I tried to focus on my pale, thin fingers as I lay on the floor under my desk, but it was no use. My hands were shaking too hard to concentrate on, so I decide to close my eyes instead.
A foot gently nudged my side and I hesitantly turned to see none other than Niall Horan, my used to be best friend. Until recently he had been my go-to-person, my shimmer of light when I was struggling to escape from the darkness, he had been my everything. But he ruined that and I could never forgive him for the pain he caused me. I knotted my eyebrows down together in confusion, silently asking him what he wanted. It wasn't really the best time or place to talk, considering the circumstances.
Our school was under lockdown, due to a "student armed with multiple weapons." That was the only information we were given, the rest was up to us to guess. We knew nothing else other than the student was wandering the school, killing anyone in sight.
As soon as the announcement was made about what was going on, Mr. Feller quickly shut off the lights locked the classroom door. We were told to move to the back corner of the room, somewhat out of sight from the doorway. There wasn't much space, causing me and a few other kids to have to lay under the desks scattered near where everyone else was. Niall had a nice spot between the wall and a cabinet, totally concealing him from the locked door at the front of the room. I, on the other hand, wasn't hidden very well, and I continued to push the thought of what would happen if the student got in to the back of my mind.
Another nudge was sent to me side, causing me to snap my head to face him again, this time harshly asking, "What do you want?" I watched closely as he brought his hands up a bit in surrender, his eyes widening at my sudden outburst.
I tried to focus on the way his lips moved, distracting myself from the situation we were in as he said, "Relax Sky, I was just checking if you were alright."
He had apparently spoken louder than intended, for his comment earned a hard glare from Mr. Feller. I looked back to Niall, my eyes softening at what he had said, but hardening again when he used my nickname. He wasn't allowed to call me that anymore. I was Skylar to him, and Skylar only.
"Well I'm fine," I shakily whispered back, proving that I was lying. "Now shut up and stop talking, I really don't want to die." The reality of what I had said hit me seconds after and my eyes began watering at the thought of dying. If the mystery gunman did get into our classroom, what would happen? Would they kill us all? Why were they killing anyone in the first place? When would the police be here?
My thoughts were interrupted by a loud bang from outside the classroom, down the hallway. Suddenly my whole body was shaking as I squinted my eyes shut as hard as possible, hoping that when I opened them, this would all be a dream. But it wasn't. When I opened my eyes I still saw my classmates crying, I still saw Mr. Feller sweating as he worried silently, obviously trying not to show us that everything wasn't under control. I also saw Niall, his lips moving in the same pattern over and over, meaning he was repeating something. I tried my hardest to read his lips, but it was hard to concentrate with everything going on.
"Just say it out loud!" I spoke up, my volume a little bit louder than it should have been. This earned me a few hard stares and shushes from my classmates.
"Please just know that if we don't make it out, I'm truly sorry Skylar," Niall apologised, even though he had said it plenty of times before. I rolled my eyes and sighed, facing the front of the room again.
"I've learned not to trust you anymore," I mumbled under my breath just as the door handle to the classroom began to rattle, causing all of us to jump at once. Cries became even louder, even more hysterical if that were possible. Mr. Feller took action, sprinting over to the door, trying to hold the handle in place.
