Twelve: the chaos in the school
Temperance
"Code red, Code red. This is NOT a drill."
It takes me a second to remember that code red is a drill for a lockdown.
The principal's voice seems shaky. Alec and I look at each other, and he grabs my hand.
He opens the door to the janitor's closet with a tight grip on my arm.
They said out of sight. Not grab Temperance's hand and take her somewhere.
"Where are we going? We were already out of sight in there!" I protest. I roll my eyes as he decides to ignore me.
We get to our classroom, and he frantically beats on the door. "Let us in!"
Yes, be loud Alec, that totally won't attract a killer.
The teacher opens the door and pulls us in. Everyone is huddled on the side of the room where the window on the door is perfectly angled away from them.
The teacher frantically turns out the lights and locks the door with shaking hands. Alec and I make our way toward the class. We sit close to the wall with a few students in front of us.
I imagine a person coming in and frantically shooting us with rounds of bullets. I can see it as if I'm watching a movie.
They would shoot the chubby football player who sits in front of me. The trembling of his body would stop, leaving me with thoughts to spare as he collapses backward. I would let my body fall with his, leaving his weight on top of me as I close my eyes.
The blood from all of my classmates would splatter all over my face, making my faked death seem real. It would only seem real for a second as the man would close in on our dead bodies.
He would realize that I'm still breathing, ultimately shooting me in the end.
I feel a nudge come from my right side where Alec resides. I look at the dangerous man beside me.
Right, he would shoot the killer first, sparing everyone's life.
The classroom is dark. A few girls are crying, with others desperately trying to shush them.
I feel Alec's hand on mine, and I lay my head on his shoulder, trying to calm myself down. I've run from death every day, maybe it's time to let it happen.
Getting shot by a school shooter is a better way of going out than being tortured to death by my father.
"I'm sure this is someone from the deal that fell through. I knew they would come for revenge, I didn't think it would be while I'm at school." Alec whispers in my ear, his breath causing goosebumps to rise on my neck.
I shiver as I remember the faces of the men that were eyeing me that night. They looked scruffy, but I could tell they meant business. I still remember the feeling of their blood lust, they wanted to kill us the mere second we stepped into the building.
The sound of gunshots rings through the building. I wince and squeeze Alec's hand for comfort.
He puts his head on mine as we sit with uncertainty.
Sabrina looks over at us, somehow back in the room, and glares. "I think you should be the one to go out there so we can escape." She whispers.
"You're probably a better target, with all that armored makeup you'd survive any bullet that comes your way," I mutter.
My eyes widen, remembering my two best friends and Zander. Zander can take care of himself, but Ryan and Nicole can't. Oh, God. I need to find them!
"Alec, we need to find Ryan and Nicole!" I whisper. He shakes his head, "No, it's too dangerous. I'm sure they are fine."
I'm barely able to hold my tears back as I worry for my childhood friends. I can only hope that they are ok.
I jump when someone's fist flies at the door. The banging continues and I sink into the wall behind me.
I stay silent and look at Alec. He looks tense, which is normal for Alec.
**************************************************************************
Alec
I sit with worry coursing through me. My hand stays on Temperance, trying to provide her with comfort.
There is a deranged man with a gun banging on the classroom door trying to get in. There are people all around us shedding tears.
Why isn't Temperance?
She doesn't seem calm. But she isn't crying or screaming. Sometimes she will squeeze my hand a little.
She definitely is different. I got that figured out.
Then the banging stops. He has moved onto the next room.
"Are the police even coming?" I ask the teacher in a whisper.
"Someone from the office should've called them. If not, there is a red alert button they press." She replies.
I nod. I don't want to sit down and wait for the police to arrive. My men are much faster. But I know I can't bring them.
One: some of them are at school right now.
Two: it was too risky with the police.
I don't give a fuck about anyone in this school aside from Temperance, Connor, and Zander. I know Connor and Zander can handle themselves, though. I have to keep myself and Temperance safe.
I look down at the text from my phone.
My eyebrows furrow, seeing a text from Connor telling us that we should try to get out of here as fast as we can.
We can't be here when the cops show up.
I type on my phone, explaining that we can't leave Temperance here.
I thin my lips out as he offers to get Emaline inside the school once we leave. She would ensure Temperances safety and we would meet somewhere else.
I glance at Temperance, whose eyes are filled with the familiar numbness.
I have to admit. Connor has a good plan. And I am willing to do it since Emaline isn't on the police radar yet.
I lean into Temperance, telling her I plan for Emaline to get her. She looks up at me, her eyes wide with concern.
"Trust me." Is all I manage to say as I start looking for an opening.
