May 27, 2052

Cambridge High School

7:20 am

"Please raise your arms," the security guard spoke slowly and monotonously.

Adam rolled his eyes.  Other than the fact that he still hasn't graduated from high school, he had no motive to gun down the student body.

"Turn around, please," the rather rotund man smelled of aftershave and began patting him down.

Adam stared ahead and noticed a clique of teenagers goofing around in line.  Occasionally they smirked in his direction.  Suddenly, he was conscious of himself and felt puny.  No, they are just kids and I shouldn't let them control me.  He pushed the guard away and walked through the arch-like entrance which also served as a metal detector.

"Next?"  The man didn't seem to notice Adam's rudeness.

"Hey man, howyadoing Mr. Drew?" A slick looking young man stepped forward from the clique.  He had a constant half-smile that drew girls to him from a fifty meter radius.  Adam stopped to watch him.  His antics were always amusing.  Adam noticed that Charlie was neither good looking or hideous.  There was just an aura of gothic mystery about him. 

Mr. Drew grunted as a reply and began patting him down.

"Hey easy on the package, okay?" Charlie said insinuatingly and flicked a wink at a girl.  He shook himself coolly and pretended he was an urban butterfly newly emerged from its ghetto cocoon. 

"Please remove your weapons, Charlie." Mr. Drew spoke comfortably.  This same process happened everyday.  Drew didn't even bother to pull out his gun, as was customary.

Charlie grinned and pulled out the gun from a concealed pocket. "Taurus PT92 Electric Blowback.  The neon red ones weren't in stock today."

"Drop your weapons, son." Drew held out his hand to receive the weapon.

Charlie looked him eye and narrowed his eyes, "No, Mr. Drew."

Some of the girls laughed and cooed his name.  Charlie flinched at the sound of his name and swiveled around to his friends.  Some of the well-groomed males held the girls closer.

"Take it easy, man." A voice spoke up by Adam's ear.  Adam suddenly noticed the blond hair boy who stood towering next to him.

"No." Charlie swung around with a leveled the gun and pulled the trigger.

The blast shook Adam to the bone and he felt a tremendous pressure in his chest.  He couldn't breath.  He couldn't move.  He fell and fell, and as he fell he saw each distinct droplet of red life falling with him.  Life seemed to pause for a nanosecond.  A jolt to his spine woke him, and screaming flooded his ears.  He was not hit but the one next to him wasn't so lucky.  He climbed to his feet slowly and felt cold metal on the nape of his neck.

"Are you with me or against me, Nerd?" Charlie asked quite jovially and then he whispered, "I'll give you three chances."

"No, don't kill him!" An impassioned but muffled plea came from the hallway.  A brunette with bouncing locks tore from the crowd that had closed around them.  These people probably weren't aware that gunfire could kill them.

"Susan!" Adam gasped.  He wished he could see her, but his back was turned to her and a gun forbade him from moving.

Charlie was now facing her and he smiled warmly, "What's that you're reading?"

Susan smiled nervously, "It's nothing."

"Wrong answer." Click.

Adam flinched again at the second explosion which echoed wildly in the hallway.  He tried to run for Susan but Charlie and his machine of death blocked his path. Adam was ready to cry, "Why don't you just kill me?"

Charlie appeared to think for a moment, "Because I don't want to?"

Suddenly a loud grizzly voice megaphone barked, "Drop your weapons kid.  We've got you surrounded."

Immediately five men in black flak suits appeared before them.  Adam sighed and thanked the lord that the Swat team had cloaking devices built into their suits. Each of them held assault rifles aimed at Charlie.  Charlie stared back nonchalantly.  His face had darkened and become appallingly gaunt.

The Swat leader spoke, "Are you going to cooperate?  Drop your weapon now!"

"Alright man, cool." The gun fell from his hand and landed with a metallic thud.  Members of the Swat team bound his arms in cuffs. They pushed him forward toward the door and Charlie turned his head to speak to Adam, "Sauron lives."

Adam's eyes widened.  There was no time to think about this.  He knelt by Susan whose pale skin had slightly bluish tinge.  She would be in shock soon.  Meanwhile, urgent footsteps fell louder and faster on deaf ears.  Adam wanted only to hear Susan speak.

"Alright move aside people," an arrogant EMT shouted and member of his team moved the crowd back. "We'll take care of her."

"No," A hand on his shoulder was both menacing and comforting. Adam resisted.

Susan shivered and croaked, "I heard what he said, Adam.  The book.  Read the book."

"What?"  Adam felt infinitely vulnerable and he did not want to understand anything anymore.  He watched the EMTs carry Susan and the blonde boy out on stretchers.  His world was twisting and warping beyond comprehension.  A cold breeze blew through his hair and pages fluttered at his feet.  He bent to pick up the book now spotted with Susan's blood.  Lord of the Rings?

Dead air buzzed through the intercom and the principal's voice was tired, "School is dismissed for today.  Report back tomorrow as usual."