Retribution

Chapter Eighteen

My eyes slowly opened. I had to blink a few times so my eyes could adjust. My head felt heavy, body numb. Where was I? All I remembered. . .

Was being shot. That's when I felt the overwhelming pain in my back. Being an idiot, I did my best to stand, which resulted in me falling flat on my face, pain surging through my body. At least I wasn't paralyzed. Though I did just want to lay here, on the floor, for the rest of forever. The thought of being the hero, however, forced me to try and stand once again. I got the same result.

"You're alive?" I heard an angry voice ask.

"Chauncey?" I questioned, completely confused. He was wearing a police uniform. Probably killed an officer and stole it. But why?

"The one and only," he said with a crooked smile.

"Why?"

"Because, I saw what you did. Boss should have killed you when he had the chance."

"You're insane!"

He pointed the gun at me and growled, "Say that again. I dare you." I decided to stay quiet. "It's a shame that you have to die."

I squeezed my eyes shut, knowing he was going to shoot me. This was it, I was finally going to die. I always knew it would be something like this, but why today? Why now?

A gunshot rang out.

But I was still alive. I opened my eyes to see a man standing over me.

"Who are you?" I asked, the pain in my back worsening.

"Officer Noble. Miss--"

"Nate," I breathed.

"How do you--"

I tried to stand again, saying in a panic, "You can't be in here."

"It's my job. Can you walk? I need to get you outside." Taking a step forward, I almost fell, but Nate caught me. He lifted me in his arms and I said, "I need to find them."

He kept walking and asked, "Who?"

"Your wife. Daughter. Tina."

I struggled in his arms, but his grip remained tight.

"Do you know where they are?"

"Only Reyna. Room 221. Second level."

---

The upper level wasn't as bad as the first floor, but it was still pretty bad. Broken glass, blood, the likes. Some of his followers could be heard screaming commands at terrified teachers that were just trying to keep their students calm.

He stepped over a bleeding body, looking for room 221. He needed to make Felicia know what it felt like to lose a child. He'd make her as miserable as he had been. It was all her fault, and he knew it. Nothing could tell him otherwise.

When he got to room 221, the door was already open. Miguel, Cortez's cousin, was sitting at the desk looking rather bored.

"Boss? What are you doing up here?"

"Shut up and do something productive." He turned his attention to the students, "I'm looking for somebody; Reyna Noble."

Nobody moved. Richard grabbed Miguel's gun and shot off a round into the floor.

"She's over here!" a girl squealed.

"Take her!" another pleaded, pushing Reyna towards Richard. The man grabbed the teen by the arm roughly and said to the students, "Good, good. I like cooperation."