Naia's POV

It didn't occur to me that they were gunshots until I heard people screaming. The kids were crying while their parents tried to round them up. Sophie, who didn't know what was happening, was only crying because everyone else was. Slightly confused, I looked up to see a man with a rifle, shooting it as if there was no tomorrow.

The adrenaline kicked in within seconds and I scooped Sophie up and grabbed Nate's wrist before running away from where the gunshots were coming from. I wasn't sure where to go, what to do. The gunshots kept going, the thundering bang every time was louder than everyone's screams and cries. Beside me, people were crumbling to the ground, but I kept running, not quite processing what was happening.

It probably wasn't smart, blindly running in a crowded park during a shooting but my mind wasn't working. I was acting on pure adrenaline, and I wasn't processing my actions before I did anything.

I was subconsciously aware of blood in my peripheral vision but I kept running, only making sure that Nate's wrist was still grasped in my hand. Sophie was clutching me, her arms wrapped around my neck, her face buried into my chest. I could barely hear her sobs over the gunshots that were still going.

We had been running for quite some time, my legs should be tired but the adrenaline kept me going. With each new bang, my heart lept into my throat, pushing me to go further and faster.

Looking up, I saw that we were nearing the BP Pedestrian Bridge and acting on an impulse, I dragged Nate with me under the bridge.

We collapsed behind one of the pillars. I couldn't hear the sound of gunshots anymore so I stayed where I was, trying to catch my breath. My heart was racing so fast I thought it was going to burst out of my chest.

Sophie was still sobbing so I passed her to Nate who started comforting his younger sister.

Cautiously, I peeked around the pillar and immediately regretted it. There was blood everywhere. I sharply sucked in a breath of air and retreated back behind the pillar, closing my eyes.

The adrenaline was starting to wear off and the reality of what had just happened was starting to sink in. I felt a searing stinging feeling coming from my upper arm and looked down to see blood. At first, I quickly looked away, not wanting to come to terms with the fact that I was shot, but I forced myself to look down and was glad that I did.

After examining it, it seemed like I had only been grazed by a bullet. I was a little shocked that neither of us had been hit, considering we were extremely close to where the shooting started.

So close I saw the shooter.

In the distance, I heard sirens which just made this that much more real.

"Naia, you're bleeding," Nate said, noticing the blood. He sounded concerned.

I shook my head, "It's just a graze."

"Do you hear gunshots?" He asked, his voice quiet and I noticed a slight quiver. I shook my head again and took a deep breath before looking back around the pillar again. There were people laying on the ground. Some of them were kids.

"Stay here with Sophie," I told Nate as I stood up.

He grabbed my hand, "Where are you going?"

"To help some people," I replied. My brain was fuzzy and I wasn't comprehending words right now. The answers came out on their own terms.

Nate's eyebrows furrowed, "What if the shooter's still out there?"

"Did you hear the sirens? Do you hear gunshots?" I asked, my voice a little too harsh, "I can't let those people die and you stopping me is going to kill them."

Nate let go of my hand, mainly out of shock and before I could apologize, my feet had already started taking me to those victims. I raced towards the first one closest to me and bent down to check for a pulse.

Nothing.

I didn't know CPR but even if I did, I knew I had to move on.

Biting my lip, I took a few steps towards the next victim who was a little boy around Sophie's age. He did have a pulse and I immediately looked for where he was shot, except I didn't see any blood or any wounds.

Confused, I picked him up and hurried back to the pillar where Nate and Sophie were sitting.

"He wasn't shot," I quickly said, "He's just unconscious but he's breathing on his own. Just look out for him."

I carefully set him down with his head resting on Nate's lap before running back out. There were police now, getting people into their cars and there were paramedics working to help victims.

For a moment, I just stood there.

This couldn't be happening right now.

My eyes settled on a little girl, older than Sophie, maybe around eight or nine.

Jane's age.

The girl was sitting with her knees tucked up to her chest. She seemed unharmed but I noticed that she was bawling her eyes out and quickly hurried over.

"What's your name?" I asked her, crouching down.

"Bella," She sniffed, "I don't know where my mommy and daddy are."

I nodded, "We'll find them. My name's Naia. Let's get you somewhere else."

At eight or nine, you probably had a good understanding of what was happening. I wasn't sure, but either way, I didn't want her seeing all the blood. Taking her hand, I lead her back behind the pillar where Nate was seated.

The boy I had brought was awake now and he was crying. Sophie, sweet Sophie, was trying her best to comfort him and so was Nate.

Nate.

A seventh-grader who was trying to stay steady for two little kids.

"Hey," I said, coming up to them.

Nate's eyes lit up when he saw me, "You're back."

"This is Bella, we have to find her parents," I sat down and Bella took a seat next to me.

Nate nodded, "Same with Jack." He tilted his head towards the sobbing boy.

I looked over at Nate and our eyes met.

What do we do? He mouthed.

I shook my head and mouthed back my answer.

I don't know.