He walks into the school
The gun pointed high.
He shows no remorse,
He just wants people to die.
The screams and cries
Float into the skies.
Feet hitting pavement in a rush of energy
Fleeing this gunman and his shooting range.
People hiding everywhere.
Under the tables,
Behind the desk.
A bullet flies through the air,
A spark in time
And breathes its last through a friend of mine's chest.
He falls to the ground,
I run in panic.
Screams are heard of terrified kids.
Any place they can hide,
Anywhere to get away from this place.
The halls are littered with blood and bodies,
Victims of destruction.
I run through the halls in a white-out effect
Blocking the world around me.
My only plea is to get out safely.
The shots echo throughout the school.
How many are dead?
How many will die?
What's the cause of this rage?
Who is this guy?
You can feel the tension in this place,
But what can we do?
There's no escape!
The halls smell like gunfire
And the smell of blood.
Fresh and new.
The spirit of death floats through these halls.
Everyone is asking the same questions,
You can feel it.
Am I next?
Are my friends alive?
Most of all, we all want to know why?
I see a door and push through it.
I'm in the library.
Everyone screams not knowing who I am.
I spot my best friend and she pulls me down
Huddles under a table we whisper our fears.
We wait, listening.
We can hear the shots getting closer.
My stomach is knotted.
Tension and fear build up in my veins.
I can feel my friend tense beside me
When the next shot rings out.
Without warning, The door burst open
Followed by another round of screams.
I dare a glance and freeze.
It's him.
I sink under the table
As useless as this gesture is.
The gunman begins shooting
And the abruptly stops.
He's speaking to someone,
Hatred dripping from his voice.
Something else though.
Nervousness? Fear?
It's then that I realize he's scared.
I turn to whisper something to my friend.
I spark his attention and he points the gun at me.
I see his face now and realize I know him.
Ryan. Biology.
"Stand up!"
Frozen.
"Stand up!"
He jerks me to my feet.
Crying.
"Not so tough now, huh!"
He sneers.
I shake violently.
"Y-you don't have to do this."
I stutter.
"Shut up!"
He cocks the gun.
"You don't!"
I beg.
"Why do you care?!
Everyone here hates me anyways,
And now those people will die!"
It all becomes clear.
"Pain for pain."
I state.
"It doesn't have to be like this."
I plead.
A tear streams down his face.
"Yes, it does and I have one last bullet."
I close my eyes and brace myself,
Expecting the pain.
The gun explodes
And Ryan falls to the floor in a pool of blood.