"I'm tired of playing games. People disobey my orders and this is what they get," a voice said to the frozen group of people in front of him. The figure hidden behind a black hood and clothes reached into his pocket pulling out an object of matching color. That object was gun which he lifted up and aimed at the crowd. There was a gasp in unison from those around. His finger maneuvered its way onto the trigger.

Eli grabbed Clare, who was already out of it from her breakup with Jake earlier, and covered her with his body. He tugged on Adam's arm since Adam himself was in the direct line of fire. His eyes widened, drowning in utmost panic as he heard the gun fire.

Drew's heart was banging in his chest and he felt that at any minute it would rip him to shreds. He knew who the shooter was. That voice had haunted his very dreams and his existence for too many months to count.

Bang! White, wispy, smoke fumed from the barrel of the gun. Time ceased to exist as the bullet rippled through the air like a wave of thunder. It never cascaded to the floor in a heap. Instead it pierced the flesh of one of the Degrassi students. That person clutched their stomach and fell onto their knees before collapsing onto their back.

Time resumed at full speed. Screams echoed the prom hall. Footsteps rampaged across the tile floor. There was a midst of blurs as figures of people darted in and out of sight. The gunman withdrew his weapon back into his pocket. He tightened his hood obstructing his face even more from view and made his way out as everyone was scampering away. It was disgusting to say, that he had felt no shame.

What had happened? No one could even wrap their finger around it. Just a few hours ago, everyone was in their homes preparing for what was supposed to be a crazy memory filled experience. Girls were doing their hair, painting their nails, and throwing elaborate dresses over their heads. Guys were making sure they smelled good, that their tuxedos fit perfectly around their bodies, and that they had the perfect arrival set for when they picked up their leading ladies. Seniors were teary eyed as they knew this was going to be the last time they were going to be at Degrassi before starting a life for them selves. They knew this was the final hoorah now that graduation had been earlier that day. Yet, this was no fairytale prom where everyone got to slow dance with their dates and indulged in one final celebration. It had turned into a night to die for.

"Clare, are you okay?" asked Eli as he looked to his right. He had pulled her to the ground when he heard the shot being fired. He saw Clare with her hands over her head and she was trembling. She managed to turn her head to look at him. She forced out a slight nod.

"Adam, what about –"Eli cut himself off as he turned to opposite of him where Adam had been standing.

He was now on the ground wincing in pain. His white shirt was soaked in blood. He was lying awfully still. He could have been passed off as a corpse if someone didn't look close enough. Sweat glistened all across his body as the light from overhead shone upon him. His skin was a ghostly pale shade and his bottom lip was quivering.

Eli felt his heart freefall into his stomach hitting every bone, muscle, and organ on the way down.

Eli scrambled over to Adam and took hold of his right hand. "Oh god," he exclaimed as he tightened his grip on him. "Adam, please say something, anything."

The loudness of the hall was beginning to quiet down for almost everyone had made it out. He didn't know who was still in the vicinity but he called out, "GUYS!"Eli's voice was full of terror; something that never had been heard before by anyone.

Clare became alert and crawled over towards Adam. She gasped in pure horror as she looked at his fragile body. Tears formed on the brims of her eyes and she watched as they dropped onto his black dress pants. "No, no, Adam, please," she pleaded.

Eli using his free hand wrapped it around Clare and she leaned into him with no hesitation. She was paralyzed by seeing Adam in his condition. She allowed her tears to fall harder.

There was a giant thud as two feet landed on the floor roughly. Drew had come running over from the stage at the front of the room. He grabbed tightly onto Katie's hand when he realized she had made her way through the opposing march of students to meet him. Both of them ran over to Clare and Eli.

Drew whipped out his phone from the pocket of his suit and dialed 911. "Someone's been shot," he blurted out hastily. After delivering a few more rushed answers, he hung up and intertwined his fingers with Adam's free hand.

"Please be okay," Drew begged his voice cracking before he could say more. The desperation in his voice was imminent. He was on the verge of crying. "Adam, come on bro, hang in there." He pushed back Adam's bangs that were clinging to his forehead due to his perspiration. He saw Adam's gentle eyes flutter open. They were not stained with the same kind of heart stopping fear from before. Instead, they looked almost peaceful.

