By the way, sorry Andrew isn't in this chap or the prologue. I just don't have room for him until next chap.

CHAPTER ONE

The Irish angel pushed her way through the heavy, metal doors. Her eyes scanned all the banners and posters that layered the walls and bulletin boards. There was a long banner posted up on the one of the beams on the ceiling, advertising the Snowball that was coming up. There was another, down the hall that advertised a rally against school shootings. That hurt Monica to think of the other week. Now it haunted her to come in her. She new it shouldn't, but it did. Why was death such a big deal now? It had always been all right with her, but when death occurred like this, it wasn't.

"Monica?" a young voice asked. Monica whirled around and saw a teenage boy standing there.

"Bobby, I just saw your mom at…what are you doing here, Bobby?" Monica asked, suddenly realizing that it was way after school time.

"Well, I…Monica, can you keep a secret?" Bobby asked.

"It depends on what kind of secret it is," Monica advised. "If it's something important…"

"Monica," Bobby said. "Just shut up and listen!"

"I beg your pardon?" Monica asked in astonishment. This wasn't the sweet boy that was in her class. This wasn't that kind teen that got straight A's on his midterm report card. Who was this? This was certainly not the Bobby that Monica knew.

"Oh, man, now I'm going to have to…just come with me!" Bobby ordered. Suddenly, he whipped a gun in Monica's face and smirked. "Took advantage of me, did you? That's why you have to keep this secret. There's going to be a shooting here tonight, and you're going to be part of it." Monica dropped her jaw but willingly followed the young boy. How could Jane be her assignment when Bobby was really the one who needed help?

"Bobby, I don't understand…"

"Just shut up! Don't you know the meaning? If you don't, then I'm afraid you will be the shooting. But if you accept your instructions, then you will just be a part. Now I'm bringing you to the boys and they'll instruct you."

Bobby carefully smoothed his jet, black hair down, slipped a pair of sunglasses on, and pulled the ends of his black, leather jacket around him. He still kept one hand on the gun, his fingers locked on the trigger. Monica realized that if she made any move, and her being in human form, he would shoot and she would be wounded. Was this part of the Father's plan, or was this just a side road in it?

"Dang, Bobby, what's she doing here?" another teenage boy asked when Bobby led Monica into a small hideout behind the school.

"Her life is on hold," Bobby said with a smirk. "She's our bait."

"Ah, the genius reigns again," a girl said with a laugh. Right away, Monica recognized every teenager. They were all in her class, and for a moment, she felt the guilt and blame of them turning like this.

"So, teacher," the girl spat. "How are you going to teach us if you're…"

"Hey, Sydney, don't be getting ahead of yourself. We don't quite know what we're going to do with her, yet. She might just have to end up dead, 'cause otherwise she'll call the police right after we release her," Bobby pointed out. He pushed her to the ground and Monica landed with a big thump next to a pile of guns.

"Or," the other boy suggested. "We can leave her with permanent damage." He laughed.

"You know, man," Bobby said. "That just might be a nice idea. We could…"

"Sorry I'm late," a red head kid said as he joined the group. "No, no!" he exclaimed when his sight fell upon Monica. "She can't be here…she's…"

"Yeah, Roy, don't you think we know? But Bobby here had to drag her into this," Sydney said, twirling a lock of her blond hair. Her deep blue eyes pierced the darkness. "She's out bait."

"Ah," Roy said. "Aaron, then what are we going to do with old Mister Matters? I thought he was out bait."

"No," Aaron said. "He's our target. He gets here every night at six and it is five forty-five. We've got five minutes to load, five minutes to settle in our positions, and five minutes to wait for our target."

"And then where does she fit in?" Sydney asked, pointed to Monica who quietly sat by the brick wall, her eyes not leaving the gun that was aimed right at her head.

"She'll distract him," Bobby said. He looked at his three friends. "Roy, you brought the ammunition, didn't you?"

"Of course." Roy emptied out a black bag. Monica almost gasped when she saw all of the bullets pour out.

"You need all of those for just one man?" she asked softly, hoping her punishment wouldn't be the gun.

"Who said it was just him?" Aaron asked sarcastically. "Don't you know, you being one of the teachers, that six is when they arrive?"

"They?" Monica asked weakly.

"The board," Bobby answered with a wild grin. "I still tend to surprise you, don't I?"

"I wouldn't call it a surprise, Bobby," Monica told him solemnly. "I would call it disappointment."

"Hey," Sydney cried. "It's five-forty six. Ha, you guys missed your chance."

"We better make a move on it! Monica, you follow my instructions as we go. No time for that now," Bobby said. "Ron, load, Aaron, map, and Sydney instruct. Here's your walkie-talkie. I'm heading for the door."

"All right," Ron said. He smiled. "Monica, you ready?" Monica shook her head but could not refuse when he jerked her to her feet. "It doesn't matter if you are or aren't. We're going now!"

Monica gulped as she felt the gun stab her neck. She was doing all she could from crying out. Right now, praying was all that was eligible. Would God let this plan of the teen's go through tonight?

No, Monica thought, He can't. He wouldn't, would He?