The Lockdown

Wall To Wall

     The next morning, I wake up suddenly like I had a bad dream or something: panicky, sweaty, and filled with fear for reasons I can't explain. I turn my fan on and cool off for a minute. Then I get out of bed and hop in the shower.

     When I get out, I smell breakfast... Oh heck yeah.. Let me hurry up so I can go eat. I walk into the kitchen and see mom at the stove, cooking bacon. Dad is sittin down, drinking coffee and reading the Facebook news on his phone like he does every morning.

"Morning," I say, kissing mom on the cheek as I take a seat at the table.

"Morning sweetie," she greets me, yawning as she flips the bacon over. It sizzles and I get a strong whif of pork. My stomach growls. Dad puts his phone down and looks at me.

"You ready for the day?" He asks me, taking a sip of his coffee.. I don't know how he drinks it black. Taste like dirt to me. Even if you add cream and sugar; taste like creamy sugary dirt. He's dressed for work. He works at an elementary school; he's the janitor.

"Yeah, I guess. I hope we don't have a test today," I say in response, thinking about what Asher said yesterday before he left.

"Isn't it too early for tests?" Mom asks, setting a hot plate of pancakes, eggs, and bacon in front of dad. Man, that looks bomb! My stomach growls again.

"Yeah, but yesterday before he left, Asher told me not to go to school today. I just figured he must've found out about a test or something," I mumble, rubbing my hands together when mom sets my plate in front of me. She joins us at the table. Dad puts his phone down and says prayer. He's studying with those Jehovah Witnesses, so he's been into praying and reading the Bible a lot lately.

"Asher is a strange kid sometimes," he says, taking a huge bite of pancakes. Dad has always said that about Asher.

"Tim, that's rude. Leave Asher alone," mom says, giving him 'The Look.' She hates when my dad talks negatively about Asher. Dad laughs it off. "Janell, you can't tell me that he doesn't seem a bit.. off sometimes," he says, finishing his breakfast.

Mom actually blushes. "Okay, maybe a little... BUT I love Asher. He's sweet. He always got bullied in school. I used to feel so bad for him," she says sadly. They both know that Asher used to get bullied in school.

Dad looks at me. "Does he still get teased in school?" He asks me, sounding genuinely concerned.

"Not that I know of. Gregg lightened up ever since I got taller than him," I say, finishing my plate. Gregg is still a jerk but he stopped bullying Asher though. "Well, that was a bomb breakfast mom. I gotta go... Love you guys," I say, getting my backpack and heading toward the door.

"Love you too," they say and I head out the front door. Usually Asher waits for me outside and we walk to school together but he's not here. I pull my phone out and text him.

Bro, where u at?- Kev

......

I told you not to come to school today.- Asher

Ay, I ain't tryna mess up my perfect attendance.- Kev

.....
.....

Love you bro.- Asher

LOVE? This dude gettin all sentimental on me... It's too early for all that.

Fa sho.. You good?- Kev

When he doesn't respond back, I start walkin to school. When I get there, I don't see Asher anywhere, so I head to my locker. On my way there, I spot Tiffany walking up to me..... Dang, I forgot to hit her up yesterday! Maybe she won't say nothin.

"So you couldn't hit me up yesterday?" She says but she's smiling. I lowkey start sweatin. "I'm teasin you.. Where's your other half? Yall usually always together in the morning," she asks, walking with me to my locker.

"I don't know wh.." before I can even finish my sentence, I hear a loud pop sound. Like an explosion or something. We both look around.

"What the heck was that?!" Tiffany asks but then we hear more.... pop pop pop pop! This time it's closer and extremely loud. Instantly, I get a bad feeling in stomach.

     All of a sudden, a kid I know from homeroom comes running from around the corner. He look distraught. But what he says is even worse. "Run.... Someone has a gun!!!! He's shootin people!" And then he's gone. He runs out the school doors. Some kids start panicking but other kids think it's a prank.

Gregg is leaning against the lockers, talking to his friend. He rolls his eyes and smirks. "Yeah right... What is this? Columbine 2.0," he says and his friends laugh on cue. He's corny..

"I don't think this is a joke. Let's go Kev," Tiffany says, sounding scared. When I look in her eyes, all I see is fear.  But before I can respond, I hear a loud BANG! Tiffany ducks as I look around to see where it came from. And that's when I see Gregg. His eyes widen and then blood comes out of his mouth. He looks down at his stomach and then looks back up at something behind me.

"Ahhhhhh!" Tiffany screams and grabs me. Other kids in the hallway take off in all directions. And now the sprinklers and fire alarm go off.

     Gregg staggers forward and tries to speak but nothing comes out. He falls to the ground. As I grab Tiffany and turn around to run, that's when I notice someone standing there with a gun pointed at Gregg.

It's Asher....... He stares at Gregg with cold eyes I've literally never seen before. Tiff and I slowly back up but I make sure she's behind me. I can feel her body trembling against me as we step back.

"A..Aaasher... What are you doin man?!" I ask him wildly. He breaks his stare and looks at me. The look in his eyes stops me dead in my tracks.... I've never seen him look like this before. His stare is cold and distant as if he's lookin through me.

"I told you not to come to school today," He says in a cold tone. He walks up to Gregg, who is still lying on the floor bleeding out, and leans down over him. "Let's see who gets the last laugh now," Asher whispers to Gregg. I push Tiffany back and run over to stop Asher. "Asher, no!!!" I yell but before I can get to him, he points the gun at Gregg and pulls the trigger.

Bang!

Gregg's body trembles and then goes still. Asher smiles and walks away..... I just saw my best friend kill someone in cold blood. Asher walks down the hallway and cocks his gun....

He isn't finished yet.

Tiffany grabs my hand and we take off running in the opposite direction of Asher.