. Morgan felt unease uncurl in her gut like a snake.
“What’s going on?” she asked as the lights flickered to life again.
Glancing around quickly, she took inventory. Coby - Morgan vaguely registered his tee shirt which read I LOVE HOT MOMS - a not-so-subtle nod to Jess, Nate and Libby were at her table, which had a straight-on view of the door. At the table in the corner, next to the door, were Jess and Legend - who wore her hair pulled back - looking startled. Beside them, at the table near the window, were Bryan, Aaron, Emily and Jon. Everyone was here. That gave Morgan momentary peace. Until she saw Buddy move very deliberately, to close the door and lock it.
Buddy smiled to himself, but just inside. Outside, he kept his face impassive.
“Everybody, sit down and shut up,” he said quietly, showing the gun he had concealed until just the right moment.
“Get down!” Coby commanded, and Morgan felt him pull her roughly to the ground, where they took shelter beneath the table. Beside them, Nate was pulling Libby down, as she had frozen in her seat. Morgan prayed that the rest of her friends would be safe. She couldn’t see them and wouldn’t look.
Buddy turned to the right and saw the bitch didn’t have her nose in the air now. She was shivering and pale as death, bawling. He easily leveled that ice queen with the autumn hair, putting a bullet in her head from his position by the door. The sound of her scream left him satisfied.
Legend yelped from behind Jess, as her friend went from shaking and crying to a motionless heap. She closed her eyes, and heard the last thing Jess said seconds before:
“Get behind me.”
Legend couldn’t move - was transfixed by the amount of blood in Jess’s hair, and on the floor. She prayed Jess was alive.
The shot had been so piercing, Morgan felt sure her ears were going to start bleeding if they weren’t already. Instead of panic, she felt adrenaline, and lunged forward.
“Stay the hell down!” Coby hissed, grabbing Morgan by the collar. Panic slicked his gut as hopelessness seized his heart and mired his mind. He knew that Jess had been shot, and he wasn’t about to let the same thing happen to Morgan. He would protect her.
“I’m not letting him do this,” Morgan insisted, bringing an elbow back hard into his stomach.
Coby struggled for breath and readjusted his grip, so he had his friend by the back of the neck. “Don’t move,” he told her in a voice so dangerous, she obeyed.
Holding completely still, Coby watched as Buddy made his way to the wall, switched off the lights, and scanned the room.
He had seen everyone but the afro-hair girl. All the girls either had their hair up or down, and he knew he’d recognize that puff if he saw it. No matter, he thought, the important ones were here.
He went for Morgan first. She was so eager, after all. He’d seen her scrambling to come to him. He pulled her away from the Harley Davidson kid, who fought to keep his grip on her shirt as she was wrenched away.
She stared with wide beautiful doe eyes as he motioned with the gun for her to stand in the middle of the room. Morgan walked briskly to just where he indicated. She stood waiting obediently, her eyes fixed on the clock on the opposite wall - counting the minutes - he was sure - until they were together.
When Harley got up and tried to take her back, he laid him out with one to the leg, he saw with satisfaction that a second bullet he fired just for the hell of it, grazed the Hispanic-looking kid with the sweats. He was now bleeding from his shoulder. A third shot shattered the window.
Swearing, Coby grabbed his leg and hissed at the shock of pain he felt. Helpless now, and blinking back tears, he managed to drag himself beneath the table again - barely noticing Libby and Nate who cowered there. From across the room, he heard Bryan’s strangled cursing.
The one with the great eyes was conveniently frozen, so he pulled her to the middle of the room by her hair. Last, he shoved his gun in the back of the tall, mulatto kid, who asked for it just by the way he moved.
He brought the obviously gay kid to stand with the girls and then asked quietly, “Who first?”
Morgan raised her head and stepped forward, just like he knew she would. She wanted him so bad.
Tucking the gun into his pocket, he brought out the small knife and put it to her throat, while he invited her behind the large computer desk which obscured them from the rest of the room and gave them some privacy.
Morgan was numb. She didn’t actually know what this guy was going to do, but she had an idea. And she knew if she could spare Libby and Nate from the same thing, she was damn well going to do it, even if it killed her. They were her family. Family was everything.
