The Wounds That Don't Heal

Chapter 2

There is some gun violence in this chapter so if you are sensitive to that sort of thing, let me know and I'll summarize what happened so you don't have to read it. To those of you who want to read on: enjoy.
-eabel1499

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Toni:
We've been in this room for four hours. My phone died two and a half hours ago and Dante is preserving the life on his. We're leaning against the closet door, breathing quietly. I think I'm frozen to this spot.

"They probably think they got everyone. No one was supposed to be in this classroom, remember?" Dante whispers trying to calm me down as much as possible. I let out another breathe.

"The shooter wouldn't know which classroom to go into, they just go into whichever one they see kids in. Dante what if-"

"I don't wanna hear that," he interrupts quickly. He leans his head back and closes his eyes. I take the time to study him, his cocoa brown skin, his full pink lips and the sheen of sweat because of the fan that we needed to shut off. His dark curls pulled into a ponytail sitting at the back of his head. I wonder if his hair is as soft as it looks. I wonder the same about his lips.

"Did you talk to your parents? Tell them you love them?" He whispers his deep voice keeping it's same low volume.

"The call dropped before I could say anything. So I sent them both a text." The words I tell my parents everyday have never meant so much and I couldn't even say the words to them. I had to send a text like it was a regular day at a regular time. I feel the tears forming and as much as I try to keep from crying I can't. I let out a sob. Then Dante must hear something because he clamps a hand over my mouth.

"Shh. We're gonna get through this but you need to keep quiet Toni," he whispers in my ear. I let my body melt into his as I cry all the more silently. Then I hear it. Footsteps.

Dante:
The footsteps are only coming closer and if she doesn't stop crying the asshole with a gun will hear us. I hold her tighter trying to muffle her small sobs into my shirt but they're still loud enough for someone to hear. I look around for a place to hide just in case. The closet. It has to be the closet. I slide open the door so slow it makes my arm burn but when it's open I pick Toni up and go inside before closing the door behind us. It's a big closet even though it's narrow so I sit back down and lean my back against the wall pressing my shoulder into the door so it stays shut. Toni finally stops crying slowly and looks up at me.

"Where do you think people go when they die?" She whispers settling her self on top of me. She lays her head on my chest waiting for my answer.

"We aren't going to die today Toni. It isn't your time."

"Our time. And I still want an answer."
So she caught that. I decided the moment we heard gunshots that I'd do anything just to make sure that Toni leaves this school and goes home to her family. No one is waiting for me at home the way people are for her.

"Fine. When you're old and already have your great grand-kids you'll go up to heaven. You'll be an angel and live in paradise until the end of time," I whisper taking a deep breathe. Her beautiful red hair brushes my bicep as she turns to wrap her arms around me. I hug her back holding her tight. She'll never understand how beautiful she really is. Out of nowhere I hear the doorknob moving, like someone's trying to open the locked door. The jingle of keys opening the door has us both tensing up.

"Anyone in here? We're evacuating everyone now," Mr. Doyle's shrill voice rings through the room. Toni gasps out a sob of relief and I slide open the door letting us out. The moment we're standing I look at Mr. Doyle. He holds a pistol in his hands, smiling like he didn't just traumatize some kids who never saw it coming.