The 9th Hour

Luke

5:06 to 5:30

Now he wasn't just looking out at the kids frozen in fear knowing he has seen them. He was staring directly at me. His gun was still pointed at Jessica and Evan has stepped forward and looked super pissed. You and me both brother. "Well. Well. Well. Evan nice to see you again." Evan's daring glare darkened, so much it could have been midnight. "Luke, I can't say the same."

He paused and just smirked at me knowing I was defenseless.  He also knew I wouldn't do anything or he would hurt Kayla. I knew he would. Even is she is his sister. So I stayed perfectly still. He then moved his head for me to get onto the stage. I began to walk forward when he looked to the side of me. Evan wasn't moving. The only movement on him was his nostrils flaring and his fists clenching into a fist then out. "You too Evan. Oh and why don't Jake join the party." He didn't take his eyes off me. We all made our way to the stage, not even bothering with the steps, and just jumped up and walked over by Kayla and Jessica. He faced his back to the kids again and began to walk around whispering in everyone's ears. They all flinched at what he said. When he finally reached me, he had a whole conversation planned, I could tell he was ready. 

"Listen here. I should have got rid of you back before I threatened the school. I regret it now, hurting my sister and Jess's, I mean Jessica's, feelings was the last thing I wanted to do. I love both of them and the fact that you ruined both of those for me. I will ruin it for you. This is your fault anyway." I flinch like I am about to punch him but I remember..."Oh but you won't do that, I could hurt Kayla or Jake." Hell no. You big fat stupid mother..."Don't call me names, I just outsmarted you." He walked away and it felt like restraints were on me. I could move but only a little. He still had his back to the gym and I was happy to say it was empty. 

"Your wrong there. You didn't outsmart me. We outsmarted you. Turn around." He didn't seem one bit shocked. In fact, he started spinning like a madman. He fired bullets every so often. He then started humming pulling out more bullets. He was reloading.  I watch him closely as he loads six new rounds. Six more fires. He fires one into the air. One down, five to go.

"Are you listening to me?" He looks at me ashamed and he starts clicking and waving his finger in the air back and forth. 

"No." He didn't think I would answer. 

"It was a rhetorical question."

"I know I just want to piss you off." He fired one past my head, hitting me in the ear, and another by my feet. I didn't flinch. Three.

"OK. Back to what I was saying. Y'all will all do me one favor. I need y'all to do one thing for me. And I will leave. Not forever. But I will leave y'all for now." None of us nodded. "That was not a rhetorical question." No response. He fired at Jessica's feet. She jumped back and Evan looked about like he wanted to kill Kyle. Luckily they were sitting by each other and they held hands and stayed close. No one answered though. Good, even though they don't know my plan, they still can cooperate. "Nothing. So y'all do not agree." No answer. He fired one at Kayla. My turn to be pissed. The only thing that kept me seated was the fact that he was down to one bullet.

"It is just a small thing. Not even that hard. Here we go. Kayla, you will tell me where the kid is. Luke you will stay away from Kayla. Jake, you will make sure he doesn't go near her. Evan, stay away from Jess. And Jess, the hardest of them all. I want you to come with me. Deal?"

No answer. He just notices Evan and Jess's joined hands and fired at it. I took this chance and yelled "Run!" 

I landed square on Kyle pinning him down. I heard them run and two helping one limp away to the dressing room leaving me and Kyle alone, but together the same. 

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"Well, well, well. I knew you were counting." I ripped the gun from his hand and hit him on the head with it. He now had a bloody nose and the formation of a black eye. I got up from him, taking the gun with me. 

"Stay here. Don't go anywhere and if you do move. I will kill you." And so I ran out to the dressing room. When I got out I saw Kayla and Jake outside with me. Evan and Jessica must have hurried to bring Jack to the hospital tents Jessica and Evan told us about. They look at the gun from me to the dressing room door. Kayla runs to hug me and cries on my shoulder. "Did you hurt him?"

"Not that much. He will live." She nodded her head but didn't let go. I had no problem with it. 

"Thank you. If it weren't for you we would most likely be dead." I then remember Jessica and Evan both had the last bullet shot at their hands. "How were Jessica's and Evan's hands? I didn't get the chance to see from my timing."

"They both were just skimmed. Not major damage. It will leave a scar, but they should be OK." Jake reached over and took the gun explaining while at it.

"What about Jack?"

"Him I don't know. Once you said run. We went to lift him but he wounds started bleeding out. Evan is now shirtless and I am missing a sock." He pulled his pants leg up to show that he was indeed missing a sock. "Jessica was able to tie the tourney kit since she has been practicing first aid. She nearly had a anxiety attack by the amount of blood. Evan told me it had nothing to do with the blood. Just who it belonged to." I nodded my head. I still held onto the Kayla and didn't plan to let go. She was now crying on my shoulder and I could feel the warm tears soaking through my shirt. She only looked up when we heard another fire of a gun and heard slow footstep coming from the inside of the dressing room. 

Of coarse he would have another gun.