There was a slow movement from Adam. He coughed weakly and managed to move his eyes and take in sight of who was around him. A small, almost imperceptible smile formed on the edges of his lips. "I love you guys," he whispered.

Drew wriggled Adam's hand. "No, Adam don't you dare do this!" he shouted. "Don't say your goodbyes, damn it!" Drew was now sobbing uncontrollably.

Katie who hadn't talked to Adam in quite some time was crying softly. In the time she has known him, she knew how wonderful he was and how nice he had treated her. Someone like him couldn't be taken away.

Eli released his grip on Adam's hand and slipped it under his head, elevating him a bit. "Come on, Adam, you're strong. You can do this." Eli fought back his own flow of tears as he reminisced about his times with Adam.

He remembered how they would always read The Goon and talk about their favorite comic book until they grew sick of it. He thought of how Adam supported him no matter when he needed it and always gave the best advice. He recalled their handshake they had made up together, and their jokes, and how many times they had laughed when they hung out. He also recollected about how this year had been hard for him and how both him and Adam had drifted apart.

Remorse filled Eli's gut and he felt as though he were drowning in his own guilt as he looked at his best friend lying beside him. He should have been there more for him and he shouldn't have been overwhelmed in getting Clare back. He should have been by Adam's side enjoying life instead of sinking in it. This was the moment that Eli wished he had taken the bullet and not Adam. It wasn't Adam whose life was supposed to be hanging in the balance.

Clare was still attached to Eli and she couldn't stop the feeling of helplessness growing inside of her. Adam had supplied her with the laughs that had gotten her through most of her year. She loved his harsh sarcasm and jokes about melodramatic Eli that had loosened up her tension towards her ex. She wanted that Adam back. She muttered some prayers under her breath and begged with every fiber of her being to let Adam live.

"What's taking so damn long!" roared Drew as he was still overlooking his baby brother in a pool of his blood. "They should have been here by now!" If it was anyone who felt that they should be in Adam's place, it was Drew. If he hadn't been with Bianca earlier this year, then he there would have been no encounter with Vince. No gang beating would have existed, no paranoia, and especially no school shooting on the night of prom.

Katie rubbed his back comfortingly although she knew nothing could help him. Nothing could help either of them.

Suddenly, a loud occurrence of sirens and alarms were heard from outside the hall. Flashes of red were seen through the windows. The doors barged open and a few emergency men along with police walked in. There was a stretcher following close behind them.

"Alright everyone, I need you to move," ordered a man in a police uniform. Eli lowered Adam's head gently and like those surrounding Adam, he backed away.

Drew, Katie, Eli, and Clare watched intensely as one man placed a neck brace around Adam's neck. It was just a precaution, they all knew, but still scary to watch. After that was done, a few men gathered near Adam and hoisted him up onto the stretcher, being aware of his leaking wound. They strapped him down after placing a bandage onto his stomach, and felt for a pulse. It was to everyone's relief, that they found one.

The police officer who had demanded that everyone step away from Adam was talking into his walkie -talkie. "Male, about sixteen years old found with a bullet wound to the torso. Internal bleeding is possible."

"Where's my son?" a woman beckoned as she charged in; Principal Simpson following close behind. They both stared in disbelief as they saw Adam's body being wheeled out by a stretcher. Mrs. Torres placed a hand across her mouth and tears immediately stung at her eyes.

She sent her gaze now searching for Drew and it was a mild relief when she saw him safe. Drew ran up to her and encased her in a tight hug. "Mom, I'm sorry about Adam. There was nothing I could do. It happened so fast and I saw him on the ground. I didn't know what to do. Mom, I hope you can forgive me, please."

Drew was stumbling over his words and Mrs. Torres didn't even hear half of them. She just kissed him on his forehead and said, "We need to go the hospital now."

"Can we come?" motioned Eli. "We're his friends."

Mrs. Torres didn't even have the energy to debate. All she wanted was for Adam to be okay. She simply nodded her head in agreement and they scurried out into the awaiting ambulances outside. Drew and his mom went into the one where Adam resided while Katie, Eli, and Clare rode in the second one.

All that now remained of Degrassi's prom night was an injured student, and a white flower, usually used as a corsage, encased in a warm red liquid upon the floor of the corridor.