Pain (L.H)

Midnight

My eyes fluttered open.

It was 12:00am on the dot.

Banging sounds were heard from outside. I quickly hid under the covers.

It was thunder.

I was always afraid of thunder since I was a little girl and my mum used to always come and sleep next to me whenever it boomed in the clouds.

I inhaled and exhaled then uncovered myself. I reminded myself that it was just thunder and it couldn't harm me in any way. I jumped a little as the booming in the clouds continued. A flash of silver lightning shone through the dark. I could see it flicker through my window.

The banging continued but it sounded different as time ticked by. Instead of it booming through the clouds I heard it boom through the streets.

It was booming louder and louder until I finally realized that the rain had stopped and no lighting had flashed.

The booming continued to echo through the streets. I heard muffled voices shouting. I had the urge to go outside and see what the noise was.

I slipped on my black converse, chucked a hoodie over my black tank top and changed from my pajama shorts into my denim ones. My make up was still on my face from last night and a little was smudged under my eyes. I wiped them with my fingers before quietly walking out of my room.

I quietly turned the door handle at the front door and tip tied outside. The cold wind brushed harshly against me. My bare legs and face were already frozen. I closed the front door being careful not to make a sound. I heard the muffled shouts and banging echoing through the street. I clumped through the puddles and snow to the top of my driveway and looked to the left. That's where the sound was coming from.

I decided to take a short walk down the street. Hoping that my dad wouldn't awake from his deep sleep and notice that I was gone. After walking past five wide houses I stopped. The shouting was coming closer and the banging was becoming louder.

Before the banging noises I heard triggers being pulled. I realized what it was. The banging noise were guns. People were shooting bullets out of guns. I widened my eyes as the shouting and shooting were coming closer. I hid behind a tall bush. I peeked through the gaps of the leaves. There were a few men dressed in black on the end of the street shouting at each other. One aimed at another guy across from him and tempted to shoot him but miserably failed and hit a mailbox.

A few more shots were fired then footsteps were being heard. Suddenly a guy fell on the pavement near me. The guy shut his eyes and groaned. I gasped at the sight. His dirty blond hair messy and blood dripped down the side of his forehead. Blood stains were soaked through his hoodie. Suddenly his eye lids opened. His bright blue eyes looked at me. He parted his lips. I noticed the familiar black lip ring.

It was Luke.

"Luke?" I asked.

His eyes widened. He quickly stood probably ignoring all the pain in his body.

"Jazmine what are you doing here?" He said.

"I-I came to see what was going on I couldn't sleep." I said.

More footsteps were heard. Luke quickly joined me behind the bush. He pulled out a gun from his pocket.

"Luke what are you doing?" I asked.

He sighed and shook his head "your such an idiot" he said.

"I don't understand, why-"

"Go home you don't know what your getting yourself into" he said and pushed me slightly.

"but-" I protested.

"go Jazmine!" He said with a slightly raised voice.

I backed away slightly "I want to know whats going on. Do your parents know what your doing?" I asked.

He groaned in frustration "did you know that curiosity killed the cat?" He asked.

I nodded "your the cat Jazmine, so go" He said pointed up the street.

I took one last look at him before sprinting back up the road to my place. I dared to look back while I was running and saw that four guys joined him behind the bush and  continued to shoot at the others.

I ran onto my driveway and to my front door. I quietly opened the door and shut it then made my way back up stairs to bed. My father was  sleeping on the couch. I sighed in relief that I hadn't been caught. I put my pajamas back on and kicked my shoes off.

I tried to shake what I saw tonight off my mind but I couldn't. The picture of the blood on Luke's clothes and forehead bounced in my brain.

What in the world was he doing out there at midnight?