I raise my hand as i wait for the teacher to call on me. "yes Opal" she says. "can i go the the counselors office?" i reply. i put my hands in my sweater pockets and put them together to stop my shaking. "yes, who do you want to take?"i look hopefully at Lucy, and she nods with a smile. "i'll take Lucy." i said. i walk out of the class room and exhale deeply. "you did good girl! are you okay?" she asks "yeah, i'm alright" i say as we continue down the hallway.
We open the door to the counselors office as i walk in. i sit at the chair in front of the desk. "Hi dear." Ms, Diana says as she takes a seat. "did you want to talk to me about something?" she says. "i- i was having math trouble." i stammer. "Girl, your so smart! what are you really here for. it's okay." i take a deep breath and gather my courage. "i- i was getting anxious which... made more anxious and that made me sad which made more anxious and...i-" i trail off, to upset to continue. I put my hands back in my pockets. "remember what we tried, one, two, three, four. no less, no more." Ms, Diana said. "one, two, three, four," she starts. "no less no more" i finish. i wrap my tail comfortingly around my legs. "Thanks Ms, Diana" "you don't have to call me miss, it makes me sound old." she laughed as she sifted through some papers. "i know but your... so cool." i say. "trust me, being in debt and in collage does not make you cool." she replies lightheartedly.
"well, i should probably get back to class." i say as i stand up. i leave the office with Lucy following behind me. as we walk down the hall the principal comes on the loud speaker. "attention Edgewood, there is and active shooter in the building. they have been spotted in the 8th grade hallway." i was able to hold back my scream of terror but not my panic. my eyes tear as i see Lucy scramble toward an open locker as i do the same. one two three four, no less no more. one two three four, no less no more. i repeat to myself, trying to calm down even a bit. i hold my tail close as i squeeze in as tight as i could. tears of fear stream down my face, my hands shaking so bad it was hard to close the locker. my mind races as i try to keep myself from passing out. suddenly i hear a bang. then another, then another. the where coming, and they where shooting the lockers.
i peer through the locker vents as i seem them. a gray, his gills sharp, his face blank. suddenly, a sharp pain shoots through me. i clasp my hands over my mouth as if forcing my body to shut up. my outer gill had been pierced my a bullet. then, scream. not of fear, but of sheer pain. every part of me hoped what i thought happened, happened. my mind swirls, sounds fill my head. footsteps, yelling, sirens. my mind couldn't handle it. i pound on the locker hoping someone would hear me, let out one last cry as my world goes dark.
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