Who shot Mr. Orbison? Chapter 1

Chapter 9

“Let’s just keep going, the gym isn’t too far from here now.” Tucker tried to leave.

“Where is Michael?” Courtney asked in a scared small voice.

“Huh? When did you guys last see him?” Jeff asked from the front.

“Um, I don’t remember, he was last in line.  I think, right behind me.” Courtney cried. 

“Well we’re not going back to look for him, he’s probably waiting for us to do that and then he’ll kill us in some dark corner he’s hiding in.”  Jeff called back to her.

“Wow Jeff, you really are imaginative.” I shot at him.  No one else volunteered to stray from the pack so we left our man behind.  I hoped he wasn’t murdered by Mr. Orbison but was relieved I was still alive.  We had finally made it to the gymnasium doors, the lights were still fluorescent and bright blasting us as we entered from the dark hallway. 

“Is that body still over there?” Courtney asked hiding her eyes behind her hand.  I looked over and saw a blood trail, which looked like drag marks on the floor that led behind the bleachers. 

“Um…no…” I gulped.  Who would of moved the body?  Was the guy still alive, was he hiding , or worse waiting for us to go walk by the doors and he’d pop out manically and slaughter us before we could escape?

“So who’s running over to the door to try it?” Jeff whispered.

I was shoved forward.  I looked back and saw Courtney still standing with arms out in front. 

“Well, it was your idea track star.”  She snorted, wrinkling her nose at me.

“Fine.  I’ll do it.” I pulled my hair back into a ponytail removed my plaid over shirt discarding it to the floor.  I didn’t know where this bravery was coming from but I was getting out of here, one way or another!

“Wow, yeah so Drea, we are definitely hanging out on Saturday, that was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen!”  Tucker grinned widely at me.  I took one final glance around at the gymnasium to be safe and started sprinting.  I had never stride so fast or pumped my arms so swiftly.  I felt like I was flying.  My feet hardly touching the floor as I propelled myself faster and faster until finally reaching the door.  This was it, all my complaining and suggesting we try this door, it had to work, it had to!  I slowed my momentum down by shortening my stride significantly.  I felt the coolness on my palms of the long push button latch and it opened!   

 But then it stopped. Something was behind it keeping it from opening more then a couple inches.  And something heavy! 

“It’s open but something is behind it, I can’t make it open anymore then maybe 2 inches!” I shouted to them in my quietest shouting voice.

I turned and glanced over my shoulder at the blood stained spot the body was supposed to be at and decided to peer around and under the bleachers to see if anyone was in there.  My heart began racing as I made my tender footed approach over there. I cupped my hand over my mouth and bulged my eyes at the sight of our high school principal hanging from the metal dividers under the bleacher seats.  His throat was slit wide open and hanging by his hands that were tied over his head.  I tried to stifle my vomit as I backed away and towards the door. 

“Try the other doors kid!” Jeff hollered across the wood floored, yellow walled gym.  Oh, duh!  Why didn’t I think of that.

They were all like that, I could feel the cold air burst onto my face but only through 2inches of opening.  Something heavy was leaning or pushed up against the doors, whatever it was made a thud sound when I tried to shove them open.

“No dice!” I yelled back to Jeff and the gang. 

“Then get your sexy ass back over here!” Tucker waved me back.  I walked this time, looking around and up towards the locker rooms.  The gym teachers office was up above the basketball court and overlooked the gymnasium.  His light was on, and there was a person standing looking down at me.  I shrieked and ran back to the group.