Closing her eyes, feeling the knife at her neck, Morgan reached back carefully, and took the hat from her head. She freed her hair from the elastic.
“I knew you wanted me,” he cooed at her.
Morgan focused on breathing, on doing what he asked of her, no questions asked. She agreed with him, and played the part as well as she could with shaking hands. As long as he didn’t have the gun on her, she could do this. She thought of the grocery list on the fridge and smelled Christian’s orange shampoo, as he stroked her hair and fondled her body.
“You’re so exotic,” he moaned as he kissed her.
She froze momentarily, as she felt his hands move under her shirt. Steeling herself, and thinking of Nate and Libby, Morgan grew bolder. The longer she kept Buddy occupied with her, the better chance they had of getting out of this untouched. “Let me,” she offered, and slipped her own shirt over her head.
Morgan distracted herself with the terminology she was learning for her sociology class. Anything to distance herself from his closeness, his scent - of pizza grease and sweat - his hands roaming her body like a blind man trying to memorize her every curve and plane.
“Thanks, Princess,” he said, kissing her a final time and handing her shirt back.
Stopping short, Morgan made herself whisper the words, “I can stay…I can…do more.”
He smiled, “You’ve done enough.”
The taste of coffee he left in her mouth made Morgan want to vomit. She stepped out, seeing Nate and Libby still standing motionless, holding hands. Morgan guessed that though their backs were to the desk, they had to have some idea about what was done to her. But then again, they were both pale and looked in shock. Maybe they had no idea. Maybe that was better.
“Don’t worry,” she encouraged, urging them to come back to the table. She took her belt off and tied it above the wound on Coby’s leg. It was in bad shape.
She saw Jon doing elaborate gestures and Coby shaking his head. Buddy popped his head out, and glared suspiciously around the room.
“If anybody moves, you’re next…” he snarled.
From her corner, holding Jess’s still-warm hand, Legend registered the change in Buddy’s voice. He no longer spoke like an overgrown child, but a man with cruel intentions. And a chillingly perfect intellect.
When Buddy took Libby behind the computer desk in the corner, Morgan found herself doubled over, getting sick on the floor. She knew what was being done, and it killed her to know that she hadn’t done enough to keep her friend safe.
--
Libby went when he pushed her. With the knife at her throat, he was quick and rough, feeling under her clothes, calling her a slut and asking her to perform a sexual act on him. When she simply stood there he kissed her roughly and backhanded her across the face. Then, he demanded that she get Nathaniel - only he referred to him by an offensive name that made Libby want to cry.
She didn’t want to get Nate, but she wanted to stay alive.
So Libby said she was sorry, and motioned with her head where Nate was to go.
--
He walked right into it. That’s what Nate would think later. He never said no, never fought back. He just did willingly, barely feeling the knife at his crotch, even when it nicked his flesh. He couldn’t hear anything over the blood rushing in his ears - but he could see the guy’s mouth moving. Nathaniel let himself be kissed, then grabbed, choking back the scream of pain.
--
Aaron watched silently as Nate was roughed up sexually in the corner. No one knew he had an unfortunately good vantage point. He knew about Morgan and Libby but had refused to watch. Now, he stared, horrified, as this crazy-ass guy hurt Nathaniel. Used both racial and gay slurs against him. And the whole time, his face was blank. Aaron wondered if God had momentarily intervened - taking Nate’s ability to hear all the hate that was being spewed on him.
When Nate was grabbed hard between the legs, Aaron couldn’t sit anymore. He jumped to his feet. Without thinking, he climbed on the table where Emily, Jonathan and Bryan still hid. Now level with the shattered window, Aaron stood on the sill and jumped.
--
Emily moved back against the wall, shaking. Jonathan and Bryan were in front of her - shielding her, but as the table scraped the floor, and Aaron got out, Emily was sure they would all die. There was too much noise, and now one of them was loose.
She couldn’t see anything but the backs of the friends who were acting as her cover, but she knew something was up - the boys had some kind of secret code with hand-signals that reminded her of a baseball game. Suddenly, Buddy came into view again, running toward their table and grabbing Jonathan.
