"That was one long day."
"You're telling me! We made about a million cupcakes for the grade eight night tonight in the kitchen today."
"Yeah, that's rough."
Brock rolled his eyes playfully. Kyra sent a glare his way, causing his hands to fly up into the air in defense.
"Whoa, firestarter," Brock said. "Learn to take a joke."
Kyra sighed, chuckling slightly to herself. She closed her locker, slinging her backpack over her shoulders. Brock and Jason were laughing to themselves, trying to keep it hidden from her. Sam simply rolled his eyes, trying to keep his amusement to himself from the two youngest boys. William couldn't help but smile as he closed his locker and walked up to join them.
"Well, what's everyone's plans?" William asked.
"I'm heading to a friends to work on our construction culminating project," Sam said.
"Brock and I have to stay for basketball practise," Jason said. "What about you two?"
"Mom wants me to pick up Ella," William said. "She's working a later shift tonight. She said she would pick you two up after practise, though."
"Sweet, we don't have to walk home in the snow," Brock cheered.
"Lucky ducks," Kyra groaned. "I have to head home. I missed the start of Math because of a guidance thing so I have to catch up on the assignment before Will gets home."
"Better get going then," Sam said. "I think William is the best out of us for math."
"Are you kidding?' William cried. "I suck!"
"Says the boy who currently has a, oh what was it, 95!" Brock replied.
"Alright, I get it," William threw his hands in the air in defeat. "I'm good at math."
"You got that right," Kyra chuckled.
"Oh, look who's talking," William turned to Kyra. "Miss I'm-going-to-fail-french having a 92 in the class."
"Ok, we all get it," Sam cut in. "Enough bickering. You two are going to be late to practise, you're going to be late getting Ella and I was suppose to meet my friend five minutes ago! We can continue this at home if you please but we all have places to be!"
"Crap, he's right!" Jason cried, looking at his watch. "Come on, Brock. Bye guys!"
"Bye!" Kyra and William called.
They walked out of the school together, talking and laughing. William wore his winter coat, along with hat, mitts and boots. Kyra, meanwhile, was able to walk in just a sweater, still wearing boots with her coat around her waist.
"You know, I never understood why you haven't frozen to death yet," William said.
"It has something to do with the fire element," Kyra shrugged. "It keeps me warm during the cold season."
"Lucky duck," William chuckled.
"Oh, haha," Kyra rolled her eyes. "See you when you and Ella get home."
"Yeah, see you," William called.
Kyra turned and walked up a side street. It was silent, the freshly fallen snow clear and untouched along the sidewalk. It was only a thin layer, so it was nice to walk through. Kyra admired the snow along the tree branches, the icicles hanging from rooftops, even the small snow forts young kids had made over the Christmas break. It made her smile, knowing some people did have fun over the holidays. Her holidays were another story, but it was still an adventure. Kyra slipped across the street into the empty park, coated in snow with footprints trailing everywhere. She saw on the other end of the park, Teana and her brother, Sage, were already enjoying the snow. She was tempted to join them, but something stopped her train of thought. She was shoved into the almost knees deep snow beside the sidewalk. She spun onto her back, seeing a person cloaked in all black above her. A knife was gripped tightly in their hands.
"Get off me!" Kyra screamed.
Kyra attempt to crawl away, but was unable to in the deep snow. The stranger grabbed her collar, digging their knees into Kyra's stomach. Kyra gasped, the air being knocked from her lungs as she fell onto her back with the new-found weight.
"Let go of me!" Kyra cried. "Help!"
"Kyra!" she heard Teana scream off in the distance.
"You little brat!" she stranger growled.
The stranger attempted to stab the knife through Kyra's chest, but she grabbed their wrist, pushing against it. The fear in her eyes as the knife got closer and closer to her chest, right above her heart. Kyra's breathing intensified, pushing as hard as she could against the stranger.
"Stop resisting!" the stranger yelled at her.
Kyra screamed in pain as the knife went into her right arm. The stranger pulled it out and lined up to stab her chest. Then they were kicked in the side, sending them stumbling away from Kyra. Sage glared at them, pure hatred flooding through his veins.
"I'll get you yet, Kyra," the stranger snapped.
The stranger turned and darted off, disappearing from sight. Sage started to chase after them, wanting to stop them.
"Sage!"
He spun around, seeing Teana kneeling over Kyra. Sage gasped, seeing red soaking into the snow.
"She was stabbed in the arm," Teana told him. "We need help. Now!"
Sage nodded, pulling out his phone and calling 911. Teana pulling out a pocket knife from her jacket. She tossed her bag aside.
"Kyra, I'm going to cut your backpack off," Teana told her.
Kyra nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks from the pain. Teana carefully cut the seams holding the straps of Kyra's backpack together. She pulled Kyra's bag from under her, turning to her brother.
"Alright hold on," Sage said into the phone.
Teana looked at him worried.
"They'll be here any minute," Sage said. "They said find something and apply pressure on the opening to slow the bleeding."
Teana nodded. She looked around for something, anything to use. She pulled her backpack closer to her and pulled out her sweater.
"This will have to do," Teana sighed. "It's old anyways."
Teana looked, seeing Kyra watching her.
"Don't use your sweater," Kyra muttered. "You'll ruin it."
"I'd rather lose a sweater than a friend," Teana told her. "This might hurt."
Kyra nearly screamed again when Teana placed the sweater on her arm. Teana grabbed Kyra's good hand, feeling her start clenching it tightly.
"Just hold on a little longer," Teana told her.
Kyra nodded, biting her lip. Teana looked up as a loud siren echoed through the park. She watched an ambulance pull up and paramedics jump out with stretcher. A police car pulled up close behind them. Sage ran to them, leading them towards Kyra.
"Back up," one told Teana.
Teana backed away from Kyra, grabbing both her and Kyra's bags from the snow. She looked up, seeing the worried look on her brother's face as they moved Kyra onto a stretcher.
"Do either of you know this person?" a police officer asked the siblings.
"We do," Teana said. "Her name is Kyra Smith."
"Any idea what happened?" the officer asked.
"I heard her scream, and saw a masked stranger had pinned her down and was trying to stab her," Teana said.
"Alright, you come with us," the officer told them. "We'll get you to the hospital with your friend. Can you get in contact with her family?"
"Yeah," Sage said.
"William!" Teana cried.
Teana darted towards the vehicles, seeing a confused William and a scared Ella.
"What happened?" William asked Teana.
"It's Kyra," Teana said.
"Are you Kyra's brother?" the officer asked.
"We live together," William said. "She's like my adoptive sister, she lives with my family. Is she alright?"
"You both can come with me," the officer to him and Ella.
"Can someone tell me what's happening?" William asked, more annoyed.
"Kyra was stabbed," Sage said, holding the backpacks. "Someone tried to kill her."
Just a reminder that this story is a cooperative story with my friend dasher girl, who is the owner of the Oc's Dash, Zack, Nicki and Roy in some of my stories. If you enjoy this, you should check out her stories! She is an amazing writer.