When Everything Changes

Chapter 6

We spend the next couple minutes waiting with Collin's laptop open, waiting for a video call that will give us the signal. We already climbed back under the desk. We are willing to do anything to stay alive at this moment. And then the bell goes off, "officially" ending first period.

"Well, it looks like we've ditched first period," Collin says.

"My god, you're making a joke at this time?"

"I never turn down an opportunity. It's a habit of mine."

"Just because it's a habit doesn't mean you have to do it at a time like this."

"Weren't you listening? I never turn down an opportunity."

"No, I wasn't listening. I was too busy buying pineapples-of course I was listening."

"Hold your horses. I got a notification. Colonel? Are you there?"

I look at the user name. It's not the same. "Don't answer it!" but it's to late.

A man shows up on the screen. He's in his late thirties, and he has a large scar across the right side of his head. "Colonel Hustle can't get to the phone right now. Looks like your last chance is gone."

~_~_~_~

"What is that?" I ask the man in front of the computer. I was going to call him with good news, but he's already in a video chat. "Can we intercept that call?"

"Yes we can, sir." He pushes a button and the video goes to full screen, with Collin and Ian on the right and a mysterious person with a scar on the side of his head on the left.

"Sound?"

The man turns on the speaker and I hear "Looks like your last chance is gone."

Shit.

"End that chat!" The screen disappears. "Call them now."

~_~_~_~

The screen vanishes. "What the hell just happened?" I say. Then a new video chat appears almost instantly after the old one closes. It says the same user name as the first time, and we both stare at each other, wondering if we should answer it. Collin clicks enter.

It's Lenny.

"What the hell just happened?" I say.

"Well, we have good and bad news. Good news is you have the green light. Bad news is now they know where you are, so you have to go now. We looked at a map of the school and if you go to the right, down the hall, at the end there is a storage room.

"Go into that room and at the very back, there is an elevator. Take that down to floor two and you should be right across from the library. Good luck."

"And what happens if they see us and start shooting?"

"Well, then we have a big problem. Start fish-tailing and maybe you'll throw of their aim."

"And what if it doesn't?"

"Enough with the what if questions. You need to go now." And then the window closes.

I slowly get out of the desk and walk to the door. It creaks open and I peek my head out. All clear. I signal to Collin and he follows me out. "Remember, quiet footsteps."

I get out and start running to the right. I can kind of hear Collin's footsteps, but they're getting quieter. I turn around and he's running the wrong way.

"Collin! Where the hell are you going?" He turns around, confused. "Lenny said go right."

"Are you sure this is the right way?"

"Yes."

"Sure you're sure?"

"Yes."

"Sure you're sure you're sure?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure you're sure you're-"

"Yes, now come on, Collin. We don't have that much time."

"Okay, but if we're going the wrong way and we die, it's your fault."

"Just be quiet, okay?"

"Fine. But this conversation isn't over, yet. Hold on, my phone is buzzing," he says as we walk into the supply closet. "Lenny's calling me."

"Well, answer it."

"Hello?... Oh hey Lenny... How'd you get my number?... Oh, well the FBI has too much access to secret information..." I nudge Collin in the shoulder. "Hold on, let me put you on speaker." He presses a button and puts his phone on a nearby table.

"Guys are you there?" he asks from the phone.

"Yes," I answer. "We are in the supply closet."

"The men in there were armed, so you have permission to take those guns to defend yourselves. There currently are none of the men in the library. In case the men are in the elevator, hide behind some boxes and wait there until a couple seconds after the door opens."

"Yeah," Collin says. "And then on three we can jump out and shout 'SURPRISE'!"

"Collin..." I say.

"Well, I guess more hiding then," Collin says.

"Good luck," Lenny says before he hangs up.

"So, now we hide behind some boxes. I'll push the button and then hide. Don't say a word. And that means no jokes."

"Dammit. Really? No jokes?"

"You want to die?"

"Well when you put it that way..." I can't believe he's still telling jokes.

"Just hide behind those boxes. I'll push the button." He skips over to a pile of boxes and jumps behind them. I push the button and hide right next to him.

They better not be in that elevator.