“What’s all this shit?” He mocked the gesturing he saw the blond kid do. “I warned you,” was all he said before slashing one side of pretty boy’s face. He took him by the throat and squeezed, lowering his voice, “If I see you move again, I’ll take you next,” he motioned with his head to the corner. “I could use a real man over there…” he trailed off, letting go. He hoped he’d squeezed enough to leave bruises.
Jonathan threw a hand up to his face, gasping. He was dizzy, and his face felt on fire. Jon knew without looking that the cut was deep. The attempt to put pressure on his wound only left him in more agony.
Suddenly, Jon realized he was in the open and didn’t see Nathaniel. Morgan was back under the table with Coby trying to help him, and Libby was standing stunned in the middle of the room.
“Damn it, Nate!” he swore under his breath. Sure, the house rules Liam made were bogus, and Jonathan wasn’t crazy about sharing space with a dude who might have a thing for him or something, but Nate was cool. He was a friend. And whatever the hell was being done to him in that corner…Jon didn’t want to think about it. He just wished Nate would come out.
Behind the desk, Nate waited. He’d heard Jonathan’s angry curse before Buddy did something to him. Drawing his knees to under his chin, Nate sat there with his arms wrapped around himself - his jeans around his ankles. He throbbed, and his head swam. And then Buddy was back.
“Get the hell out of my sight before I take you out. Queer.” Buddy said softly, brandishing his gun.
When Nate fumbled to fix his pants, Buddy landed a hard kick between his legs.
Legend covered her ears at the sound of Nate’s pained cry, trying to muffle her own. Were they going to live through this? Or would they die together?
“Where’s my Princess?”
Morgan’s stomach turned to ice as she heard the words, but remembered her promise to herself. The more he was occupied with her, the less he would be able to hurt anyone else. She did it before, she would do it again.
Giving Buddy what she hoped was a promising smile, she first made her way slowly to Libby. Her blue eyes looked huge and gray in the darkness, and one hand remained on her cheek, where Morgan could guess she’d been hit. Gently, she led the younger girl back to hide behind Coby with Nate.
Though the belt was doing an okay job, Morgan could tell he was losing a lot of blood, and didn’t know whether his silence meant he was on high-alert or due to weakness. Nate was just a shadow that shifted a little to make room for Libby. Morgan never heard him speak a word, or even breathe.
With a fierceness Coby had rarely seen, she addressed him. “Don’t let him take them back.”
Then she was gone.
--
Elise was delivering flowers to a patient on the main floor when she first heard the commotion. Nurses all over the floor were rushing around - their voices tense.
Her job as a candy striper - while it wasn’t a paid position - required Elise to work under the supervision of hospital personnel - and she did everything from delivering flowers like she was doing now, to helping visitors, to visiting with patients. Most candy stripers were occasionally asked to staff the reception areas and gift shops, Elise still wasn’t good with money and numbers or multi-tasking. She was, however, excellent at visiting patients - and though the hospital generally limited the volunteers to boring jobs of staffing desks and running errands - the staff noted Elise’s way with the patients. They knew she had once been a patient, recovering from a TBI and now it was common for her to spend time visiting and encouraging patients recovering from all kinds of conditions.
Elise often thought that she would like to work in the health care field - in a capacity just like this. If only it were a paid position. Still, it kept her busy and left her feeling accomplished. Social Security helped with her household expenses, as most positions she was qualified for - customer service - involved money, sequencing, organizing, and multi-tasking - all things that remained difficult for Elise. What the monthly check didn’t cover, she supplemented by doing odd jobs for people. She learned from her brother and Kylie to take pride in whatever she did, and Elise was often found raking lawns or shoveling snow for elderly neighbors in houses nearby, knowing it was appreciated, and grateful for the little pay she received.
She now lived in low-income housing, while Rob and Kylie had left it behind them. Elise knew one day she would, too. But for now, it worked for her. She couldn’t afford regular rent, or to pay for heat and water, so she was lucky to live in apartments that covered those costs. She took the bus everywhere, and by now, knew the routes she regularly used like the back of her hand.
