Wanted by The Wanted | ✔️

|| TWENTY NINE ||

It's another seven minutes and forty two seconds before they arrive.

I can tell. The whole base turns into a complete standstill. Even under all his water, it's as if I can feel the presence of familiarity and the hopeful promise of safety.

I want to smile with relief but nothing but anxiety invades my senses. Vibrations begin. Bullet after bullet shot. The racket is barely muted by the layers between the base and the outside, as every gunshot sends terrifying shudders through the ground and up my legs.

My ears ring with a piercing sound as my heart thuds against my chest. I stumble around, trying to find my footing as a sudden chorus of screaming and the panicked sound of scuffling begins. Four loud explosions startle every bone in my body as I jump back and crash into the a tall shelf, sending a plethora of metal instruments and weaponry to the ground. Now scattered across the floor, the objects rattle as if in an earthquake, clinking and tapping the floor incessantly with relentless sounds.

I feel as if my organs are rearranging themselves as a sudden BANG! racks through the base, sending tremors out in every direction. Mind swirling with half-formulated thoughts, I hurry towards the back of the base, slamming the door behind me in fear. What's happening up there? Who is getting shot?

Adrenaline pumps theouh my veins, but it's useless as I back into the corner of the room, shaking as I throw my head against my knees, mumbling nonsense in a shaky voice.

Move! Get out, goddammit! My conscience screams at me. You're gonna get yourself killed!

I remain, rooted to the floor, determined that if I stay hidden, nothing can happen to me. Screwing my eyes shut tighter, I curl my fingers into a fist that turns my knuckles paler than a sheet of paper. The thrum of violence becomes background noise as I distract myself with my thoughts, welcoming the tangent.

My pounding heart echoes through my skull. I want it all to stop. It's too loud. I can't think. Everything aches. I'm all alone.

BANG!

My eyes hurt. I'm sleepy. I'm cold. My throat is scratchy and raw.

BANG!

When can I go home? Home home. Along my normal street with my normal house and almost-normal self. With my normal black clothes and leather jackets, my normal thick-as-a-brick eyeliner, and all my normal piercings decorated with different jewellery. I want it to stop. This wasn't worth it. Meeting A.C.R.E was a mistake. All I've done is put their life and my life in danger.

"Stop," I whisper weakly, but I don't know who I'm talking to.

The dead standstill of the base is interrupted by the pounding of heavy footsteps outside my door, getting louder as they get nearer. Then there's gunshots from above.

BANG!

I'm a little girl again and I'm cowering in the corner because there's thunder outside and it's scary. My head is inbetween my knees and I'm praying that my mummy and daddy will save me. My six-year-old eyes are brimming with tears and I'm crying but no-one comes.

BANG!

I'm twelve again and I'm in school. The other kids are being mean to me because I'm not like them. I work hard and they party so why do they bully me? I go home crying to no-one and decide that if you can't beat them, you can join them. I spend all my pocket money to buy my first leather jacket that day.

BANG!

I'm eighteen and I'm walking into a store to get a ham and cheese sandwich. I'm distracted by a little girl and I crash into a leaflet stand. A man is beside me. He looks angry. I'm annoyed so I abandon my sandwich and storm out. He slams me against the wall and tells me to 'give it back' repeatedly. My heart is thudding in my chest and I want to cry because I feel like I'm twelve again. I don't like being bullied.