Battle in the Streets

Chapter 8

Opening her eyes to the orange light streaming through the pearly, white clouds and into her bedroom window, Chelsea Daniels stretched.

She picked up her phone, the time immediately catching her eye.

The numbers read "6:52". "No! I'm late for school! No, no, no! I might be able to make it just in time."

Slipping out of bed, she yanked her dresser drawer open and grabbed a black T-shirt and black jeans.

After changing into her clothes, Chelsea grabbed her black, jean jacket out of the closet. "Wearing all black today to mourn the death of my motivation," the half-asleep teenager mumbled to herself.

With her jacket on and her phone in its pocket, she grabbed her hairbrush. Still exhausted from last night's homework, Chelsea stumbled out of her room, stroking her long, golden brown waves.

I set my alarm. Why didn't it go off? she wondered, peering through her heavy eyelids down at her phone.

Her feet stopped her and shoulders dropped, as she realized. The date on the home screen of her phone read, "Sunday, July 17."

Oh, good. It's Sunday. No school. She took in a breath and smiled. Now, I can relax, but I still have homework to do. Chelsea gathered her papers and books together and laid them on the small coffee table.

She pet her gray and white long-haired cat, who had been curled up on the couch. "Aww, Toby," she whispered as she lightly wrapped her arms around the cat. He purred, stretching out his paws through the space in the girl's arms in comfort. For once, she was up before even him. She chuckled. He had probably been up all night chasing moonlight shadows of himself.

Chelsea poured her favorite cereal, Frosted Flakes, and a splash of milk into a bowl. After taking a bite, she clicked on the TV and switched to the local news channel. Chelsea always wanted to be the first to know if an officer in the city limits had gone down just in case. The habit had started as background noise while doing homework. But ever since all of the negativity going around about the police, she changed the channels to the news whether it was already there or not.

Sometimes it made her worry more about her dad, but it mostly gave her a sense of control. Control of knowing or not. If she could see a report on the news about an officer down, maybe she would be able to prepare herself if that terrifying day ever came. The logic didn't make total sense to her, but it made her feel better in a way and that's what mattered to her.

Words flashed on the screen, catching her attention. Breaking News. She turned up the volume. "Breaking news. We have some reports coming in of yet another shooting. During this morning's ambush in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a shooter left three officers dead and three others wounded, one of the three in critical condition at this time."

Chelsea's jaw dropped and she closed her eyes for a moment.

"The identity of these officers is not yet released. And the incident is still under investigation as authorities are still trying to find out..." The news reporter's voice faded, as Chelsea turned down the volume again. She didn't need to hear any more.

Tears clouded her vision, knowing full well the pain of the family. She knew it could have been anyone... Anywhere... Anytime.

Who knew when or where the next attack on law enforcement would happen.

Maybe in her hometown...

Maybe someone she knew...

And maybe... even her father.

The teen girl shuttered at the thought of losing her dad. Chelsea wiped a couple tears away, attempting to forget about that very real, terrifying possibility.