The Lockdown

Run It

Tiffany and I run into the first classroom we see. And when we get inside, I see some kids hiding behind desks. One kid is even hiding in a cabinet. Gregg's best friend, Ryan, is hiding behind the door, tears running down his face. Ryan is a jerk but in that moment, I feel really bad for him... He saw his best friend get murdered.... Nobody deserves to see that.

I lead Tiffany toward the back of the classroom and we crouch down behind a desk. When she looks at me, her eyes look so scared... and empty. "I didn't even tell my mom I loved her this morning," she whispers to me, with tears in her eyes. "We got into a stupid argument because I was playing Cardi B and she didn't like all the cuss words in the song," she says, shaking her head.

An idea comes to me suddenly. "You have your phone with you?" I ask her and she nods her head yes. "Let's text our parents right now," I suggest to her.

Tiffany's hand is shaking as she pulls out her cell phone. I lean over and take mine out my back pocket. I grab her hand and look her in the eye and make a promise I know I can't keep. "We'll be back home when this is all over."

Mom, Dad
There's a shooting at my school... it's Asher. In case I don't make it home, I love you guys.
-Kev

......

OMG! Dad is calling 911 right now Kevin. Hide somewhere and don't make a sound.... I love you baby
- mom

"Why would Asher do this, Kev?" Tiffany asks me, sounding like how I feel: confused and frustrated. Asher never expressed any kind of hate towards anyone, not even when Gregg used to bully him.

Before I can respond back, the door bursts open and Asher walks in. I whisper to Tiff to stay down. I slowly get up with my hands in the air and walk towards Asher. When he looks at me, I see nothing but emptiness.... and pain in his eyes. He shakes his head.

"I told you not to come to school Kevin... You and Tiffany need to leave. I'm takin care of business," he says, sounding strangely calm. Even though he already killed Gregg, I might be able to talk him out of hurting anybody else. "Ash... Bro... You already took care of Gregg.... Just turn yourself into the police before this gets worse."

"WORSE?.....WORSE??.... Wake up Kevin!" He yells at me suddenly. "Things got worse a long time ago! Besides you, nobody did anything to try and stop it!... Nobody wanted to help me when Gregg was dunking my head in a USED toilet!... NOBODY wanted to do anything when Gregg busted the windows out of my car and slashed all my tires!!!!.... Nobody wanted to help me when Gregg got me alone and cornered me.... and... and...." Asher stops and looks at me and I fear what he's going to say next.

"And what, Asher?" I ask him gently. By now, he's silently crying. But he shakes his head as if he's trying to clear out the bad memory. He balls his fist up and slams it into the wall. Nobody says anything for awhile. I quickly look around and see how scared everybody looks.

Asher sighs and when he starts speaking again, I can hear defeat in his voice. "It doesn't matter now... I took care of him. But I still need to take care of the others," he says just as Ryan darts off the floor and tries to run out the door. Asher lifts his gun and shoots him in the back. Ryan falls to the floor. It seems like everything happens in slow motion... I hear people screaming. Then I see Asher go over to the body, kick it, and walk out the door.

The teacher that was hiding under one of the desks runs over and tries to stop the bleeding as one of the students calls 911. But it's too late for Ryan, he's gone. That guy that just murdered two people is not my best friend. That guy that just looked me dead in my eyes is not my best friend. That guy that just walked out the door is not my best friend.

He's a murderer.

I walk back over to where Tiffany is still hiding behind the desk and sit down next to her. I sigh and Tiffany leans her head on my shoulder. Normally, I would be super happy about this moment between us but now is not the time. I just witnessed my only best friend take the lives of two people we knew... In cold blood, with no remorse. "Is Ryan dead?" Tiffany asks me and I lift up and peak over the desk just as the teacher places a jacket over Ryan's body. I sit back down and nod my head at Tiffany, confirming that we just lost another student. She slumps forward and starts sobbing. I pull her toward me and together we mourn the loss of three people: Gregg, Ryan..... and my best friend.