When The Alarm Sounds

The Beginning

The leader of the Atrati clicks his fingers once and immediately, his disciples disperse making their way to where different groups of students are huddled. Their movements are slick and efficient and the black outfits they are wearing creates an imposing effect, almost like the dementors in Harry Potter: evil, cruel, merciless. When they reach their targets, they force the frightened children to stand before they bind their wrists behind their backs and march them into a line at the back of the room. Most people stand on their own whilst others need a little 'persuasion'.

I am in shock. I feel numb all over and can't move, I am just sitting here staring at the body of my teacher. The pool of blood churns my stomach and his disfigured form makes me shiver in disgust and fright, yet I cannot look away. I am stuck in a horrifying trance, one that consumes the soul.When will I wake up from this nightmare? I am vaguely aware of the shouting people around me, but I do not look away.

Even when I am roughly shaken, my head whipping back and forth, I still can't look away, I feel compelled to stare at his uninhabited corpse, his barren eyes devoid of life manipulate my eyes to stare into them and only them. Only when I feel a massive hand wrap around my throat and cut off my air supply do I wrench my eyes from the scene. My face is brought inches away from the mask of the executer, his rough grip tightening all the while. I try desperately to loosen his hand and get the air I so long for, panic taking over all rational thought. I hear Cody's shouts to let me go and it seems so does the brutal man holding me, he just chuckles.

"When I say get up..." His putrid breath invades my nose making me want to puke and the menacing tone he snarls with sends chills down my spine. I can see the whites of his eyes but that is all I can see as my vision begins to blur.

"...It means GET UP!" He screams the last two words in my face just before I am thrown roughly to the floor by his feet, coughing, spluttering. I gasp for air keeping my eyes trained on the ground.

"Now, if I say get up..." he sneers. I don't hesitate and scramble to my feet at the command, not daring to look at him. He takes hold of my chin forcing me to face him.

"That's more like it." And with that, my wrists are bound tightly and I am shoved towards the other students. Cody is still protesting as the men try to tie his wrists. He takes a swing at one of the shorter men landing a punch square on his chin sending him stumbling backwards.

"Who the fuck do you think you are!? Get off me!"

His cries are soon silenced when the leader swiftly walks over to him driving his fist into the pit of his stomach. Cody doubles over only to be shoved to the floor and aggressively kicked several times, his body recoiling into a ball after each blow.

I finally find my voice and bellow at the top of my lungs:

"LEAVE HIM ALONE!"

My shouting draws the attention of the attackers. They turn their heads slowly and in sync, I instantly regret my outburst. The leader takes several large strides until he his directly in front of me. I back away but am blocked by a solid frame. I snap my head around to see the man from before gazing down at me with a smug expression. Turning back to face the leader, I take a breath and close my eyes. His face is now level with mine and I just want to shrivel away.

"You what?" His breath is hot in my face bringing unwanted tears to my eyes.

"Please." The word comes out as a choked whisper. The sharp pain across my face takes me by surprise, bringing me to my knees and a tear slides down my cheek, a cruel smile takes over his features. I can taste blood in my mouth from the blow, what did he hit me with? It definitely wasn't a fist. He straightens himself up, satisfied with his work. I refuse to look at his smug expression as I tremble with hate derived from fear. He saunters casually back over to where Cody is lying on the floor. Grabbing the scruff of his shirt, he hauls him up so that he is kneeling, his head and shoulders slumped forward in defeat. The leader pushes the familiar pistol into his temple. Cody sits bolt upright, terror flashes across his beautiful eyes. I try to supress a gasp as my eyes fall upon the sight.

"What are you thoughts?" The leader growls earning a spine chilling laugh from the rest of the Atrati, the horrific sound echoing off the walls.

"Lily..." Cody's voice is hoarse and hushed from dread.

The only thing I can think to say comes out as a sharp intake of breath, "No...please," I am practically begging but I don't care.

"This is just the beginning." The leader snarls as he tightens his finger on the trigger.

Time seems to slow down, everything around us fades away and only me and Cody are left staring into each others eyes. Tears are streaming down my cheeks but I make no effort to stop them as they plummet to the floor. I can see the pain and worry in his eyes, moisture pooling at their corners. I hold my breath, silently praying. The panic claws at my heart and thoughts, I don't know what to do.

The explosion of the pistol sends him toppling sideways, it's force too much for him to withstand. I scream as his head hits the floor snapping backwards from the contact. He makes no effort to break the fall, how can he? He is dead. I rush towards his limp body only to be held in place by strong hands. I detest the grin that is displayed on the leader's face. How can one person be so cruel? Moments after the shot, the masked figures surround the body of Cody swooping him up and carrying him off. I let out a frustrated cry as he is dragged out of the room.

"NO! Get off him!" I wail. Struggling, I scream louder and louder. Having had enough, the leader scowls at the guy holding me in place. In one swift stroke, he raises the but of his gun before slamming it into the base of my skull. My vision is instantly consumed by darkness.