I wait until the teacher is distracted by calming someone down. Then I make my move. I quietly sneak to the door, praying I'll make it out.
I hear the teacher call my name as I close the door behind me.
I glance around the halls before going to the railings, glaring down at one of Jared's men roaming the halls.
"Boss." Connor taps my shoulder, Zander right behind him.
Without anymore words exchanged between us we make our way to the exit. I open the door, a gust of wind hitting my face. I let the guys go out before I carefully close the door behind me.
I can't help but cringe as the door makes a squeaking sound as it closes.
We run down the metal stairs onto the grass. From then, we run like idiots.
**************************************************************************
Temperance
It's been twelve minutes since Alec made his escape with Connor and presumably Zander. I can't help but worry.
I also can't help but wonder why the cops aren't here yet.
I jump as a loud ringing sounds through the room, tearing my ears up with the sound.
Fire alarms.
I glance around the room as I place my hands over my ears. No one is moving. There's no way of telling if this is real or if it's a trick to get us piled into the hallway.
Everyone stays in their places, listening to the deafening sound of the fire alarm. The flashing lights make me get a headache.
"Sophie just texted me. There is an actual fire. What do you want us to do?" One of the girls asks the teacher.
I shift in my spot, wondering why the teachers aren't communicating and instead relying on the students.
This school is a joke.
"I'll check out there. When I say run. Run." The teacher stands up and walks over to the door.
She opened it, and we eagerly waited. I watch intensity as she looks like she was bumped into. The halls were filled with students now, with the smell of smoke lingering in the air.
Just like that, without her say so, everyone is running out of the classroom. Other students push past us, trying to desperately get out of here.
I bring myself to the railings, almost falling from being pushed aside. I look down at the students escaping the building.
I thin my lips, realizing there is no shooter inside the school anymore.
I only wonder when they decided to leave.
I know cops are supposed to bust in through the door with guns pointed at us, but that didn't seem to happen.
Could they be apart of Jared's gang?
"What are you doing? Come on?" One of my classmates yells at me before getting led away.
Either way, I am supposed to be waiting for Emaline.
"TEMPERANCE!!!" I hear a familiar voice yell my name.
I spin on my heal, spotting Ryan and Nicole. I don't need them getting in the way.
"Are you hurt? Why aren't you moving?" Nicole asks, her hand wrapping around my thin wrist. I struggle against her as she tries to drag me down the hall.
"Cmon Temp, we need to leave!" I hear another voice call out for me.
I look around, tightening my grip on the railing. My heart almost stops as Emaline comes into view.
"Guys, look. I have to go." I tell them, trying to get my wrist free.
"Uh, you aren't going anywhere. We are going outside. Now." Ryan orders.
"Temperance needs to come with me." I'm shocked as Emaline steps onto the side of me. When did she even get over here?
"Sorry, this is my best friend we are talking about. She is staying with us." Nicole argues, studying Emalines face.
"No, really, guys. I need to go with her." I plead, struggling to get free.
"No. Why the hell would we let you go?" Ryan leads me down the steps, catching me as I trip over my own feet.
I cough and choke on the smoke that is fogging the air. He parts from me, looking between the three of us. There is no one in the hall but us.
"Please let me go. I wouldn't do this unless it were important." I look between the two of them with pleading eyes.
I feel immediate relief as they look at each other, their eyes filled with sadness.
"Be safe with those new people you're hanging with." Nicole gives me a shaky smile.
"Come on!" Emaline immediately snatches my attention from my friends. She grabs my arm, giving me that push to start running as she does. I try to keep up, holding my arm on my stomach.
We sprint out of the front of the school, passing all the teachers and students.
Police cars and a firetruck pull up to the scene as teachers call out for us.
I fall onto the wall of the gas station, panting as Emaline crouches over with her hand on her knees.
My heart burns, and my throat is dry and cold.
She makes her way towards the refrigerators and takes out two waters. She tosses one to me, extend my hand, catching it successfully after fumbling it.
I open the cold bottle and let the cold water blanket my tongue, sliding down my pained throat. I'm drinking so fast the refreshing liquid spills down my neck.
My bottle is empty by the time Emaline spams five dollars on the counter. The cashier looks at us with annoyance lacing his lazy features.
We sit on a curb, and she sighs, "I hate running with the LIFE of me." She complains while taking another sip of her water.
I decide not to respond since I'm always having to run from danger. I tie my hair into a ponytail. With the heat beating down on me I'm sure I'll get a sunburn.
Dragging my attention away from the bright sun, a black truck pulls up.
"Take my gun Temperance."