To Fall Apart

Day 1: 2:27 (Ally)

  In less than half an hour, I'm walking down the driveway to the police barricade. I see eager news teams from local and not-so local stations. I see also the grief stricken parents and close family and I'm reminded of all the lives that are behind me. The mortality of them all. I have to do something and that's when I get an idea. Ryan's face flashes through my mind's eye, but then I see those parents again. 

  One life for many, but is it this my decision? 

  Too late, I've reached the barricade. "Hello, my name is Ally Michell, and I speak for David Chase. He is the leader of the armed students." I hear a crackle from my earpiece and then David's voice. "Repeat after me, Ms.Mitchell and Ryan will get the medical attention he desperately needs. I swear he will live."

  I take a deep breath, now the fun begins. As the cops give thier usual speel to ask how were doing, if anyone is hurt, if there's anything they can do. During this is when I act. I put one hand up to my chest and pray my sign language is still good, and that some one knows sign langauge. I ask for paper and a pen. 

  "Alright, here we go. Repeat after me." There's a pause, then I begin. "As you all know, David has taken over this school  and has fortified against attack. He holds 2,834 students hostage." The cop interupts, I hear David sigh in the mic. "There are 2,842 students enrolled, and 7 are absent. Is David saying he is the only attacker?" 

  I realize this interuption is to give them time to slide me a notepad and a pen. I quickly scribble what I know- the armbands, guns, no wifi, Ryan, David being cold, meticulous, proud, organized.  This is my warning and messgae to them.

  David comes back over the earpiece. "No, Sergent. You will not trip us that easily. He cares not to give you the exact number of his followers."

  "So, this is an organized group? An activist? Fighting for something? Trying to prove a point." I canhear David getting exasperated by the sergent's questioning. I make a cut throat gesture. I'm not sure making David angry is going to help us. the Sergent puts up his hands as a sign of submission.

  "Back to the original topic. We need food and water to sustain 2,835 students. And one medical personale to treat a shooting accident that went on today. They will be blind folded and led by me back to the school. If they are bugged or have any sort of wire to communicate back to you, they will be killed on the spot."
 

    "And why should we help David?" The sergent asks, very fairly. David waits before giving his response to me. Then I have to steady myself before saying it out loud. "David has 2,834 reasons. And if you don't do as he asks, those reasons will pile up on the driveway." The sergent's face drains of color as he realizes whar David is incinuating.

  He has nearly 3000 hostages to use as bargaining chips, David has the upper hand.

  The police scramble to prepare a medical personale. She comes our with a kit that I assume is for Ryan. She hands me a blind fold to tie over her eyes. "Now, turn around, Ms. Mitchell, and walk back to us." David's command gives me the chance to finally stop seeing the sergent's ashen face, the crying parents, the buzzing news teams. 

  I do as I'm told. A little adrenaline and euphoria work their way into my system as I think about the note I gave the cops. Maybe I can help save us. Save them.