Sleep came to claim her that night as she was collapsed on the floor and woke up to the loud buzzing sound of her alarm clock waking her for school. Eyes opened to gaze at the ever slowly changing number on her alarm clock, there was no way she was going to school today.
"Emily..." she muttered under her breath.
Images of what would happen to her flashed back and forth in her head, filling her conscious with guilt and regret. Tossing and turning in her bed, the unsettling thoughts weren't going away at all and they were leaving her restless. Emily was her one and only friend up until now, there was no way she was going to let things happen to her, but being as helpless as she was, there really was nothing she could do. Unless. Getting up from her bed and dressing up in her usual heavy set of attire, she was careful in going downstairs and inspecting the surroundings. The trio was asleep and to her eye, the gun she wielded to try and end herself was in the same spot as before. Slowly making her way over to the table, it was a easy to grab the gun and dash off with it in her messenger bag and rush her way to school.
Her feet felt heavy along the way as if there were weights strapped onto her, sweat covered her hands regardless of the semi-cold climate they were having. Shiva didn't know what she was going to do once she arrived to the scene, but having a gun with her already gave her the advantage.
"Please don't let me pull the trigger..."whispered Shiva.
Back at home, Simon was the first to wake up and to his surprise the gun on the table was missing. Sleep was scared right off of him as he dashed straight upstairs and up to Shiva's room which she wasn't there anymore. The gun was gone, Shiva was missing and he had a pretty sure idea where she was. Running down the stairs to shake Gary awake, it didn't take long to wake up him.
"Gary, wake up! This is serious. Your sister took your gun and went to school with it" said Simon.
Rubbing his eyes while still waking up, he looked up at Simon with a confused expression.
"What? Why?" asked Gary.
"She didn't want me to tell you, but she has been bullied ever since she started high school and her friend is in trouble...you can add the pieces" said Simon.
Price woke up from the commotion that they were making and over heard some of their conversation.
"You guys gonna get her or what?" asked Price.
"We should get going" said Gary getting up from the couch and rushing outside with Price and Simon.
Jumping into their vehicle, they rushed off from the house to make their way over to Shiva's school.
From a distance she could already see the nosy group of student huddling over an alleyway and cheering on what she suspects is the beating of Emily. Reaching into her messenger bag to take firm grip of the pistol, Shiva slowly squirms her way through the crowd only to witness Emily on the floor and sobbing from the beating that just ended. One of the girls was quick to spot Shiva in the front of the crowd and pointed her out.
"Well look at what we have here, you're a little late in helping your friend, Shiva" laughed one of the girls.
"You should've been here just a while ago, she cried out for you and you were no where to be found. You knew it was gonna happen and you didn't even tell her! What kind of friend are you" smirked another.
That was when Shiva pulled out the pistol from her messenger bag and shakily pointed it at the three girls that froze up at the sight of it. The surrounding group that watched the whole thing suddenly disappeared from fear and left a trail of screams.
"S-so w-what! N-now y-you're g-g-gonna k-kill us f-f-for this!" yelled the main girl in fear.
In the background, Gary had arrived in time to see the crowd flee and Shiva stand at the entrance of the alleyway with the pistol pointed at a group of girls and one laying on the floor.
"S-Shiva...don't...it's...not worth it..." cringed Emily while struggling to move from the floor.
"I'm tired of this!" yelled Shiva.
Silence was bestowed.
"All these years...almost everyday after school...the beatings...the bruises I put up with. WHY! I had no one to tell, I had nothing to comfort me...I was scared! Everyday...living in fear, WHY! WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME! What have I ever done to you! ANSWER ME!" yelled Shiva while failing to hold back her tears.
"ANSWER ME!".
"My brother died because of your brother. My brother was in the army and he died some years ago. Your brother worked with him but...one mission your brother didn't accompany mine and got killed...so it's your fault I lost my brother! Both of them were doing fine together until your brother didn't go with mine...it's why he got killed...and it's why you should pay for it!" said the leader.
"That shouldn't be a reason to bully someone and scar them for life over your loss" said Gary who walked next to Shiva.
Shiva looked up to Gary and lowered her pistol.
"Your brother had a seperate mission than I did, there was nothing I could do. We weren't always going to do missions together, we were of different branches. I'm sorry for your loss and it was my loss as well, but even so it gives you no right to bully my sister over this. Because of this there is a huge gap between us and even though I try to fill it in, there would've been no way to reach her. Instead of being selfish and thinking only of your loss, you should have been thinking of the damage you were doing to others. Do you feel good now? Did this bring your brother back? Would be be proud of this?" said Gary.
Tears rolled down her cheek. Reality kicked in and she finally realized that she was wrong this whole time.
"I'm sorry..." she said.
The other girls tried to comfort her as Gary was able to recover Emily and make sure she was fine.
"You alright there, young lady?" asked Gary.
"I-I'm fine...probably some minor bruises but nothing to worry about..." said Emily.
Simon and Price got out of the vehicle and stood at the scene. Simon walked over to Shiva and removed the pistol from her grasp.
"I'm sorry, but I had to say something" said Simon.
"It's alright I guess..." said Shiva.
Gary helped Emily to her feet and as support for her to walk. Shiva couldn't look at Emily in the eyes, not after this. In the end, she too was wrong for not telling anyone about this, and it could've all been prevented if only she told someone.
"Shiva...I'm not upset at you...things went better than expected. I'm alright and I still have you as a friend, right?" said Emily.
"But it was my fault...I didn't tell you and because of it this happened to you..." said Shiva.
"I'm alright and besides, at least it's all over with" said Emily.
"...I suppose..." said Shiva.
"You're still my best friend ,Shiva" said Emily as she limped her way over to Shiva and hugged her tightly.
Shiva was finally able to hug her back and let out a small stream of tears.
"Shiva...I'm sorry I haven't been there for you. I guess I owe you an apology" said Gary.
"No brother...it's my fault for not telling you anything. You're the only family I have left...I should be relying on you all the time" said Shiva finally letting go of Emily to hug her brother as tight as she could. Gary returned the hug.
Emily was taken home as Gary explained the situation to her parents. Emily's parents put her to rest for the rest of the day. Shiva came home with the trio as they all sat down to talk.
"Shiva...I know even after all of this has happenened, I'm sorry to say that we're gonna have to go back to our stations soon" said Gary.
"When?" asked Shiva.
"In 2 days to be exact" said Gary.
"2 days? It's already been that long?" said Shiva.
"I really don't want you to be all alone here. I mean I know you have Emily, but...you know I'll be gone for another year..." said Gary.
"Let me come with you..."said Shiva.