Innocent Fugitive

Wounds From Guns

The bullet just missed Margo. It shot straight through the back window. By now Margo had woken up and had almost had a heart attack. In the distance they could all hear voices shouting.

Teresa turned around and looked at both of them, "Get in the house NOW."

Bella did nothing but run. She didn't even have to say anything, she only had to run. Bella was a pretty good runner when she put her mind to it. Her HPE teacher had been trying for ages to get her on the running team but Bella couldn't see the point of running around in circles when there was no real reason.

Margo, however was not a runner. So it was a huge surprise to both Teresa and Bella when she came sprinting into the house.

"Bella, do you know who that was?" Teresa panted as soon as they were inside.

"No, but I know that they won't shoot again while there are innocent people in the house," Bella replied, also panting.

Bella had spoken too soon. A bullet was fired and burst through the window.This time it didn't miss. Bella and Margo turned around to find Teresa grasping her hand over her stomach while blood was dripping fast.

Teresa looked at Margo and then Bella. Their faces are getting blurry...

Margo was running around in a frenzy. Bella was screaming something to Margo and also to her, Teresa could tell.

What are they saying? I can't understand you...

Margo ran off. Bella was talking quietly to Teresa now. Teresa couldn't think straight.

My head feels so light... I can't understand... What is going on?... I can't ... I...

Margo came back with bandages. Bella was still talking to Teresa as Margo wound the bandages tightly around Teresa's stomach. Bella yelled out to Margo. Teresa still couldn't understand anything.

My head... My stomach... Blood... So much blood...

Teresa suddenly passed out. Bella was still screaming at Margo to call an ambulance, "Hurry! She just fainted! We need an ambulance NOW!" Bella cried.

- - -

Julian heard both gunshots. He was frightened. His brother, Joel, was having a sleepover at his grandmother's place. After the first fire, Julian wished he was there too. 

After the second fire, screaming began. Julian couldn't see from the safety of his room. Then he heard someone yell out 'Teresa's losing a lot of blood! Quick, get a bandage or something!' His sister had been shot. He knew it. He had to go help. 

Julian ran out to see what he could do. Teresa suddenly fainted. He ran out to Teresa and screamed her name. The girl holding her looked up. 

"Kid, wait!" 

Julian couldn't wait. He had to help.

"Kid, if you wanna help, then just stop and listen!" 

Julian stopped.

"Good, now I need you to do something for me. I need you to call an ambulance and tell them that your sister has been shot. When they get here and ask how it happened, say that you don't know exactly but you think the firer might have been a terrorist or something. Have you got that?" Bella told him slowly and carefully. 

Julian nodded and without a word, he ran to the phone. He dialed the most well-known number in the world and waited. The phone was picked up on the first ring.

"Hello, Emergency Services, how may we assist?" The lady behind the receiver was almost cheery voiced that it made Julian angry.

"Look, my sister has been shot. My address is this: 15 Balanca Road,  and we need an ambulance NOW!" he almost shouted into the phone.

"We're on our way," the lady's voice still sounded cheery, even though it was supposed to be a serious matter.

"Yeah, well, don't sound too worried," Julian said sarcastically before he slammed down the phone.

Bella looked over at him. Margo was still wrapping bandages around Teresa's waist and didn't notice him storm over.

"Are they coming?" Bella asked. She tried to hide the worry in her voice. Oh my god, will she be okay? I knew we shouldn't have bought her into this! Then Bella had another thought.What if they brought police? Would they have to hide whilst Teresa was being taken to hospital? For the first time in Bella's life, she was scared of something that was meant to protect.

"Yes, they are," Julian said shortly, then he remembered, "What about Mum and Dad? Should I call them as well?"

Bella thought over this for a moment. Then she replied, "No, don't. We don't want to worry them."

"OK," Julian said as he looked over Teresa's sleeping body. Would she make it? Would that be the last he would see of his sister? Was it his fault she got shot? After all, he did persuade her to help Margo and this other girl to do something bad. Julian shook his head, No, it wasn't my fault she got shot, it was the person who shot her.

Suddenly they heard the sound of sirens. Bella knew that it was the ambulance and perhaps the police as well. They needed to hide. Now.

"Where is the garage?" she asked Julian suddenly.

He looked at her confused, "Round there, why?" he asked as he pointed to the door.

"No reason. Come on Margo, we need to go into the garage to find more things to help Teresa out with," Bella nudged Margo as she said this.

"Oh, yeah, right," Margo said only just realizing what Bella meant.

"You stay here and when they arrive, do what I told you before, okay?" Bella told him.

Julian merely nodded. He knew they were hiding something, but he didn't ask.

The ambulance arrived and Julian told them what Bella had told him to say. He decided he would go with them to accompany Teresa. He didn't really care about Margo and the other girl at that moment, all he cared about was Teresa.

From the garage, Bella and Margo watched in silence.