Short Stories

The English Office

A thick layer of heat lingered on the ground. The school building was silent, no students could be seen in windows, the hallways and benches were isolated. Only a few minutes ago were there noisy teenagers having lunch.

Until they heard gunshots. Screams. Then it was chaos. 

The trees swayed gently in the silent field, school bags lay on the grass, abandoned by terrified students. Another gunshot sounded. 

In one of the English classrooms books were spread on the tables, pens dropped onto the paper halfway through a word.

"I'm scared." Amy whispered. Harry looked sternly at her and put his finger on his mouth to shush her. The students were shoved into cupboards. Some students were locked in the English teacher's office. Five unfortunate teens were hidden from the dangers that lay behind the gunshots. 

"This is crazy, it's probably a stupid prank." George moaned. 

"Shut up! They might hear you and find us!" Penny protested. George groaned and slid down the wall onto the floor next to his friend, Jamie. 

"Why did we have to get stuck in a room with these lot." George whispered. He frowned at Penny and Courtney who were snuggled in a corner, fear plastered onto their faces. 

"You don't seem very worried about the fact there is a murderer in our school right now." Jamie groaned, staring angrily at the whimpering girls. 

"Will you two shut up!" Annie hissed. 

"Sorry you had to get stuck in here with them two." Jamie held Annie's hand.

"I'm not worried about them two right now, I'm worried about you two shutting up." Annie was angry, but mostly scared. She had been sat outside with Jamie and George, enjoying themselves for once after all the drama caused by the two girls currently sat opposite them. When they heard the gunshots they ran to the closest classroom. They had never been told what to do if there was someone with a gun shooting people in school. It was very rare it happened.

Annie moved closer to Jamie and put her head on his shoulder.

"I would rather you two wouldn't be so gross while we're in a life threatening situation." Courtney stammered. Annie rolled her eyes and ignored her. 

"You are such hypocrites, telling me to shut up." George said, frowning angrily. 

"I think we all just need to be quiet so we don't die in here!" Penny said, turning around to face the wall behind her. George, Jamie and Annie looked at each other and chuckled. 

"We've been in here for a whole hour, when will this crazy person leave." George moaned. He had found 'To Kill A Mockingbird' on their teacher's desk and was reading it, giggling occasionally.

"That book isn't meant to be funny." Courtney huffed.

"Well, I read it differently than you do." George grinned.

"I didn't even realise you read." Penny laughed, followed by a high five from Courtney.

"Okay, that is taking it too far." George slammed the book shut.

"Guys," Jamie looked at the window, the blinds were shut but he could just about make out a figure walking past.

"Stop telling us what to do Jamie! God, you guys are so annoying!" Penny groaned. Annie put her finger to her lips, staring sternly at the girls. They were sat just underneath the window. 

The figure had stopped. 

Annie's grasp on Jamie's hand tightened. Courtney and Penny followed their gazes to the window, and soon realised what was going on. Tears started spilling down Penny's face. George started breathing faster, he covered his mouth with his hand. 

Silence fell in the room. The figure had not moved an inch. The five students sat absolutely still. An uncomfortable atmosphere filled the air. What if they were found? What if they would all be shot? Why couldn't they have all just stayed silent? What if...

The figure stepped closer to the door. George shuffled closer to Jamie and grabbed his arm. The door handle turned. Click.

The door opened. The large figure stood there, a gun in his hand, aimed and ready to fire. Their face was covered, everything but the eyes. The piercing blue eyes that stared at their first victim with pure hatred and evil.

"No! Please!" George begged. But the person in black was merciless. A gunshot sounded. Much louder than before. Much more real than before.

"George!" Jamie screamed. George's body leaned limply onto the wall behind him, a puddle of crimson started forming beneath him, dripping from his white school shirt. 

"You monster!" Annie shouted. Tears spilled down her cheeks, her face was bright red, filled with anger and despair. The figure aimed at Annie. 

"Stop! No! Not Annie!" Jamie screamed. A low chuckle came from the dark figure. He took a step closer. Fear plastered onto Annie's face. Her bright cheeks, her wide eyes, her helpless features. 

Another gunshot. 

Jamie screamed. He threw himself at the figure. He collapsed to the ground, the gun freed from his hands. Courtney didn't hesitate. She grabbed for the gun and backed up so Penny was behind her and aimed at the figure. 

"Who are you?!" She shouted. The figure scrambled to his feet, but Jamie grabbed him again and pulled him down.

"You monster! Look what you've done!" He started throwing punches. Tears dripping from his face, his best friend's blood stained onto his shirt. The figure was helpless under the wrath of a broken teenager. 

Another gunshot sounded.