Z

April 5, 2048

    Mrs. Lewis slowly went down each row and handed each student a large packet. It was a review for our unit exam. I took the packet without hesitation, my best friend Cade wasn't as accepting as I was. Of course, she had to argue with the teacher. "But Mrs. Lewis, do we have to? I mean, we already are extremely tuckered out from yesterdays homework." Cade wined.

    Mrs. Lewis placed the packet on Cade's desk and she walked away without speaking a word to her. She has dealt with Cade for about a year now so, she knows that if she ignores her for a while, she will eventually tire herself out and stop complaining. Cade sighed as she moved the packet in front of her. I wrote my name slowly and neatly on my packet.

Harrah Nile

    I looked over my shoulder and I saw Cade on her phone. I rolled my eyes. She could at least be more discreet about it. I thought to myself. I turned back around and I started working on my algebra packet. I jumped as the principles voice boomed on the PA system. "Code red everyone, I repeat, code red. This is not a drill." The principal said loudly. I froze.

    Code red meant lock and secure, which meant someone, probably a shooter, was in our school. Mrs. Lewis took quick action. She closed the door, shut off the lights, and told us to all crowd in a far corner of the room. I did so hesitantly, I've never been in a situation like this so, it took me a while to comprehend what was going on. We are in danger. My mind told me. I walked to the corner quietly, trying not to make any noise. Cade was following from behind.

    The teacher unlocked her emergency cabinet which had important things in it like wasp spray, to spray into an intruders eyes, a flashlight, a load of baseball bats, for protection in case of potential threats, and last but not least a scalpel, in case we absolutely need to stop the intruder. Mrs. Lewis handed each of us a bat. When she stopped in front of me she took a long look at me. She then looked at a small number of kids that were losing it.

    "Harrah can you--" Mrs. Lewis started before I interrupted. "Yes," I said sounding braver than I was feeling. I walked up to the small group of kids and I had them sit down. I knew what Mrs. Lewis wanted me to do, she wanted me to keep these students calm and quiet so that we actually had a chance to live. What Mrs. Lewis didn't know was that I was actually petrified. I didn't know if I was ever going to see my parents again.

    "Shhh, everything is going to be okay, we just need to calm down and handle the situation, alright?" I said quietly. "How do you know it's going to be okay?! Did you hear about Eastridge High? They had 18 students shot and killed, 13 injured because of one shooter!" Madelyn said under choked sobs. I hushed her. "We will be fine, we are handling it." I managed to say without sounding afraid. I figured if I showed them that I wasn't afraid, then maybe they would at least think that there wasn't anything to be scared of.

    Then we heard it . . . we heard the screams and the calls for help out in the halls. The class mute, Tim, ran to the door, ready to help the person in distress. Mrs. Lewis stopped him. She grabbed both of his arms and pushed him away from the door. "We don't know who is out there, my job is to keep you all safe and that is what I'm going to do." Mrs. Lewis whispered loudly. "There is a student out there!" Cade whispered loudly to the teacher.

    "Yes but there could also be someone terrorizing the student out there, Cade Rose for the love of god, listen to me for just this once!" The teacher said loudly. Cade bit her tongue, she actually looked a bit frightened. The whole class went silent, all you could hear were the sobs of some of the students that were scared out of their minds and the screams from outside the classroom. Soon enough, everyone started to freak out a bit.