Selena’s POV:
We heard Sophia scream and then the phone got disconnected.
“We need backup to an old abandoned house that’s right next to the old shoe warehouse that’s at the corner of Ware Rd. and Pecan St.” the police said into their walkie talkies running to their police cars. They turned on their sirens and drove off.
Brian, my mom, Lily, and myself all jumped into the car to follow the police officers while Justin and Fredo followed close behind. Everybody was crying, worried that something bad had happened to Sophia. We sped through the whole city trying to get there as fast as we possibly could. When we finally reached the house, there was about 10 police cars already there all parked around. We all got off and ran towards the house.
“Whoa whoa guys, you all need to back up,” one of the police officers told us, making us move back.
“My sister is in there!” I yelled to him, crying.
“Well you guys can’t get near the house, we’re still trying to negotiate with Mr. Thomas.” he explained to us.
“Negotiate what?” Brian asked confused. “We need to get to Sophia.”
“Sir, you all will be helping us by just stepping back and letting us do our job,” he said.
My mom carried Lily back to the car, while I struggled to stay there.
“Sel, come on,” Brian told me.
“No! I need to get to Sophia!” I yelled trying to run towards the house. A police officer got in my way and stopped me. Brian ran to me and picked me up, carrying me back to the car. “Sophia!” I yelled, trying to get out of Brian’s grasp.
Brian put me down once we reached the car and Justin wrapped his arms around me, making sure not to let me go. He knew what I would do if he did.
“Selena, calm down!” he yelled as I struggled to get out of his arms.
“Let me go Justin!” I yelled to him.
“Selena you need to calm down!” my mom yelled at me. “You’re scaring Lily even more!” she cried. Lily was crying on my mom’s lap. She reached her arms out to me so that I can pick her up.
“Let me go Justin,” I said calmly. “I’m going to pick up Lily.” He hesitantly let go of me, ready to grab me just in case I tried to run again. I picked Lily up and hugged her tightly as we both cried together. “Is Soph going to be ok?” she asked innocently. I looked right into her eyes, seeing the fear and worry in her eyes.
“I don’t know Lily,” I replied honestly, “I hope.”
Justin walked up to my mom and hugged her, seeing that she was still crying hysterically. Brian was talking to the police officers and Fredo came and stood by Lily and me, wrapping his arm around me. I leaned my head on his shoulder, waiting to see what was going to happen. We had been waiting outside of the house for 30 minutes already when we suddenly heard gunshots.
The police officers started yelling and running towards the house. I gave Lily to Fredo and ran towards Brian. Justin, Fredo, and my mom ran after me.
“Selena stay here!” Brian yelled to me as he ran towards the house. Justin quickly wrapped his arms around me to keep me from running. “I need to see Sophia!” I yelled pulling away from Justin. Fredo gave Lily to my mom and helped Justin. “Selena stop!” Fredo yelled, trying to calm me down.
The police slammed the door opened and ran inside the house. “We need paramedics in here!” we heard the officers yelling. One officer ran passed us yelling, “we got two people down. One dead and one in critical condition,” we heard him say to the paramedics.
“D-did he say d-dead?!” I yelled. “Sophia!!” My mom put Lily down and gave her to one of the officers that was near to watch over her. We all ran towards Brian to see if he knew anything.
“Brian where’s Sophia?!” my mom yelled, running into his arms.
“I don’t know, they haven’t told me anything,” he said. “Sir, can you please tell us what’s happening,” Brian asked an officer that was walking out of the house.
“Josh shot your daughter and then shot himself,” he said. “Josh is dead, but your daughter is in critical condition. It doesn’t look good sir. I’m sorry,” he said and then ran towards the police cars.
I felt like the whole world was spinning and I couldn’t breathe. Justin grabbed my arm, noticing that I was about to collapse. My mom fell to her knees and started crying. Brian sat next to her with his head tucked in between his knees. “This can not be happening,” Brian whispered.
The paramedics came out of the house with Sophia laying on the gurney. She had an oxygen mask on and was being rushed to the ambulance. There was blood all over her body and she looked so pale.
“She’s going to need emergency surgery,” one of the paramedics told us, “but we’re not sure if she’s going to be able to handle surgery with all the amount of blood that she has already lost.” she explained. “She was shot in the back three times and we’re not sure if one of the bullets hit a major organ or her spinal chord until we perform the surgery. Even if she does make it out of surgery, there is a possibility of her being permanently paralyzed.” the paramedic told us and ran off to the ambulance.
They put Sophia into the ambulance and drove off. With all of us in tears, we quickly ran to our cars and hurried to the hospital. “God, please don’t take her away from us,” I prayed while I grabbed my mom’s hand. “Please.”
