"Fuck," Owen yelled, his hand shot to his opposite shoulder.
Luke had just walked around the corner, he had stopped to tie his shoe and had fallen a bit behind his friend. He stopped as soon as he saw the blood dripping from Owen's shoulder and hitting the floor.
Afraid to look up, Luke's eyes slowly scanned the floor until they fell upon a pair of worn sneakers. They trailed up the pair of jeans to a green hoodie and then recognized the face of Cam Saunders.
"Rookie?" Luke whispered.
"Shut up," Cam retorted, holding a gun at his side.
Luke snuck a glance at Owen, who was biting his lip in pain. He looked back to Cam, whose eyes were sad but looked a lot angrier. "Saunders, what're you thinking?" Luke asked.
"Do you know where Zig is?" Cam asked, sounding desperate and ignoring Luke's question.
Luke's eyes widened as he realized what was going on. Cam was the intruder. He'd let off the three shots before now. Who knew what or whom they had been aimed at?
"Look man, I don't know who Zig is but you have to stop what you're doing," Luke said, not letting his voice falter.
"I said, SHUT UP!" Cam began to yell. He started to lift his gun but Luke realized what was going to happen.
"Whoa, whoa, Cam!"
"WHAT?"
"I – YOU…" He looked to Owen, who was tapping his free hand on the side of his jeans, as if to get his attention. Luke looked back to Cam slowly; he was staring at his hand that was gripped around the gun. Luke's eyes went back to Owen's hand, which was now holding up three fingers. Luke understood immediately. Luke looked back to Cam, trying not to be suspicious. He gave a slight nod to Owen and watched his fingers from the corner of his eye. Soon Owen held only two up, then one.
Luke began to charge the youngest player of the Icehounds with Owen at his side, still keeping a hand over his bullet wound. They collided with Cam and sent him to the floor. His gun skidded across the hall. Luke was holding Cam down and expected Owen to grab the gun but when he looked over, Owen was on his hands and knees, silently screaming in pain.
Suddenly, a sharp pain lurched in Luke's groin. Cam has swung his foot and kicked him. Luke doubled over and Cam wriggled free. He tripped over to his handgun and scooped it up off the hallway floor.
"Cam, no!" Luke started to say as soon as Cam began lifting his gun again. "Cam, stop, look what you're doing, man."
Cam raised the gun and Luke stood up in a last effort to stop the younger boy. He started to take a step towards him when Cam pulled the trigger. Luke collapsed and was afraid to clutch his knee where the bullet had entered. He moaned in pain and his eyes filled with water. Luke watched a blurry Cam run down the hallway towards the learning wing.