Caught in the Crossfire

Chapter 4: Black like Velvet

I glanced out the window again and saw nothing. They were gone! I coughed to get her attention. She looked over, and I shook my head.

"I have to go they're coming." She hung up and came next to me. We sat like nothing had happened. But something had happened, and we are going to be alright. I looked at my sister and she looked and me and we smiled.

Less than two minutes later, we heard sirens. Jacob kicked the door open and stormed into the tiny room.

"Who was it," he said, "Who called the police? I know it was one of you, so tell me now," here he paused and turned to Old Man Wilson, "or he dies."

No one made a move, and no one spoke up. Old Man Wilson still had his eyes closed, leaning up against the files, and he looked at peace. He opened his eyes and looked right at me and Lizzie and smiled.

"You all get yourself outta here good n' safe, ya hear?" he said. He closed his eyes again and smiled.

Bang. A million different things happened at once. Old Man Wilson slumped over on the ground, blood pooling around his dead body. The children were screaming, and Mrs. Davis had passed out over her husband's injured body.

"No! It was me! I did it!" Elizabeth screamed out, and I tried to get her to be quiet but she was inconsolable. Jacob turned toward her and pointed the gun at her head. Suddenly the doors of the shop burst open and police men and women poured in.

"Surrender yourselves! Put down your weapons and get on the floor! Get on the floor!"

Bullets hailed down upon us like rain, and we were innocents stuck in the crossfire with no escape. I got one last look at my sister, and I wondered if I would ever see her again before the world turned into velvety blackness.