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Callie screamed into the hand that was plastered over her mouth. Her heart pounded in her chest as she felt her back come in contact with the owner of the hand.
"Hey, it's me. It's me." Whispered a familiar voice into her ear. His warm breath brushing along her cheek.
Callie turned as the hand loosened its grip she saw who it was.
Brandon.
"You're ok." He continued softly.
Callie breathed out softly as she felt her head fall with weakness into his chest.
Brandon breathed in and out slowly. His hair was messy with stands stuck to his forehead with sweat. He stood tense with his head back against the wall looking up and Callie leaning in hiding in his chest.
She pulled away and looked up at him trying to regain her breath.
"Sorry." He whispered down to her realising he just scared her half to death. "What are you doing? Why aren't you hiding?"
"Why aren't you?" She breathed back.
Brandon looked away from her as he realised they were both caught in the notion. They both broke the rules to find the others. Brandon didn't wanna sit and hide while his family could've been in danger.
"We have to go." Callie whispered back.
She stepped to the side and peeked around the corner. The figure was getting closer. He was now within thirty feet of them and decreasing. Callie noticed the object in his hand and she almost screamed.
She pulled her head back around the corner and looked back at Brandon.
"We have to go, now." She declared as she grabbed at his sleeve and began to run.
Brandon and Callie ran down the lonely hallway, they're shoes hitting the ground hard sending echoed down the halls.
"In here." Brandon pointed.
He pushed open the door to the janitors closet and they both stepped in. Once they were in they both fell back against the door panting hard trying to gather enough breathe and courage to plan their next move.
Inside the janitors room it was dark. The only light was from the window that was no more than the size of a text book. It was enough to light up the outlines of the objects in the room. The three shelves were visible as well as some buckets stacked on the floor.
Callie stepped away from the door and placed her hand on her head as she paced back and forth.
"Hey, you ok?" Brandon asked sounding concerned. With no replying he walked over to her trying to get her to look at him.
"Callie?" He continued.
"Who the freaking hell would shoot up a school?" She spat shaking her head in anger and nerve.
"I don't know." Brandon replied as he looked away.
"I mean what's the-"
Another gun shot sounded.
Brandon and Callie both ducked to the ground.
"Shhhh" Brandon whispered trying to stay as silent as possible. They both tried to breathe as quietly and slowly as possible trying to hear any sign of the gunman.
And they did.
A set of footsteps grew louder and closer.
Brandon got up from the cold concrete ground and bent over so he was still low.
"Where are you going?" Callie asked nervously as she grabbed the back of his shirt.
Brandon turned and faced her.
"Come on." He mumbled then grabbed her hand.
Callie nodded slowly as tears began to sting her eyes.
Callie followed Brandon around to the back of the last set of shelves.
They shuffled along the ground until they were both in the corner of the room hidden in the darkness.
Brandon pressed his back up against the brick wall and brought his knees up to his face curling up into a ball.
Callie did the same.
She sat next to him in the small area that forced her and Brandon's shoulders to touch.
Brandon looked across to her, his face just inches from hers.
She felt his breath on her ear and she too turned to face him.
They eyes locked for a second, and in that moment it was like a goodbye, that's when the door swung open.
Callie covered her mouth with her hand trying to decrease the sound of her heavy breathing.
Brandon but down on his bottom lip as he listened to the footsteps slowly walking into the room.
Callie closed her eyes and shook her head slowly. She wanted to cry, to scream. She knew she was about to die.  She knew that if they were spotted the devilish man with the gun wouldn't hesitate to fire at them.
Brandon looked over to Callie and watched as a single tears fell down her cheek. It shimmered in the small light the same way their eyes both did.
Brandon swallowed the mass of fear and agonising nerve in his throat.
The footsteps grew closer as the gunman examined the second row, he was now just one row away from them. Once he was done inspecting the second he would go to the third and there they would be. Sitting in the darkness. Two scared children.
Brandon shifted his eyes to see how close the shooter was. For a split second he noticed a set of green sneakers in the dark then they walked out of view.
Brandon slowly raised his shaking hand to hers, which was still stretched across her face, and peeled it off.
Callie's eyes opened as she felt his cold shivering fingers meets with hers.
In a slow but swift movement she laced her fingers between his and rested them against her knee.
It didn't take away the thought of dying but it gave her comfort. Brandon was the only person she had ever met that made her feel safe instantly. If she was going to go, if she was going to die, there would be no other hand she'd rather hold.
Callie leant her head down on his shoulder gently as tears cascaded down her face and soaked into Brandon's jacket.
Brandon's eyes stung with tears as he realised what she was doing. She was saying goodbye the only way she could.
After years of saving each other and fighting for each other came to this. They were helpless and no one could save them but a miracle.
Brandon lowered his head until it was resting on Callie's.
The smell of her hair sent memories back.
He closed his eyes as a tear fell.
Then the footsteps stopped suddenly and they both knew he was right there.
Brandon and Callie opened their eyes slowly then looked up at the man they feared.
Brandon frowned with disbelief.
"Brandon." Said the familiar voice.

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