Shot to the Heart

Chapter 7-What's Big and Purple and Red All Over?

Upstairs, Alex was searching for the source of the banging noise. It was very muffled now, which led him to believe the sound was coming from downstairs. But he was doing a disservice to whoever may be trapped if he didn't search absolutely everywhere he could. And he needed some time to clear his head and think of a gameplan.

        He had borrowed a dead employee's phone back in the Sear's when Jayla wasn't looking. And he knew the horrible, awful, truth.

        The police had completely sealed off the mall. SWAT teams were positioned outside. But they were all waiting, in an attempt to end this non-violently. They were bargaining with the shooter. For ransom. 

        He had demanded, of all things, eight million dollars in Canadian money. CANADIAN! The government was on the phone, people were doing pledges, and all the while they were locked in here with a murderous pyschopath. But the final statistic rattling around in his brain was a painful one.

        There were a hundred and ten estimated casulties already. A hundred and ten. A hundred and ten innocent people. A hundred and ten who had maybe begged for their lives seconds before a bullet jolted their bodies. A hunded and ten mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, and grandparents. A hundred and ten people who could have impacted the world, all silenced in one great bloodbath. It was like a worse version of the Hunger Games.

        How could he go back and look Jayla in the face? Knowing that they were very likely one of the last survivors? That only a few small pockets of people were likely to survive this massacre? He wasn't even sure he could protect her. He would fight til his dying breath, but what if he couldn't save her? Could he bear to watch Jayla jerk as the bullets hit her, as blood sprayed, as she sank to the floor? Would he be able to handle cradling her as the life slowly left her body?

        These thoughts careened around in his mind, and they sent him into a full-blown panic attack. He sat down abruptly, finding it very hard to breathe. A sudden memory floated to the surface. It had been a long day. Alex was so tired, and then Jayla started texting him. She was sad, and no matter how he tried, he could not get her to smile. A helpless feeling overtook him, so much so that he considered simply driving to her house, on a school night, to take her hand and hold her until she felt better. He had to settle for corny jokes and a brief phone call. He ended up not doing any of his homework that night, devoting all his time to keeping  Jayla happy.

        With new resolve, he stood up. He had done his job then, and darned if he wasn't going to do it today. They would make it out okay. They had too.

        "Stop right there, son."

Slowly, slowly, Alex turned around. Adrenaline pounded through his veins. Of course. Standing not five feet away from him was a very dirty, very bloody man. Holding a gun.

        "Hands where I can see them, please." 

He was shaking so violently he could barely move.

        "Hands wHERE I CAN SEE THEM." He was shouting now. "GET THEM UP OR I'LL SHOOT."

Up they went, faster then he could have believed possible.

        "Y-y-ou understand, right? Wh-h-y I'm here?"

Alex didn't move. 

        "i have to be. Y-y-you understand, Daddy? I have to b-be. You know that. They're everywhere. I have to kill them. I have to. I have to."

In that instant, all of Alex's hopes for escape went up in smoke. They were dealing with a madman. There was no reasoning. There was only running. And as that option was no longer available, his entire focus shifted to only one thing. Keep him away from Jayla.

        "I understand. Of course. You had to. So, who are you murdering?"

        "Aliens. They're everywhere. Do you see them too?"

        "Yeah, of course. They're big and purple-"

        "No. No." The man looked at him carefully. "You're one of them, aren't you? You're trying to throw me off."

        "No, no-"

        "You are! You are, and you're going to pay. You're going to paAYYY-"

The world slowed down. Alex watched as he pulled the trigger three times. Saw the shells hit the floor. Felt the impact. The world tilted, and then there was cold linoleum against his face. And warm wet in his hair, and he was so cold.

        God, you have to save her for me. Please.