Shaking her head, Elise focused again on setting the flowers down quietly, so she didn’t wake the young patient in the bed, and returned to the desk.
All around her, anxious voices filled the air, putting Elise on edge.
“What’s going on?” she asked her supervisor.
“There’s been a shooting at the High City campus. Things are gonna get crazy quick.”
The statement left Elise shaken. She knew Belle didn’t attend High City, and was grateful. She felt her friends should know, though, so they could pray for those who were students there. It was about as local as you could get in this city in terms of a college.
“Can I make a call? Really fast,” she promised when she saw the nod.
Rushing outside the hospital, Elise turned her cell phone on. She still thought it was ridiculous for people like her family - who struggled for money so much - to have cell phones. But Rob insisted she have one. It was part of her moving out on her own - a way to contact people if she needed anything or was in trouble. They were on a family plan, so he took care of the bill, and refused any money she tried to send to cover her part of it.
“Belle,” Elise said breathless, when her friend picked up. “There was a shooting over at High City.”
“I know,” Belle’s voice was tight. “Gabe and I just met someone from there last week at church. His name’s Aaron. Pray for him, okay? And anyone he’s with. I’m trying to get Gabe on the phone to see if he knows. I’ll call you later.”
“Okay. I’m at the hospital though,” Elise explained.
Belle nodded, trying to calm her shaking. “Yeah. We might just stop there, depending on what we find out.”
Belle hung up with Elise, feeling nausea stir at the core of her. She couldn’t imagine going to the rest of her classes today. It made her sick now that she had ever tried to take her own life, when somewhere, maybe at this moment, people were losing theirs without any say at all.
“Gabe!” she exclaimed, choking back tears, when she heard his voice. “There’s been a shooting at High City. Turn on the news now.”
Shocked, Gabe obeyed, sitting numbly in an easy chair in his living room. He’d only meant to be home for a minute, intending to get back to the church and help cook for the big family dinner for the body. But now headlines and cop cars filled his vision.
“Did you hear from Aaron?” Belle wanted to know. “What’s the news say about it?”
Gabe blinked - not quite believing as the face of Aaron Martinez filled his TV screen. “He’s on the news.” Staring, Gabe watched the replay of a figure jumping from a second-floor window. By the grace of God, only his foot looked injured. “He’s on my TV…” he mumbled. “I gotta hang up and listen. Can you come over?”
Belle agreed, and Gabe hung up in time to hear his new buddy tell horrifying details of what was going on inside.
“It’s just one study room. The guy’s name is Buddy. He works at a pizza place on campus. It’s messed up…” Gabe watched him run a hand over his face. He looked pale and his voice was monotone. His hand shook as he held the microphone.
The question of injuries was raised, and Aaron nodded silently. “He shot at a couple of us. I know, my buddy Bryan has a messed-up shoulder. I’m not sure about everyone else. There was a group of us in there…about ten. We study in there every day.”
Gabe watched the screen intently, as the news replayed his graceless fall from the window again and again. As chilling as it was, Gabe knew there were more details - that it had to be far worse than he could even imagine.
Bowing his head, Gabe prayed fervently, for Aaron, Bryan and Coby, and the rest.
Suddenly, Gabe felt cold all over. He’d just met Aaron. But Liam had been a member of Gabe’s new church for longer than Gabe had. He knew him well, because Mikhail had nothing but good things to say about him.
“Liam! Man, are you okay?” Gabe demanded when his friend picked up.
Blinking, Liam stared at the his phone, sure this couldn’t be Gabe calling. He never sounded panicked like this. “I’m fine. I’m skating. Been skating all day. I don’t have class until tonight,” he said.
“Thank God. Listen. There’s a shooting on your campus. I just saw Aaron on TV. He said a group of his friends are in the room with the guy. About ten of them.”
Liam blinked, getting lightheaded. “God, no…” he managed, his voice going thick. He knew without a doubt, the ten kids in that room were all the members of his Bible study. His friends, his roommates and his sister. “God, no…” Liam said again, sinking down to sit on his board on top of the ramp. Tears ran down his face and he wept helplessly. “My sister’s there. My roommates. My whole Bible study… They‘re all in that room,” he managed.
