doomed by renee thompson

chapter four

MJ's POV

"Breaking News coming from Bassmouth High. There have been reports of 'acts of terrorism', such as doors being jammed, the power being cut off, and multiple gunmen throughout the school. The first killed was theater teacher Shawn Howell. A fresh out of college student, Howell had only taught at Bassmouth for three semesters. There are seven students dead. No student has been identified yet. Many more are injured. Many more are injured. No police or paramedics have responded to the ongoing scene. When will it end? We'll keep you updated. I'm Lauren Micheal reporting back to you, Dan."

"Wow" I exhale the smoke as I speak. I sit down my bowl on the glass coffee table. My hair falls in my face. This town has so much violence, but it's never been on the school before. I cross my legs. My drug rug is almost too big for me lately. When I wear it with shorts, it doesn't even look like I'm wearing anything else. I lie my lighter on the table.

The news continues to play. On the bottom of the screen, a banner said:

"EIGHT DEAD, ELEVEN INJURED AT BASSMOUTH."

"Thank god I'm not in that stupid school anymore" I mutter to myself. I comb through my hair with my fingers. Who hated the school that much to the point where they did a full blown attack on it? Most importantly, why the fuck did cops and paramedics just not respond? I have so many more questions, but that last one is by far the most pressing.

I stand up from my mattress on the floor and stretch. My legs and arms pop as I move around. I pick up my bowl and lighter and take another hard hit. As I exhale, I cough. Dragging my feet, I walk toward the stairs. Temporarily, I live in the basement of my older sister Faith's house. Faith and I are so wildly different, but we usually get along pretty well. We both used to live with our father, but I dropped out and she got married, so we just decided to move in together until I can afford to move out on my own. Faith, although she's only two years older, is an elementary school counselor and married with kids. Even appearance wise we are so wildly different! Faith worked really hard on makeup, and was much more on the feminine side. Her shoulder length blonde hair was always wavy or tied up in a small bun. She wears false eyelashes nearly every day. She even wore color contacts to make her dark eyes have color. As for me, I don't even wear makeup. My hair is straight and dark. My smoky black strands reach down to my elbows. My eyes are a forest green.

"God it smells like pot down here" Faith says coming down the basement steps. 

"What did you expect?" I question with a chuckle. 

"Mary Jane, use some air freshener or something. I don't want the kids to-" 

"Ah, come on, Faith" I groan "it's fine." 

"Mary-" 

"How many times do I have to tell you, please call me MJ." 

"Okay, MJ" she says slowly "please use some air freshener when you smoke." There's a silence between us. 

"You heard about Bassmouth High?" 

"Yeah" I say slowly "what I don't understand is why no cops or ambulances came." 

"That is odd, isn't it?" 

"I'm just glad I'm not there." I start to light my bowl again, but Faith stops me. 

"I'm glad my kids aren't there...Yet, that is" Faith frowns. 

"Get Gabriel to homeschool them! He literally majored in education, and he's unemployed right now." 

"You have a point, MJ." 

"I know I do" I chuckle. 

"This town isn't safe anymore" Faith shakes her head.