Unforgettable Chapter 2.

The shots rang out, louder and faster than before. Joan covered her ears as tears ran down her cheeks.

"God, help me. Help us. Let my family be safe and let Dad solve this as fast as he can." she repeated this over and over to herself. Why was God doing this to her and her school? He was supposed to be saint, and no matter how hard some things were from her to learn from, nothing had ever been as bad as it was this. God, some of her classmates were lying in the hallways, dead. She even thought she had seen Glynnis lying there, and wondered how she was going to tell Luke.

Her thoughts ran again to her family. Her façade crumbled as she realised that Ramsey (she recognised his voice), could kill her, or Luke, or Helen before her Dad could get there. She loved her family so much- Kevin, who was the best big brother ever. He was so easy to talk to, and she remembered how scared and alone she felt the night of her brother's accident. Did Kevin feel the same way now?

Luke- her younger brother who made school so much easier. Both not being the most popular at school helped them to find things in common with. Her Dad- who was everything to Joan. He was easy to talk to and listened often, never once stereotyping her. She loved him so much-he was her hero.

Her Mom-who was her world. Soft, gentle, but such a strong woman. It had been so hard for her to tell Joan about the rape- but she had, and they had gotten through it together. Joan loved her mom so much, and knew she didn't say it to her as much as she would have liked to.

Grace looked at Joan, curled up in a ball, uncertain of what to do. Finally she handed her a tissue. Joan laughed and cried at the same time- Grace had handed her a tissue to make up their first fight.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Many people had run out from Arcadia High. Will surveyed the crowd as he stood near the property. Joan. Helen. Luke. Kevin wheeled himself quickly towards Will. "Any news?" he asked anxiously. He didn't want to sound scared, but the actual fact was that he was terrified. Suddenly Will spotted Helen, and shouted her name. Helen looked over and her face crumpled. She ran into Will's arms, and then hugged Kevin tightly. Helen looked around. "Where's Joan? and Luke?" Kevin's face looked solemn as Will said gently, "They haven't come out yet." "Wait," Kevin pointed out. "Isn't that him? With Adam?" Helen sighed with relief as Will ran out and got them. Helen hugged both of them tightly. "Hey buddy," Kevin said, and hugged Luke. Kevin gave Adam a handshake. Adam looked around. "Where's Jane?" Tears ran down Helen's face as she replied, "She's still inside." "Do something Dad,"Kevin begged. "I'm working on it, son. I've got a negotiator on the way, don't worry. Joan is fine, okay?" The uncertainty of that was kicking in, though.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ramsey entered their classroom with a few of the students. "Sit down, now." he said, in a stern, don't-mess-with-me, voice." All of you are going to listen up, or else you'll get shot with my nice handy gun. Now won't that be nice?" Joan closed her eyes and wept quietly. All she wanted to know was if her mom, brother and Adam were alright. This was going to take awhile, and she was terrified of the thought of being shot. She had her whole life to fulfill still. "Please God. Don't do this. Save me. Please."