“Jesus,” Gabe prayed, closing his eyes. “Where are you? My girlfriend’s on her way over. I’ll have her pick you up.”
“I’m at the park on 7th,” Liam managed, wiping his eyes.
“Okay, hang on. I’m getting on three-way so I don’t lose you. Belle,” Gabe said seriously when she answered. “I need you to go by the skate park on 7th, right by the grocery store. Liam from church is there. He needs a lift.”
“No problem,” Belle answered, though her stomach plummeted, remembering that Liam was a student at High City.
Minutes later, Belle and Liam arrived in Gabe’s apartment, where Gabe kept the news muted and gave Liam his own updates, figuring it easier to hear from a friend than a news anchor. He sat beside Liam and put an arm around his shoulders.
“Libby’s not answering her phone,” he managed, through tears.
Gabe squeezed his shoulder. “Aaron said everyone’s alive. She’s probably got it turned off to stay safe.” he reassured.
Liam nodded.
“Where are your parents?” Belle wanted to know. “We should call and let them know you’re safe.”
“They’re in Mexico, doing a build on a mission trip. It’s really rural there’s no cell phone service. They’re completely cut off from news and everything.” Liam wiped his nose on his tee shirt, and pulled his hat down over his eyes.
“What organization are they with?” Belle asked. “I’ll get in touch with them and leave a message for your parents to call as soon as possible.”
Liam gave her the information and watched the television - as Aaron jumped out the window again and again. It made him sick to watch, but grateful that at least one of them was still alive.
--
The minute Morgan was out of sight of the others, Buddy slammed her against the wall, kissing her hard, and shoving his tongue down her throat.
Morgan felt the gun at her head, and fought the urge to bite down on what was his, and instead, managed to speak between kisses.
“You don’t need that….” she was breathless. “I’ll do whatever you want.” It came out hoarse - more scared than she wanted.
Carelessly, he let the gun drop to the floor, and took her down there with him - breaking the zipper on her jeans in his rush to ecstasy.
Morgan braced herself, fighting the tears back. She had never done this before, and hoped to God it didn’t show. The gun was right beside her hand, but she didn’t dare go for it. Not with him right on top of her. She wrapped her free arm around him, hoping it helped her pass for more than the virgin she was.
Squeezing her eyes shut, she did her best not to cry out as pain exploded inside her, making her sure she would pass out. Something like a moan came out instead, and she was repulsed.
“I know, baby, I know…” he muttered breathlessly, staring at her with glassy eyes.
Morgan wanted to turn away. This wasn’t happening. It wasn’t real. He didn’t seem human anymore. Neither did she.
Her breath caught, as he lifted the gun.
“Please, don’t…” she begged, hating herself. She never saw her last moments alive playing out like this, begging for life while some psycho pleasured himself on her.
Buddy’s eyes went soft as he stared at her. He could never kill his Princess. She should know that. He heard sirens, that was all. And knowing he’d gotten far more than he imagined, he put the gun to his own head, and pulled the trigger.
--
It happened in slow motion, and too fast for Morgan to react. She heard the shot, just inches away from her, felt his blood from the blast on her face, and his weight as he fell forward onto her.
“Shit!” she cursed, crying. She struggled under him. “Coby!” she called, panicking as she tried to free herself.
Morgan kept screaming - could hear nothing but the shot echoing in her ears. And Coby never came.
The arm she had put around him was the only part of herself that was free to move, and she managed to lift him a bit, and wiggle out from under him. Shaking, she stood up, and grabbed her jeans from the corner, and pulled them on, ignoring the pain it she was in. The warm wetness that spread got her attention though, and Morgan quickly removed her hoodie - grateful beyond words that it was black - and tied it around her waist, before stepping out.
Morgan stared with wide eyes as she came out from behind the desk. Everything was so quiet.
“Morgan?” Legend managed. She was still clutching Jess’s limp hand in fear. It didn’t look like Morgan standing there. It looked like she’d been spattered by dark paint.
