The Cause of Them

Invisible

As Derek and Hayley talked about her getting better, a different battle was happening in the waiting room. A new doctor came into the waiting room and the dancers hopped up from their seats to hear the news. "Family of Brittany Cherry?" he asks sadly.

Most of the dancers nod, hoping for better news than the last. "I'm sorry, but Ms. Cherry died in surgery due to her injuries." he says. The hopeful looks crumble from their faces as most fill with sadness and anger. Brittany had gone through the worst pain, if the shot wasn't bad enough, she'd been kicked.

At the same moment, Peta and Maks enter the hospital. Val texted them that they we're waiting in the ICU- though he didn't mention anything about the states of the others. Peta and Maks find the others in the waiting room of the ICU with sunken faces and sad expressions. Peta was hoping to hear good news about her best friends, but the other dancers vacant expressions took away all of her hope.

Peta sat herself next to Allison while Maks talked with Val. "So did you hear anything?" Peta asks Allison. Allison doesn't reply, her silence an answer enough. After a few minutes of dead silence Allison says, "Britt's gone." Peta snaps her attention to Allison who's mindlessly staring into space. "And Hayley's leg is paralyzed." she explains.

Sadness was the only feeling throughout the room as Hayley's doctor entered the waiting room, none of them in a state for more bad news. "Uh is anyone here related to Sharna Burgess?" he asks.

"Blood-related?" Peta asks.

"Not in general, we just need someone to discharge her in the next few hours." he replies and Peta jumps to her feet. Most of the dancers were assuming more bad news, never quite sure on what's going to happen.

(Peta's POV)

I signed the papers to have Sharna released and Paul called a little bit ago and he said that he'd pick us up. I'm just relived that Sharna's ok, I don't know what I would've done if she wasn't. The doors to the ICU open and Sharna exits in a wheelchair. Sharna's changed in the time that this shooting took place, her red hair stringy and her face sunken with sadness. 

Her face brightens up when she sees me. "Pete!" she exclaims. 

"Shar!" I reply smiling. I bend down to hug her and her eyes go past me, searching for anyone else. 

"Is everyone ok?" Sharna questions. I bite down on my bottom lip to prevent myself from crying, I really should tell her, it affects her too. "Uh... well no everyone's not ok." I answer looking at the ground, trying focus on my shoes even though my eyes are starting to fill with tears. "Who's not ok?" Sharna asks. 

"Um, Lindsay, Witney, and Brittany are gone." I say quietly and I look up at her and Sharna's eyes are filled with tears. "And Hayley's leg is paralyzed." I add. Sharna starts crying, Lindsay, Witney, and Brittany were like our little sisters, we were suppose to watch out for them. Sharna reaches to the side of her pale white shirt and pulls it up at bit to show me her wound. 

"I'm lucky it only grazed me, a few more inches and it would've hit my stomach." She explains as I stare a patch of red skin and black stitches. "You know I wish I was dead too." Sharna whispers. I snap head up to her face and I state, "Don't say that." 

"Why can't I, they're gone and I should be too." she snaps. My phone buzzes and Paul texted me that he was here. "Come Shar, Paul's here to pick us up." I explain. Her face lightens up a bit when she hears Paul's name. I push the wheelchair out of the hospital and Paul's car is on the front drive.