I don't own them

"You hurt my brother, Klopman, that was your first mistake." Frank Hardy

Frank

We all ran out of the classroom. Another gunshot made me fling my arms instinctively over my head. I looked in the direction of the noise, hearing four more shots in two seconds. I managed to snag a kid --- Freshman, by the look of him --- and hollered in his face, "Who? Where?"

He pointed in the direction he'd come before wiggling out of my grip and running towards the doors along with the rest.

I was about to follow him when I remembered Joe. He had study hall down there. So did Biff and Tony. I took off running, working against the pack to go towards the still-continuing gunshots.

It was chaos. Teachers were trying to restore calm while attempting to get out of the building themselves. I had reached a point where I was passing kids on the floor, covered with blood. Others were up and running, blood pouring from their chest or their arms.

I passed Biff who was trying to support an injured girl. He looked relieved and alarmed when he saw me. "Get out, Frank!" We both winced at the sound of a very near gunshot. I shook my head, trying to get the words out while still moving. "Where's Joe?"

Biff shrugged, heaving the now-unconscious girl into his arms. He winced again at the sound of a gunshot before looking at me. He looked scared. Blood ran down his shirt from the girl's wound. "We have to get out of here, Frank! Joe's probably gone already!"

I shook my head. No, he wasn't. There was a raw feeling inside of me that told me my brother had not yet gotten out of this school. I continued running, hoping Biff and the girl would be okay.

I was stopped again when I came to a group of three. I recognized John and Carrie --- two of the prettiest, nicest people you could know. Both Seniors, I know for a fact they were voted "most likely to get married and have a ton of kids" in the yearbook. John had his arms around a boy I knew was his brother. There was a dark red spot blooming on his chest.

"Get out of here!" I shouted at them, stopping suddenly. The sight of the two brothers made by head spin. The blood didn't help either.

Carrie was pulling on John's arm. She was shot too --- her face was bleeding, and her strength was leaving with every tug she gave. John looked at me desperately and I could see the conflict in his eyes. Should I get my brother out or my girlfriend? I needed to help him. That could be me, forced to choose between Joe and Callie.

I tugged Carrie's arm, feeling the light girl sag against me. A trail of blood showed where they had come from. I followed it with my eyes, a lump rising in my throat. There was blood everywhere, and spent cartridges from bullets. This was definitely the beginning of the rampage…and the room was.

"Do you know where my brother is?" I didn't know why I was shouting. I had an arm around Carrie's waist, feeling it already becoming sticky with her blood. She nodded, tilting her head towards the room. I turned quickly as a hand descended on my shoulder. It was that second that I realized the shooting had gotten further away.

"Tony!" Surprise and relief flooded through me. I was so happy to see my friend okay. I dipped out from under Carrie, Tony taking my place in an instant before the girl could waver. "Get them out!" I shouted at him. I barely saw his nod before I was running into the classroom.

It was bloody. A teacher was near the door, his eyes wide open. He'd probably tried to bar the shooter's path. I turned my head away from him. I'd seen death before, but not like this. Never like this. I looked around the room wildly. Where was Joe…I needed to find Joe…

I found him in the back of the classroom, slumped in a chair. His blond hair was brushing against a forgotten book, and blood was pouring out his side.

Review?