“Shit.” The whimper made its way out of Morgan’s mouth, and she sank to her knees.
“What happened?” Coby demanded, his voice rising with the question. “Jesus, Morgan!”
“He offed himself,” she said the words to the floor. “I don’t want to turn on the lights.”
“Get over here,” Coby insisted, making room so she could hide again.
Morgan moved slowly, crawling on all fours, though it hurt more. “We gotta get out of here,” she managed through gasps of pain.
“My shoulder’s bleeding. How‘s everyone else?” Bryan’s voice. “Say something so I know. Aaron jumped, so he’s all right,” Bryan continued. He‘d left Bryan a message. The cops were outside, and - thanks to Aaron - knew where they were and even had a general sense of everyone’s condition.
“Jonathan looks roughed up - keep holding your shirt there, man.” Bryan encouraged. “Say something, dude, so everyone can hear you.”
“Yeah,” he managed, though Morgan could tell he was crying. “I’m okay.”
“Emily?” Bryan called.
“Here,” she said in a tiny voice.
“Jess?”
Legend leaned over and put her hand in front of her friend’s nose and mouth, relieved that she was still breathing. “She’s here.” Legend spoke for her, “And so am I.”
“Coby, how’s your table?” Bryan asked.
“My leg’s messed up,” he managed - the pain of Morgan’s tourniquet was unbelievable. “Morgan?” he asked.
“I’m good,” she managed, keeping her voice loud and strong. She turned her head to observe Libby and Nate, both of whom had their cell phones out and were texting with shaking hands. “Nate and Libby are cool, too.” she offered. “Who knows we’re here? Do they know what’s going on?”
“Aaron sent me a message,” Bryan reassured. “Hurt his foot when he landed, but told the cops and everyone we’re here.”
“Good man,” Coby murmured.
Libby blinked back tears as she hit resend on her phone. The message Mom, I need you went unanswered. She’d sent it close to forty times.
“Josiah knows. I asked him not to tell Mom everything. He knows what happened.” Nate said - his voice small and tight as he focused on typing to distract himself from all his tender parts.
This was how the text messages went. Nate knew because he read them over and over, waiting for the next one to come in.
R u ok? Some1 @ school said something’s going down @ HC.
From: Joey
10:32 am 11/1/07
No. Don’t tell mom. Its bad. Hes gone now tho. Hes dead.
How bad? Tell me. I wont tell her. I swear.
From: Joey
10:35 am 11/1/07
Bad like a cple of us r down. Not sure if they r alive. Bad like sex stuff. Keep ur mouth shut.
Shit. U said hes dead tho right? Not hurting ne1 now? Im scared. Say every1 is ok. Say ur ok.
From: Joey
10:37 am 11/1/07
I m ok. Does ne1 else kno? Stuck in here. Scared 2 leave.
Ppl kno. News is on @ school. Lots of cops. Saw aaron 2. Stay where u r. They’ll get u out. Stay strong. Love u.
From: Joey
10:39 am 11/1/07
Love u 2. & tell mom.
Silence eventually cloaked the room like a blanket. Morgan watched the corner where Buddy fell on high-alert, in case he wasn’t all the way gone. She saw dark seeping across the whiteness of the floor and shuddered, taking it as a good sign. He was gone, and wouldn’t hurt them anymore.
The minutes dragged by like days. Jonathan started to get lightheaded, and Bryan pinched him regularly to piss him off and keep him conscious.
All at once the door burst open, and uniformed officers threw the light switch - their guns trained on the frightened kids hiding under tables.
Morgan covered her head and screamed, as Coby threw an arm across her trembling body. When she felt different hands - men’s hands - on her she fought and cursed, demanding not to be touched. She barely heard the voice assuring they were there to help.
Slowly, the room was emptied until just Coby and Jess remained. Stretchers were brought for them. As Coby was more accessible, paramedics approached him first. Looking behind him, he saw Jess lying silent on the floor and demanded that they get her first.
But no one listened to his angry screams as they took him from the room, leaving Jess behind to be the last one out.
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